Awards

Non-Profit Organizations Find Ways to Thank Volunteers

Good volunteers are hard to find. For all the good intentions of most of them, it’s rare to find ones who really throw themselves into the cause and go above and beyond expectations. However without a little acknowledgement from the organization, volunteers can feel taken for granted and get burned out. Here are a few ways you can show how much you appreciate the people who work for you.

Say Thank You

This should go without saying, but it’s surprising how many organizations forget this little bit of courtesy. This doesn’t mean the off the cuff “thanks” that we all toss out without thinking. When a volunteer does something exceptional, take the time out to express your gratitude. This reminds both the volunteer and yourself how important this person’s contributions are to the organization.

You can take it a step further and give them something material yet inexpensive. A handwritten note or card adds meaning to your gesture. E-cards are another free option that let you show your feelings toward your valuable workers.

Banquets

Arrange a party to show everyone how much you care. It gives everyone a chance to relax and have fun and doesn’t have to be expensive. Schedule a pot luck or see if you can find an organization that can donate food or party supplies. Make decorations that reflect your organization’s theme. For example, a charity that helps children might have pictures of the kids you’ve helped on the walls or at the tables.

There are lots of great themes that can make it feel like a real celebration and not just some boring company party. Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day, indoor “beach” parties, 50s nostalgia or other fun ideas make it a fun event.

Recognition Awards

Although non-profit organizations are often looking for ways to save money, sometimes it’s worth a few dollars to really make a statement about the value of your volunteers.

Engraved recognition awards give your special volunteer a keepsake they can treasure for years. You might choose a basic company award or spring for an elaborate crystal trophy. There are lots of affordable options out there.

Combine the last two ideas and present your recognition awards at a banquet in the recipient’s honor. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate affair but the volunteers will appreciate the extra step you take.

Whatever you choose to do, find some way to let your volunteers know how much they are worth to you. Even dedicated people may move on to organizations where they are more appreciated. Contrary to popular belief, volunteers aren’t unpaid workers. They are employees who have chosen to accept compensation in less tangible forms such as job satisfaction and appreciation for their efforts.

Don’t undervalue these members of your organization. Whether you opt for recognition awards or simple pats on the back, let them know how you really feel.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on recognition
awards, visit http://www.Allstar-Awards.com/.

Creative and Unique Gift Shopping Ideas

Gift shopping is fun but some people can be hard to shop for! From the person who has everything to people you just don’t know very well, there are lots of clever and interesting gift ideas for everyone out there.

Recognition Awards

Sometimes we just want something simple that tells someone what they mean to us. However when our sentiments are expressed with tacky, mass-produced items the personal message is often is lost in the translation. Just how many “World’s Greatest Mom” mugs does one person need?

Instead, consider a recognition awards such as an inscribed crystal trophy. Not only does this create a breathtaking and memorable gift but you can inscribe it with a personal message that will carry more meaning than some stock phrase will.

Companies that offer employee recognition awards are a great place to find these types of gifts. When searching for personal gifts, these traditional employee recognition awards can take on an entirely new meaning. How about a “Friend of the Year” plaque to be presented at a birthday ceremony. Or, if you don’t want your other friends to get jealous, try “Susan of the Year” or “Best Golfer on Main Street”.

Photo Books

Digital photography is great. It allows us to always be ready to snap a picture or two (or two hundred) at any event. It’s easy to toss out the ones that don’t turn out and have a collection of photographic memories.

The problem is that most people seldom look at their digital photos. Maybe a special one will get put up as your computer wallpaper or emailed to friends, but generally they get looked at once or twice then forgotten. Most of us are tactile people. We want something we can hold in our hands. We want photo albums that we can flip through on the sofa with our family around us.

Most digital photography sites offer more than just the ability to print out your photos. Photo book software has become incredibly sophisticated, making it easy to create customized gifts that are professionally produced. You can not only create the perfect album of memories but you can create a different, unique album for each person on your gift list.

Put your photos on a calendar, coffee mug, even a real postage stamp to create stunning presents unlike anything else.

Make Your Own Gifts

Are you a great cook? Bake cookies or make a book of your recipes. Do people think you have a nice voice? Record a book on tape. Do you like to work on cars? Give friends coupons for your free auto services. Write an adventure tale featuring your children. You don’t have to be a great writer and they’ll be thrilled to be the story’s heroes.

Recognition awards, photo books, homemade gifts – the possibilities are endless. This year, make a commitment to steer clear of the boxes of stale candy and Target gift certificates and give gifts that people will really remember.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on
recognition awards, visit
http://www.allstar-awards.com/.

Different Entertainment Memorabilia Sources

There are different Entertainment/Memorabilia sources in the world because everyone has a different opinion on what is entertaining and what piece of memorabilia would constitute such a memorable event that it would be significant enough to earn a place in history. The Entertainment/Memorabilia item is generally associated with a person, place or thing.

