Recognizing Volunteers
As a leader, your job is only half over once you recruit new members to your organization. The next and often more important task is to keep them involved. Recognizing volunteers in your organization will let them know they are an important, vital part of your organization. It will keep them involved, committed and active at the highest energy level.
Obviously, the president should be involved in recognition, but so should the committee chairpersons. Also, individual members can give a pat on the back to the organization president, other officers or members. Recognition is for everyone!
There are many things that members can be recognized for, including
- working on a successful program
- volunteering for the jobs that no one else wants to do
- demonstrating a positive, supportive attitude during a heated discussion
- being open to new ideas
- suggesting ideas for improvement in the organization
- taking on a tough challenge
- attending every meeting
- arriving on time to all meetings and events
- being a positive, enthusiastic member
Here are some ideas for recognizing your volunteers
- provide constructive feedback and explicitly say you appreciate them, and be specific about what they have done that you appreciate
- give members free event passes
- write thank-you notes
- plan social get-togethers
- give out carnations, lollipops, candy bars, balloons, etc., with notes of appreciation
- write a letter of recommendation and five the member a copy
- give members more challenging responsibilities to show that you trust them
- attend a programmer's event with the members
- recognize them in from of a board or committee meeting
- send a description of the member's accomplishments to their hometown papers
- send a letter of introduction to all university staff or faculty once members are elected
- have the president attend a committee meeting and personally thank committee members
- focus an organization newsletter article on the members
- give the members a reduced regional conference fee
- bring a snack to your next meeting
- host a dinner with a visiting entertainer
- create a committee member of the month award
- have an end-of-the-year reception for all members
- nominate members for university leadership awards
Another more formal method for member recognition is to host a member recognition/appreciation banquet. To further enhance the recognition, you might want to give out awards to members. These awards might be established awards, such as the Committee member of the Year Award, or they could be funny awards tailor-made to each member. An example of a humorous award could be the Ansel Adams "Picture Perfect Award" to the most organized committee leader.
When sponsoring an award ceremony or recognition banquet, try to have people give the awards who know the recipients and the work they have done. This will usually mean more to the person receiving the award. This person could be a supervisor, organization officer, organization advisor or peer. If you are planning to have a speaker at the ceremony, give more time to recognition of the members than to the speaker. You might consider giving several members an opportunity to say a few words about their experiences in the organization and share their words of wisdom, rather than bringing in an outside speaker.
Set the tone of the ceremony or banquet to the desires or needs of the organization and its members. For a laid-back organization , a dinner at a casual restaurant may be better than a high-class expensive one. But if the organization wants to have the ceremony at an elegant establishment and can afford it, then do it.
Member recognition is extremely important to maintain member involvement and promote members' felling of self-worth. Give recognition all year long to show members that the organization cares about them and that the entire organization appreciates their accomplishments.
Recognition Opportunities:
- Heart and Soul Award:
Given once each semester to an outstanding member of a student organization who has devoted a great deal of time and energy to the organization. - Student Organization of the Month:
Awarded every month to a student organization that holds an activity which is new, unique, or provides cultural enhancement and/or community service. - Treasurer of the Year:
Awarded annually to an outstanding treasurer in a student organization. - President of the Year:
An award to be presented annually to an exceptional president of a student organization. - Rookie of the Year:
An award given to an advisor in his or her first year of advising a student organization.