College Gift

Skidmore College - Gift Planning - Life Income - Breaking News Search | Calendar | A-Z Index Thu Sep 22 5:37 PM EDT Skidmore Home | Admissions | Current Students | Faculty & Staff | Parents & Friends | Alumni Wills and Bequests Life Income Gifts More Gift Options Breaking News To Honor Donors Bring Legacy to Life! Scribner House Contact Our Staff Gift Planning Home STANDARD MAIL 815 North Broadway Saratoga Springs, New York, 12866 GIFT PLANNING PHONE 518-580-5655 E-MAIL CONTACT Gift Planning Gift Planning Breaking News DONORS CALL THE SHOTS ON GIFT INVESTMENT Skidmore College is pleased to be one of the country's first charitable organizations to offer the Donor Managed Investment account (DMI), an exciting new charitable giving vehicle. This is an opportunity for donors to leverage their gifts for better return and greater good. The DMI concept enables donors or their financial advisors to manage the investment of their contributions after the gift is made to Skidmore, while receiving the immediate income tax charitable deduction. Unlike a "donor-advised fund," the DMI does not limit investment choices to a relative few alternatives. Rather, the DMI program allows donors to follow their own preferred investment strategies, including equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and possibly alternative investments. In consultation with Skidmore, a donor would gift funds into a DMI account, under the ownership of Skidmore College. A mutually signed program agreement authorizes the donor to direct the investment management of the funds for an agreed-upon period of time. At the conclusion of that period, the proceeds are applied to the use defined by the donor in the agreement. There is no fee associated with a DMI account. Rather, Skidmore pays a licensing and service fee to the DMI administrator, Winklevoss Consultants. Mark J. Rakov, Skidmore Class of 1979, is senior managing director for Winklevoss Consultants and was instrumental in getting the DMI program up and running for the college. To learn more about this and other charitable arrangements available at Skidmore, please call Don Blunk, director of Gift Planning (518) 580-5655, or send an email to giftplanning@skidmore.edu . Simply click on the link from this webpage. Bring Legacy to Life! Philanthropy • Legacy • Security The Office of Gift Planning urges donors to consult their legal and other professional advisors when considering charitable gift giving. Our staff is always pleased to work directly with donors and their advisors during the process. Creative Thought Matters. Skidmore College · 815 North Broadway · Saratoga Springs, NY · 12866 Skidmore College Main Links ©2005 Skidmore College · Contact Information Skidmore Home | Admissions | Current Students | Faculty & Staff | Parents & Friends | Alumni

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Christmas gifts for men - Birthday and Anniversary presents for him This is the best website I have ever used, the range of gifts and gadgets is amazing. I bought a birthday present for my boyfriend and an anniversary gift for my parents, they loved them. They arrived the day after I ordered them and even though I only selected standard delivery, which was free because I spent over 50 quid. And the loyalty points gave me over a tenner off - Susie Andrews Christmas Gifts and Anniversary Presents For Men Surprise the man in your life with one ofour unique anniversary, birthday or Christmas gifts. We believe that gifts for him don't have tobeboring so don't wait for christmasto get your man - or even men - that perfectgift.Buy mens gifts now! After all, what man wouldn't wantan acre of mars or a remote controlled helicopteras a present. Whether your are buying gifts for your husband orboyfriend; take advantage of our uniquerange of men's gifts andmake your man happy today ! Top Birthday and Christmas Gifts For Him Below are our best selling men's birthday and christmas presents.Click on an image formore details and a larger picture. Our completerange of birthday and christmas gifts for men can be found by clickingthe department buttons above or below. Ferrari Driving Experience £209.99 ($398.08) Star Wars Darth Vader Lightsaber Force FX Collectable EP V £89.80 (on sale) Luxury Casino Gambling Chips - 300 piece set £49.90 (on sale) Wine Tasting in a Vineyard For Two £75.99 ($144.05) Laserpod Crystal and Laser Lamp £57.49 (on sale) Space Hopper - 3 Pack of Racing Odd Balls £39.90 ($75.64) CorkPops III Gas Operated Cork Remover £19.95 ($37.82) Digital Golf Caddy £19.90 ($37.72) Acre of the Moon £18.90 (on sale) gifts 4 men all 4 men 4 women 4 children health corporate wedding any price under 25 under 50 under 75 under 100 over 100 Newsletter Signup Your firstname E-mail Address

