Post-holiday time is always interesting at Alternative Gifts International.  After seeing the generosity of people at the busiest gift-giving time of the year, we get back to the work of planning for the next year: Selecting projects for “Shopping List for the World”, creating materials for the Alternative Gift Markets, which are the mainstay of our organization; We evaluate, track new trends and seek new contacts.  We are also preparing our Annual Report for the previous fiscal year.

One of the most difficult things to do is get good feedback from our individual donors—like you.  In recent months, I received a few letters from email donors who receive my letter/receipt.  We are always looking for ways to improve our organization, its effectiveness, and the service we provide.  We can’t do that without feedback. 

 Feedback includes:

* if you continue to order, and become a repeat donor;

* if you request catalogs to share with others;

* if you take the time to write, call or email us with a problem, or your opinion;

* if you are also attending coordinating an Alternative Gift Market.

At times we can’t get that information without a survey.  We expect to do at least one or more donor surveys in 2010.  So if you are contacted for your input, please respond! 

And know that we are collecting funds for Haiti through Project 39 (See our website Home Page) that we will distribute before the end of the fiscal year.  AGI has a special affection for Haiti; our founder, Harriet C Prichard, was deeply affected by the plight of the people of Haiti, and convinced our board to give special attention to Haiti’s needs.  You can donate through AGI’s Project 39 between now and the end of February, and your gift will be distributed only to our partner agencies in Haiti that we have worked in over the years.