Do you know this week is National Police Week? According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund:

"In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others."

The men and women of our police force often receive little or no recognition for their daily efforts, yet each day they put themselves in harm's way to protect our communities. With Armed Forces Day coming up May 18 and Memorial Day taking place May 27, this is a good week to begin saying "thank you" to officers. Together with your school, office, neighborhood, or community organization, express thanks for your local police department with one of these ideas to thank a police officer.
1. Write a letter to your local newspaper thanking the police officers for their dedication to the community. 2. Put together a plate of cookies or buy a dozen doughnuts from a local bakery and take them to your local police department. Include a thank you card to be displayed by the treat. 3. If you see a police officer while you're out for lunch or picking up coffee, pay for their order. 4. Personally deliver a thank you card to your local police department. Invite other departments to sign your card or deliver their own. 5. Make a donation to a local organization that assists injured police officers or a police officer memorial. 6. Create and frame a certificate of appreciation for your police department. Ask everyone in your office to sign it.
7. Purchase a planter of spring flowers to brighten up the office or entrance to your local police station. Include a sign in the planter that thanks police officers. 8. Brighten up your police department's break room this week! Create decorations that say "thanks for all you do" and put together a basket of snacks they can enjoy all week. 9. Thank a police officer by filling a need of their station or department. Call your local police station and inquire if they have any needs, such as office supplies or landscaping work, and fill the need in honor of National Police Week. 10. Coordinate a potluck lunch for your police department this week. Together with a group of coworkers, make a meal and volunteer during your lunch hour to serve the officers. This is not only a great way to thank a police officer, but it's a valuable opportunity to volunteer with your team, too! Recognition holidays like National Police Week are taking place every month. Don't miss an opportunity to thank a nurse, nursing home staff member, or EMS! Visit our Recognition Event Calendar to find your recognition holiday and ideas for celebrations.

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

It's Friday! The sun is shining here in Michigan and the temperatures are rising. It's been a great week here; I hope you've experienced a wonderful week this week, too! As I look back on the week and look ahead to the weekend, these are my top 5 HIGHlights:

1. This week was Teacher Appreciation Week. I had so much fun selecting and giving my kids' teachers a little something to let them know how much I appreciate their dedication, patience, and wisdom. I chose gifts from our Thanks for Making the Difference theme(and of course I included a personal handwritten note). The green tote was a perfect spring way to package the gift, too! So cute!

2. We're ramping up baseball season at my house which means quick dinners, lots of laundry, and many nights spent at the ball fields. It's so fun to watch those little guys out there – especially when one's bent over backwards picking weeds in the outfield during an exciting double play. Across the nation many moms and dads volunteer their time to coach these little fellas (and girlies, too!) Perhaps a mid-season thank you would be appropriate – or an all-team gift at the end of the season… I better get planning!

3. This weekend is Mother's Weekend (notice I did not say DAY). Don't forget to pamper your moms with the rest and relaxation they deserve. Moms are awesome. They do a lot. Say thank you.

4. We're celebrating Tulip Time here in West Michigan. I am not proud to say that I've lived here all my life and I have never been to the Tulip Time festivities. The city is covered with vibrant blooming tulips, Dutch dancers perform nightly, and there's carnival food. Need I say more? This year I will go. I promise.

5. And last, but not least, we're also celebrating National Nurses Week this week! Nurses rock. They give, and give, and give, and give. They help, and comfort, and care for us in times of uncertainty, fear, and discomfort. These people are some of the ultimate givers in life. Have you thanked a nurse lately? If not, there's still time. Do it now.

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As a team member since 2005, Falon has worn just about every hat the 'ville has to offer. She's seen both sides of working life — as an employee and as a manager — so if it sounds like she knows what she's talking about, we're pretty sure that's why. When she's not juggling between the IDville and Baudville brands, she's been known to whip up a mean diorama - just like that!

National Nurses Week is just around the corner and we're here to help you get prepared! We've put together a few low cost / DIY gift ideas to help you recognize the special nurses in your life. When is National Nurses Week 2013 you ask? With just a week and a half to go, National Nurses Week is May 6 – 12, 2013.

	Multi – Color Syringe Pens These new pens are just $1.99ea! Pens are sold in packs of 5. Each pen contains a colorful liquid inside making this a fun and unique gift to give to your nurses. How to Give: For an inexpensive gift, give a Multi-Color Syringe Pen with a free National Nurses Week Print and Post. Make sure to write a note on the back for an added personal touch!
	Create Your Own Thank You Gift! We got this great idea off the blog Craftiness is not Optional. Fill a plastic cello bag with small items that your nurses will use and love. Items you can use to fill your Nurses goody bags are candy, pens, Twist Top Tumblers, Chapstick, and hand sanitizer. How to Give: Add the finishing touches to your nurses' goody bags with a ribbon and a personal note, making this goody bag an easy-to-give National Nurses Week Gift!
	A Note a Day Pill Box This awesome idea comes from a great nursing blog called Nursetopia. They talk about giving this gift to school nurses, but we think it is perfect for any nurse or healthcare professional. Nursetopia suggests filling the little compartments with small pieces of candy such as Starbursts, Dove Chocolate, and Tootsie Rolls and including little notes of encouragement for each day. Check out Baudville's free Print and Posts to include as notes of encouragement! How to Give: Hand out the Note a Day Pill Box to the special nurses in your life at that beginning of National Nurses Week. This way, every day they have a small gift to remind them how special they are!
	We Appreciate You – Stethoscope Tote Bag Our best-selling tote bags are a great gift for your nurses during National Nurses Week. Practical poly-canvas tote bags are sturdy and have a lot of room to carry everything your nurses need. How to Give: Give the healthcare themed tote bag just by itself. Or, create an extra special gift for your nurses by including some of their favorite things in the tote bag.
Steth-o-Charms – Priced at just $8.95 this cute and practical gift already comes nicely packaged and ready-to-give! Baudville has an array of Steth-o-Charms geared toward nurses. One of my personal favorites it the Nurses Rock Steth-o-Charm. Steth-o-Charms add the perfect amount of bling to your nurses' stethoscopes and are easy to attach with the elastic strap backing that securely holds the Steth-o-Charm in place. How to Give: Give Steth-o-Charms to your amazing nurses with a card appreciating their dedication!
Even though these nurses gifts are all great low cost gifts, make sure you spend time making the presentation of the gift thoughtful. Personally give them the gift and verbally express you appreciation and gratitude towards their hard work.