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Cuddle Bug Baby Products - Unique baby and children's gifts for baby showers, newborns, and older kids. Looking for a perfect baby gift? Delight a new mom at a baby shower or welcome a newborn with a unique, one-of-a-kind Cuddle Bug baby gift. Our FREE gift wrapping service handles all the details! Gifts for siblings and moms, too! Shop with confidence that your purchase is safe and secure and your privacy protected. Attending a baby shower or welcoming a new baby? Give a gift sure to be a hit! Cuddle Bug Baby Diaper Cakes are made of dozens of diapers, shaped to look like real cakes. These 1-4 tier beauties come filled with Cuddle Bug Baby Products as well as other needed layette items: bottles, toys, socks, pacifiers, etc. Makes a stunning centerpiece at a baby shower. Cuddle Bug Security Blankets have been featured in Pregnancy as well as Baby Years Magazines. Security items, or loveys, play an important role in infant and toddler development. Ours are the only security blankets made of three different textures, providing excellent tactile stimulation. Unique gifts that will be treasured by parents as well as baby alike! See our Cuddle Bug Quillows featured in Parents Magazine ! These soft, warm, fleece blanket throws are large enough for preschoolers, older children and even adults! Slip your feet into the large pocket for extra warmth. Fold blanket into the pocket to form a pillow! Great for travel or naps at school. New prints are here, just in time for Fall/Winter! Cuddle Bug Cloverleaf Swaddling Blankets are simply the best swaddling blankets around. Their unique and innovative cloverleaf shape makes swaddling a snap. Two layers of soft flannel; available in a variety of colors. Recommended by USA Today and Parents Magazine. Our products and our customer service are great! But dont take our word for it. Read what our customers say about Cuddle Bug Baby Products and our outstanding attention to our customers. Need some parenting advice? Who doesnt? Visit our Parent Information Center for insightful articles, fun stories about kids, practical baby tips, baby shower ideas, and even kids-room decorating inspiration. Our parenting tips are filled with suggestions from real parents. We are an owner-operated business run by an experienced mom celebrating our sixth year in business! Click for more Company Information . We take pride in our Cuddle Bug baby gifts and accessories, and offer only the best in customer service. We value the relationships we build with our customers. We never rent or sell our customer information - your privacy is a primary concern. We were selected as the featured site at Daily Web site! CUSTOMER COMMENTS I found out about your company and products when I received some burp cloths, blanket, and the cloverleaf blanket for my own baby last year. I love the way your products are constructed and the fact that they are unique. I'm buying this blanket for a good friend whose baby is due next month. I'm sure she'll love it as much as I love mine! Karen, Homer Glen, IL More Customer Comments CUSTOMER COMMENTS Hi, I just received my order today and I love it! I'm expecting my 1st child in early November and knew this was something I wanted for his nursery. I had no problem with your web site and found it very easy to maneuver and view your products. The ordering was a breeze. I found out about your products from my first Parents magazine. I will definitely be referring your web page to my friends and family and look forward to ordering more items for upcoming baby showers! Thank You! Jana More Customer Comments CUSTOMER COMMENTS There is only one thing I would like to say about my recent order...PERFECT! You have a lot to smile about. Thanks a lot! Frances Houston, TX More Customer Comments Home Place_Order Products Parent_Info_Center Customer_Comments Wholesale_Info FAQ Company_Info Contact_Us Awards Links Press_Information All contents ©1998-2004 Cuddle Bug Baby Products/The Sweet Pea Company. All rights reserved. No content of this web site (structure, text or images) may be copied or used in part or in whole without prior written permission from the owner. Cuddle Bug Blankets is a registered trademark and Cuddle Bug Baby Products, Cuddle Bug Security Blankets, Cuddle Bug Crib Blankets, Cuddle Bug Quillows, Cuddle Bug Cloverleaf Blankets, Cuddle Bug Bibs, Cuddle Bug Muffin Hats, Cuddle Bug Jester Hats and Cuddle Bug Burpies are trademarks of Cuddle Bug Baby Products/The Sweet Pea Company. Looking for The Sweet Pea Company? Youve found us! Weve changed our name to Cuddle Bug Baby Products! But that is the only thing weve changed. We are still the same great company with the same great products! Join the Cuddle Bug Baby Products mailing list Enter Email:

Christmas Gifts | Gift

