National Volunteer Week

Volunteer Recognition Day, commonly referred to as Volunteer Appreciation Day, always occurs on April 20 (according to Holiday Insights). Volunteer Recognition Day falls on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

If one day isn't enough time for you to celebrate, the entire week is known as Volunteer Recognition Week and the entire month of April is Volunteer Recognition Month.

Well, maybe...

According to the Hands on Network website, National Volunteer Week 2011 will take place April 10 - 16, 2011, "in order to avoid conflicts with religious holidays."

Well, at least we can all agree that April is officially Volunteer Appreciation Month... I mean Volunteer Recognition Month.

The point is to recognize and appreciate your volunteers. Ideally you would do this year-round. But at least do it once sometime in or around the month of April. Typical gifts for Volunteer recognition include gift certificates, lunch, and gift baskets.

Funny Volunteer Awards

This year, throw your volunteers their own Awards Show gala. You can do it on the cheap, and it's a good way to recognize and have fun at the same time. Ignore the term "employee" and find volunteer awards in 101 Funny Awards by comedian Larry Weaver. It will give you all the tools you need to throw a fun recognition ceremony for your staff.