Our district used to have volunteer appreciation nights where each school kept track of who volunteered throughout the year be it in the library, classrooms, PTO etc. They would have coffee and snacks and would give each person a appreciation certificate and a small gift (key ring, paper etc). When that become very huge they had each building handle their own night. It happened once and even though the PTO was not suppose to handle any of it we did, but it seemed silly for us to do all the work to appreciate ourselves! I would love to see the staff and teachers do something small for the PTO sometime, I don't feel comfortable spending PTO funds on it's own volunteers. I have never felt that the people volunteering were "my" volunteers we ALL volunteer for the same reason...for the betterment of our kids!
I agree it's the thought that counts. We had the same discussion today concerning volunteer and teacher/staff appreciation. Personally being involved in fundraising I'd rather receive a kind word or a thank you rather than see money from parents club that should be going to students go to gift certificates or plaques to volunteers. I've been volunteering for over 25 years so I'm to the point I do it for the personal satisfaction and for my children, but appreciation even if just a kind word, a candy, a thought, is always warranted.
I'm sending some great, inexpensive ideas via your email - called Volunteer Survival Kits, as well as other ideas that are titled 100+ Teacher gifts. It's important that you remember - they are not exclusive to teachers - but with a bit of creativity - you can reword and idea to fit a gift for your volunteers.
Take care of those volunteers - and keep letting them know how much you appreciate them.
Also thought you might be interested in bookmarking an area that I've put on our Council PTA website. fen.com/tx/gcisdcouncilptas
go to: Words to Inspire
check out the areas for:
Volunteer Appreciation
Sometimes instead of giving them a gift - you might just take one of the Volunteer poems and copy and paste it onto a pretty stationary, then tape to it, a small Andes mint or someting like that small sweet candy. Then give them to them at a meeting or dinner.......of course sign it at the bottom, from the PTA / PTO board at (name of school) - and that's where your little mint could be applied too!
I am PTO President and this year I want to recognize my PTO Volunteers and I need some ideas on how. I am thinking of having a free dinner for them and handing out certificates and giving my thanks. What do you think? Do you have anymore ideas? Please tell me your ideas. Thank you.
