Step By Step Fundraising Newsletter

May 2008

In this issue -

- The Appreciation Challenge - Are you up for it?

- Teacher Appreciation Week: Teachers Have a Lifelong Impact

- The Power of Appreciation

What if each day you took the time to give appreciation to someone you work with, a donor to your cause or a friend or family member? Perhaps it is possible that something as simple as showing people that you appreciate them could make a big impact.

Mike Robbins experienced this first hand and the amazing potential of giving appreciation drives him to share that idea with thousands of people as a motivational speaker and author.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. While the celebration was formed to recognize grade school teachers, teaching and learning does not stop at graduation! There are many people that teach us countless lessons in life, even when they don't realize it! There are many other people in our lives who we can show appreciation...our coworkers, clients, colleagues, friends, family and spouses. The list is endless.

I challenge you to think of one person each week during the month of May who you can show appreciation. As Mike Robbins says "insight without action makes no difference." So be sure to let them know!

Each Monday for the rest of May we'll bring you simple ways to tap into the Power of Appreciation. Then we'll ask you to post your comments letting us know how you put appreciation into action that week.

Are you up for the Appreciation Challenge?

Teacher Appreciation Week: Teachers Have a Lifelong Impact

by Sandra Sims

Each year the first full week of May is designated as Teacher Appreciation Week here in the US. It's a celebration that began as a one day recognition of the importance of teachers and grew to include an entire week. You can find out more about the history of this celebration at the NEA website. Many other countries also set aside time to honor those who make a difference in the lives of others teaching.

We celebrated the week by sponsoring a blog writing contest at Top School Fundraisers on the theme of "My Favorite Teacher." All of the entries into the competition were wonderful. I love hearing stories of special people, especially those who pour their hearts into something they love, like teaching.

Six months later, or Time goes by so fast by Ana
My Favorite Teachers by Angela
My Favourite Teachers by Veronica

Our staff writers also enjoyed writing on this topic...
Jim Berigan’s Favorite Teacher
And here's my contribution - Teaching Math More Than About Numbers

Vote for Your Favorite Essay - Deadline is Today May 8th

Check out the entries and then you can vote for your favorite here. Hurry, last day to vote is Thursday May 8th.

Thank You, teachers -- current, retired and future - you are making a difference!

The Power of Appreciation

by Mike Robbins

Have you ever had something taken away from you only to realize how much you appreciated it after it was gone?

I often ask this question when I start one of my talks or seminars on appreciation. As I pause and wait for people to respond, many hands go up.

Most of us have taken someone or something for granted. We only truly realized how much that person or situation meant to us after the fact. For example, at the age of twenty three my professional baseball career ended abruptly when I blew out my pitching arm. I was in my third season in the minor leagues with the Kansas City Royals, and just like that my childhood dream was over.

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To Your Continued Fundraising Success,

Sandra Sims Editor & Publisher Step By Step Fundraising Newsletter Archive Newsletter Sign-up & Free e-Book