Retirement party ideas

Retirement party ideas. How to plan a memorable celebration. When someone retires they may have mixed feelings. Yes, they may be looking forward to starting their days without an alarm clock, or a commute. But many feel a bit ambivalent. They face a future that has many unknown qualities . A good party can make a great send off. It can give a sense of closure that makes it easier to shift into a new way of life.

There are two kinds of retirement parties. The first is the one done by the firm or organization where the person works. That is the kind described on this page. The other kind is one given by friends or family. This page gives ideas for the first kind of Retirement party - the one given by the organization or business where the person has worked. A good retirement party given at the place of work, can make everyone feel good - both the person retiring and those staying on the job. I have seen this. Some parties provide a real 'shot in the arm'. They lift everyone's spirits.

Whether the retiree was one of the most beloved of co-workers or someone that many people feel they will not miss, giving them a good send off improves morale throughout the organization.

And good planning is the key to a great celebration.

Here are 3 important things to remember as you make plans:

1. Whether this retiree will be sorely missed or is someone that others will be glad to see leave, keep in mind that this person gave years of their life to the company or organization. Every 'celebration' should make this contribution of time a theme for any retirement party. Too many parties spotlight the future but what a worker needs is acknowledgment of the hours, days, weeks and years that given to the job. If this is not acknowledged, if it is not given due recognition, the retiree will always feel that in the end, there was not enough appreciation. Acknowledge how long the person has been working. You can do this with your decorations or in your invitations. Anyone who is going to give an opening welcome, should say that this is a celebration of X years that {NAME} has been on the job. If there is going to be a speech, it helps to talk about what the organization was like when the person was hired. If they made any special contributions over the years, acknowledge them. If they did not, acknowledge that their daily tasks were part of what led to growth or sustainability of the company or organization. Such acknowledgment is important. It helps bring closure to a life time of work. You might ask a few co-workers to share a special memory or say what they will miss after the person leaves. If possible bring back an already retired friend or colleague to share some thoughts. This last is especially important if there is no one left in the organization who worked with the retiree during the his or her early years. Another good Retirement party idea is to find some pictures of the retiree or even of the workplace during the person's tenure. Hang these on the walls or put them on the table. Commendations or awards given to the person or the unit where they worked also make good decorations. Any way you can acknowledge the time put in or the work accomplished over they years will help the retiree adjust in the weeks that follow the Retirement party. The remembrance of public acknowledgment of on's work really helps in adjusting to life after leaving ones job.
2. If you are going to have decorations, use themes that the person likes. If their hobby is fly fishing or gardening, let that be your theme. If you have no theme, try to use colors they favor. Get some advice from a friend or even relative.
3. Do not have a lot of long speeches. No one will enjoy them....or remember them.
4. Take pictures or a video and send the retiree a copy afterwards. If the video is a good one, put it on YouTube and send your retired co-worker the url.
5. Encourage co-workers to sign something or to record something that can be taken home as a memory. you might set up a page on a

But most of all, remember that this will be a day full of emotion. Whether it is one your co-worker has been waiting for with 'baited breath' or one that has been anticipated with dread, you want to offer a solid, respectful closure. Gags and jokes are fine but do not let them drown out real acknowledgment of the years given to the organization.

Jokes can relieve tension but no one will remember them. But everyone, especially the retiree, will remember if the company or organization showed they valued the fact that someone gave time and energy doing a job over the years.

That is what counts and that is what can improve moral even among those who are staying on the job.

Read other useful articles:

• Retirement quotations and speeches
• Retirement party Toasts
• Great Songs for Retirement parties
• Retirement wishes

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