Our "FUN"derful Volunteers

Our “Fun-derful Volunteers

Inexpensive “fun” ways to recognize and reward volunteers!

Yvonne Petersen – Volunteer CoordinatorArizona Museum of Natural History

Why do people volunteer?Answer a need To feel good about one’s self Give back to the community Develop new talents Make new friends Learn new things deepen ones sense of belonging Set a good example Keep active Feel a sense of accomplishment Enrich one’s life Get Service learning hours

“I volunteer to be recognized and rewarded!”

Any of us, including volunteers will work harder and give better ideas if our efforts are appreciated.

"Feeling appreciated is one of the most important needs that people have. When you share with someone your appreciation and gratitude, they will not forget you. Appreciation will return to you many times."

Steve Brunkhorst

VOLUNTEERSaren’t paid because they are worthless,

but because they are PRICELESS!

No Cost Recognition Ideas

$0

• Greet by name…• Give personal compliments• Respect sensitivities• Put up a volunteer suggestion box…follow

through with suggestion…

• Hold rap sessions• Keep challenging them• Give additional responsibility• Enlist to train other volunteers• Send newsworthy information to the media

• Include in Newsletters & Member Newsletters• Say, “We missed you.”• Write recommendations• Praise them to their friends/parents/spouse• Give opportunities for volunteers to recognize the efforts of

other volunteers

Above and BeyondRecognize a fellow volunteer who has gone the extra mile

Name of volunteer

Has goneAbove and Beyond by:___________________________________________________________From________________

Form

• Motivate all staff to converse with volunteers• Defend against hostile or negative staff• Persuade “personnel” to equate volunteer

experience with work experience

Staff Buy In

Why volunteers are important to Your Museum

Give specific examples

• With all the budget /staff cuts, museum would not be able to open its doors without volunteers

• Compass Point in City Management

Why people volunteer at your museum

Give specific reasons …

• To support the community• To learn or develop new skills• To share their talents and knowledge• To meet new people• To earn school service learning hours

Volunteers are not slaves or robots

Our volunteers will do any thing they are asked,But…We need to make sure we are fulfilling the

volunteer’s needs as well as the needs of the museum…

Treatment of Volunteers

• Give them respect• Listen to our volunteers• Empower our volunteer

Arizona Museum of Natural

History Vocabulary

Archaeology

.SWAT: Southwest Archaeology

Team Artifact

AzMNH: Arizona Museum of

Natural History

AzMNH Foundation:.

AzMNH Guild:

Volunteer Orientation Packet

Tell your staff what is told to the volunteersVolunteer policies and procedures

Safety and Emergency Procedures

Responsibilities of the Arizona

Museum of Natural History Staff to

Volunteer

When you are no longer

volunteering for the AzMNH you

must turn in your Volunteer ID

badge and your parking pass.

Arizona Museum of Natural History

Volunteer Orientation

Volunteer Code of Ethics

Volunteer Responsibilities and

Expectations

Your Rights as a Volunteer

Parking

Dress Code

Public areas of the museum

Caution Staff

Keep problems and issues about museum leadership, other staff members, decisions made by other staff or ill tempers away from the volunteers.

A bad attitude from a staff member can spread through volunteers faster than the swine flue in a closed room!

All staff should show appreciation to volunteers

Volunteer Perks at the AzMNH• Free admission to museum with ID badge• For every 50 hours of service receive two guest

passes• Four General Guild (volunteer) programs a year• Attendance to General Guild meeting/receive 1 guest

pass• Receive a 15% discount on all items purchased in the

Museum Store• Invited to opening receptions and continuing

education programs

Easy and Simple Recognition Ideas

• Send cards– Birthday– Get Well– Special Thanks– Thinking of You– Personal Note– Seasonal Cards

Thank You!

Thank You!

Thank You!

Thank You!

Thank You!

Your help was out of this world!

Home School Daywas a great success

because of you!

Mars! Home School Day Program

Have a volunteer make them…

Put a volunteer in charge of birthday card distribution…

A month before volunteer can:•Put birthday cards together•Address them•Date them

E-mail & E-cards

Appreciation Postersin public and/or private areas of the

museum

Mine are always pretty “Punny”

No “Bones” about it…Our Paleo Volunteers

are the best!

AzMNH VolunteersHave real

Spirit!

