Archives: Monthly Newsletters - 1999

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mid-Dec(1999) letter
Sp@mmer 15 (Dec1999)
Sp@mmer 14 (Nov 1999)
Sp@mmer 13 (Oct 1999)
Sp@mmer 12 (Sep1999)
Sp@mmer 11 (Aug1999)
Sp@mmer 10 (Jul1999)
NOTICES

5 Ways You Can Help Alternatives at the End of the Year to Reduce North American Overconsumption

Consider a tax-deductible year-end contribution.
It's not too late to order for Christmas... resources or gift certificates. Order by the 18th for delivery before Christmas. We're closed Fridays, Dec. 24 and 31.
Consider sponsoring a project -- a resource, like the "Simple Living 101" Toolbook; or promotion, like a series of "Consumo" or "Who's Risen from theDead, Anyway?" classified ads in national magazines.
Remember us in your will.
Become a member or give a gift membership.

Alternatives now offers Weekly Specials on our Website -- deep discounts (usually 50%) on selected titles. Check each week. We intend to update the specials on Wednesdays. Go to www.SimpleLiving.org, click on "Catalog," then "Specials."

Please link your Website to us. For help, contact us.

Thanks for your help! Have a blessed Christmas.

Gerald

ALTERNATIVES for Simple Living
Resources for responsible living and celebrating since 1973
109 Gaul Dr. * P.O. Box 340 * Sergeant Bluff, Iowa 51054
712/943-6153 or 800/821-6153 * Fax: 712/943-1402
E-mail: Alternatives@SimpleLiving.org

Website: http://www.SimpleLiving.org

Gerald Iversen, National Coordinator

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SIMPLICITY SP@MMER #15, December, 1999

An Occasional Brief E-mail Newsletter from Alternatives

Alternatives now offers Weekly Specials on our Website -- deep discounts (usually 50%) on selected titles. Check each week. We intend to update the specials on Wednesdays.

Go to www.SimpleLiving.org, click on "Catalog," then "Specials."

We need to limit the number of titles in our catalog. So, as we add new titles, we will offer in-stock copies of discontinued and out-of-print titles on the Website rather than continuing to carry them in the paper catalog.

Beginning December 1, the 1999 Edition of "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" is half price! Single copies, $1.50 each; 5 copies, $1 each; 20 copies $.75 each; 50 copies, $.50 each. Specify denomination. Previous editions 75% off.

1999 Spanish language edition -- "Adviento" -- also half price, only $1 each.

NOTICES

Word-of-mouth works! Please send this issue to the folks on your e-mail directory or list of contacts, along with a note like, "Thought you'd enjoy reading this."

If you're not on our regular email list, send us a note for a free subscription. If you change your mind, unsubscribing is easy. Send us a note saying "Personal email only."

To read our popular "10 Tips for Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas" and excerpts from the 1999 edition of our most widely ready resource "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" go to our Website: www.SimpleLiving.org. Check it every week. The booklet is being serialized during December.

If you prefer to read our catalog on our Website and not receive a paper copy, notify us and we will stop sending one by mail. Or receive only the Fall catalog on paper. If you're not receiving a paper copy and want to, contact us and we'll start sending it.

Please link your Website to us. For help, contact us.

Gerald Iversen, National Coordinator

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SIMPLICITY SP@MMER #14, November, 1999

An Occasional Brief E-mail Newsletter from Alternatives

"Tell about a Christmas surprise."
"What is your favorite Christmas tradition from your childhood?"
"You can invite one person from history to your Christmas gathering. Who will it be?"

Let's Play "The Christmas Game"

The Alternative Christmas Game offers a fun way for children and adults to share their holiday memories, expectations and hopes. It offers a forum for people to begin thinking about their celebration of Christmas, as well as a way to learn from one another. The game deals with many of the traditional alternative Christmas themes, such as gift-giving and commercialization. Playing the game encourages further thought and discussion on what gives the season meaning among family members and others.