Christmas Gifts Christmas Gifts Ideas for Christmas gifts to buy online; also includes some homemade gift ideasfor those who wish their christmas presents to be of a more personal nature. | Christmas Trees | Tabletop Xmas Trees | Tree Ornaments & Decorations | Figurines | | Wreaths | Religious | Indoor and Outdoor Decorations | Christmas Cards | | Christmas Gifts | Gift Baskets | Linda Webb Baby Emily Celebration Of Life So Truly Real(TM)Lifelike Baby Doll Linda Webb's Baby Emily Doll Helps You Celebrate Life! Exclusive CollectibleLifelike Baby Doll is So Truly Real(TM)! - She's won the hearts of the world!Linda Webb's Baby Emily doll is so amazingly true to life you just won'tbelieve she's not a real baby! Emily is a very special So Truly Real(TM)collectible lifelike baby girl doll, crafted of RealTouch(TM) vinyl with tinyfolds and creases in her skin just like a real baby! From her hand-appliedbaby-fine hair, wondrous eyes and delicate eyelashes to her tiny finger andtoenails, she's simply perfect! Linda Webb dolls are highly prized amongcollectors, and this realistic baby girl doll is available only fromAshton-Drake. She's dressed in a pink knit jumper, delicately embroidered anddecorated with tiny "pearls" and ribbons, matching panties and socks,and a tiny pink bow in her hair. She even has her own pink pacifier, for thosequiet moments when she's snuggled in your arms! Be prepared to lose your heartto Emily's charms - order now! Thomas Kinkade A Holiday Gathering Heirloom Porcelain MusicBox A Holiday Wish of Home and Hearth Come True - Lamplit visions of times past andhappy gatherings of friends and neighbors fill the heart with holiday spirit.Now the holiday visions of Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light(TM), are presentedin a unique music box crafted of two and three-dimensional art and goldenwelcoming light. Admiration for the work of Thomas Kinkade is widespread, soorder this heartwarming music box from Ardleigh Elliot Collectible Music Boxestoday. Department 56 Hot Properties!(TM) Snoopy(R) Wins First PrizeLighted Musical Snow Globe Department 56(R) Snoopy(R) Collectible Snowglobe and Music Box Wins 1st Prizein Your Heart this Christmas! - You'll grin from ear to ear to see Snoopy(R),Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Woodstock and all the PEANUTS(C) gang on thishandcrafted Department 56(R) collectible snowglobe inspired by the belovedholiday TV special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas!" Just like in the TVspecial the music box plays "O Tannenbaum", the tune that played whenCharlie Brown discovered Snoopy's award. And look - Snoopy's 1st Prize doghousedecorations actually light up! Cherish the endearing nostalgia of "ACharlie Brown Christmas" in your home with this fine collectible snowglobe- order now! Boyds Samuel T. Kringlebear Teddy Bear Boyds Bear Plush Collectible Adds Patriotic Flair to the Holidays! SpecialEdition Americana Santa Teddy Bear! - Have a very patriotic Christmas with thiswonderful Boyds Bear plush collectible Americana Santa teddy bear! "SamuelT. Kringlebear" is perfectly dressed for delivering old-fashioned toys togood girls and boys! He wears a striking full-length Americana quilted coatwith faux fur trim, a thermal top and striped pants, and his silky white beardis removable! He carries his mini-bear friend, "George," all snuggledin a red, white and blue Americana stocking!This Special Edition Boyds Bearplush collectible teddy bear makes a beautifully crafted addition to your teddybear collection. Or you could give him to a good friend - he'd make a greatholiday collectible teddy bear gift! But hurry, he's only being made during theyear 2004 - order now! Visit the Christmas Shop & Santa Shop at CollectiblesTodayCom. Traxxas 1/10 E Maxx RTR Truck W/Radio Click Herefor more remote control toys: rc cars , rc trucks , rc boats , rc planes , helicopters , & blimps/saucers ; also choose from mini rc cars , mini rc boats , & mini rc tanks . CandyStore: Christmas Candy , Christmas Candy Mixes , Christmas Candy Gifts , bulk candy , candy bars , miniature candy , fancy chocolates , novelty candies , candy bouquets , movie candy , baskin robbins , king size candy bars , and specialty candies . Visit ourShoe Store Shoes, boots, sandals, running shoes, golf shoes, ski boots, hiking boots,Orthopedic Footwear or Insoles, Men's and Women's narrow and wide width shoessizes, children's footwear. Fiber Optic Christmas Tree XL Fiber Optic Christmas Tree amazes guests with its continuous color show!"Needles" are actually tiny fiber tubes that sparkle and changecolors. Bright tree with bulb ornaments and star top is 32" tall. Click Here for more christmas trees ChristmasMugs Take 4 or 5 cinnamon sticks and dip them in melted chocolate. Place them onwax paper and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy. After they dry, wrap them in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Place the chocolate cinnamon sticks in a coffee mug along with somepackages of cocoa. Instead of cocoa you could add small packages of coffee along with a smallbottle of Kahlua. Use your imagination. PoolTable Executive size deluxe billiard set includes felt covered table, two 36"cue sticks, plastic triangle ball frame, brush, 16 heavyweight poly billiardballs and 2 chalks. 