Society for Healthcare Volunteer Leaders

Monday, June 25, 2012 12:35 PM

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Message # 982130

Anonymous

I am curious as to how many people give out award pins each year for volunteer appreciation? We have done this for years and while I see the benefits, I am not 100% sure we want to continue. I knwo some of our volunteers will probably be upset if we discontinue.

I am trying to incorporate event volunteers and other community volunteers that are not typically counted in our recognition since many of these have not gone through orientation. To get their hours/years would be almost impossible at this point. Many of these community volunteers have been with us for years and I want to invite them to our celebration but am wondering about their service recognition. Thoughts?

Tuesday, June 26, 2012 8:54 AM

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Reply # 983007 on 982130

Carol Biagini (Administrator)

We continue to use service award pins. A majority wear them with great pride. There is one who questions the accuracy every year...There are some who never pick them up, but, they are the minority. We recycle the pins to cut down on cost. During March we collect them, put them into a sorting box after cleaning and reissue at the luncheon. Pastoral services was not included in the hours pins as they report to the chaplain...many complaints were received from the chaplain volunteers, hence, they are now included as well.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012 12:14 PM

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Reply # 983170 on 982130

Deleted user

I give out pins with number of years service. I give 1 year pins, 5 year pins, and 10 year pins. I had a group of my ladies (5) gold pins for service of 20 years or more. This was also for their retirement. For recognition of service for outstanding service (volunteer of the year) and for most hours I give a gift card with their picture displayed in the hospital.

Sure you know the volunteers LOVE pins! They look forward to getting their 1 year, 5 etc.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 9:29 AM

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Reply # 984422 on 982130

Anonymous

I think I too, may be lynched if I tried to discontinue service pins...but I am trying to get away from awarding just "year pins" and now include "hours served". That way I can include those who serve minimal hours (like pet therapy or ministers) and acknowledge their service at appropriate (but smaller) milestones. This also solves the argument about our students that may have been on the roll for a year, but only served a few months over summer and holiday.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 10:20 AM

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Reply # 984456 on 982130

Patricia Wright

We stopped pins many years ago when budgets were cut. Then we stopped having an awards dinner. Then we stopped all volunteer gifts. Now, they get a free meal each day they volunteer, get included in on all educational offerings and special events for employees, get free smock/shirt, get thanked.

Can't think of anything else.

Tuesday, July 03, 2012 10:18 AM

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Reply # 993822 on 982130

Denise Steffich

For Adults we continue to give hours pins, years of service pins and we also give the President's Service pin for those over 10,000 hours. For teens, we give hours pins to those who stay long enough the others get certificates with their hours of service listed & the teens get a gift appropriate for their age. For adults we have done away with trinket gifts but do still have a very nice luncheon during national volunteer week.

Tuesday, July 03, 2012 12:41 PM

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Reply # 993929 on 982130

Deleted user

We once gave patches (think stripes on a military uniform) as well as award pins. Haven't done either in years except for the 2 or 3 who actually kept up with them. Won't do it any more since we had a name change and we aren't going to order any more pins.

Since we are opening a new facility in about a month that doubles the size of our campus, our "volunteer event for the spring" was a reception and early bird tour. We didn't have any awards as a banquet would, and I haven't heard a single person ask about award winners, etc. So that might not reappear either next year.

Thursday, July 12, 2012 2:44 PM

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Reply # 1007348 on 982130

Anonymous

We don't even attempt to include episodic volunteers in our recognition efforts. The traditional volunteer who works weekly receives pins, annual banquet and a meal the day he or she works. The episodic folks receive extra tickets to the event they serve, and a note after the event recognizing/thanking them for the service they have performed.

Award Pins