"The great gift of your time" - slapped by writer's block

September 24, 2015 10:49 AM

We're planning to present an inscribed clock to a volunteer who's served faithfully for over three decades. In need of some of wordsmithing to save us ...

We'd like to come up with an inscription that thanks our volunteer for her years of service while playing on the clock-time connection. Our attempts so far have all been dreck (see Question Title).

Our volunteer also has a somewhat cynical sense of humor, so anything too sentimental would go over like a lead balloon.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions, or even snippets, that would get us headed in the right direction.

posted by woodman to Human Relations (7 answers total)

Best answer: Personally, if you gave me a clock inscribed "Thank you for the great gift of your time." I would treasure it always. And I have a very cynical sense of humor and hate sentimentality. I would assume that you chose that inscription because of my cynicism.
posted by OrangeDisk at 10:55 AM on September 24, 2015 [8 favorites]

No act of kindness is ever wasted.
posted by 4ster at 11:57 AM on September 24, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I like "thank you for the great gift of your time" but if you want it a bit more flowery:

"With our deepest appreciation for your generosity in giving of your time and talents to [organization]."
posted by Wretch729 at 12:26 PM on September 24, 2015

Measuring the hours we'll waste without you here keeping us together.
posted by irisclara at 1:07 PM on September 24, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Cynical, you say?

"In commemoration of the countless hours you will never get back. With gratitude, Org Name."
posted by DarlingBri at 2:29 PM on September 24, 2015 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Very cynical? 'Make this clock help you measure out the short time until death. Thanks for your help.'

Less cynical: 'Things without all remedy / Should be without regard: what's done, is done - Macbeth'

Not cynical: 'Time is not a factor in a life well lived. Our thanks always - Org'

Somewhat mushy: 'It's not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years.' (Need to source that one clearly as the internet thinks it's Abe Lincoln.)
posted by StephenF at 5:07 AM on September 25, 2015

Response by poster: Thank you, all.

I'm leaning towards this myself: "With our deepest appreciation for sharing with
us the gift of your time and talents".

But I'll be sharing several of your ideas with the other folks in my organization who also have a say, & who've known our volunteer far longer than I have.

Probably safer to use some of the more cynical suggestions on a card!

Many thanks again!
posted by woodman at 11:52 AM on September 25, 2015