Outgoing Presidency Gift Ideas
 

When I was called as president I gave each of the outgoing presidency a bear with a velcro pouch in the back. Each of the girls wrote their name on a little stuffed fabric heart and stuffed it inside the bear. The velcro allowed the women to pull out each of the hearts and read the names on them. I also had the girls write each of the outgoing presidency a thank you note. My original plan was to get un-stuffed bears and the hearts from Build-a-Bear. Yikes! Way too expensive. I wound up getting much cheaper bears from a craft store, pulled the original stuffing out and replaced it with the pouch of hearts. If you do not sew, just open up the back of the bear, have the girls write their names on flat fabric hearts, and use a needle and thread to sew the bear up again. (Idea by Traci Stevens)
 

When our young women presidency changed last year, we had the girls write notes on 1/2 sheets of cardstock to the released leaders and decorate those notes with stickers, glitter pens, etc. Then we took a picture of the group with all the girls blowing a kiss. :O) I mounted each 4x6 print on a 1/2 piece of cardstock and put the cut-out words "We will ALWAYS love you" around the edges. Then I took the notes they had written, punched all the pages, and put rings through it all to make a little book with the picture page as the cover. It was easy (I have no scrapbooking talent to speak of), and when the girls and leaders saw them, they liked them.  I agree about the power of a picture. Nothing is more rewarding than to look into the faces of those you've touched.  To get the words to fit, I had to cover part of the picture (which I didn't want to do), so I actually made a vellum pocket on the cover (held in place with eyelets) that the picture fit into. The pocket only covered the girls' legs in the photo. Then I could place the words on pocket without gluing them to the picture--and the picture could be removed and framed if desired. I also tied little bits of yarn on the rings to add color there. But all of this could be done 100 different ways... (Elizabeth Wilson / ga10062006)
 

We got fluffy socks and foot cream and made a card that said "go home and put your feet up." We gave them that on the Sunday they were released. (Idea by Elizabeth)
 

Make a paper bag album and have all the girls sign it.  They are super easy to make and really cute! You could make it an activity night and ask the girls to bring an extra snapshot of themselves (or you could take some of them) and include them in the book. 

You take 3 paper lunch bags and fold them in half. Punch 4 - 5 holes along the left hand side to make it look like a book. Decorate in "scrapbook" style and add pictures and journaling.  Very easy.

Click here to get instructions on how to make paper bag albums.
See examples of this craft: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4
 

As the wonderful Young Women's Presidency was released we had a party in honor of them and gave each sister a candle with this poem: 

"This candle represents all that you have meant to the Young Women in the ___________ Ward. You need to be commended, as a great job you did as you served the girls and the Lord. 

First, take the wax that made this candle strong and bold. 
In your calling you "waxed strong" and the girls' lives you did mold. 
With the Young Women Values, you gave each girl much thought 
As you helped them set goals, and reach them your vision was caught. 
The wick is the special part of that candle that carries the light! 
Thanks to your special testimony & your love, your light helped further the girls' gospel sight! 
You glowed with that special light that you gained from Christ's Love. 
You were truly called to serve by your Father Up Above. 
You lit the flame in each Young Woman to love,  and stay with the Lord's fold 
Your love and fabulous example, in each girl's heart, they do hold. 
Your great activities and lessons and patience, your prayers and hard work,
Has added so much color in each girl's life as well as tons of fun. 
As the candle is lit, and the wax get warm and does melt, 
Don't forget how you warmed the girls, for your love was truly felt. 
You always had an arm to wrap around them and was there to share their joys, 
A listening ear you gave them, as they share their feelings, and even their thoughts on boys! 
When your candle is burning a beautiful fragrance you will smell, 
Your example has lingered with the girls because you served so well. 
Thanks for your fantastic leadership, light of Christ, and love so divine, 
We think you're the greatest--no one will ever match you-- You're definitely one of a kind! 
Thanks for everything you gave to show the girls what's right! 
Thanks for your hard work, patience, prayers, and thoughts that always have shown bright! 
No one will ever replace you, or even strike a match to anything you do! 
So in closing, we want to give thanks and say how much we LOVE you!
 

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We made value wreaths out of grapevine wreaths.  We added eucalyptus and dried flowers and baby's breath.  We added a little silk rose in each value color and then painted little wooden hearts in the value colors and printed the values on each one.  We added them to the wreath and then we added a big bow. On the bow we added a wooden heart that says "My Wreath of Values".  We gave this with the following poem to the out going presidency members. 
 

                               A Wreath of Values

This little wreath of values is our thanks to you from us.
For all the planning, worrying, hard work, love and fuss.
As you look at your value wreath, we hope that you will see,
The memories that we shared with you, and happiness that will be.
A white rose and heart represents the Faith you had to take this call,
Divine Nature, is the blue, which you indeed taught us all.
Red is for Individual Worth, that you lead all of us to know,
See the Knowledge, which is signified by green, you gave that too and so,
The rose and heart of Orange for Choice and Accountability,
Reminds us of the great example you always gave to me.
Good Works, you continually did for us and so many others,
Integrity, we will remember you most for because you show it like no other!
Thanks so much for adding beauty, values, and so much love,
We are truly grateful for your service to your Father Up Above,
Thanks for always being there and giving us all you had.
Seeing you released from Young Women's, really made us sad!
The wreath you see has no end and it goes on forever,
And that's how we feel about our love for you, it will live on forever.
On this wreath, there is additional greenery and flowers,
This is how we feel about you, for you always added your fantastic powers!
We really love you, and wish you all the best!
And want to thank you so much for enduring your big test!