Aside from my job at Baudville, I also work 24/7 as a mother of three little boys. My oldest is in kindergarten, my middle is in preschool, and my little one is just a year old. The oldest started school just last year so it was my first go-round with teachers from a parent's perspective.

Can I say just one thing? Teachers amaze me. Their patience, their planning, their ability to get excited about story problems, fractions, nouns, verbs, and sedimentary rocks...When they get excited, the students get excited. And when the students get excited, they learn!

As a mom, there is nothing cooler than seeing the work your kids bring home from school and watching them beam from ear-to-ear at their newfound knowledge and achievement. Teachers do that. It's the teachers that make that happen.

While our assembly of educators deserves recognition and appreciation for the work they do every day, there just so happens to be one week out of the year dedicated to them! May 6-10, 2013 is Teacher Appreciation Week.

You may or may not be on the PTA at your children's school, but don't let that stop you from appreciating your child's teacher come May 6th! Go out of your way to let Jack's teacher know how much you appreciate her. And be sure to tell Max's music teacher that he rocks! Has Mrs. Hendrickson been spending some extra time with Alaina to help her with her Algebra? Tell her she's making a difference! I guarantee your kind words and tokens of appreciation will be cherished.

Want to totally lead the charge? Talk to your school's administration and ask them what they have planned for Teacher Appreciation Week. Bring some ideas to the table!

Give everyone a Teacher's Make the Difference Travel Mug with a $5 gift card to your local coffee shop.

Have t-shirts made with our fun education-specific Smart Sayings or Themes and add your school name!

 

A Teachers Rock insulated cooler bag would make a great gift with a personal hand-written note inside!

 

Silver Gift Pens make an elegant gift and come packaged in a silver foil-stamped, black gift box (for under $10 each!)

 

Check out all of our Teacher Gifts!

I used to think that teaching was an easy gig – spring break, summers off, in-service days...man, what a life! And then I had kids...and I only have my own three kids! I can't imagine spending 6 hours a day with 30 of someone else's kids! Teachers, I salute you. You're helping to shape the future of this country. You don't get recognized enough. THANK YOU!

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As a team member since 2005, Falon has worn just about every hat the 'ville has to offer. She's seen both sides of working life — as an employee and as a manager — so if it sounds like she knows what she's talking about, we're pretty sure that's why. When she's not juggling between the IDville and Baudville brands, she's been known to whip up a mean diorama - just like that!

Administrative Professional's Day is right around the corner on April 24, 2013. Our admins are our lifeblood. They keep us going. They keep us on track. They answer the call. They do it all.

April 24th is their day. Do you have a plan?

If not, never fear! We’ve got 5 great ideas for celebrating your Admin Professional Superheroes!

Don't say it with flowers. Flowers are the obvious choice to celebrate your Administrative Professionals. Think beyond the petals and wow them with our best-selling Personalized Engraved Executive Carbon Fiber Pen Set. Choose the sentiment that best fits their personality, and it's sure to be a hit! One that will last longer than 7 days!

Take note. Admin Professionals are organized by nature. They are copious note-takers. Present them with a personalized journal in honor of your appreciation. But don't stop there! Make the journal a truly meaningful gift by leaving a personalized, handwritten note on the first page. Make it personal and write from the heart. Your thoughtfulness will go a long way!

Make it Spactacular! Give the gift of health and relaxation with a day at the spa! Your Admin Professionals will thank you for giving them what they deserve most - a little R&R outside of the office!

Create some family fun! Give When we put in long hours at the office, our families feel it, too. Show your Admin Professional's family that you appreciate them, too, with a gift that the whole family can enjoy! Tickets to a local concert or show, a weekend's stay at a local hotel or resort, or dinner and a movie are some ideas to get you started.

Refuel. Take your Admin Professionals out to a well-deserved, leisurely lunch. Sit back, enjoy some non-work conversation, and have some fun!

As long as you take some time, make it personal, and show your genuine appreciation, your Administrative Professionals will thank you, and continue to work hard for you – every day. Cheers!

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As a team member since 2005, Falon has worn just about every hat the ‘ville has to offer. She’s seen both sides of working life — as an employee and as a manager — so if it sounds like she knows what she’s talking about, we’re pretty sure that’s why. When she’s not juggling between the IDville and Baudville brands, she’s been known to whip up a mean diorama - just like that!