Switched Keys

With the holiday fast approaching I'm working on our Christmas newsletter. If you are one of those types that sends out Christmas cards there is a site that may interest you. Children's Art is an organization that supports cancer patients at M.D.Anderson. There are many organizations that depend on holiday benevolence for their activities. This one was brought to my attention today. Here's part of their web site blurb.

The Children's Art Project will make life better for cancer patients and their families through the marketing and sale of innovative products based on the artwork of pediatric patients.

he Children's Art Project provides the means to send children on a camping adventure - a week to forget about cancer and a week to share experiences with friends - a week to do art - a week to laugh and enjoy the wonders of summer!

This is also the time to start thinking about your gift giving options if you do that kind of thing. One of my beefs about holiday gift giving has to do with unused gifts. I've got several sitting on shelves and I usually tell people not to send anything.

Here's an idea. Use a Christmas registry. There are a few on-line or you could create a site for just that purpose. Here's the link to a Christmas registry how-to. I've been doing a lot of cooking lately so I've got a few requests.

One other Christmas note don't buy gift cards. Don't force someone to shop at a store they don't like or support for whatever reason. If you gotta give something and you don't know what give cash in a pretty envelope.

In fact there are some companies like a local Texaco that charges more for gas if you use a gift card. That could be the wave of the future. Companies using gift cards like stock shares. It's your gamble. If you really want to invest in a company use the stock market.