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!

We're bringing back the High Five for Friday blog posts from last year to share some of our favorite tips, activities, and ideas to make work more engaging. Our bloggers will take turns giving high fives to their favorite things, so you'll get a wide variety of information from week to week.

Let's get it started!

Spring has sprung here in Michigan! While you may have enjoyed warm rays of sunshine for weeks now depending on where you live, here in West Michigan we are only now beginning to thaw from a long and cold winter. In honor of Mr. Sun, it seemed only right that our first High Five for Friday blog post of 2013 would be dedicated to the warmth of spring.

1. Eating Lunch Outside
The weather is finally getting nice in Michigan, so I'm giving a big high five to sitting outside at lunch. Not only do we have a great outdoor picnic area at Baudville, but eating lunch outside has several health benefits, too. Getting away from your desk for your lunch break can prove to be a serious stress reliever, and soaking up the sunshine can protect your heart.

2. T-shirt Weather
I have an expansive t-shirt collection which has been neglected for the last six months in favor of sweaters and sweatshirts. The day has finally come to bust my t-shirts out of their dark drawer and show them the light of day! You can bet that I'll be proudly sporting my new Smart Saying t-shirt that I received from the Baudville Operations department. We recently got team t-shirts, and now that the weather is nicer, I know we'll be wearing them more often!

3. Health and Wellness Fitness Challenge
The warmer weather encourages me to get outside and run, bike, walk, garden, or do any number of outdoor activities. Since we're in the middle of our health and wellness fitness challenge, doing my favorite activities earns points for my team. What spring activity are you most excited about?

4. Outdoor Games
I love playing outdoor yard games. I have quite a collection at home, and I'm always looking for a new game to add to the mix. Plus, I love how easily you can bring a yard game to work and change attitude and morale for the day. Email your team first thing in the morning to get challenge them to a game and have the play happen during lunch. This simple activity can brighten your team's day and foster valuable team morale. If you don't have your own yard games, create your own with our team activity eBooks.

5. Company Picnics
The spring weather means one of my favorite Baudville company events is right around the corner. Each summer, Baudville treats its employees and their families to a company picnic. The Baudville picnic is a great opportunity for camaraderie and fun in a more relaxed setting than the office. We often host our picnic at the local ballpark, zoo, or park, and there are lots of activities and giveaways for all attendees.

 

 

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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.

Achievements. Proudly displayed in offices, cubicles, in waiting rooms, on bookshelves, in the way we hold our heads high, shoulders back, walk with a pep in our step... we take pride in our achievements in many different ways. Being recognized for the value that we bring to our jobs, to our communities, to our families, is important. When we're recognized for our contributions, we want to do more.

It's important to note that not all achievements have to be acknowledged with grandiose crystal trophies. In fact, I would argue that smaller, more frequent acts of recognition and appreciation are more powerful than that once-in-a-blue-moon super celebration. And when the acknowledgement comes from all levels throughout the organization - peers, managers, leaders - the impact it has is more pronounced.

Our all-new Collect Your Flair Kits give you a program for recognizing defined behaviors throughout your organization, ultimately creating a culture of recognition and appreciation.

Kristy Sherlund, Baudville's VP of Product and Merchandising, explains the inspiration for our new Collect Your Flair Kits, "When I looked around most workspaces I found certificates hung on the walls, awards decorating desktops, and notes pinned up on cubicle walls – each representing a proud moment for the person displaying it. The power of pride can go viral and that's the kind of contagiousness, as a business leader, we want spreading around our offices. We designed our new Collect Your Flair Kits as a way for you to build a little friendly competition surrounded with pride in everyday achievements. So go ahead, spread the love and watch spirits soar!"

Each Kit includes 120 pieces of Flair Wear(TM), and you choose whether you'd like your team to collect and display their flair on lanyards or desktop frames.

The power is in the execution – define the behaviors you're going to reward, communicate with your team, and keep your eyes peeled for moments of greatness. Give flair, get results, and watch your team's success blossom!

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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!