April 19 through April 25 is National Volunteer Week. Organizations of all types and all over the country will be hosting events to publicly recognize their volunteers. Below are some tips for recognizing your volunteer(s) during such an important week.

Recognize a “Volunteer of the Month” in your newsletter or on your Web site. Include information why the volunteer received this type of recognition. Include photos of them volunteering as well.

Recognize volunteer contributions in the newspaper and/or office memo(s)

Honor the first volunteer recruited during National Volunteer Week. Give this volunteer special prizes or recognition.

Create a National Volunteer Week yearbook, display it in a library, courthouse lobby or another public office. You can also create a display or exhibit at a local public office.

Ask local radio and television stations to run a week-long series that recognizes a different volunteer for each day of National Volunteer Week.

Promote an essay contest for those that have been on the receiving end of volunteers.

Develop a relationship with a local merchant that will recognize and give discounts to your volunteers during the week of April 19 through April 2.

Have a “hats off to volunteers day.” All your employees can wear their favorite (fun or normal) hat to work one day out of that week and tip it at each volunteer they see out of respect for their service.

Or, you can nominate a special volunteer for the North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service!

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2009 North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. This award is coordinated by The Volunteer Center of Randolph County.

This year marks the 31st anniversary of this program that showcases North Carolina’s most dedicated volunteers out of the Office of the Governor.

Each county selects five individuals, businesses and/or groups to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to their communities. One of the five recipients will be nominated to receive the N.C. Outstanding Volunteer Medallion. A local committee evaluates the nominations.

If you are interested in nominating someone you think is an outstanding volunteer during Volunteer Appreciation Week, contact me at (336) 626-6643 or e-mail me at amy@uwrandolph.org.

However you choose to recognize your volunteers, the most important part of whatever you choose to do, is to let those individuals that give their time know how much they mean to you and your organization’s mission.



Amy Byrd is coordinator of the Volunteer Center of Randolph County, a program of United Way. If you would like to volunteer, call (336) 626-6643.