National Volunteer Appreciation Week 2012

Volunteer Recognition Day, commonly referred to as Volunteer Appreciation Day, always occurs on April 20. Volunteer Recognition Day 2012 is coming up on Friday, April 20, 2012.

If one day isn't enough time for you to celebrate,  April 15-21 is known as National Volunteer Week or Volunteer Recognition Week and the entire month of April is Volunteer Recognition Month.

So, you better recognize!

Ideally you would recognize your volunteers year-round. I mean, they come and go so fast. Don't wait until April to say thanks.

Typical gifts for Volunteer recognition include cards, pins, letters, speeches, parties, gift certificates, lunch, and gift baskets.

This year, throw your volunteers their own Awards Show party. You can do it on the cheap, and it's a good way to recognize and have fun at the same time.

Visit FunAwards.com to download 101 Fun Awards for employees, volunteers and staff by comedian Larry Weaver. It will give you all the tools you need to throw a fun recognition ceremony for your volunteers.

p.s. Don't forget to become a volunteer yourself. Check out sites like VolunteerMatch.org for opportunities in your area.

Funny Certificates to Give

My new book Funny Awards Certificates: 101 Humorous Awards to Give Family, Friends, and Coworkers (1st Edition) is now on sale!

This collection is a little different from past award collections. I originally wrote "Funny Employee Awards" to give managers and bosses a way to have fun with employees, volunteers or staff without offending or getting into trouble with Human Resources.

"Funny Award Certificates" is a more peer-to-peer product. As the title states, I designed these awards for you to give to family, friends, coworkers - and even teammates.

Check out my new YouTube video for a peek inside the book:

New to this edition is the ability to edit both the Award Title and the Award Description. If this functionality proves popular, I will incorporate it into future versions of "Funny Employee Awards". Be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

And here's a press release that went out today announcing the new book:
"Does the thought of holiday parties evoke images of awkward conversations around the family dinner table or never-ending White Elephant gift swaps? Comedian Larry Weaver feels your pain."
Funny Award Certificates – 101 Funny Awards to Give Friends, Family and Coworkers

I hope this book will help you liven up your family reunions, alumni gatherings, neighborhood parties, and office events!

Take a look: Funny Award Certificates

Boss's Day 2011 - Bosses Day Gift Ideas

When is Boss's Day? 
Boss's Day (also known as Bosses Day or National Boss Day) always occurs on October 16. This year, it falls on Sunday, October 16, 2011. Since it falls on a weekend in 2011, most will observe National Boss's Day on Monday, October 17, 2011.

Bosses Day Gift Ideas
According to Wikipedia, Emily Post says you should not give a gift to your boss unless it is from a group of employees. Nobody likes a suck up.Well, except maybe the boss.

Serious gift ideas for Boss's Day include cards, flowers, lunch, gift certificates, or balloons. Or go in with your coworkers to get a gift from the entire office.

Fun Ideas for National Boss Day
Humor is a great way to show appreciation while having fun at the expense of your boss. Just make sure they actually have a sense of humor first.

Funny Leadership Award

Celebrate your fearless leader with this free bosses certificate.

And if you don't have a boss, you can celebrate Bruce Springsteen... or Boss Hogg... or the Big Bossman (may he rest in peace)... or Rick Ross.

Just don't forget National Boss's Day 2011. In this economy, you should be thankful to have your boss!

Certificate Folder, Holder, Jacket

A certificate folder, also known as a certificate jacket or certificate holder, is a low-cost way to really dress up your funny awards presentation. Made of paper, they come in various colors and prices. The one pictured below is a blue certificate folder with embossed gold trim:

Certificate Folder

The brand most widely available is Southworth, who makes both jackets (folders) and holders. At least for Southworth, the difference is: 

• certificate folder = certificate jacket and has a front and back flap (like a file folder), 
• certificate holder typically only has a backing (mounted like a picture frame).

