Elizabeth Edrich wrote:
>
> Continuing the dicussion on volunteer recognition, how do you
> acknowledge  volunteer hours?  Our museum awards hour bars 4 times/year
> to all docents who pass certain marks (250 hours, 500 hours, 2000 hours,
> etc.)  We would like to consider other, less expensive ways of
> recognizing the hard work of our docents and volunteers. Any
> suggestions, comments?  Please respond to the list or off list to
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Many thanks!
>
> Liz Edrich
> Special Projects Manager
> California State Railroad Museum Foundation

At the Homestead Museum, we recognize volunteers by hours served with a
enamel pin for 300, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000 hours at an annual awards
banquet.  We initially based it upon *years* served, but quickly found
that it did not relate clearly enough to the amount of involvement (we
have some volunteers who come in weekly and others monthly; giving them
the same pin was inequitable).

We have considered other methods of recognizing volunteers, however,
they all seem to be proud of their achievements and wear the pins to
work (which in turn, encourages others to stay involved).  To save
costs, we buy pins in bulk to last us several years.

We did consider (and may return to) a redesign.  A primary pin would be
awarded at the first level (300 hours) to which would be added smaller
pins (which would be linked to the primary pin, in the style of
fraternal pins that add a bar for year convention attended) or a jewel
(the primary pin would be swapped for another with a colored stone, a
system used by the McFaddin-Ward Museum in Texas).

--
M. A. van Balgooy
[log in to unmask]

Chaffey Communities Cultural Center
  PO Box 772   Upland, CA 91785-0772
  Telephone (909) 982-8010
  Website:  http://www.culturalcenter.org

Homestead Museum
  15415 East Don Julian Road   Industry, CA  91745-1029
  Telephone (818) 968-8492
  Fax  (818) 968-2048
  Domain name:  homesteadmuseum.org (no website yet!)