Fourth of July is on a Wednesday – who scheduled that!? It’s tough having a holiday in the middle of the week, and we know that it will probably zap productivity today. Most likely, your staff is waiting for you to say the magic words (time to go home) and begin their mid-week summer holiday.

Take advantage of the mid-week summer holiday to express appreciation for your team. Download our free Freedom Passes and write a short note of thanks for each individual on your team. Pass it out to employees and send them home with a Happy Fourth of July!



Why? This appreciation is easy, free, and meaningful. Your employees will love it, and they’ll appreciate you in return.

Have a fun and safe Fourth of July!

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Back in 2009, Baudville decided it was time to re-invent itself. We hired a consulting firm who redesigned our logo, our color scheme, the look and feel of our marketing materials, and the tone of our messaging. As I write this, I feel like I’m revealing the man behind the curtain; but, hey, we’re all business people here and we know that this is what happens in the corporate world. Meijer did it. JCPenney did it. We did it.

Picnics and summer go together like vanilla and ice cream!  Hosting a picnic for your team or organization is a great opportunity to show your appreciation and boost camaraderie. At Baudville, we have a summer picnic every year where employees and their families enjoy a local attraction. This year, we’re heading to the minor league baseball park for an evening game, dinner, and fireworks!

Are you celebrating summer with a team picnic or event? Here are four theme ideas and activities to spark your creativity for this year’s memorable event!

1. Company Carnival. You can put on a full carnival right at your facility! Rent games from a local event company for both kids and adults, and order prizes for the winners like Twist Top Tumblers and lunch bags.

At Baudville, we talk a lot about teamwork, and we help businesses promote it through our more than 20 teamwork-related themes. Being the person who writes many of these sentiments, I have to admit that, at times, I view it so much as a philosophy that I forget what it means to actually experience it in the physical form. Cooperation, unity, collaboration, and synergy are all words we toss around; but what do they really mean?

Well, last Friday I had the privilege of witnessing and participating in the very definition of these words. The project was organized and funded by a non-profit called KaBoom, and benefitted D.A. Blodgett’s St. John’s Home—a local agency that provides a wealth of support services and resources to children and families in need in our community.

It was amazing.

We’re more than half way through our company-wide fitness challenge, and I have to say, I’ve definitely learned a few important things over the past six-plus weeks. I thought I’d share, so here they are: my High Five for Friday! 

1. There’s strength in numbers. During the summer months, there are tons of fitness events going on around West Michigan. Races, triathlons, charity walks—so many ways to step up our game! But what fun is a 5K anything if you’re all by yourself? This year, many of us have encouraged our peers to join us in our endeavors, and it has paid off with friendships made, goals achieved, and maybe even a few pounds lost.