One of my most favorite jobs as President of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Los Angeles Chapter (NAPO-LA) is to open our monthly chapter meetings and present the Volunteer of the Month Award.
What a wonderful opportunity it's been to join with the board of directors and acknowledge a volunteer's contributions with a short talk and a certificate of appreciation. As the recipient stands next to me at the podium, they're so touched by emotion they cry (and sometimes I cry). Pictured next to me (above) at our last chapter meeting on August 25 is the beloved winner Heidi Chianta, owner of Your Project Managerin Manhattan Beach. No crying for Heidi!
Heidi has donated her personal time over the past year to work on the Los Angeles Organizing Awards as our host escort, as well as performing a lot of unglamorous duties on The Organizing Expo to be held on September 22nd. Sometimes (how do we say this gently?) having professional organizers working side-by-side is little bit like who's going to pull the sled on the first big snow day of winter. Heidi (and all our volunteers of the month) handle their volunteer jobs with dedication and professionalism I admire.
Whether the recipient cries or not, my point is this: it's a moment of joy to show someone you appreciate them, and to be appreciated. When is the last time you gave someone you care about a "certificate of appreciation?"
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