Kudoboard Team, Author at Kudoboard Blog

Never Underestimate the Power of Connection

April 6, 2021October 18, 2021 Kudoboard Team

Guest post written by Jennifer Reddick, Director of Strategy at Carley's Angels

Two weeks before Toronto went into a state of emergency I came across Kudoboard at work for a colleague's birthday and absolutely loved the concept. Not only was it great for the recipient, but I had a ton of fun reading through everyone’s posts, watching the videos, and laughing at all the memes and chirps.

Fast forward two weeks, and I was in the Carley’s Angels Executive Team meeting discussing the impacts of COVID-19 on our organization and fundraising projections for 2020. But most importantly, the impact the virus would have on our community of cancer patients.

Carley’s Angels works to unite traditional and holistic cancer care in hospitals. Our mission started as the legacy of one young, brave cancer fighter named Carley Allison, who battled with unwavering determination to always smile. Carley’s cancer was so rare that traditional treatments alone were not enough, instead Carley was treated with a combination of traditional and holistic cancer care. Although very effective this combination of treatments was expensive and difficult to access, so in Carley’s honour we made it our mission to change that.

We kept finding ourselves coming back to isolation. Having cancer can be extremely isolating in itself without the addition of a global pandemic. Now compound that with hospitals restricting all visitors causing these patients to be completely alone during their treatments, hospital stays, and even a home.

When Carley was in the hospital her friends and family created this wall of inspiration in her hospital room. We posted inspirational quotes and photos, her cousin even posted a superhero t-shirt. It was incredible to see how much this improved Carley’s mood and energized her, it kept her motivated and inspired to keep kicking cancer’s butt!

The Carley’s Angels exec team decided that we wanted everything we did surrounding the pandemic to be about supporting our community. As we brainstormed, Kudoboard came to mind and we thought what an awesome idea to help us create virtual inspiration walls for cancer patients that our online community could contribute to.

We called it our #liftthemup campaign. It was a huge success - with nearly 4000 engagements and Kudoboard recipients who couldn't have been happier.

Jess (@onetoughcookieclub) is one example of a Kudoboard recipient through the campaign. And here's a note she wrote to Carley's Angels in response:

“Hiiii, i just wanted to say thank you so much for including me in the #liftthemup project. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I haven’t shared it publically yet, but this past week has been incredibly hard as I’ve been incredibly hard as I’ve been facing a new diagnosis and the challenges that come along with it. The carley’s angels community is so incredible. Reading through the board is so so moving. I can’t thank you guys enough”

Here's Jess's Kudoboard: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/ddtH6Xil

Thanks for letting Carley's Angels share your board, Jess. And thanks to Kudoboard for giving us this awesome group card platform so we could gather appreciation.

CEO Pays For Service Members to Fly Home for The Holidays

December 20, 2020January 28, 2022 Kudoboard Team

N.C. software exec pays for military members to fly home for Christmas, others step up

An Air Force veteran and current software CEO wanted to give back to those who serve last holiday season. How? He paid for their holiday flights home.

Ed Roshitsh, the CEO of Dude Solutions, raises money for veteran charities every year. But last year, he wanted to do it differently.

"Lots of these folks don't make hardly any money. An E1, which is basic paygrade, probably makes $15,000 a year. They can't afford to get home for the holidays," said Roshitsh.

He posted a message on Linkedin, which asked the public to submit names of active duty service members who wanted to get home for the holidays. He was going to pay for five himself.

His offer went viral, encouraging others to get into the spirit of giving.

"There's probably close to 300,000 views," said Roshitsh. "And from all the shares people started to ask, 'Can I donate a ticket?'"

Another veteran, Andrew Appleton, CEO of TravelAgent360.us, messaged Ed offering his assistance in booking the tickets. "Our team of agents is made up of veterans and active-duty spouses focused on booking travel and saving money for the military community," said Appleton. "It only made sense that we offer our support."

