Reporter Appreciation Ideas
Each of our congregational reporters is a precious, indispensable link in the chain of information in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society. Without them, there would likely be much less effective action taken! Many recognize this and would like ideas for showing their appreciation at rallies and in other settings. Below are a few ways to do this; modify them, use them as springboards for fresh ideas, and let’s let these women know how important they are to the Lord and to us!
1. For your Spring Rally: Purchase a single long stem rose for the circuit president to hand personally to each reporter present. Ask each to stand as the president introduces her and the congregation she serves. Applaud them as a group. Immediately thereafter, have a pastor lead in a prayer of thanks to the Lord, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, for blessing each congregation with a communicating, mission-loving woman. He asks the Lord to strengthen, encourage, and bless her efforts.
2. Send personal invitations to each reporter before the upcoming rally. If you would like to give each reporter a small gift, you could mention that they will receive a small gift at the rally. Consider small gifts such as these: a simple beaded bracelet; a set of notecards; glass votive candle holders with candles; mugs with a tea bag or homemade hot cocoa mix, or piece of chocolate; or packets of decorative paper napkins.
3. During roll call at each business meeting, the president can introduce each reporter by name. They stand to be recognized and applauded. Then the entire group from their congregation stands. The congregation with the most attendees gets a gift basket, filled with food and other items depicting the locale of the rally speaker. The basket could contain a devotion or mission book that can be part of the congregation's library.
4. The yearly Reporters’ Meeting can be turned into a show of appreciation—make it a nice breakfast/brunch! This will provide not only information, help, and encouragement in doing their work better, but also an atmosphere of joy and relaxation, as others do—for them—the work of preparing and serving a delicious meal.
5. Periodically, the circuit vice president calls each reporter to check on her. She asks about possible questions, shares some LWMS or mission information, offers a scriptural word of encouragement, and ends the conversation with a thank-you for keeping the LWMS connection going on in her congregation. (In large circuits, several circuit officers could divide the list of reporters.)