I'm still tallying up responses, but wanted to add on to Harry's point. An institution at which I formerly worked also recognized the anniversaries of the staff-- 3 years of service, 10 years, etc. That was a nice gesture. Laura Ruttum Manuscripts Specialist, Manuscripts and Archives Division New York Public Library [log in to unmask] Maarja Krusten <[log in to unmask]> Sent by: Archives & Archivists <[log in to unmask]> 07/12/2006 12:24 PM Please respond to Maarja Krusten <[log in to unmask]> To [log in to unmask] cc Subject Re: Improving staff morale Excellent point, Harry! And nice, succinct, and practical, in contrast to the serial rambling notes with comments on management theory that I sent to the list this past weekend! As a matter of fact, the formal or informal recognition of agency anniversaries provide excellent opportunities for historians and archivists. This actually has been noted in at least one publication that I've seen: "a historical office can boost an agency's morale by giving its personnel some identification with its traditions and place in American history." (Source: The Society for History in the Federal Government, Federal History Programs: A Guide for Heads of Government Agencies (1987), 1-2.) Your cake idea is a very nice use of this! Best regards, Maarja >>> Harry Heiss <[log in to unmask]> 7/12/2006 11:28 AM >>> Laura, This might not be appropriate for your organization, but something that I do here at the Bureau of the Public Debt is to recognize our anniversary. It's not something that I originated, but rather something I appreciated and borrowed from a former supervisor at the National Park Service in St. Louis [thanks, Kathryn]. Each year on our "birthday," I buy a sheet cake at Costco--for the record, out of my own pocket, less than $20--put it in the employee break room, and send an email to all the staff to help themselves. It's low-key, and I try to make it fun. Last year I had the cake decorated "Celebrating 65 years of Debted Bliss," an oblique reference to the ballooning federal debt that our bureau manages. Good luck! Harry Harry G. Heiss, Archivist Bureau of the Public Debt Department of the Treasury 799 Ninth Street, NW Washington, DC 20239 [log in to unmask] 202.504.3516 [voice] 202.504.3630 [fax] A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>