Play "The Christmas Game" anywhere... at home, at church, while traveling, while visiting friends or relatives. This compact booklet can be kept in a purse, car glove compartment, coat pocket. It fits in most standard size letter envelopes. It can be easily shared with friends and relatives in cards or letters, or given as a gift at Sunday School, church, reunions, parties, meetings.

This non-competitive game is designed to help people talk to each other in a fun and meaningful way. A great alternative to TV! It sells for $2; quantity pricing as low as 50¢ each.

Alternatives for Simple Living is a non-profit organization that "equips people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly, and celebrate responsibly." Through its mail-order resource service, Alternatives sells books on simple living and related topics, both for Christmas and for year-round use. Other Christmas titles include the video "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Simplify & Celebrate: Embracing the Soul of Christmas," "The Hundred Dollar Holiday," collections of Christmas stories and numerous titles for children. Alternatives most widely read resource is the family booklet "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"

For a current free catalog, call anytime 712/943-6153 or 800-821-6153, fax 712/943-1402 or e-mail Alternatives@SimpleLiving.org. Visit on-line: www.SimpleLiving.org.

NOTICES

Gerald Iversen, National Coordinator

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SIMPLICITY SP@MMER #13, October, 1999

An Occasional Brief Email Newsletter from Alternatives

Let's Talk About Christmas!

How are we going to celebrate Christmas this year?

What is really most meaningful?

Who's going to do what?

Are we willing to spend less on ourselves and help the needy? Ask questions like these. Write down and post your decisions.

At Christmas time so many peoples' brains seem to get disconnected. For whatever reason -- habit, family pressure, guilt about being a bad dad, whatever -- people put themselves through incredible stress and end up in big debt.

Instead of assuming that everything will be just the same this year and that everybody will be happy about it, talk to those who will be involved. Instead of gritting your teeth when you see Christmas decorations going up before Halloween, sit down with your family, contact your relatives and friends -- those you normally celebrate with -- and talk.

Talk about what each of you really wants at Christmas, talk about expectations, talk about who is going to do what. Maybe the person -- usually Mom -- who is assumed to do most of the work, isn't really thrilled about doing so much on top of her regular duties. Maybe she wants help. Maybe it's not worth doing so much again if the people who want it don't help.

Maybe there's something else that folks really want to do but are afraid to rock the boat. Their humble idea may become a great new family tradition. Write down your ideas and post your plan in a central place, whether your celebration is religious or secular.

Mark your calendar for your own "Let's Talk About Christmas!" Day. Beat the rush after Thanksgiving. Talk early... like October 15th. Contact Alternatives for a "Let's Talk About Christmas!" Worksheet or other help.

Designed for individuals, families and small groups, the booklet "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" includes Biblical reflections by Ron Sider (author of "Rich Christians in an Age Hunger"), activities, an Advent-Christmas calendar and suggestions for remembering those in need. Other resources for reevaluation of Christmas include "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" video, "Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love & Joy Back into the Season," "Simplify & Celebrate: Embracing the Soul of Christmas" and numerous titles for children.

Word-of-mouth works! Please send this issue to the folks on your e-mail directory or list of contacts, along with a note like, "Thought you'd enjoy reading this."

If you're not on our regular email list, send us a note for a free subscription. If you change your mind, unsubscribing is easy. Send us a note saying "Personal email only."

Consumo -- Overlord of Overconsumption --

Sexy...
Contented...
Powerful...
Wealthy...
The Enemy...

and Worshipped by US!

For ideas to overcome Consumo in your life and in our world, contact Alternatives for Simple Living, 800-821-6153.

Join the Consumo Must Go! Campaign. Kit includes media release, art, skit, newsletter blurbs, more. $5.