36" x 20" x 8" high. WoodenSnail Brainteaser Kids will have fun as they learn the alphabet putting this snail-shaped jigsawpuzzle together! 26 pieces. Wood. 10" x 7 1/2" x 1/2" high. BlueInfant Gift Kit This 10-piece baby gift set comes in a bottle that's a savings bank! Setincludes bib, brush, comb, plastic key toy, rattle, two cups, tumbler andbottle with cap. Microwave and dishwasher safe. Blue. 6" diameter x 141/2" high. Price per set. RaggedyAnn Doll A timeless treasure is making a fresh appearance as a full-body puppet! GiveRaggedy Ann a hand for hours of playtime fun. 16" high. 18 Pc.Tailgating Kit In Container A hard plastic case contains 18 tools for a great barbecue: basting and grillbrushes, blade, spatula, fork, tongs, 4 skewers, 8 corn cob holders. NOTdishwasher safe. Wood and stainless steel construction. 17" x 3 1/4"x 12 1/4" high. Iron WineBottle And Glasses Holders This handy item will display seven wine bottles with panache...and hold fourwine glasses, too!, (not included). Made of wrought iron, and decorated withgrape clusters. 13" diameter x 28 1/2" high. Glow InThe Dark Savior Jesus shines with divine glory in this glow-in-the-dark offering. A devoutreminder that He is an everlasting light in the darkness. Alabaster. 33/8" x 3" x 7 7/8" high. MoreChristmas gift ideas from GenericGifts.com Ladies intimate Apparel & Underwear mensunderwear and children's underwear Fiber Optic Snowman XL Fiber Optic snowman is the merriest light on your street! Stands 32"...happiness shines from the changing colors of his fiber optic lit face andaccessories, indoors or out. Visit our Christmas Store Christmas Trees , Christmas Tree Ornaments & Decorations , Indoor and Outdoor Decorations IndividualizedChristmas Gift Baskets Think about what the person you're makingthe christmas gift for would be interested in and then fill decorated basketswith assorted products. Some examples are: For Movie Buffs: Gift certificates to rent a video or two, packages of microwave popcorn, afew candy bars, licorice twists, a few cans of pop, etc. For Candy Lovers: Fill basket with assorted candy bars, hershey's kisses, jelly beans,licorice allsorts, etc. To buy candy, visit ourCandy Store For Cookie Lovers: Fill basket with assorted home baked christmas cookies To buy candy gift baskets, ClickHere . Bath Products: Assorted fancy soaps, bath beads and oils, moisturizers, bubble bath, facecloth, small loofa sponge, etc. Buy Christmas Gift Baskets Personalized Children's Books OldCentury Baseball Game This fun-filled game transports you and your loved ones to a simpler time.Gather around and forget the batteries!! Enjoy the pinball style action as yougo for singles, doubles, triples and yes even the Grand Slam!! However, watchout for the Outs!! ChristmasI.O.U.s Think about what the person you're making the I.O.U.sfor would be interested in. Some examples would be: Household Chores: Mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, washing the windows, cleaning the gutters,washing the car, , raking leaves, shovelling snow, cooking dinner, washing thedishes, doing the laundry, ironing, etc. Fun Things: Movie of your choosing, babysit the kids so they can enjoy some free time,drive in the country, backrub, manicure, romantic evening out, etc. The possibilities for these Christmas I.O.U.s are endless, use yourimagination. The I.O.U.s can be simply written on small pieces of evenly-sized differentcolored construction paper and placed in a decorated basket. Anotheralternative is to use a three-hole punch to make holes in the paper and thenuse a ribbon to bind the pages together and present the I.O.U.s as a couponbook (decorate the outside of the book by drawing on christmas shapes orcutting out small christmas-related pictures from magazines or old ChristmasCards. These I.O.U.s can be redeemed at any time during the year; however youcan put an expiry date on them to be sure that they're used up before gettingsome new ones next Christmas. :-) Christmas PhotoAlbum Buy a photo album and fill it with pictures that would be ofinterest to the person. If the person is a relative who you watched grow frominfancy, then take pictures from their birth upwards and place them in thephoto album. Make little comments under each picture. If the person is a friend include photographs of the times you two sharedtogether. This very personalized gift will be cherished always. ChristmasCookies Bake a few of your favorite christmas cookie recipes.Write down the ingredients for the different recipes and place them in anenvelope. Write on the envelope: "Open only if desperate for more cookies" Place the envelope in the bottom of a cookie tin and then place the cookieson top of the envelope. | Christmas Trees | Tabletop Xmas Trees | Tree Ornaments & Decorations | Figurines | | Wreaths | Religious | Indoor and Outdoor Decorations | Christmas Cards | | Christmas Gifts | Gift Baskets | Back to our Christmas Store Send any comments orsuggestions to webmaster@garvick.com

