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!)