Cascadia Scorecard News
December 2005  

Sightline staff would adore the holidays for the sugar cookies alone, but it’s the enhanced sense of connection among people, and to nature, that defines the season for us. We’ve come up with a list of gifts to encourage community involvement and connection—instead of consumption. And more people that are connected to each other and to nature will help build a critical mass of northwesterners that care deeply about the future of the region.

Give family and friends the gift of:

• Hope: Turn someone on to an organization that’s solving problems in the Northwest. Whether the issue is poverty, alternative transportation, or Northwest sustainability (wink, wink), letting others know about groups creating change in your community can bring a renewed sense of purpose and hope about the region’s future. Share your enthusiasm for Sightline and other organizations with a gift membership or newsletter subscription.

• Expression: From Oregon politics to cheeses of the Northwest to long-term trends in sustainability, there’s a weblog for every subject. So why not give someone the chance to share their ideas and connect with like-minded people by setting them up with their own blog? It’s free and takes five minutes to set up on Blogger, one of many hosting sites.

• Broader horizons: Give the gift of an alternative viewpoint, with a subscription to an open-minded (or mind-opening) newsletter or magazine. A few of our favorites include Grist Magazine, the Tyee in British Columbia, Open Spaces, High Country News, and of course, the Cascadia Scorecard News.

• Community: I know you’ve heard it before, but volunteering truly is fulfilling. Set aside some time over the holidays for you and your family to feed the Northwest’s hungry, clean up your parks, or improve your neighborhood. You can search for local opportunities on Idealist.org.

• Your junk is my jewel: Forget friends and family; give to a complete stranger by donating your unwanted stuff to another northwesterner. Many locally focused organizations will match up your used items with people who need it. Passages Northwest gives your outdoor gear to women and girls in their leadership programs; Eco-Encore sells your used books, CDs, and DVDs and gives the proceeds to Northwest environmental organizations, and Freecycle not only keeps junk out of landfills by connecting givers with local takers, the takers will come pick up your stuff.

• Silence: With hectic schedules and busy lives, there’s often not enough time for reflecting, relaxing. So why not give someone a complete day of silence? No phones, or television, even no conversation if that’s what they want, just a truly quiet day.

Happy holidays from Sightline!