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NRDC: The Great Green Gift-Giving Guide Cities & Green Living : Green Living : In Brief : Guides The Great Green Gift-Giving Guide Tips from environmental professionals for giving easy-on-the-planet presents that go way beyond the basics. We asked NRDC's personal shoppers (actually, they're attorneys, scientists and policy analysts) to tell us the best environmentally friendly gift they've ever given or received. We've packed a shopping cart full of their stories, and added some links to help you track down their green gift suggestions. One of the best and easiest ways to remind your loved ones to get outdoors and enjoy nature is to buy them a national parks pass . It's a great reminder that there's life beyond the desktop. -- KATE WING is an NRDC policy analyst who works to protect marine species and habitat. One of the most useful holiday gifts I've ever received is a subscription to The Green Guide . Each month, The Green Guide provides clear answers to consumers' most immediate and practical questions about personal- and household-environmental issues, such as, "My son has asthma, how can I reduce his exposure to pollution at home and at school?" or, "We're preparing a new bedroom for our baby, can you recommend safe and healthy products for us to consider?" The Green Guide and its website are where Consumer Reports meets Good Housekeeping and Web MD . By doing the research on which products to buy and what practices are best, The Green Guide takes the hard work out of doing right. -- JACK MURRAY is NRDC's director of development. A year-long subscription to National Geographic is a superb gift idea for anyone interested in the natural world. I have spent many hours thumbing through issues collected over the years. The magazine's always-informative articles and spectacular photography celebrate different cultures, ideologies and natural phenomena around the globe. A subscription to National Geographic is a once-a-month adventure to unknown lands. You also get the pleasure of knowing your membership dollars help support important research and exploration projects around the world. -- NIKKI VERHOFF is a writer in NRDC's development department. The best present I ever gave, according to my best friend and the most inspiring environmentalist I know, was an autographed copy of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree , accompanied by a certificate for a tree to be planted in his honor. I wrapped the book with old E magazines (to be environmentally friendly) and included a little thank-you note for his continued support and inspiration. -- ELIZABETH PANELLA is an assistant in NRDC's Northeastern air/energy and environmental justice programs. For the past few years, a popular gift in my family has been to donate an animal to a less fortunate family in another part of the world through Heifer International . The idea is that, on behalf of someone else, you purchase livestock -- anything from a llama to bumblebees -- to help that family become self-reliant. You can even buy "shares" of an animal or an entire "ark," depending on your budget. -- LISA WHITEMAN is a web production associate in NRDC's web department. For a $25 donation, an L.A.-based group called Tree People will plant a tree in honor or memory of someone and send a certificate. For $75 they will plant a grove of five trees. The certificates are very nice and make great gifts. I have done this several times over the years and people respond very favorably. -- GAYLE PETERSEN is the office administrator for NRDC's Los Angeles office. The best gifts I've given and received have been adopted manatees . The Save the Manatee Club in Maitland, Florida, has a bunch of cuddly manatees that people can adopt. You get a photo and a little bio of each one, plus an update on their doings throughout the year. -- ROB WATSON is a senior resource specialist who has led environmental design efforts for NRDC's award-winning offices in New York, Washington, D.C. and Santa Monica. A " night spotting scope " was a wonderful gift for me. I love to go camping and hiking at night, and have managed to sneak an excellent peek at some nocturnal animals through this handy gadget. I got a good look at a fox, several skunks and an elk despite very little moonlight. Another idea: Tilley hats are tough, outdoorsy canvas hats which protect from the elements. I bought one for my father and he loves it. And after much waiting (and hinting), I finally received one for my birthday. I have worn it through wind, rain, sea spray, hail and even volcanic ash, and it has held up perfectly (although it now has some spots to give it character). -- GINA SOLOMON, M.D. , an expert in