• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• In 2015...
• OUTREACH
• FUTURE
• FINANCES
• Honorary Board of Directors

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Alternatives was founded in 1973 as a protest against the commercialization of Christmas.

• Up to 1995, the organization produced. . .

• Also, the organization:

• After moving Alternatives from Georgia, to Sioux City, Iowa, in August, 1995, the new staff. . .

  In 2012...

  • We revived Alternatives as Simple Living Works! by updating the website, starting a monthly eNewsletter, blogging weekly and podcasting monthly with Jubilee-Economics.org (our new collaborators).
  • All resources were converted to Creative Commons non-commercial attribution share-alike license, which means that anyone can many as many copies as they like as long as they attribute the source(s) and do not sell them for a profit.
  • Updated and archived all of Alternatives' videos at YouTube.
  • Uploaded numerous audio and text resources to SimpleLivingWorks.org that had not previously been available on the internet.

  OUTREACH

• We no longer sell anything. We provide the resources produced since 1973 free of charge at SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives.
• The web site provides material for volunteers who choose to serve as Speakers, Workshop Leaders, Alternative Event Organizers, Simplicity Circle/Discussion-makers, and Project Workers (local media contacts).
• Gerald Iversen offers free simple living coaching to groups via the internet.

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In 2013...

• SLW! begin more internet-based outreach, including a Facebook page, Twitter, Linked-In, Pinterest and several blog posts each week.
• SLW! began a twice monthly podcast in August. Each episode is archived twice, once with Show Notes, once without.
• In agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Archives Office, a complete set of Alternatives' resources will be housed in Chicago. Copies of resources will be made available upon request for a nominal cost.
• Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? 2013 (#25) was produced for the internet, not on paper, and provided free of charge.

In 2014...

• SLW! extended internet-based outreach, including a Facebook page, Twitter, Linked-In, Pinterest. Several blog posts each week totaled 194 by the end of the year, including a ten-part series 'Jerry's Adventure in Social Media,' which was added to 'Simple living 101: Toolkit for Activists Shy or Bold.'
• SLW! continued a twice monthly podcast. It included a eight-part series of Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne's 'Simply Enough' dialog; a four-part 'WHOSE Birthday' series; and several interviews with Champions of Simple Living today, which will intensify in 2015. Podcast episodes totaled 35 by the end of the year.
• In agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Archives Office, a complete set of Alternatives' resources is housed near Chicago. Copies of resources are made available upon request for a nominal cost.
• Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? 2014 (#26) was produced for the internet, not on paper, and provided free of charge, linking primarily to colleague organization materials.
• NEW SERVICES include 'SLW! Recommends' Literacy Service and Reviews of Simple Living Blogs, Sites and Podcasts.

In 2015...

• SLW! extended internet-based outreach, including a blog post each week totaled 250 by the end of the year. A new focus on 'What Others Are Doing' started mid-year. At the same time the weekly blog was retitled 'SLW! Weekly Digest.' One blog each month is 'SLW! eNews,' which is distributed to some 5000 subscribers by email. Also a reverse chronological blog index was created, accessible from window #2 of the SLW! home page.
• SLW! continued a twice monthly podcast. It included a three-part 'WHOSE Birthday' series; and several interviews with Champions of Simple Living today, which will intensify in 2016. Podcast episodes totaled 60 by the end of the year.
• Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? 2015 (#27) was produced for the internet, not on paper, and provided free of charge, linking primarily to colleague organization materials.
• Updated New Services include 'SLW! Recommends' Literacy Service and Previews of Simple Living Blogs, Sites and Podcasts.