How do you want to be thanked when you volunteer?

[Alexandra 55]

When you devote time to an organization, how important is it to you to get some sort of official "thank you" from the group? Is it something you think the organization should be spending its time/resources on? Or would you be satisfied with the personal thanks from people you actually come in contact with through your service to the group? Or do you expect both?

I have no personal axe to grind but I'm wondering what other people think. I am both an employee of such an organization and a volunteer for a different one, and so am on both sides of this equation. I've heard a lot of different thoughts and am trying to get a larger sense of the issue.

What do you expect in return when you provide unpaid services to an organization you care about (and probably pay into)? Anything? Nothing? Preprinted thanks from the faceless administration? A personal note from a staffer you may or may not have ever met or communicated with? A personal note from your direct supervisor? The president of the group? A gift? Would an e-card send the message effectively while saving the group money (essentially, YOUR money), or would the tackiness of that overwhelm the sentiment?

What say you, wise peeps?

[Teresajo 0]

When ever I'm in charge of a volunteer event, this is the thank you I send to everyone who helped. I've been sending this out for over 12 years. I put it on happy paper, and always write something personal on each one.

Many may be shocked to find,

When the day of judgement nears,

That there's a special place in

heaven set aside for volunteers.

Furnished with big recliners,

Satin couches and footstools;

When there's no committee chairman,

No group leaders or car pools.

No eager team that needs a coach,

No bazaar and no bake sale;

There will be nothing to staple,

Not one thing to fold or mail.

Telephone lists will be outlawed,

But a finger-snap will bring,

Cool drinks and gourmet dinners

And rare treats fit for a king. You ask, who'll serve these privileged

few and work for all they're worth?

All those who reaped the benefits,

And not once volunteered on Earth.

[IndioGirl55 32]

When you devote time to an organization, how important is it to you to get some sort of official "thank you" from the group? Is it something you think the organization should be spending its time/resources on? Or would you be satisfied with the personal thanks from people you actually come in contact with through your service to the group? Or do you expect both?

I have no personal axe to grind but I'm wondering what other people think. I am both an employee of such an organization and a volunteer for a different one, and so am on both sides of this equation. I've heard a lot of different thoughts and am trying to get a larger sense of the issue.

What do you expect in return when you provide unpaid services to an organization you care about (and probably pay into)? Anything? Nothing? Preprinted thanks from the faceless administration? A personal note from a staffer you may or may not have ever met or communicated with? A personal note from your direct supervisor? The president of the group? A gift? Would an e-card send the message effectively while saving the group money (essentially, YOUR money), or would the tackiness of that overwhelm the sentiment?

What say you, wise peeps?

I wouldn't call myself a wise peep - but - if you volunteer and the people you are helping are saying thank you - wouldn't that be enought?? You are volunteering and I guess that's the "word" for me = you are doing this cuz you want to - out of the goodness of your heart - you aren't doing this just to get props from others in the orginaztion.

With that being said - if I was an adminstrator of such an group - I would maybe have a little lunch to thank the regular volunteers - I guess it would depend on how big your group is - Do you know the adminstrators??? - I have volunteered for a local shelter - I did it cuz I am so blessed not to be in the position to use a shelter - I did it cuz I wanted to - to give back not for the thanks. But again - It's wasn't an everyday thing..

just my 2 cents ....

[Alexandra 55]

Terasajo, that's a lovely sentiment and I'm sure anyone would be thrilled to get it.

The organization I work for is not a charitable group; it's a professional trade association that relies mostly on its members to keep it going. There is a small paid staff (of which I am the boss), and everyone else is a volunteer. I don't get people in our group saying they want to be thanked for serving on a committee (for example)--who, exactly, would thank them? Themselves? The Board of Directors should be thanked by the members, if you ask me--it's a demanding job and they get very little in return besides the credit on their resumes.

Sorry, I guess I'm venting. It's a perennial topic of conversation and there is no one right answer. For now we've settled on sending an e-card to various committee chairs and board members. The card was "signed" by the Board of Directors and me, the executive director, so quite a few got a thank you from themselves.

[steph_co 9]

Hmm. I'm trying to think of something similar to what you're talking about. I did many volunteer hours for a non-charitable group. This included working late into the night and being up very early. A grueling schedule. It was a training company. The work itself was very rewarding. It never occurred to me to expect a thanks, honestly. It was an honor to serve for them. But that may have been a special circumstance considering the nature of their work.

If I were to volunteer for our local group that helps families through the holidays, I guess a simple thank you from the people would be okay with me (but not really expected). If I had more than one day off for the entire month of December, I would be volunteering.

The only way I can think to relate it is if my job needed me to volunteer hours... An e-note would be fine. I would think that people wouldn't volunteer their time if they didn't enjoy the work. Hence, the work itself can be a reward. But I guess what I'm saying is that I feel that the email you send out is a nice gesture.

[DerickM 1]

i want to be paid