December 7, 2011 Dear Friends, Last week I sent you a newsletter encouraging you to join me in an effort to buy American products and local services this holiday season. I was heartened by your responses! For so many of you, this already IS a priority. However, finding American-made products is not an easy task. Companies that traditionally manufactured here in the U.S. no longer do so. They shipped jobs and their equipment overseas. As consumers we have the power to change that. We can vote with our pocket books and spend money with local companies and service providers. The sustainable food movement has been successful in creating demand for locally-grown, in-season products. Let’s expand this demand to non-edible products. When we buy things and services in our communities, we also help create jobs. Did you know that three out of four new jobs are created by small businesses? Think about giving an adventure or experience this season. The commercial Dungeness crab season just opened and you can buy crabs directly from the fishermen off the boat. Cook a meal for someone as a present. Or give a loved one a whale watching trip with a local skipper. Gray whales are migrating from the Bering Sea to Baja right now. Drive a friend to Ano Nuevo to see the elephant seals as they are giving birth and take her for lunch at a local restaurant. Take your significant other to the wine country and taste and buy some wine. The possibilities are endless! Please continue to send me your ideas for holiday gifts via e-mail or on Facebook. The holiday season is about sharing and giving comfort and cheer to others. If you are not in a position to spend money, consider giving your time and volunteer at a food bank or homeless shelter. Every single one of us has something to give. All the best, Unsubscribe Washington D.C. Office 211 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3531 Fax: (202) 226-4183 San Mateo Office 400 S. El Camino Real, Suite 410 San Mateo, CA 94402 Phone: (650) 342-0300 Fax: (650) 375-8270