To make sure Ed knew the impact he had, Andrew also created him a Kudoboard to allow the recipients of the tickets to share their thanks. "Kudoboard was the perfect way to rally everyone in saying thanks."

See the full Kudoboard here.

The gesture hit home. "I had no idea the impact I was making," commented Ed, "until I read the comments shared on the Kudoboard."

After two weeks of booking tickets, Ed's initial generosity - along with all the donors who chipped in - sent 65 active duty service members home for the holidays.

An Online Memorial For George Peterson

December 19, 2020January 24, 2023 Kudoboard Team

Honoring the life of someone who has passed with an online memorial

Kudoboard offers an online memorial to celebrate the life of a colleague, family member, or friend who recently passed away.

The Hartnell College choir recently set up such a board for George Peterson, of Monterey County, here. If you knew George, please add a tribute honoring his memory.

Additional remembrances of George, written by Anna Oberst of the Hartnell College choir:

George Peterson
Pianist, composer, accompanist, musical director.
January 20, 1960 - December 7, 2020
George Peterson will be missed. He was not only a gifted musician, but a lovely person inside and out. Many know him from the musical community in the Monterey Bay Area. He was involved with many groups over the years as a pianist, accompanist, composer and/or a musical director. He also worked as a musician for many years on cruise ships.
Most would agree that George was a man of few words, but a man of much expression through his music. It is hard to think of George without thinking of music. He was a professional. Whenever tasked with any musical job, he usually put more than 100% of his time and talent into it. I recall him saying once that he wasn’t really one to want to ‘teach’ piano/music; but for those who knew him, George was one who really wanted to help other musicians reach their goals. Over the past few years he’d often stay after classes to work with students at Hartnell College in Salinas, Ca., where he was the accompanist for the Hartnell Choirs with Director, Sandy Rudo.
The Hartnell choir students always enjoyed George’s little musical antics too. He’d often use the piano to inject bits of humor during rehearsals, like playing the Jeopardy Theme when a question was being asked of the students by Mrs. Rudo. He also was known to slyly manipulate an accompaniment into another genre, and he’d wait to see how long it’d take before the singers, and Mrs. Rudo, would notice.
I’m sure there are many people in Monterey County who have similar stories to share about George, so we’ve created this Memorial Kudoboard for anyone to contribute and share their memories.
Although he is no longer with us physically, his impression will continue to be with us for a very long time. His calm demeanor, infused with his silly bits of joy, found landing spots in all of our hearts, which we can continue to carry with us and share with others.

Online cards for memorials are easy to make and a great way to honor those who have passed. Did you know you can also create an online guestbook for funerals? To learn more, read this article about creating an online funeral guest book.

Saying Thanks with an Happy Retirement eCard

March 13, 2020February 18, 2023 Kudoboard Team

Ron Coley, Vice Chancellor at UC Riverside, retired this past year.

Coley joined UC Riverside in 2014. Prior to that, he served UC Berkeley as an associate Vice Chancellor since January 1998. Ron also served 20 years in the military from 1972-1992, as a Marine Corps pilot, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his military career, he helped the Marine Corps adjust to the changing economic environments caused by the extraordinary defense build-ups in the 1980’s and the equally drastic draw-downs in the 1990’s.

To thank Ron for his service at UCR, folks from across the university contributed to a happy retirement ecard for him using Kudoboard. From one such contributor:

Thank you for the opportunities and many doors you opened, the encouragement, the enthusiasm you shared to change for the better, the excellence, brand of professionalism, and the passion to improve.
You have ignited a fire in so many of us and we will continue to strive to become the benchmark making a difference in our people, resources, and policies.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all that you shared both personally and professionally. Enjoy your retirement!!!! All the best 🙂

Check out Ron's fully happy retirement card here: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/apKQUlTi

Congrats again on your retirement, Ron. And thanks for giving us permission to share your Kudoboard story publicly -- we appreciate it!

