Year End Note of Appreciation

It is the year end and time when companies will organize occassions to appreciate the staff for the year.

I am due to attend one next week and I am to give a note of appreciation of the staff - together with their bonus, increment (if any) and long service award.
In this current climate, when all things seem to have depreciated in their values, when everyone suffers from depreciation, how to deliver a note of 'appreciation'?

How meaningful is it for them to receive this note of appreciation from me or how meaningful is it for me to deliver it?

Maybe the note should be first delivered by the recipients to themselves. Otherwise, the note may sound strange to them, sound 'like a formality and insincere' or worse, sacarsm.

Do you sense an increase in value in yourself this year or from then to now?

An increase in value, an appreciation
- not from the number of years in services, or staying another year in service
- not from an increase in salary, or a promotion in rank or responsibility
- not from reading more books, giving more talks
- not from KPIs such as church attendance, baptism rate, budget and programme & activities completed.

Nor am I talking about being a better person, a moral person.

If we take away all these, are there still reasons and notes of appreciation that we can affirm ourselves, that others can affirm us and we can affirm others?

This note will need quite a consideration.