environmental threats to public health, is a senior scientist at NRDC. Probably the best environmental gift I ever received was not designed to be an "environmental" gift at all. I don't think that I would be where I am today if my parents hadn't decided to send me to Camp Menatoma in Kents Hill, Maine, in the summer of 1969. That summer -- and for seven summers afterward -- I spent up to two months exploring the Maine woods, learning outdoors skills and playing with new friends. But Camp Menatoma taught me more than how to hold a canoe paddle or stand up on water skis. I also learned about the damage being done to the Maine woods by clearcutting, about how plastic six-pack holders could choke our lake's glorious loons and about our role as the earth's protectors. In short, at Menatoma I developed an environmental consciousness that has led me to a career with NRDC today. Going to camp showed me a world that existed beyond our suburban Long Island home, my grandparents' apartment in Brooklyn, and our many urban field trips to Coney Island and Manhattan. It's a gift that I thank my parents for every day. -- RICH KASSEL is a senior attorney at NRDC and an internationally recognized expert on vehicle pollution who is the main architect of NRDC's "Dump Dirty Diesels" campaign. Editor's note: A terrific, related idea is to give a donation in a friend's or relative's name to the Fresh Air Fund , which sends city children on summer vacations in the country. My best present was a pair of lightweight, top-quality binoculars that my husband, Michael, gave me. They've been a joy to have on long treks in mountains, on rivers and in deserts as well as on jaunts closer to home. Although I don't use them only for birding, they have made me a much better birder -- which has made both of us happy, since Michael is a big-time birder! I literally try not to leave home without them. -- JOHANNA WALD is the director of NRDC's land program and a nationally recognized expert on public land management. One year, two of my friends gave my mom a homemade holiday wreath decorated with birdseed, suet and fruit slices to hang in her garden and keep the birds well fed during the winter. After the bird food is gone, what's left of the wreath goes into the compost pile. It's not too hard to find the components to make your own, but you can also always buy a pre-made wreath for birds . -- LISA M. CATAPANO is NRDC's director of online advocacy and prefers watching college basketball to watching birds. A couple of years ago, an NRDC staffer recommended giving those really nice bags that fold up into a small pouch and are very easy to keep in your purse or pocket. To my delight, one of my coworkers was inspired by the idea and bought one for me. They're great -- much stronger than plastic bags, easy on the environment and perfect as stocking stuffers. -- RITA BAROL is NRDC's director of websites and reports. I received unpetroleum lip balm a couple of years ago and now buy it any time I can find it. -- KAREN WAYLAND is NRDC's legislative director. One great gift for homeowners is a bat house from Bat Conservation International . If you have a tall tree or a chimney you can host bats, which will help keep your insect populations down and teach your kids that bats are more friend than foe. "Fishing Hunks" calendar . Fishing has taken a heavy toll on our oceans, and as we try to make better management decisions for the future, communities are looking for ways to change how they relate to the seas. Proceeds from calendar sales go to scholarships for children of Cape Cod fishing families, supporting what I hope will be a new crop of smart, fisheries biologists.-- -- KATE WING Electric scooters are growing in popularity here in New York City. The gasoline-powered versions make a lot of noise, and their tailpipe emissions are completely uncontrolled. But the Zappy electric scooter is silent and creates zero tailpipe emissions. Even taking into account the emissions related to the electricity used to charge the battery, the Zappy is still much cleaner than its internal-combustion counterparts. My wonderful wife gave me one as a wedding present, and I've taken it all over the city on errands and for fun. People are always stopping me to ask questions and tell me how cool the scooter is. At around $400, the Zappy is a little expensive, but from the perspective of an environmental techie like me, it's worth every penny. -- NATHANAEL GREENE is a resource specialist at NRDC working on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Energystar.gov offers terrific information on energy-efficient lighting products , many of which are suitable for holiday gifts. For instance, giving someone an Energy Star-rated torchiere to replace a halogen torchiere is a perfect gift. Not only will it save your friends and loved ones money by reducing their energy bills, it may well save their lives (halogen lamps are