Demonstrate appreciation and recognition
· Have a steak dinner and publicly recognize volunteers with plaques and remembrances
· Smile
· Have a picnic for all volunteers during the finals to thank them and their families, with a hand-written note signed by the director
· Verbal or email appreciation following the event
· Mention most active staff/volunteers to Board of Directors at their quarterly meetings—then ask them to speak with those staff/volunteers
· Proactively recognize and thank people
· Thank you notes and phone calls
· Mention publicly their name “a job well done” in front of committee
· Volunteers work for trinkets—shirts, sweaters, caps, and most of all love
· Fax or call and thank people for their help
· Recognize publicly as well as privately
· Awards in front of people
· When appropriate, thank individuals in front of group
· Thank yous at the end of each committee meeting to those attending (including conference calls)
· Speak to the member and say thank you with feeling
· Recognition service or volunteer appreciation pins
· Volunteer party
· A “#1” statue (award) to local league coordinators for the most growth in the state—it’s like our “Oscar”
· During event, ongoing smile, along with “thank you” and “may I get you anything?”
· Written thank you (not group email)
· Publicize their name as many ways as possible: website, newsletters, etc.
· Give them gifts at each meeting
· Personal “thank you” phone call versus typical email for committee member completing a special task
· Holiday card noting contribution and expressing appreciation
· Say thank you both verbally and in writing
· Give personal time to volunteer to show appreciation for their personal commitment
· Recognize by name the “worker bees” by publishing their name in committee minutes
· A few little chocolates, a Starbucks card, etc.—small cost, much enjoyed
· In meetings, recognize people by name with some word of praise for a specific contribution
· Your time and effort is most appreciated—here’s your next assignment
· Provide USTA and USTA section logo wear to volunteers and staff
· Send money and gifts
· Send birthday cards and holiday cards with personal note
· Weekly or monthly phone calls
· Give committee volunteers at all levels, including local and section, the opportunity to attend national meetings—do not discriminate between national and other volunteers
· Create a system to acknowledge volunteer contribution that can be expected to occur each year
· Send a thank you note with a pack of Lifesaver candy to show appreciation to a volunteer that helped us in a crunch
· Surprise recognition or “retire” a volunteer in the Hall of Fame
· Allow a committee member to highlight his or her achievement
· Public recognition of the successes or contributions of a committee member to an assigned task (particularly among their peers)
· Give surprise recognition plaque to event coordinator
· Give a gift, shirt, or other token of appreciation
· Restate what someone suggests and move the discussion on the point forward
· Print out certificates of appreciation with section logo, sign and distribute to volunteers
· Refer media inquiries to volunteers at an event
· Give awards at section annual meeting
· Call and check with committee chairs periodically, and send welcome and thank you letters at beginning and ending of term
· Personal gifts that demonstrate knowledge of volunteer’s personal interest (i.e., baseball tickets for a baseball fan)
· Using a printer, make personalized (name of volunteer) thank you notes with USTA logo to use to send to others
· Get volunteers’ names and addresses correct in databases—this is recognition at a minimum
· Buy a drink for “after hours” hard work
· Send an email every time a member does something special and copy the whole committee
· Give volunteers the opportunity to explore and develop their ideas—do not put them on a short chain
· Give a tennis mug to outstanding volunteers with a framed photo
· Gift certificate for Sunday brunch for volunteer and spouse
Ideas compiled at the 2003 USTA Semi-Annual Meeting
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