Door into Volunteer Office

Appreciation Signswhere volunteer hours are recorded

AzMNHVolunteers Inspire By

Example!

We Succeed

Because of You!

Ded·i·cat·ed1 displays passion for everything they do 2 understands their part in the success of the museum 3 goes the extra mile to get the job done 4 AzMNH Volunteers!

Have “Volunteers in Action”Displays

Where?•Public areas•Volunteer areas•Break rooms

What? •Pictures on bulletin boards •Tri fold display boards•Digital Frames•On web site•Face Book•Newsletters

Volunteer Holiday Tree Take a picture of each of your volunteers

Scrapbooked the pictures onto a 3" x 6" strip of stiff paper

Punched holes at the top for string or ribbon

Hang them on the tree in your lobby for all visitors to enjoy!

Note: Taking the photo’s will be time consuming so start early!

Provide Small Treats/Snacks

Volunteer /Break room area: Bowl of candyMaintain a coffee barBottles of WaterGranola Bars

We D-éclair, you are wonderful volunteers!

We “donut” know what we would do with out you!

There is “Muffin” like a volunteer like you!

Give Individual Treatsor to groups

Candy and TreatsM&M’s: AzMNH Volunteers are Mighty &

Marvelous!Reisens: There are many REISENS why we think

you are a great volunteer!Mounds: Thank you for the MOUNDS of service

you give us!Don’t “Snicker”, but be-”Twiks” you and me we

think you are a wonderful volunteer! Have a “Grand” day!

Thank you Assort -MINT

Thanks for your commit-”mint”Thanks for your encourage-”mint”Thanks for your involve-”mint”Thanks for your invest-”mint” of timeIt is such an enjoy-”mint” to have you as a

volunteerThank for helping to create a nice environ-”mint”

Coming up with your own ideas..This is not a “pun-ishment”.

• Pear• Pasta• Gum• Soda

Honor Volunteers duringNational Volunteer Week

Continental Breakfast with the Director or other VIP

Tom

Plan Annual Ceremonial Occasions

Refreshment Ideas Ice cream sundae bar Salsa Bar Desert Bar Super Subway Sandwich Salad Bar Italian Soda Bar with crackers & cheese Pot luck

Volunteers are the key

to our success!

You are the Key

to Our Success

With out you many doors & projects of the museum would have been shut. Your volunteer actions are the key that helps us keep them opened.

Front of InvitationKey chain with the Museum Logo was attached to above card

Use a theme

YOU

A treasure map sent us searching for a jewel hard to find.

One that’s truly priceless because it’s polished and refined.

As you reveal your sparkling qualities it’s obviously true; X marks the spot for treasure

and…

...the treasure is you!

AzMNH

Programming at Recognition Event Special Key Note Speaker Recognition # of hours given

*Acknowledge 2 or more volunteers from one house hold.

Special recognition given by Director Entertainment Fun Skits done by staff Slide show of volunteers Present thoughts, poems or stories

about volunteering

A champagne glass filled with Hershey's kisses -- write on the glass "A toast to a job well done!“ It looks very elegant

Big Chocolate Bar Wrapped with Personal Message

A framed quote relating to volunteerism for volunteers to put on their desk or hang on the wall.

A small plant: “Thanks for continuing to help us grow!”

Tape measure- It’s easy to measure the difference you’ve made at the AzMNH! You’re amazing!

Inexpensive Event Gifts

Permanent marker - You've made a lasting and permanent contribution to our Museum

Highlight Marker -You are a highlight at the museum

Candle - Present a candle with a card saying "No one can hold a candle to you!”

Bag of Micro-wave popcorn/or a bag of specialty popped corn- Popcorn is a kernel of corn that went the EXTRA

mile…AzMNH Volunteers are people that go the EXTRA mile!

Door Prize Donations

Where to find Recognition Saying and Ideas

• Do a lot of modeling… (education-museum jargon for copying)

Modeling ideas from: Baudville Greetings www.baudvill.com Positive Promotions

www.positivevolunteers.com

Other Resources• Energize Inc www.energizeinc.com• Volunteer Connection

www.volunteerconnection.net• Seattle Schools www.seattleschools.org• eHow-How to Do Just about Everything

www.ehow.com• More Volunteers morevolunteers.com