notorious fire-starters). -- RALPH CAVANAGH is a senior attorney and co-director of NRDC's energy program. Holiday cards from Native Energy help spread the word about global warming and keep carbon dioxide out of the air at the same time. The cards come in four themes and represent carbon reductions for projects such as wind turbines on Native American lands or a renewable methane generator on a family dairy farm. By purchasing the $12 card, you'll keep a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air; with the $60 card, you can boost that number to 6 tons. Order online or call (800) 924-6826. -- ANTONIA HERZOG is a legislative advocate in NRDC's climate center. As a somewhat gadget-obsessed resident of sunny California, I'm hoping one of the environmentally minded gift-givers I know surprises me this year with the iSun Solar Charger . It's small enough to fit on a windowsill, and can charge cell phones, MP3 players and -- with a special attachment -- batteries. -- LISA BEEBE is a freelance web page producer with NRDC's web department. I give rechargeable batteries and rechargers to friends and family members, especially those with kids. Kids' toys create a lot of demand for batteries, so it's greener (and cheaper!) if parents don't have to deal with so many disposable batteries and the troubling chemicals, like mercury and cadmium, that they contain. -- ALLEN HERSHKOWITZ , an internationally recognized expert in recycling and solid waste management, is a senior scientist at NRDC. My wife has given me a flashlight and a radio from Freeplay , and they're great. Both are powered by cranking handles attached to the casings. (Some Freeplay products can also operate on a second source of power, either a solar panel or a rechargeable battery.) They ALWAYS work, and there are no batteries to dispose of. Plus, with the transparent housing, you can see how the really cool spring mechanism works so it's educational, too. -- BARRY NELSON , an expert in California water issues, is a senior policy analyst at NRDC. Give all the drivers on your list a tire inflation gauge so they can check their cars' tire pressure. Properly inflated tires save fuel, reduce pollution and don't wear out as quickly. Underinflation of only five pounds per square inch can reduce a performance tire's tread life by 25 percent! Being small and inexpensive, tire gauges also make great stocking-stuffers. -- JEFF FIEDLER is a policy specialist with NRDC's climate center. One of the best gifts I have given -- to the family that has everything (and more): the excellent little book by Alan Durning, How Much Is Enough? The Consumer Society and the Future of the Earth. Without being too preachy, it explores whether increasing consumption is related to greater happiness. -- ERIC A. GOLDSTEIN is a senior attorney and co-director of NRDC's urban program. LED (light-emitting diode) holiday lights are quickly becoming a tradition in public spaces across the country and make an energy-smart and safe gift. They save up to 90 percent of the energy used by regular mini holiday lights and last 100 times longer, saving the hassle of having to replace bulbs frequently. And since they don't heat up or break, these lights reduce the risk of fire and help protect children's hands. Look for them alongside standard lights in many stores. -- SARAH JAFFE is a science fellow in NRDC's energy program. book recommendations , many of which also make great gifts. -- Diaper service (you know, real cloth diapers -- remember them?) from my parents for my first-born. -- CHUCK CLUSEN is a senior policy analyst and director of NRDC's national parks and Alaska projects and is a nationally recognized expert in public land management. The best "green" gift that I've ever received was a couple of canvas shopping bags so that I'd no longer have to deal with the "paper/plastic" dilemma. Plus, the whopping five-cent reduction in my total shopping bill each time I use one helps towards my retirement. -- DAN GILDOR is a project attorney in NRDC's Los Angeles urban program and focuses on enhancing water quality in California. We once gave an old computer to a very small public interest group that was operating on a shoestring. We thought it was hopelessly obsolete, but they thought it was the greatest thing and were very grateful. Since discarded computers are increasingly an environmental problem, it's useful to know that you can usually find someone who is happy to accept one that is less than state of the art. And all the women in my family have whimsical earrings made from various kinds of recycled materials, ranging from typewriter keys to flattened bits of trash from Vermont roadsides. -- NANCY MARKS is a senior attorney at NRDC who takes on corporate polluters in court. Doesn't it seem silly to just trash out-of-date government-surplus maps? Someone at New England Cartographics asked that very question and came up with the idea