I prefer the certificate folder, and you can purchase a cheap certificate folder at you local office supply store or Amazon.com for close to one dollar each. They typically come in packs of either 5 or 10. Just go to Amazon.com and search for "Southworth certificate jackets". 

Certificate Holders

The certificate jacket makes the award look great even if your color printer isn't the best or you don't have good quality paper for your certificate.

If you're looking for something even more impressive, check out these certificate frames.

Funny Golf Awards

Free Funny Golf Award Certificate

Click Here to Download Free Award (PDF)

Golf season is in full swing. Celebrate your favorite duffer with this free funny golf award. Download the "Wormburner Award" for Tearing up the Fairway! Add a certificate holder or frame to make a great gag gift for the golfer in your life. This free funny golf award certificate is available for free on our funny sports awards page.

Have your own ideas for funny golf awards? Please share them in the comments section!

Weiner Award - Create your own funny Weiner Certificate

I feel as though we need to apologize for the Weiner Award in advance. We try to stay classy here at FunAwards.com, but really... how can we pass up offering you a free Weiner award?

Click Here to Download Free Award (PDF)

Again, all apologies to Rep. Weiner. But I must implore everyone to stop taking photos of yourself and sending them over the Internet. They're going to eventually end up... well, on the Internet. If you're using a Droid, at least turn of the "Send Twitter messages by text" feature. It's easy to mess up. Not that I would know.

Submit Your Caption
Anyway, back to Weiner. I chose not to put an explanation for the award on the certificate. I mean, I could have went with "Weiner Award for most likely to send junk emails" but I really want to hear your ideas.

So post your ideas in the comments section. Just remember: keep it classy!

Download Six Free Awards

Welcome Big Show Radio Listeners!

Enjoy these six free certificate downloads. Just click on the images for a bigger view or click the links to download the PDF file.

	Selective Hearing Impairment Award For Only Hearing What You Want to Hear. Download this free Award Certificate
	Baryshnikov Award For Most Skill in Dancing Around the Issues. Download this Free Printable Certificate
	Running with the Bulls Award For Biggest Risk Taker. Download this Free Printable Certificate
	Raisin Pay Award For Most Deserving of a "Raisin" Pay. Download this free Certificate of Appreciation
	Kool and the Gang Award For Excellence in Group Work. Download this Free Certificate
	Bermuda Triangle Award For the Desk Where Things Go in But Never Come Out. Download this free Printable Certificate

Download 101 Funny Employee Awards Certificates! If you like these free funny awards, be sure to pick up our 101 funny award certificates eBook. These awards are perfect for every worker at any type of business. Download now and start using right away!

Certificate Frames - Document Holders, Awards Plaques

Certificate frames, also known as document frames, are a low-cost way to really dress up your awards presentation. They come in various materials, sizes, and prices. The one pictured below is a simple black certificate frame:

You can purchase a cheap document frame for close to $2 each on Amazon.com. You can even get an inexpensive wood frame, and simulate an awards plaque at a much lower cost. Be sure to consider these options before purchasing:

• Mount: Wall mount or desktop (easel back)
• Material: metal, plastic, Lucite, or wood (cherry, mahogany, walnut, rosewood, etc).
• Size: 8.5 x 11 works great with our funny awards certificates.
• Mat: For frames larger than 8.5 x 11, you'll want a mat with the frame.
• Orientation: For our awards, choose a landscape wall mount or desktop orientation
• Quality: cheap, value, gold-trimmed, tiered edge, glass, etc.

Take a look at these cheap certificate frames...

Joe Six-Pack Award - Free Printable Award

One of the cool things about my Funny Employee Awards eBook is the ability to create your own funny awards. I created this one in seconds and posted it here for your free downloading pleasure:

Free Printable Award Is the economy hurting regular people? You betcha. So while Wall Street is collapsing, have some FREE laughs on Main Street courtesy of this funny certificate: The Joe Six Pack Award - for just bein' one of the regular people, gosh darnit! Download Free Printable Award

Create your own funny awards at www.FunAwards.com

Post your ideas for awards in the comments section below!