Please see my post about paying "volunteers" We had this issue and am still trying to find out just how this went down and who approved it, as it was not voted on by the board. Our president and two of her friends who worked on our holiday house got (or gave themselves) gift cards to walmart!!! As i am going to be president next year (pending vote at last general meeting) I mean to find out how this was done as i feel it was unethical to say the least. What does "volunteer" mean anyway?

You have the power to change those bylaws!

When I stepped down as pres., the board and a couple of volunteers pooled their money and bought me at plaque and a gift certificate from a local salon for a manicure and facial. I was speechless (no one could believe it!). At the time they were planning this I was stressing over talent show, spring fling, and a sick youngin', plus I wasn't feeling to good at that particular time and I just knew they were conspiring against me! I was so surprised and though it wasn't necessary for them to do this I felt greatly appreciated. Perhaps some of your staff and volunteers could get together on that.

We don't do anything formally, but as President I always made sure to thank people in my newsletter and at meetings for their work on projects. At the last meeting of the year, I also made sure to say how much I appreciated my fellow board members and the sacrfices they made to get things done. But the most fun we would have was whenever we completed a big event, we would just all go out for an hour or two after and have dinner or beverages. It gave us time to vent, to celebrate successes and just enjoy each other's company(we all paid our own way). None of us are in this for any monetary gain, we just want to make things better for our kids and hopefully make some great friends along the way.

Thank you for your kind words. More often than not, it's the complaints we hear, not the compliments.

For the past two years as VP, the Pres and I bought gift certficates for the other officers. The Pres and I also gave little gifts to each other. All of this was out of our own pockets. Then not as officers, but as volunteers, the PTO funded a dinner.
As Pres this year, I plan to carry on this as a tradition.
And I defintely agree that "Thank you" doesn't come near often enough, so I make sure I thank the officers at every opportunity.