This post comes from Lori Jean Mantooth, Director of Training Programs at HandsOn Network
National Volunteer Week begins on April 10th, and it’s a good time for all of us to stop and think about how we show appreciation to others. Maybe your local Starbucks barista made you the best chai latte known to man. Maybe your sister let you have the last slice of carrot cake. Maybe you know some volunteers who gave their time and their hearts to change lives.
You can thank someone with a smile and a few words, a formal banquet, or anything in between. It’s the meaning behind it that makes the impact. It’s the effort you put into showing that person how much you appreciate his or her act of kindness.
Think about the last time someone thanked you. What was your reaction? For most of us, a simple expression of gratitude can make us feel appreciated and cared about. It encourages us to repeat whatever it was that generated that reaction.
It’s the same with volunteers. Recognition is how we show volunteers that we value their contributions and the things they do to make a difference in the community. It’s so important that recognition is a staple of every volunteer management book, training, blog, article, discussion, or website.
That’s why, for a few days each April, we celebrate the power of service during National Volunteer Week. We focus our collective energy on recognizing those who serve. It’s a powerful testament to the impact that millions of volunteers have on our lives.
Voltaire said, “Appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” And isn’t that what volunteering is all about – building community, coming together to do something good? So take time this April to say thanks to all those around you who serve.
Also check out these cool thank you e-cards from our friends at Volunteer Canada!
Tonight NBC Broadcasts “All Together Now: A Celebration of Service” at 8 p.m. EDT
Tonight the Points of Light Institute Tribute “All Together Now: A Celebration of Service” will air at 8:00 p.m. EDT on NBC. We invite you to watch this uplifting program with family and friends. These are some photo highlights from the special evening that focused on national service and volunteerism.
Kid Rock Performs at the Tribute (David Hume Kennerly/Getty Image)
Click here to read an oped by Michelle Nunn and Patrick Corvington, published today in the Huffington Post, “A Tribute to George H. W. Bush’s Legacy of Service.”
Let us know how the event touched and inspired you by joining our Facebook community and posting photos and/or videos from your watching party.
You can also view behind the scenes photos from the event here.
Finally, if you’re a Twitter user, you can tweet live with us tonight by following the #POLTribute hashtag.
Gabrielle and Aiden Levy of Caring Kids Cards Attend Tribute event “All Together Now: A Celebration of Service”
Today’s guest post is written by Gabrielle Levy, co-founder of Caring Kids Cards,
a third grader in Fairfax, Virginia who started volunteering when she was three years old.
event in 2005. We had lots of fun making cards and liked doing it. We decided we wanted to send cards to other places, like senior centers, the military and hospitals. We feel happy to be making the cards because we know people will enjoy them and the cards will put a smile on people’s faces.
One day my brother and I were contacted by Points of Light Institute to be filmed for the Tribute event “All Together Now: A Celebration of Service.” Before we were chosen I talked to the producer about my experience with volunteering and how I became motivated. The filming was in New York. It was exciting because I was never in New York City before.
After we went to New York our segment was cut. I was pretty upset about it. But it was not about being on T.V. it is about making a difference!!
We are glad we were able to go to the event at the Kennedy Center. To get ready for the event we made cards.
David Hume Kennerly Photo
When we arrived at the Kennedy Center we went to a VIP reception. President George H. W. Bush gave a speech. After he was done with the speech my brother and I gave him
we made. He appreciated the cards. We took a picture with him. Then President George H. W. Bush shared the cards with Mrs. Bush. I will share those pictures of us with President George H. W. Bush with people when I talk to them about volunteering.
After the reception we got our tickets. Then we sat down in our seats. After everyone was seated the Presidents came in. The four living Presidents came. Barack Obama was not there. He was on a trip.
We heard people sing, then the Presidents talked, then there was a video. Then more songs then another President would talk and there would be another video. Singers talked also.
After it was over, the Presidents left first. Then everyone else left. Then my family and I went to the parking lot and drove home.
I was sad that the video they filmed of me in New York was not being shown, but in the end I was very happy that we were able to meet President George H. W. Bush and give him our cards. Giving President George H. W. Bush the cards was the best part of my night. It would be neat if President George H. W. Bush’s grandchildren or President Obama’s children made
I had a great once in a life time experience. I am glad I was able to do this with my family. I hope this tribute to President George H. W. Bush helps motivate other kids to volunteer.