The Kudoboard Team

Tips for Creating A Happy Retirement eCard

If you know someone who is retiring soon, celebrate them the right way by creating a happy retirement eCard using Kudoboard. Here are some tips to make it easier:

Start Early

To ensure your virtual retirement card will get to the recipient on time make sure you start early! Virtual cards are convenient, but that doesn't mean they happen overnight. If you are having colleagues contribute, get everyone involved a few weeks before the person's retirement Starting early also means thinking about who you want to contribute. Make sure you have everyone's email so they can add to the card.

Add Media To Your E-Card

Some of the fun with virtual retirement cards is the ability to add media easily. Simply add photos, gifs, videos, and text to make the card special and individualized. Remember, virtual cards allow you to be creative and have fun! Think of the recipient and add inside jokes, fun memories, and memorable times that highlight their time at the company.

Invite Colleagues To Contribute

With online retirement ecards, it is simple to add contributors. Colleagues will love celebrating their co-workers retirement by sharing fun videos, gifs, texts, and photos on the e-card. The best part about virtual cards? People can add to the card from wherever, whenever.

What To Write On A Happy Retirement eCard

If don't know what to add to your colleague's retirement ecard, look no further. Kudoboard has made an awesome list of 57 awesome retirement quotes to choose from. Here are a few special ones:

“In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.”
- Gordon B. Hinckley
“The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.”
- Ben Stein
“You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.”
- C.S. Lewis

Thanks for letting us help you celebrate retirement, now go create an awesome eCard for someone you know!

Fandom Farewell to Madam Secretary TV Show with a Group Card from Kudoboard

December 10, 2019December 2, 2021 Kudoboard Team

Madam Secretary premiered on CBS in 2014, starring Téa Leoni as Elizabeth McCord. After 6 seasons, it had its series finale at the end of 2019.

To celebrate the cast and crew on their run, the Twitter Fan Account @MadamSecHQ created them a Farewell Kudoboard in October and invited fans to contribute on Twitter and Facebook.

Over the next month, hundreds of fans from around the world added messages, photos, and videos celebrating Madam Secretary. See the full board here, along with excerpts below:

‪Thanks for entertaining us the past six years. I enjoyed every episode and have seen each season more than once. The cast and crew were incredible and I hope to see each of you on another project soon. Best wishes to Tea, Tim and the gang. ‬

The show inspired me with Elizabeth’s action in her own work, balancing family/work, & the deep ethical questions that were dealt with in the show. It allowed me to dive deeper into my own faith/religious deconstruction and it showed different ways those difficult conversations can be had in a respectful and loving way. So much love and thanks to you all! <3

We have been fans from the beginning! Our lives run very parallel with the McCord's and caused us to fall in love with all of them. H/E's sweet relationship has inspired us to be even more adventurous after 25 years:) You all have brought a wonderful world of wishful reality to many Americans (and 50 somethings).

To get such great participation, the @MadamSecHQ Fan Account sent several reminders to fans on Twitter...

and Facebook...

Then, on the night of the season finale, @MadamSecHQ tagged the cast and crew on Twitter and shared the board with them so they could all see it.

She also made sure that the board was personally sent to the showrunner + Téa Leoni's assistant so that it made its way to everyone involved.

Props to you @MadamSecHQ for giving fans a way to say thank you to some of their favorite characters.

And from all of us @ Kudoboard, congrats to everyone over at Madam Secretary for 6 seasons together!

Happy 5 Year Redfinversary

October 7, 2019December 2, 2021 Kudoboard Team

Lori S.'s colleagues recently created her a work anniversary Kudoboard group card to recognize her 5 years at Redfin.

Here are just a few quotes to give you a flavor for the board:

Happy Redfinversary, Lori! We are so lucky to have such a supportive and down-to-earth manager to lead us. You bring such great vibes to our team! Thank you for all you do!

Congratulations! Everybody at work is lucky to have a mentor like you. Your energy and positive attitude are a source of inspiration and motivation. Wishing you a happy 5th Redfinversary!