The different Entertainment/Memorabilia sources are generated by catastrophic events such as the attack on the World Trade Center. These are solemn events that nobody wants to profit from but public generosity still reached out to support the family ties of the people who were killed on that fateful day in all locations of the United States where the tragedy hit hardest. Every part of the World Trade Center is treasured because lives are connected to those pieces.

While some memorabilia is connected to the death of an individual, other items that are just as memorable are associated to the accomplishments of the individual while they were alive. The different Entertainment/Memorabilia sources could come from personal items because these items connected with the person in a very personal way. The value placed on these items changes over time, but generally spikes around a birthday or an anniversary.

The movie industry has generated a considerable amount of memories over the years. Some of these memories created Entertainment/Memorabilia items from the large buildings used in the movie sets such as The Empire State Building. A historical building is tied with historical significance that is real and associated with a fantasy. A King Kong poster is valued by collectors more than a post card of the building dated at the same time.

Some of the different Entertainment/Memorabilia sources come from the props used in movies. The planes and guns used in war movies have both Entertainment and Memorabilia value attached to them. All of these items are now considered museum pieces and people pay to visit them and recall past experiences with family and friends. Gun collector’s display the tools of death and mayhem on their walls.

Some people would place amusement parks in both categories. They have different Entertainment/Memorabilia sources because so many people from so many walks of life have visited them. Some people chose to spend their honeymoons at an amusement park. The honeymoon experience will stay memorable and offer historical value on a personal level.

The amusement park would not fit into a museum so the world compensates and places greater significance on the creator and the characters that he created. Disney Entertainment/Memorabilia is very collectible and nobody ever thought a friendly mouse and a duck named Donald would ever bring such interest or cause people to pay such high prices to spend the day with them.

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Military Medals from World War II to the Present

I would like to know what types of duties you receive medals for. My students have also come up with some questions. What is the highest ranking Medal you can get? Are there different types of Medals for each branch of the military? For each task or assignment, would there be a different Medal of Honor? Do you know any resources (books, magazines, websites) we can use to further our research?

The highest medal an American Military person can get is the Medal of Honor. Some call it the Congressional Medal of Honor, but the proper name is just “Medal of Honor”. I suggest you read some of the citations for the Medal of Honor, you will be awed at what these men have done.

There are different types of medals for each branch of the military, as well as the Coast Guard. This gets a bit complicated at times. Think of the awarding of medals like a pyramid: the highest, the Medal of Honor, is at the top. Although each branch of the service has a differently designed MOH, they are the same award. Next down is the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross. This is also a valor award. Following that is a whole slew of other medals awarded for “Meritorious performance of duty” that don’t necessarily involve combat. The next highest valor award is the Silver Star followed by the Bronze Star (with ‘V’ means Valor, without ‘V’ means meritorious service). Each branch then has its own Commendation medals, the Army Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. These can also have a “V” attached, for Valor in combat. Lastly, there are the Achievement Medals, Army Achievement, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement, Air Force Achievement, Coast Guard Achievement medals. They can also have “V” affixed, denoting Valor.

Notice how the pyramid works – the braver the act, the higher the award. You don’t have to get the others to get the Medal of Honor. (Some countries do this, most notably Germany during WWII; but suffice to say a soldier had to earn each level of the pyramid before moving on to the next. The highest German medal, somewhat equivalents to our Medal of Honor, was the Knights Cross to the Iron Cross).

For each task or assignment, there would be only 1 Medal of Honor. However, there are very few people who have ever gotten a second Medal of Honor, and most of them were given out during the time period of the Civil War to World War 1. No second award of the Medal of Honor has been given since then. Usually, once someone wins the MOH, they are pulled from the combat zone.

The pyramid was instituted around the WWII time period, basically because it was felt that some acts of valor were of a higher level than others, and vice versa, so they needed a medal to recognize them. There is also the topic of Campaign Medals, awarded for participation in a certain action or theatre of operations. The WWII period produced 5 of these types of awards.

1. The American Defense Service Medal: basically awarded to draftees and volunteers who served prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

2-4. American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medals: Awarded for service in these theatres of war. The American Campaign medal was for service in the area of the United States

5. World War 2 Victory Medal: awarded to any serving member of the military during the time period of WWII.

Finally, as to awards, most veterans of WWII came home with at least 2 medals, usually more. Contrast this to today military, who typically sport 13-15 medals after a tour in the combat zone.

The medals/ribbons that a WWII Army veteran of the European Campaign would typically have. Good Conduct Medal (awarded for staying out of trouble for 3 years, not a valor award), European Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal. If the vet was an active infantryman (most guys were not, it takes about 100 men to support the guy with the rifle in the foxhole), he may have a Bronze Star (every Infantryman in WWII was issued a Bronze Star Medal in late 1944 for combat service). He would also have a Combat Infantryman Badge, which is a Kentucky flintlock rifle on a blue enamel background, surrounded by a wreath. This signified the man had been in combat. Chances are he may have a Purple Heart as well; this medal is awarded for wounds (or death) due to enemy action (you don’t have to be in the Infantry to get it).

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.WarGear.info/. WarGear.info carries the best selection of military clothing, war gear, and combat accessories on the market.