EMC234 - Volunteer Awards

Good program directors have the DEDICATION to make certain that their volunteers get the recognition they deserve. The time, effort, and money spent on such recognition ALWAYS returns many times over when done wisely and honestly.

One national program that has outstanding recognition of its volunteers is the American Red Cross. Just pick up any of their chapter papers. I recall my mother's participation in the ARC in the Los Angeles/Culver City area. She coordinated the Blood Bank and received the Clara Barton Award as a result. It meant a lot to her, that award. She was in her late 80's when it was awarded in recognition of long years of service, dedication and hard work.

The same principal applies to any volunteer unit. One such unit is that of the Huntington Beach, CA, RACES. Its awards for l999 were reported in the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Newsletter for March 2000. Note the interesting categories:

• Management Team Volunteer of the Year
• City Volunteer of the Year
• Outstanding Service Awards
  • -Most Inspirational
  • -Baker to Vegas (event)
  • -Digital Communication
  • -Repeater Trustee
• RACES Outstanding Project of the Year
  • 12 awards for Baker to Vegas (event)
• Partners in Preparedness
  • Most Hours served (818)
  • Over 700 Hours (715)
  • Over 300 Hours (363)
  • Over 200 Hours (7 people)
  • Over 100 Hours (7 others)
  • Special Appreciation to 6 participants
  • Good Samaritan to 5 participants

While these specific awards may not be usable in your EMCOMM unit perhaps it will provide ideas and suggestions.

The Newsletter ALSO listed awards to CERT members (not RACES)

• Outstanding Service,
• Most valuable Person
• Most hours served (1106) Others with 805, 715, 624, over 400, 300, 200, 100 hours
• Exceptional person
• Founding member
• Above and Beyond
• Shake rattle and roll
• Up and coming
• Special Appreciation
• Instructor of the Year
• Team of the Year
• Youth volunteer of the year
• Youth volunteer "in training"
• Senior volunteer
• Special Training Awards
• "Friends of CERT"
• Specialty Teams
  • Communications Team
  • First Aid Training Team
  • Search & Rescue Training Team
  • Shelter Team
  • Senior Response Team
• Special Recognition
  • Movers & Shakers (15)
  • Tremor (18)
  • Emergency Services - Project of the Year (8)

It is also important to include in a unit's monthly newsletter some notice of volunteer activity. The CERTS newsletter includes an article on, and a photo of, the Volunteers of the Month. They were selected by the CERT Management Team and the Emergency Services Office. That is ACTIVE effective MANAGEMENT of the VOLUNTEERS.