Thanks to everyone who attended our live video webisode this morning! If you weren’t able to attend, you can view the recorded version in the Recognition TV section of our website or on our Facebook page.  

I shared some appreciation event ideas today, and I focused on four key event elements: theme, communication, activities and games and gifts and food. By examining each of these elements and making sure they work together, you can put on a successful appreciation event that is truly memorable for your attendees. 

I’m in Chicago for the first part of the week exhibiting at the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) International Conference and Exposition. After a whirlwind first day, it’s safe to say the attendees are excited to see Baudville and all our cool stuff! 

I wanted to share our message with those of you who aren’t able to travel to the Windy City this week and make a few – very affordable – product suggestions that you can implement right away. 

Employee engagement has been an important issue for Human Resources and management since Gallup published its Employee Engagement index and estimated that disengaged workers cost U.S. businesses as much as $350 billion a year. This staggering figure got many to pay attention to employee engagement. Today, companies are focusing on improving employee engagement levels that were damaged by the layoffs and cutbacks of the recession. 

One of my favorite parts of attending conferences and managing social media for Baudville is hearing recognition stories from customers. This spring, we partnered with a local non-profit organization, Women’s Resource Center, which helps women gain economic independence by improving their employment situation. As you may expect, the organization has met a large need in our community during these difficult economic times. 

We provided a few products for Women’s Resource Center to recognize their volunteers because we believe volunteer appreciation is an important strategy to retain volunteers. By recognizing their contributions, volunteers feel like a valued part of the organization and continue to serve. 

Our team just got back from Boston and the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Education Forum and Annual Meeting. What a whirlwind! Even though the Office Expo is only two days, they were both incredibly busy!