How can it be 5 years already??!!! It's amazing to think back and see how much has changed. Thank you so much for all your hard work and help supporting the Tucson market - we all appreciate you! Congratulations Lori! 🙂

See the full board here: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/oeOt4kbT

Thanks for giving us permission to share your work anniversary Kudoboard, Lori -- and add us to the list of folks wishing you a happy 5 years! =)

A Thank You Group ECard to a Beloved Teacher

August 12, 2019February 11, 2023 Kudoboard Team

celebrate your favorite teacher with a thank you group ecard

Using Kudoboard, Mary Ellen’s class came together last year to create a thank you group ecard for her mentorship and inspiration as part of the SELP program. Here are a few quotes from the board to get a flavor for it:

You're one of the most incredible women I've ever met. Being on your team has been an absolute delight and blessing. You have been referred to many times as an "angel," and there's no doubt you've made an incredible difference in each and every participants lives. I love you!

You have been a light shining energy in my life the past four months. You are encouraging and powerful. I feel as though I am safe under your guidance and that you would help me if I ever needed it. You are the true definition of someone “having my back”. I wish you the best in all of your endeavors and I declare that you were successful in touching our hearts during this SELP course!

To the woman who personifies miracles and magic, who is love and grace, a relentless and powerful stand for the greatness of all who cross her path, and an unstoppable force of goodness in the world... Thank you for all that you are and all that you do!!! You are such an inspiration and a true miracle for me (for us all). I am so honored to know you and grateful for your leadership, partnership and friendship.

See the full Kudoboard here: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/lUCxB5bI

Thanks for permitting us to share your Kudoboard story, Mary Ellen!

Virtual Cards Make It Easy To Say Thank You

Teachers do so much for their students daily, and often times it goes unnoticed and there are many unpaid hours. Not only do teachers instruct students on necessary content, the good teachers worry about their students and are always thinking of how to improve their teaching. Many teachers don't expect any sort of thanks for doing their jobs, but it is still appreciated to know that they are making a difference. One of the easiest ways to say thank you is with a group eCard.

Virtual cards are not only easy to make, but also easy for many people to contribute to. Another benefit is most ecards are free, or very affordable depending on your needs!

To learn more about ways to say thank you, check out this list of 23 unique ways to express your gratitude!

How To Make A Thank You Group eCard

If you have an amazing teacher and would like to say thank you from a group of fellow students, you are in the right place. To start making a virtual group card, simply choose your eCard site (Kudoboard makes great thank you cards!).

Once you have chosen your eCard, simply click start and begin creating your card. You can customize it, add all sorts of media, and change the background. Once you are ready to add contributors, simply add their emails and they can add to the card too! Once everyone has contributed, all you have to do is click send. Your teacher will love it and it will make them feel so good to feel appreciated.

Happy 14th Work Anniversary with a Kudoboard

June 20, 2019December 2, 2021 Kudoboard Team

14 years and going strong. To help celebrate Jack K.’s tenure at NPI, his colleagues created him a Kudoboard. With some terrific shark and tiger GIFs, Jack was sure to feel the appreciation. But the notes on the group card are typically what make it special. Here are just a few:

Thanks to the man who has many faces and knows just about if not everything there is to know about our company. Fourteen years is an amazing accomplishment Jack, good on you for everything that you have helped this company become and for making sure that we have the materials needed to ship the orders we take. Congratulations!!!
Congrats on hitting the 14 year mark! Your hard work and dedication has helped shape RAM Mounts into the company it is today!
Jack! Thank you so much for being my scanning buddy, I don't know what I'd do without you! Despite an intense workload, you are always so willing to answer questions and help me with various requests. I've really enjoyed the past few months of working near you and with you more. It's been lovely commiserating over those staples in our scans together 😉

See the full board here:

https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/RWQnsVRT

Thanks for giving us permission to share, Jack!