of making stationery out of the old topographic maps, a truly inspired recycling idea. The attractive envelopes and letter paper are a joy to send and receive. Even my pen pal of 12 years was impressed. -- CRAIG DYLAN WYATT is a program assistant with NRDC's land program. My work on the pulp and paper manufacturing industry has helped turn me against using paper napkins, and cloth napkins make a great alternative. To create an inexpensive napkin gift package that's fun for kids, purchase cotton bandannas -- say, two per person for a family -- that are colored differently for each family member. Bandannas.com sells all sorts of great novelty patterns -- like rainbows, tie-dye and skull and crossbones (the pattern my five-year-old son picked for himself), as well as the standard paisley. -- JESSICA LANDMAN is an NRDC consultant and a former NRDC senior attorney and senior counsel. I give subscriptions to Organic Gardening magazine to avid gardeners who have not yet switched to organic methods but I'm sure would be keen to do so if they had some information at their fingertips. -- MATTHEW PERRIN is NRDC's development researcher and a community gardener in New York City. How about an organic dried fruit basket ? -- TOM COCHRAN is the director of NRDC's nuclear program and holds the Wade Greene Chair for Nuclear policy at NRDC. As a law student in Vermont, I learned to appreciate organic wines and beer. They took the edge off of those cold Vermont winters -- and they make a great gift! To find organic wine and beer sources online, check out Organic Wine Company , The Organic Wine Press , Organic Grapes into Wine Alliance , Bison Brewing or Otter Creek Brewing . -- DIANA DASCALU directs NRDC's Anacostia River restoration project. I'd like to give all my terribly busy friends in the New York area a weekly delivery of organic food from Urban Organic . The company buys produce, groceries and dairy goods in bulk from organic cooperatives, distributors and individual farmers and drop them off in grocery boxes at your door. The contents vary with each season, and you can ask them to leave out things you don't like. Planet Organics offers a similar service in the San Francisco Bay Area. -- SARAH BRIGHT is the associate editor for the NRDC website. In my work at NRDC I advocate alternatives to environmentally damaging factory farm practices that pollute our air and waterways and threaten public health. By purchasing your holiday ham or turkey directly from cooperatives like Patchwork Family Farms you can support independent family farmers who are trying environmentally sustainable methods of farming pork, chicken and beef. Last Thanksgiving I ate my words when I gave my mother a pasture-raised turkey to cook for dinner -- in case you are wondering, it was delicious! For more on sustainably-raised meat products visit the Eat Well Guide . -- MELANIE SHEPHERDSON is an attorney with NRDC's clean water project. I was about 10 years old when my mother -- a model of antimaterialism before it became fashionable -- decided to call off holiday gift-giving altogether. Instead, members of our family donated the money we would have spent on gifts for each other to our favorite charities . While I may not have been totally thrilled with the concept at that young age, it was a terrific lesson in values I've carried with me ever since. I've even wondered if this family tradition later influenced my choice of careers! -- ELIZABETH FINCH is NRDC's director of gift planning. More Green Gift Ideas and Holiday Resources from NRDC Give organic coffee from Beantrees -- designed with the earth in mind -- to any java-loving pals. Because it's grown without pesticides, organic coffee is healthier for the people who grow it, the regions where it's grown and the people who drink it. And we can vouch for the way it tastes: NRDC uses Beantrees coffee in our offices. (Tip: When ordering, enter the coupon code "freemug" to get a free travel mug.) Give an NRDC gift membership . Members receive a year's subscription to Nature's Voice , our highly readable and photo-filled bulletin, a stunning NRDC screensaver, a handy canvas tote bag and the satisfaction of protecting wilderness and wildlife. Visit NRDC's list of book recommendations to find the perfect books for all the readers on your list. Have a Cool Holiday for 10 ways to fight global warming while enjoying the season; fFor green consumer tips you can use all year, see NRDC's green living links . -- See NRDC's green living links for more green consumer tips. While NRDC strongly encourages efforts to "live lighter on the planet," we are not in the business of endorsing products or services. Our staff suggestions and the links that accompany them are meant only to give you some ideas and help you to make your own green-giving decisions. last revised 11.19.04 Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy | © Natural Resources Defense Council