Winter, 2008
Previous Issues of Newsletters
CONTENTS
* Hello, Colorado!
* LIFE Profiles
* Barbie Pietz & Tim Asplund, Madison, WI
* Dexter Gillett, Munising, MI
* Mary Hayenga, Andover, SD
* DVD Release Party
* Volunteer Recognition
* Farewell, Rose Ann
* Coming Soon on SimpleLiving.org
* Thank You Gifts
* Ways You CAN Help
* * *
Hello, Colorado!
When not working as a parish pastor under call in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Michael Mortvedt enjoys riding his bicycle with a small trailer to the grocery store or other errands because he gets some exercise and in a small way helps the environment. Simple living often involves taking small steps like riding a bicycle instead of driving a car, when possible. The benefits of voluntary simplicity are numerous because it is a way of purposeful living that makes room for faith, family life, care of God's creation and other aspects of life that are truly important.
Sandy Olson is a native of Colorado, an Associate in Ministry in the ELCA, a musician, and a gourmet cook who enjoys making bread from scratch never using the same recipe twice. Sandy and Michael have four children. Two are in college, one is attending seminary, and one teaches fifth grade in public schools. Sandy's father Ole also lives with them in the old Dillon fire station that will soon house Alternatives for Simple Living.
We are both excited and humbled to be the new National Coordinators of Alternatives for Simple Living. As one board member of Alternatives said, 'You are following in the footsteps of some very talented and creative leaders who have given Alternatives an extraordinary legacy.' Simple Living is so vitally important in our time; we are honored to serve as National Coordinators.
Alternatives is moving out of The Earth Dome and into a fire station in Dillon, Colorado, 90 minutes northwest of Denver. Michael sports a ONE campaign wrist band and drives a hybrid beyond bike range. Sandy relishes the mountains, trees and streams. * * *
People a Lot Like You: LIFE Member Profiles
Wouldn't you like to be a LIFE member?
Barbie Pietz plays the French horn in a brass quintet at church.
Hubby Tim Asplund likes to make beer and to play the mandolin and trumpet (though not at the same time). He manages lakes for the Dept. of Natural Resources. Their children are five and nine. The family likes to camp, hike and canoe.
Madison, Wisconsin, has an Enact Team which gets neighbors together to talk about household environmental action. St. John's Lutheran Church has its own Enact Team to provide resources and present curriculum for action in homes -- grassroots action on solid waste, water, energy efficiency, transportation, etc. The teams document and measure the changes. The city helps by sponsoring a web site for stuff exchange. St. John's adds the faith dimension Care of Creation. The church started by a group studying Simpler Living / Compassionate Life.
St. John's also has an extensive social justice involvement. They partner with Lutheran Social Service and the local homeless shelter to provide emergency shelter, which is used every day. They plan to remodel the church so that it can be used more effectively every day.
Dexter Gillett
My life was pretty humdrum and uneventful until about eight years ago. At that time I dropped out of mainstream and opted for an alternative lifestyle.
The first few years included explorations of Intentional Communities: Camp Hill-type farm, a Franciscan Retreat Center, a wilderness EcoVillage and The Prison Ashram Project (Human Kindness Foundation).
More recently I changed focus and pursued caretaking roles -- ranch sitting in Wyoming, caretaking at a retreat center on Arkansas and dog sitting in Florida.
As you can probably guess, I've kind of been living out of a suitcase and going Greyhound. Recently I've purchased a car and am settling in for retirement on lake Superior in Munising, Michigan.
My retirement interest/hobbies will include biking, hiking, cross country skiing, basket making and mosaics. The last three of these will be a stretch for me, as I've never attempted them before.
The highlight of all this for me was living on less than $2500 out-of-pocket annually for eight years. I never would have thought it possible.
Peace, Dexter
Mary Hayenga runs Back on Track: Long term disaster Recovery for her region of South Dakota that was affected by the May, 2007, flooding, funded by United Methodist Commitee on Relief (UMCOR), Lutheran Hunger Program (ELCA) and local donations.
Mary is a lay speaker and active in the South Dakota Peace & Justice Network in Sioux Falls. She has now retired from national committees of the United Methodist Church but stays active in her local church, North Highland United Methodist Church, Aberdeen, SD.
Hubby Cal runs a large soybean and wheat farm. They love to travel and have visited every continent, including Antarctica. It was AWESOME, she says. They have taken kids along, including work teams. She attended the Earth Summit in Rio and met Al Gore. She sees climate change happening.
'I appreciate your commitment. This is so needed by our society. It's too bad more aren't aware. I try to spread the word,' says Mary of Alternatives.
Jeff and Cheryle from JDGordonAdvertising.com; guest; producer Pete; and Matt, the CD voice of 'Whose Birthday?'
DVD Release Party
Jeff Gordon and Peter Iversen were honored at the DVD Release Party this fall of Enough: Straight Talk from Tony Campolo & Shane Claiborne on Simple, Just Living. Jeff donated the entire graphic design through JDGordonAdvertising.com. Jeff's firm is also responsible for the new look of our web site, 'Whose Birthday?' booklet and Alternatives' Resources Guide.Peter, the producer of the DVD, donated hundreds of hours recording, editing and doing post-production on the project. They were awarded framed promotional posters personally signed by Tony & Shane. Pete has produced all of Alternatives DVD's and audio CDs.
