Reading this all of the points are well taken.
However, we need to remember everybody likes to be thanked. In fact that is a large part of leadership- thanking people (that donate items, time, or money) for their support of the organization.
Most board members do the lion's share of the work in most PTAs and PTOs- and it is little enough to thank them publically. It does not have to elaborate- but it goes a long way toward letting people know their efforts are valued.
I try to let my board know they are valued all through the year- but I give them a bouquet of flowers at the last general meeting (our elections). The new board members (being installed) get one flower each (kind of symbolic- this one flower will grow into a bouquet throughout the next year).
Remember- if we publically thank people, it shows others we appreciate a job well done, and their dedication.
I recieved a pen one year out of the six I have been an officer and that pen means so much to me. Sure the Thank yous and praise is nice but I can't show my parents 600 miles away that I am appreciated. It may sound shallow but noone has ever offered flowers etc to thank me or just because....okay I got flowers when I had a baby.
djbla- I would check into another charm for the bracelet but make it more yours by personalize it. Crystals are so popular, maybe even in the school's colors. What about a charm that signs thank you in sign language?
I was just having this discussion with my VP today! We are having a HUGE gala auction next weekend and I was asking my VP if she thought it was OK if I bought the chairman and the co-chairman some flowers and thanked them publicly at the event. They have worked on this like it was a JOB and they deserve much more than flowers but we are going to recognize them at the event and I think they deserve it...
Shelly
Thank you all for your input. It's very interesting to read all the different views. In some ways, I agree with all of you! THe gifts I would like to purchase for the executive board are not coming out of the PTA budget....it's coming from me personally. However, the gifts for the outgoing board come out of my Pres. Discretionary fund. Yes, we all know why we volunteer, but it is nice to receive some sort of recognition for all the hard work. After all, if it wasn't for my board, the PTA wouldn't be as successful as it is. I'm off to ponder all the ideas...thanks again!
