>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
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The Smithsonian has a big volunteer recogition party at the end of each year.
This is a really swank affair that is fully catered where awards are sent out.
Office volunteers have to meet a minimum of 140 hours to count as working a
full "year" and program monitors, volunteers who usher and sell tickets at
the Resident Associate programs, have to make at least 40 service credits for
a "year."  I'm not sure of the exact hour requirement for docents and info
specialists (those who work at the info desks) as I don't work with any of
those volunteers.

First year volunteers get a certificate.  2nd year gets Smithsonian pin.
Bars are added to the pin until 5 years when they get a pin with a sapphire
in the middle.  Bars until 10 years when they get a pin with a diamond.  Each
5 years after they get an additional diamond in their pin.  We have some
volunteers with 3 diamonds and bars.

Volunteers also get their name listed in the volunteer issue of the Torch,
the Smithsonian newspaper.

Individual museums and/or offices may choose to specially recognize volunteers
as well but this is the Smithsonian-wide program.

Deb Fuller
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Volunteer Office, The Smithsonian Associates