The DVD has received many endorsements from people like Jim Wallis of Sojourners / Call to Renewal (author of God's Politics). To read the endorsements and much more, visit SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives >> Simply Enough.
Full color posters, post cards, flyers and stickers are downloadable to promote your showing of the DVD. Visit SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives >> Simply Enough.
Volunteer Recognition
June, Helen and Rita
Alternatives' local volunteers were honored at a simple party this fall. Retiring National Coordinator Gerald Iversen's presentation Simple Living Struggles & Solutions was recorded and is now available on DVD. For the DVD script and video downloads visit SimpleLivingWorks.Org >> Archives >> Audio & Video. Besides personal and group inspiration, the DVD hopes to help train volunteers to be pro-active in their communities.
FAREWELL to Rose Ann Pridie (also known as Rosie the clown), who has served as Alternatives' Office Manager since January, 1996. Send any greetings to Alternatives and we will forward them to her.
UPDATE: The following information is obsolete.
Coming Soon on SimpleLiving.org
Something new everyday on our dynamic home page!
Window #1 - Enough
Window #2 - New Resources
Window #3 - Blog: Faces of Simpler Living in the Northeast (If you missed CA, NC, KS, OK, CO, TX, NE, MO, MI, OH, IL, ID, WA, OR, UT & WY, they're waiting for you in the Blog archives.)
Window #4 - Your Thought for the Day from Spirit of Simplicity
Window #5 - Your Comments
Window #6 - Friends of Alternatives: Simple Living LIFERs
Window #7 - 2008 Lenten Guide and Free Resources
Get a free update weekly (or monthly if you prefer) by giving us your email address. Our Simply :60 eNewsletter is meant to be read in under a minute.
Member/Volunteer Reply
[1/08] Donations
___ I want to support the Young Adults Initiative, including Tony & Shane's DVD!
$5000 / $2500 / $1000 / $500 /$250 / $100 / $75/$50 / $35 / $25 -- all levels tax deductible
___ I want to pledge per __ month / __ quarter.
___ I want to be a dues-paying member, or renew.
___ I want to be a charter member of Alternatives' endowment. I'm pledging at least $500.
___ Send me information about including Alternatives in my will and about planned giving.
Volunteers
___ Yes, I want to become/continue as a member of the Simpler Living Community Network (incorporating SLOW Down Network).
___ No thanks, I'm no longer interested in volunteering.
___ Contact me about hosting a speaker in my area.
___ I will distribute Alternatives� free �Whose Birthday?� flyers. Send me __ copies of the half-sheet. Send me __ copies of past �Whose Birthday?� (I�ll pay the shipping for the booklets.)
___ I will distribute Alternatives' free Resources Guide. Send me __ copies of the current mini-catalog.
Thank You's � for yourself and to share with others
___ I'm giving $100 or more by check or credit card (include numbers and expiration date). Send me one of the following free resources for each $100 . . .
___ Audio CD �Alternative Christmas Trilogy�
___ Audio CD �Living Simply & Loving It!�
___ CD-rom �Simply the Best: 30 Years of Alternatives.�
___ �Unplug the Christmas Machine� Workshop-on-a-CD
___ �Living More-with-Less Study/Action Guide�
___ �Spirit of Simplicity: Quotes & Art� book
___ �Spirit of Simplicity: Quotes & Art� CD-rom
___ �Break Forth into Joy: Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle� video (VHS tape)
___ �Stories & Songs of Simple Living� book
___ �Stories & Songs of Simple Living� CD
___ �Worship Alternatives� CD-rom
___ �Sing Justice! Do Justice!� Music CD
For more choices visit SimpleLiving.org >> eStore >> Misc. >> Premiums. For donations under $100, claim FREEBIES at Misc. >> Freebies.
___ For $250 �Simply Enough,� Tony & Shane�s DVD
___ For $500 �Simply Enough� DVD, an autographed copy of Shane�s book �The Irresistible Revolution� and a DVD poster signed by both Tony and Shane.
Ways You CAN Help! (circle your choices)
� Send referrals! Be proactive. Sharing names and contact information of anyone who shows interest in simpler living.
� Be a volunteer for Alternatives in your community. Visit SimpleLiving.org >> Volunteers >> Activities.
� Pledge a LIFE membership. � Donate regularly � each month or quarter. We�re tax deductible!
� Lower taxes through Alternatives� Endowment.
� Give someone a simpler living nudge. Share Alternatives� resources, give gift memberships.
Read about membership BENEFITS at SimpleLiving.org >> Membership or at eStore >> Membership.
Member/Volunteer Reply
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Address _________________________________ Denominational preference ________________
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ALTERNATIVES for Simple Living
PO Box 340, 109 Gaul Dr., Sergeant Bluff, IA 51054
Alternatives@SimpleLiving.org
712-943-6153 ** 800-821-6153 ** fax: 712-943-1402
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