Simply at your service, Gerald

E-mail: Alternatives@SimpleLiving.org
On-line: http://www.SimpleLiving.org
Gerald Iversen, National Coordinator

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SIMPLICITY SP@MMER #12, September, 1999

An Occasional Brief Email Newsletter from Alternatives

Ron Sider Headlines the 1999 Edition of "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"

Ron Sider, author of the classic "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger," has written seven biblical reflections for the 1999 edition of "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" Sider's thoughts can be read quietly or aloud for private or group meditation throughout the Advent and Christmas season.

For over ten years, Alternatives has provided people with ideas to celebrate responsibly in this Advent-Christmas Resource. Designed for individuals, families and small groups, the booklet includes worshipful ceremonies, activities, an Advent calendar and suggestions for remembering those in need. "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" is available now in quantity pricing as low as 60¢ per copy. A single copy is $3, postpaid.

Ronald J. "Ron" Sider, Ph.D., Yale, is professor of theology at Eastern Seminary, corresponding editor of "Christianity Today," President of Evangelicals for Social Action (which includes "Prism" and "Creation Care" magazines) and has published more than 20 books. Sider's colleague and co-author Diane Vescovi, B.A., University of Maryland, studies at Eastern Seminary in the Masters of Theology program.

In the booklet writers Louis Lotz and Meg Cox present meaningful Christmas alternatives in the articles "Christmas Presence" and "The Heart of a Family." Celebrations for St. Nicholas Day and Epiphany are activities for family or small groups at home or church.

The booklet's calendar - "More CHRISTmas - Less Consuming" - offers thoughts and actions for each day in Advent and the twelve days of Christmas to help people remember the reason we celebrate. The calendar is also available as bulletin inserts and posters and in Spanish. It may be ordered from Alternatives or copied and a royalty paid.

A free copy of the popular "Ten Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas" is available upon request.

In addition to the Alternatives-Ecumenical Version and Alternatives-Catholic Version, some 25 denominations and dioceses have their own versions. A shorter Spanish edition of the booklet is also available.

Alternatives provides other resources appropriate for reevaluation of Christmas and for simpler living all year.

Simply at your service, Gerald

Gerald Iversen, National Coordinator

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SIMPLICITY SP@MMER #11, August, 1999

An Occasional Brief E-mail Newsletter from Alternatives

"I buy whatever I want when I want it - because I can," says Consumo.
"Live simply that others may simply live," responds Alternatives.

Alternatives Challenges "Consumo"

"Consumo," Overlord of Overconsumption, is being challenged during the upcoming high holy season of "Consumas," commonly mistaken for Christmas. Alternatives for Simple Living says Consumas - pronounced Con-SOOM-us - is "The REALLY Big Con."

Consumo is worshipped by almost everyone in North America. Consumo - or Big C - appears in many guises, as a woman, a man , a child, as Santa Claus. Big C is the national god of North America, the god of US.

Worshippers of Consumo have Alternatives! Some of them are in the Alternatives Resource Guide. Alternatives produces inexpensive tools to help people deal with 'Consumo' or 'Affluenza' or whatever we choose to call the North American addiction to overconsumption.

The worshippers of Consumo exhibit an attitude based on fads and sex appeal, the lifestyle of the privileged. The followers of Consumo strive to live - and strive and strive and strive. The alternative is Simple Living.

Almost everybody likes Simple Living. Even the worshippers of Big C agree with Simple Living. But they think Simple Living is boring and they live according to Big C. Simple Living is based on the joy of relationships, not the burden of stuff. It is supported by virtually all the major religions of the world. Simple Living is promoted by a small group of organizations and individuals who truly believe that the way of Big C is destroying the world. Big C is promoted by an incredibility wealthy and powerful advertising and entertainment industry.

"Debt is good! Stress is fun!" says Consumo.
"Let's spend less on ourselves and give more to the needy," says Alternatives.

"Shop till you drop," says Consumo.
"If we don't need it, it isn't a bargain," says Alternatives.

"What's another tree or two? What's a couple of species?" says Consumo.
"Care for all Creation. Reduce, reuse, recycle and restore," says Alternatives.