My brother Aiden would like to say a few words, “We had a good time at the Kennedy Center. We had lots of fun.”
You are never too young or too old to volunteer!! Thank you President George H. W. Bush for creating a great program, the Points of Light Institute. No matter where you live you can volunteer and it will always be fun.
Some might think that I am too young to volunteer, but that is not true. Volunteering is fun. You can do it with your family. Click
if you want to make some with your family or a group.
Change Notes: The Points of Light Institute Tribute Event
Friends,
Monday night something rare occurred. Four presidents came together and not for an inauguration or a funeral. Presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and George W. Bush joined superstars Garth Brooks, Miranda Cosgrove, Cee Lo Green, Heather Headley, Jonny Lang, Reba McEntire, Sam Moore, Jim Nantz, Brad Paisley, Kid Rock, Darius Rucker, Mavis Staples and Carrie Underwood, among others, for a celebration of President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush’s commitment to the modern day service movement and of the unique spirit of volunteering in America.
Presidents Clinton, Carter, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush at the Tribute
“All Together Now: A Celebration of Service” cast a light on the shared belief in the power of individuals to create change. The evening was a tremendous success – a culmination of much work and support that was inspirational, entertaining and galvanizing. The event’s success simultaneously marked a collective investment made in service and the undeniable role it plays in addressing our nation’s challenges.
We had a goal to raise $30 million dollars. I’m grateful to announce that more than $30 million has been committed. These funds come at a time when Points of Light is increasing investments in innovative programs, in technology, and international outreach to empower and equip volunteers. And with your help we are going to continue to grow the George H.W. and Barbara Bush Legacy Fund. This commitment to the future represents the beginning of the next generation of Points of Light – and we could not have done it without your support.
We invite you to take part in the celebration by gathering with your family and friends to watch NBC’s broadcast of “All Together Now: A Celebration of Service”“All Together Now: A Celebration of Service” this Monday, March 28, at 8 p.m.
Sam Moore and Cee Lo Green perform at the Tribute
Let us know how the event touched and inspired you by joining our Facebook community and posting photos and/or videos from your watching party.
Before Monday’s broadcast, you can visit the following sites for highlight videos and articles about the Tribute:
As we move forward with the momentum from the event, we are excited about continuing this work. Together we can ensure that our most valuable resource – our people – are engaged in answering our nation’s most pressing challenges.
With deep appreciation,
Michelle Nunn
CEO, Points of Light Institute
Co-Founder, HandsOn Network
AJC features Michelle Nunn’s op-ed “America Is Rising to the Service Challenge”
This morning the AJC featured an op-ed written by Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute. The piece highlighted the Points of Light Institute Tribute event that occurred last night at the Kennedy Center where Presidents and citizens came together to honor President George H. W. Bush and celebrate the modern day service movement and resurgence of volunteerism since President George H. W. Bush’s term in office…
“Last night something rare occurred. Four presidents were scheduled to come together and not for an inauguration or a funeral. They joined together for a celebration of the unique spirit of volunteer service. At a time when our public discourse seems to feature nothing but animus, Monday night’s event at the Kennedy Center highlighted the ties that bind. “All Together Now, a Celebration of Service” cast a light on the shared belief in the power of individuals to create change.”
To read Michelle Nunn’s full op-ed highlighting the four President’s commitment to service since President George H. W. Bush click here.
We have seen a resurgence in volunteerism as the number of individuals volunteering annually have grown by 25 million in the past 20 years and the long-held, bipartisan heritage of service and volunteerism remains strong throughout Democratic and Republican Leaders in office.
“This continued commitment gives us hope for a better world — every person discovering their power to make a difference and to create healthy, engaged communities.”
We encourage anyone who cares about service and volunteerism to submit a guest post.
To do so, simply e-mail your post, short bio, headshot and photos to accompany the post to Connect(at)HandsOnNetwork.org and add – NCVS blog post in the subject line.
Here are the editorial guidelines we ask you to follow:
Content: We are looking for session previews, best practices in volunteer management and other short articles related to service, volunteerism, civic engagement — mobilizing individuals to change the world.
Length: We prefer posts that are around 500 words in length. We’re not strict about this, but we suggest you use it as a rough guide.
