A couple of weeks ago I attended a volunteer appreciation dinner of pizza and cake - for those of us that volunteer our time during two annual fundraisers for a local non-profit historical society museum.
 
We've always agreed to keep it simple and inexpensive because we volunteer our time to help the museum, and rather not see too much money spent on thanking us. We do all like to get together in between these fundraisers!
 
Though a volunteer/fundraiser appreciation is a little different than what your volunteers may do and why, I personally like the idea of keeping it simple regardless. It's most important that everyone gets together as a group, are appreciated and thanked as a group, and that everyone has plenty of time to socialize.
 
Especially for adults - the souveniers, though appreciated...many of us have quite a collection of such things if we haven't done away with them already. Gift certificates are a much better alternative.
 
If you do something too lavish and costly some volunteers may wonder, if much money seems to have been spent -that perhaps they'd prefer a stipend instead.
 
More reasons to keep it simple!
 
Good luck and have fun! -Pam
 
 
In a message dated 9/27/2005 10:16:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
Dear all

We have a group of less than 10 volunteers whom we would like to show our
appreciation to ( a yearly affair).
In the past we had a gathering for both our students and adult volunteers
where we play ice breaking games followed by a buffet and a small
presentation ceremony.

This year, we do not have any student volunteers and will thus be doing one
only for the adults volunteers.

Anyone with any fine idea (on the sovenirs to give, the things to do, type
of venue etc) on what we can do to make the gathering a cosy and memorable
one?

The number we are looking at is about 10 volunteers plus another 15 to max
20 staff. We are a Centre which houses both storage facilities for
artefacts and conservation laboratories.

Any ideas big or small is much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Low Jyue Tyan
Asst Registrar
Heritage Conservation Centre
 
Pamela Silvestri, Museum Assistant
Northeast States Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
Shenipsit State Forest
166 Chestnut Hill Road
Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076
(860) 684-3430
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