CONTENTS
Foreword
Simple Living Work! extends the spirit and mission of Alternatives.
Alternatives is a pioneer in the modern voluntary simplicity movement. Founded in 1973 as a protest against the commercialization of Christmas, Alternatives is a non-profit organization that urges and equips everyone to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly year-round. To this end, Alternatives offers a wide variety of services and resources, including videos, games, bulletin inserts, study/action guides, and music.
Alternatives emphasizes relationships and traditions over things, thereby helping to reduce stress and debt. We promote alternative giving – giving of ourselves instead of mass-produced “stuff” and helping the needy instead of spending so much on ourselves. Our most widely read resource is the Christmas annual “Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?”
“Simple Living 101” began as a suggestion for a Lifestyle Workshop resource by Diane Hockenberry, Associate for Hunger Education for the Presbyterian Hunger Program.
We began the SLOW Down Network in 1997 as an international network of volunteers – motivational speakers, workshop leaders, event organizers and study circle consultants – people who stand ready to speak for voluntary simplicity and for Alternatives.
By year 2005, the network had grown to over 800 volunteers. To provide support materials for the network, a SLOW Down Handbook was compiled in 1998. This resource, “Simple Living 101,” grew from that handbook. It is designed for anyone to use.
“Simple Living 101“ is organized with volunteers in mind – speakers, leaders, organizers, consultants. Some information is repeated so the sections of the book can be used independently.
Thanks to the many members of the network who reviewed the first draft; especially to Diane Hockenberry, Dick Webster and Christine Leonard-Osterwalder for reading the final draft.
For more on Alternatives and the Simpler Living Community Network (SLOW Down Network), see the Appendices, pages 66-72. For information about the Network, or the organization's future plans, visit SimpleLivingWorks.org. Peace.
Alternatives for Simple Living, 1973-2011
Gerald Iversen, National Coordinator, 1995-2007
Founder, 2011, Simple Living Works!
† † †
Praise for Simple Living 101
It looks great! It is clear and the information is well organized and thorough. This will be an excellent resource! I look forward to using it! Thanks for all your hard work! God bless! – Melissa Danielson, Allston, MA
Excellent Resource Materials! You have done a superb job. – Donna Moore, Bainbridge, WA
It is a very good piece and we have much respect for the work of Alternatives. – Scott Winkler, Lexington, KY
Good content and easy to follow. – Mike Harning, Detroit, MI
As always, I’m impressed with the wealth of resources offered by Alternatives. The format is easy to understand and looks appealing yet frugal. Excellent materials! Very useful! “How to Organize an Alternate Christmas Community Festival” is a fantastic resource in terms of “how-to.” – Christine Leonard-Osterwalder, Wildomar, CA
Very impressive handbook! What a comprehensive resource list! Excellent. Makes me want to set aside a week (or a month!) and JUST READ! These resources (or even a few of them) would provide any individual or group with so many ideas to create more meaningful lives. – Ann Rinkenberg, Scandia, MN
©Creative Commons attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license (originally 2000, 2005, 2007 Alternatives for Simple Living)
Simple Living Works! * SimpleLivingWorks@Yahoo.com
BLOG: SimpleLivingWorks.WordPress.com
| Blog INDEX
PODCAST |
Podcast INDEX
VIDEOS: YouTube.com/SimpleLivingWorks
MISSION: Equipping people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly // An all volunteer educational organization.