Voice: First person, personal
By Line: Guests posts must have a named author – a person, not an organization. Please let us know how your bylilne should look (i.e. Tom Smith, Title, Organization). Additionally, please send a head shot photograph of yourself as we like to include a photo of the author next to the byline.
Bio: Please send a two sentence bio about the author to appear at the end of the post.
Style: We prefer posts written in an individual’s voice, from that person’s perspective. We prefer writing styles that read more like an individual would talk as opposed to a corporate document or press release. Posts may be serious or humorous, as long as they are authentic, personal and transparent. Posts that provide steps or tips usually get the most attention.
Call to Action: Whenever possible, posts should end with a call to action and links to get more involved.
Photos: Photos are encouraged. Guest authors should send suggested photos along with the post text.
Links: We encourage links to related material and/or references. Feel free to include links in your post.
All Together Now: A Season of Service, Happening Tonight at the Kennedy Center!
Tonight we honor President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush for their leadership in founding and advancing the modern-day service movement in the Tribute event All Together Now: A Celebration of Service in Washington, D.C. The event will be broadcasted for all to watch on Monday March 28th from 8-9 p.m. on NBC. Entertainers include Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, and Carrie Underwood, among others.
This historic event was created to celebrate the power of voluntary action and its essential role in solving our national challenges and to recognize everyone around the nation who are positively changing the lives of others. The audience is made up of many of the Daily Points of Light Award winners along with those who are closely connected to the service movement.
In a Fox News interview earlier this month President George H. W. Bush discussed the importance of volunteering and specifically Points of Light Institute saying:
“I keep repeating there could be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others. That is what the whole concept of Points of Light is about and volunteerism.”
For the full interview of President George H. W. Bush and Former Secretary of State, James Baker III, discussing public service, Points of Light Institute and Ronald Reagan’s 2011 George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service click here.
Tonight we will highlight the strides that volunteering has taken thus far, and share people’s volunteering stories across the U.S. Please join us in celebrating these amazing actions and continue to recognize Points of Light in your communities on our innovative online wall. Those who post can immediately begin helping their communities by signing up for local volunteer opportunities. To post a Tribute, and view the Tribute wall click here.
President George H. W. Bush encourages everyone to get involved in civic service:
“Get in the arena in doing something, making something happen, trying to benefit others, and that’s noble.”
Turn Your Trash Into Cash!
Todays post comes to you from Patricia Thompson Manager of Training Development with HandsOn University.
Are you looking for a creative way to combine service and fundraising?
Why not consider a serve-a-thon! Similar to walk-a-thons, serve-a-thons use a team-based approach to raise money for a designated cause. Participants secure sponsors who pledge to support their service, usually based on the number of hours served.
Here in Frederick County Maryland, HandsOn Frederick County organizes a serve-a-thon called The Big Sweep every year on Global Youth Service Day. The Big Sweep enables community members to raise money for their cause of interest while participating in a beautification day. Teams collect sponsorships for picking up trash on a county or city road, park, or waterway. Since 2002, The Big Sweep has mobilized 8,103 volunteers, who have picked up over 144 tons of trash and recyclables and raised $380,000 for their nonprofits of choice!
An event like The Big Sweep is a collaborative effort to protect the local environment and “turn trash into cash.” Interested in doing something similar? Well, here are a few steps to guide you in planning an environmental serve-a-thon:
Step 1.Develop a plan – Form a committee to help manage the neighborhood cleanup project.
Step 2.Build your team – Team leaders recruit 6-12 friends, family members, coworkers, or others for their teams.
Step 3. Set a location – Identify an area to clean up – a road, a series of roads, a park, a school, etc.
Step 4.Secure resources. Buy or get in-kind donations of needed supplies, including trash bags, gloves, and hand sanitizer.
Step 5.Keep your fundraising goal in mind – Make sure all teams are well informed, empowered, and equipped to fundraise. You want them to feel comfortable asking for pledges.
Step 6.Review last minute details and communicate with volunteers – Ensure volunteers have project details, such as time and location, and that materials are ready.
Step 7.Collect donations and trash – Have teams collect all donations so they can be compiled and given to the cause or organization of choice.
Step 8.Recognize volunteers and celebrate- Thank volunteers for their work and for the donations collected.
Step 9. Reflect and learn. As with any service project, take time to reflect on the experience, the impact of the project on the community, and what you learned about yourself, the issue, or the community.
Want to learn more? Join us for our webinaron March 30 at 3:00 EST, facilitated by Eve Shafi with HandsOn Frederick County, or download the project playbook!