"Eat, drink and be merry - 'cause this is all there is. The guy who dies with the most toys, wins." says Consumo.
"There's enough for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed," says Alternatives.

Alternatives offers a "Consumo Must Go!" Campaign Kit, which includes a media release, blurbs for newsletters, a skit and other items.

$5 postpaid. ####

Simply at your service, Gerald

Gerald Iversen, National Coordinator

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SIMPLICITY SP@MMER #10, July, 1999

An Occasional Brief E-mail Newsletter from Alternatives

Help Built Community with an Alternative Christmas Event

"An Alternative Christmas Community Festival is a concrete, exciting way to offer ideas and support for those who want to have more meaningful Christmas celebrations. It is also a positive way to introduce the need for change to people unaware of the problems connected with the way we celebrate Christmas," said author Virginia E. Stevens.

Alternatives has reissued two helpful, updated Christmas Festival and Workshop Guidelines for planning fall events. In addition to a step-by-step plan, "How to Organize a Alternative Christmas community Festival" includes a section on publicity and an extensive list of resources. It sells for $3.

"Planning an Alternative Christmas Workshop" is $2 and includes a plan for various lengths, ranging from 60 minutes to 2 1/2 hours. Both resources together are $4.

Many churches organize Alternative Christmas events in the fall to encourage alternative giving and to help members simplify their celebration. The three basic plans are:

1. Sell crafts and clothing from Third World artisans. This encourages the second pillar of Voluntary Simplicity: Learn from the World Community. Family and friends get beautiful gifts at reasonable prices. Third World artisans get a fair price for their work because more gets to them through these volunteer fairs and shops than through similar commercial shops.

2. Encourage people to give funds to worthwhile organizations in someone else's name instead of a purchased gift. The gift is doubled - for the recipient of the funds and the recipient of the honor. Usually a gift card goes to the honoree telling something about the recipient organization.

3. Hold a workshop on alternative ways of celebrating Christmas. Such a workshop goes beyond gifts, to the entire purpose and organization of celebrating Christmas. Use the classic "Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season" ($13) and "Leader's Guide for 'Unplug the Christmas Machine' Workshop" ($10). A shorter guide is "Let's Talk About Christmas" ($1).

Alternatives is a non-profit organization that "equips people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly, and celebrate responsibly."

Through its mail-order resource service, Alternatives sells books on simple living and related topics, both for Christmas and for year-round use. For a current free catalog, call anytime 712/943-6153 or 800-821-6153, fax 712/943-1402 or e-mail Alternatives@SimpleLiving.org. . #####

Simply at your service, Gerald

Gerald Iversen, National Coordinator

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NOTICES

Free Catalog options:
* WebSite only
* Quarterly on paper
* Only Fall issue on paper

If you prefer not to receive these occasional messages from Alternatives, just send us an e-mail message that says, "Personal e-mail only."

Please link your Website to us. For help, contact us.

Simply at your service, Gerald

ALTERNATIVES for Simple Living

Resources for responsible living and celebrating since 1973

109 Gaul Dr.

P.O. Box 340

Sergeant Bluff, Iowa 51054

712/943-6153 or 800/821-6153
Fax: 712/943-1402
E-mail: Alternatives@SimpleLiving.org

Gerald Iversen, National Coordinator

Alternatives is a non-profit organization that "equips people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly, and celebrate responsibly." Through its mail-order resource service, Alternatives sells books on simple living and related topics, both for Christmas and for year-round use. For a current free catalog, call anytime 712/943-6153 or 800-821-6153, fax 712/943-1402 or e-mail Alternatives@SimpleLiving.org.

ALTERNATIVES for Simple Living, 109 Gaul Dr. * P.O. Box 340 * Sergeant Bluff, Iowa 51054
800/821-6153 * 712/943-6153 * Fax: 712/943-1402 E-mail: Alternatives@SimpleLiving.org

This page last updated 27 February 2003