lmcgill 0 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 :-) Hi, everyone. I need a little help it is time for Family Day at my facility and I was hoping that someone could give me some ideas and suggestion. My facility has 120 residents, last year we had snacks and played bingo, the year before I had kids from the school of music sing song's from the 60's and 70's. So this year I am looking for some suggestions. Please help me. Also, if you have a suggestion for Volunteer Appreciation Ex: What kind of speaker and a nice gift. Remember my Adminstrator do not want to spend no more than two to three hundred dlrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavenstar 0 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 For our volunteer appreciation-- we do a High Tea with an Oscar's theme. We give out awards for funniest, most hours a month, most helpful, most active, etc., The awards are toy figurines painted gold and set on an upside down plastic cup. It was really cute. The main award is for Volunteer of the Year and we get a glass trophy and engrave it. The residents vote on everything. We serve a dessert and tea. My budget is $200. I also make every volunteer a small certificate and put it in a cheap dollar store frame. But each year, my gifts are different. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StacieO 0 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 Our volunteer party consists of an afternoon of music, & a snack (usually a delicious cake from our dietary dept - they have some terrific cooks down there!) I have residents help w/ the party - it's their time to tell the volunteers thank you. I have a resident that greets them at the door & asks them to sign up for the door prize drawings, another gives them their gift (we've done everything from key rings to coffee mugs, to bumper stickers). Not an expensive gift, but it shows we appreciate them. Then, I have a couple of residents that read some poems about volunteering & my admin & myself both speak a bit. I have really good attendance & I think they appreciate it, & my residents appreciate being involved. I wish I could do a fabulous luncheon, but I have no place in my facility that would hold that many & my budget doesn't allow for an outside luncheon. Maybe when I win the lottery, I can foot the bill myself! Stacie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmcgill 0 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 :-) Thank you Stacie and Heavenly Star. I must say that the ideas sound great, but my adminstrator thinks that this Volunteer Aprreciation Luncheon is suppose to be as formal as the President Inauguration. Last year I had the State Representative come and this year he wants the Mayor to come. The only thing I that offends me is that the gifts we give are the less important thing we give that day. I feel the gift is the most important because it is something they can remember and have for a long time. Let me know if I am the only person working with an Adminstrator like this. Do not get me wrong he supports me and he is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StacieO 0 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 I really like to think my volunteers don't come back, time after time, & give of themselves for the gift we give them at their recognition party. I personally feel that it isn't the cost of the gift that should matter, it's the actual recognition of the volunteers & what they do. I really think it's super that your admin is that involved & wants it to be such an event (that isn't the case in my situation). I set the date, send him an email as to date & time & hope he comes - usually he does. Our gifts are very simple & don't cost that much - I usually purchase them through a company called, "Positive Promotions". They have some nice gifts for volunteers. We have had our residents make volunteer pins as well. Our facility has an Auxiliary that has also helped finance the party at our facility, do you have some resources like that? Would your family council be willing to donate some money? I hope that is of some help to you. Maybe I'm on the wrong track by thinking that the gift isn't the reason they come! I like to think they are getting something from the residents as well! Stacie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmcgill 0 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2005 :-) Oh Please! Do not get me wrong I have never thought they came only for the gifts. I just feel throughout the year the volunteers that come to the luncheon have given alot and I would like to feel that they know I appreciate them alot. The gifts we have given have been great, I guess when talking to my adminstrator is when I feel sometimes we are being cheap. He have things that he feels that is important in the home and majority of the time activities and voluteers are not one of them. I guess they way you described your administrator, I have no reason to talk. By the way the Family Council we have do not have more than three members at a facility that holds 125. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavenstar 0 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Too bad about it having to be so formal. But at least it gives the residents something to dress up for and feel honored and special. We only have $1.00 per resident when it comes to volunteer gifts, so one year, we did the whole" A paperclip for keeping it all together, a lifesaver for being one, a rubberband for being flexible... blah blah. I thought it was tacky and horribly cheap and would come accross that way, but instead, I got a lot of compliments-- the residents thought I made it up on my own. I also make certificates for each one-- on a postcard size. They collect them! Some have 27! Last year, I wrote something about each volunteer and show my appreciation to their dedication. While the first 5 went great, attention was lost quickly! Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pennie 26 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 Hi, There is also a couple of other postings about Volunteer recog. on the board. Try going to the home page and looking at the new postings or going to the other topic areas loking fo rthem. I posted several web sites that offer gifts at reasonable prices. even though you have a great admin. how about sending him something about how volunteers benefit the facility and staff as well as the res. It means that people in the community know of the facility and word of mouth can help or hurt the census status. Do some research on the net about volunteers. They have some sites that offer great wording, showing what all they do and how much they benefit everyone. You won't have anything to lose but everything to gain. Vol. are just as important as doctors in getting people in the door. Have you spoken to the PR people in your facility? I always work hand and hand with mine on these type of events. They get really involved and help with the cost of this event. They sometimes have more pull in the purse dept. with the admin. As far as Family Day when do you do this? How is the turn out on it? You might consider having a Hoe Down or western theme. Have hot dogs, C&W band/music, square dances could come in. Bales of hay & camp fire or draw one to look like it for deco. This type of party usually go well. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AggieTiff 0 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 For our family event, we have a band coming called "the kings of swing" and they will play...swing type of music and songs from their time. We are making it an elegant coctail type of party with hordorves (I know this is not spelled right but can not find my dictionary :roll: ), wine, etc and lots of dancing. The theme is "swing into spring". This is my first family event with this place and I am very excited for this to go well. Good luck with yours, I am sure you will have a great time. Tiffany Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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