Posts Tagged ‘note cards’
Administrative Professionals’ Day 2009
I gave gifts to recognize the support pros in my office today — Administrative Professionals’ Day. Started in 1952 as Secretary’s Day, this workplace celebration honors the administrative assistants and receptionists who bolster our organizations. While none of these folks report to me, they are the glue of the office, so I was happy to express my gratitude for their service.
A small example springs to mind. Last year, one of my fluorescent task lights for my work desk burned out. The oblong bulb seemed an odd length. I asked for a replacement, thinking it might take a while. Instead, I had the bulb in hand the very next morning. The office coordinator had stopped at an office supply store on the way home to find the exact replacement.
So I did a little shopping yesterday at a local florist. I chose yellow Gerbera daisies in clear potbelly vases. I gave them with note cards, thanking them for their service.
Before you give, be sure to check for any company policies on employee gifts. And, of course, you’ll want to give a gift fitting for the workplace.
Tags: flowers, for work, note cards, thank you
Oprah Winfrey is signaling a thrifty holiday season this year. Rather than indulgences from past lists of Oprah’s Favorite Things, the influential host suggests inexpensive and homespun gifts for Christmas.
- Winter Reading — Oprah recommends David Wroblewski’s The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel
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- Gratitude Boxes — Embellish boxes and fill them with heartfelt messages.
- Music Downloads — Eight free Christmas MP3s for 48 hours on Oprah.com. My favorite is Harry Connick Jr.’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”
- Treasure Boxes — Gather childhood mementos from the basement, attic, filing cabinets and closets. Organize these keepsakes — things like report cards, prize ribbons and fridge art — into a wooden chest from a craft store like Michaels.
- Hot Chocolate Cones — Your custom mix of hot chocolate with marshmallows and chocolate chips in a plastic piping bag, sealed with a ribbon at the top.
- Gift Swap Parties — Gather friends and swap hand-me-down children’s gifts to put under the tree.
- Garden Gift Baskets — Harvest the gifts of food from your own garden to make apple sauce, salsa, spaghetti sauce and more.
- 12 Dates of Christmas — Give the gift of time. Commit to 12 inexpensive dates this December: movie matinees, bowling, and cooking together.
Tags: books, chocolate+candy, christmas, food, gift ideas, lists, memorabilia, movies, music, note cards, television shows
Yesterday, my parents surprised me with a mid-day visit at my workplace — calling first, of course. They gave me a card that read, “Here’s something to smooth out the bumps in the road of life.” Inside was a very generous check. My parents let me know all my brothers and sisters received a money gift. I was floored. I hugged them both and thanked them. I’m putting the thank-you card in tomorrow’s mail.
Money gifts may be a powerful present, if given appropriately. Cultural differences apply, but for me, spouses and older relatives generally should not receive cash. Money gifts can work for weddings, college savings for kids and teens, employee recognition, graduations, and gifts to your children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. I suggest giving money with a note card that lightly suggests a purpose.
For example, I received my favorite money gift as a wedding present from the person who introduced me to my wife. She and her husband gave us an oblong black box with a sliding cover that reads:
The Black Box: Stuff to make life’s frownies go away. May it never be empty. May the magic never end.
Inside are scores of gold-foil-wrapped chocolate coins. But if you look carefully, mingled with the chocolates, you would see plenty of Sacagawea dollar coins. (The U.S. Mint first issued the golden coins in 2000, the year of our wedding.) She included a Crane’s stationery note card, wishing us health and wealth to smooth our journey ahead.
Tags: chocolate+candy, for kids, for teens, for work, gift ideas, money gifts, note cards, surprise, thank you
I just finished a graduate school seminar that was so enriching it felt like I’d taken a study-abroad course. To show my appreciation, I’ve written a thank you letter. If you have a teacher or mentor to thank, a sincere letter may be the best gift you could give. A few teachers might feel uncomfortable receiving a material gift, but a specific note of thanks is always welcome. Of course, a paper letter or note card carries more weight than an e-mail message. So you might handwrite a thank you message on a note card and send it directly to the teacher.
Or you could write a business letter that will boost the teacher personally and professionally. Here’s how.
- Timing is everything. Write the letter shortly after the class ends, so anecdotes and details remain fresh in your memory. More importantly, make sure the grades are reported before you send the letter. If you are a graduating student, send the letter after the graduation ceremony. You want to avoid the appearance of seeking favor.
- In an e-dominated world, business letter writing is a lost art. You might want to brush up on the conventions of the format.
- Address the letter to an academic administrator who would evaluate the teacher: a principal, a department head/chair or a dean. You’ll also send a courtesy copy to the teacher.
- Ask yourself, what was unique about the teacher? What traits you do admire? How did he or she inspire you? Did the teacher use innovative methods? What did you learn? What illustrative stories can you tell about the teacher?
- Compose the letter using a word processor, keeping your text to a single page.
- After your complimentary close (e.g., “Sincerely,”) and signature block, include the teacher as a courtesy copy (i.e., type “cc: Dr. Jane Smith”), so the academic administrator knows the teacher received a copy.
- Spell check the letter, then have someone proofread it. Typos and grammatical errors may undermine your message.
- Print the letter on stationery. If you’re a working adult learner like me, use your company’s stationery. For college students, some university bookstores sell the institution’s stationery. Otherwise, use (or obtain) personal stationery.
- Create two copies and sign both with a pen. Fold each letter horizontally into thirds and place in an envelope that matches your stationery. Address and send the letters via U.S. mail to the academic administrator and the teacher.
Tags: college, gift ideas, note cards, thank you
Do your gifts need a creative whack? I’m a fan of Roger von Oech’s book, A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative
The note card for my first set of gifts read:
Friday, April 7, 2000
We left work early on this snowy day. Together, we spent seven hours completing our registry. Inside these boxes are a few things we didn’t scan to the list.
When she opened the presents, she found a large square plate, a large pasta serving bowl and four rice bowls. All were from the casual china pattern chosen for our wedding, Noritake Colorwave Blue
The second gift also had a milestone note card:
Thursday, August 2, 2001
On this day, we moved into our charming colonial home. Here is a traditional housewarming gift.
When she unwrapped this gift, she discovered a KitchenAid blender
Thursday, December 24, 1998 and Friday, October 6, 2000
Both were special days — our first Christmas together and our wedding day. Each day saw those little blue boxes you love.
The last gift I gave included this milestone note card.
Sunday, July 28, 2002
It’s the day after [your sister's] wedding, and we host a party on our new backyard brick patio. Inside you will find smaller bricks — and they are delicious.
This final gift complemented our Christmas morning coffee, Godiva’s large chocolate biscuit assortment.
So great gifts are creative ones — in this example, presents with a unifying theme. Sidestep rules like “don’t give a blender,” put a twist on your presentation, and turn it into a creative gift. But you can also make creative gifts (or have them made for you to give). Turn your digital photos into a bound hard-cover photo book. Give an artist a picture of your home and give your spouse a framed portrait of your dwelling. Or collaborate with your siblings to publish a family cookbook. And when your gifts are creative, chances are they will be surprising as well.
Tags: books, chocolate+candy, christmas, gift registry, giftology, jewelry, note cards, photos, surprise, wedding
