With the continued pervasiveness of email systems and rapid-fire social networking sites, the art of the thank-you note has fallen by the wayside. There are, however, times when it is still necessary to send a standard thank-you note as an indication of your gratitude for a gift or kind gesture. One such occasion is upon the receipt of a bonus from a boss. By composing a thoughtful and timely thank-you note and presenting it to your boss, you are expressing your sincere gratitude for the bonus she has bestowed upon you. Your employer will remember the kind response and it may impact his future philanthropy.

Select a thank-you card. It is usually not advisable to give a humorous thank-you card to your boss, even if you feel that he will appreciate the humor. Select a blank card or a card that contains a simple thank-you message. Aim for a card with a generic picture on the front. Let your words do the talking, not the photo on the card's exterior.

Date your note. Before you start your note, date it on the top lefthand corner. This is a good general practice as it allows the recipient of the note to easily reference when the note was received and ascertain what the note may have been for if she comes across the note in the future.

Address your boss by name. Start your note with the traditional “Dear” followed by your boss' full name or Mr. or Mrs., depending on the way in which you usually address your employer.

Say thank you in the first sentence. Establish the purpose for the note immediately by starting with a sentence that expresses your thanks.

Write a sentence or two that provides a brief explanation of how you intend to use the bonus. This is a particularly good idea if you are going to spend the money on your child's schooling or another, non-selfish purpose. You may want to leave this part out if you intend to spend the money on shoes or a designer handbag.

Compliment your boss. Try to think of something nice to say that relates to your professional relationship or the reason for the bonus. Do not go over the top or exaggerate. List one or two strengths that your boss possesses.

Express your continued devotion to the company. Show that you are a team player and point out that you value the company's ideals and mission. In a sentence or two, sum up what is good about the company and why you are proud to be an employee for the organization.

Close with a standard letter closing. End your note with a typical "Sincerely," or "Yours truly." If you wish, you can use a closing that is more meaningful, such as “Your dedicated employee.”

Follow the closing with your signature.