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not. ~ Dr. Seuss from The Lorax
Congressman Todd Platts Honors President George H. W. Bush in a Tribute
Today’s guest post is written by Congressman Todd Platts, who represents the 19th District of Pennsylvania. Sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives in January 2001, Congressman Platts serves the residents of Adams, Cumberland, and York Counties. He has written a Tribute to President George H. W. Bush leading into our Points of Light Institute Tribute event on March 21st in D.C. celebrating his extraordinary life of service.
I am delighted to join with many of my fellow Americans to honor a true leader in national service – President George Herbert Walker Bush. As many of us may remember, on January 20, 1989, President Bush gave his Inaugural Address on the steps of the United States Capitol and pledged to lead America in a way that was a “force for good.”
Long before he addressed the nation that day, President Bush was living out those words. He exemplified bravery as a young pilot in the Navy – a service that nearly cost him his life during World War II. He continued his commitment to service, first as a member of the House of Representatives and later in positions including Ambassador to the United Nations, Chief of the United States Liaison’s Office in the People’s Republic of China, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Vice President and – ultimately – President of the United States of America. In each of these capacities, President Bush epitomized what it means to be an American by contributing his strengths where and when his nation needed it the most. President Bush continues to lead America in service through his humanitarian efforts in partnership with President Clinton.
President Bush’s service has impacted generations of people worldwide. His spirit of national service continues to inspire our nation not only through the lives he has touched, but through the example he has lived. As America continues to address challenges both domestically and abroad, it is with sincere gratitude and admiration that we honor President Bush’s historic leadership and outstanding record of selfless service to others.
Captain Chip Miller of The USS George H. W. Bush Honors President George H. W. Bush
Today’s guest post is written by Captain Chip Miller, Commanding Officer of the USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH (CVN 77) as a Tribute to President George H. W. Bush and to honor him for the upcoming Points of Light Institute Tribute event celebrating his extraordinary life of service.
“No doubt, President Bush is an inspiration to all. His Points of Light “challenge” has been answered by thousands and the impact both he and Mrs. Bush have had on our country has been profound.
My name is Captain Chip Miller and I have been blessed for the past two years to be the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier that bears his name. A ship that will serve our country honorably for the next 50 years. Every day onboard CVN 77 begins with 3,000 Sailors reciting: “Like our namesake, I am a professional who will serve my country with integrity.” Powerful words that motivate, and will continue to motivate and inspire every Sailor attached to this ship for the next 50 years.
I’d like to describe two programs that flourish onboard CVN 77 because of the profound positive impact of both President and Mrs. Bush:
– Thousand Points of Light across Tidewater: For the last two years on the President’s birth month, we sent 2,000 Sailors to various sites in and around our home port of Norfolk, VA to perform community service. The effort takes months to organize and is coordinated by our Command Religious Ministries Department. In one day, we perform 16,000 Community Service hours. This program is augmented by smaller community service projects conducted every weekend in port. Over a two year period, CVN 77 performed almost 30,000 hours of service to our surrounding communities. We wear the points of light on our command patch and take seriously our namesake’s “challenge” make a difference.
– United Through Reading (UTR) meets The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy: More than one million American children are separated from one or both parents due to military deployment. UTR is a National program designed to unite families facing physical separation due to military deployments and does so on board CVN 77 where deployed Sailors record themselves reading books to their children on board the ship. These recordings are mailed home where their children watch and share an intimate reading experience with their deployed parent. This program holds extra meaning onboard CVN 77 because of Mrs. Barbara Bush’s passion for family literacy. Her motto: “The home is the child’s first school, the parent is the child’s first teacher, and reading is the child’s first subject.” Again, this program holds extra meaning on board the ship that bears the Bush name.
Clearly all who serve in our armed services take great pride in serving our country, but for those of us defending freedom onboard USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH (CVN 77), that service has extra meaning because we also represent our namesake, his family and their legacy.”
Tonight the Points of Light Institute Tribute “All Together Now: A Celebration of Service” will air at 8:00 p.m. EDT on 
This morning the 
Today’s guest post is written by Captain Chip Miller, Commanding Officer of the USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH (CVN 77) as a Tribute to President George H. W. Bush and to honor him for the upcoming Points of Light Institute Tribute event celebrating his extraordinary life of service.