- Our Purpose
Community Service, Self-Funding & Environmental Commerce
The idea for The Simple Living Network grew out of Founder Dave Wampler's dedication to helping people find ways of living more lightly on the earth. Dave wanted to use his skills and knowledge to start a service network that would make information and resources available to those interested in changing their patterns of consumption.
Discouraged by the prospect of printing and mailing expensive and wasteful newsletters and catalogs to people who might not want them in the first place, Dave jumped at the chance provided by the Internet to accomplish the task using substantially fewer resources.
Since 1996 The Simple Living Network has been charting new waters by serving as a model that upholds a strong commitment to community service, self-funding and environmental commerce. The Simple Living Network is a small, independently owned cottage business operating in the Cascade mountain village of Trout Lake, Washington. Our staff is small and mostly volunteer. Our operating expenses are low and we avoid going into debt for the sake of future growth. We strive to practice what we preach and live within our means.
Although it may seem strange that something called The Simple Living Network has a website offering contribution based community services and a bookstore, this is absolutely the most effective and efficient way we can find to introduce hundreds of thousands of people from around the world to the simple living and sustainability movements.
We have purposely chosen to operate as a for-profit corporation in order to model best, sustainable small business practices. We believe that to be successful in the long-term we must operate through self-funding. All of our community services are voluntarily funded by those who use them, without going into debt or support from government, industry or foundations. We operate this way so we may remain a stable and independent voice, free from the bureaucratic constraints that often come with the fundraising/nonprofit structure. This mode of operation also allows us the freedom to adjust quickly in response to the rapidly changing Internet and societal/market conditions. Our path is one of thoughtful, consistent growth, flexibility and longevity.
We are supported solely by modest Bookstore sales and CyberAngel Gift Contributions from web site visitors like you who enjoy our offerings. Please be assured that no one is getting rich off of this thing! All profit, after expenses, goes directly into the maintenance and improvement of this website.
We truly appreciate your support!
• Close This • Close All - Dave Wampler, Founder
Dave Wampler is the Founder and President of The Simple Living Network. He lives and works in the Cascade Mountain community of Trout Lake, Washington.
Dave has been involved in the environmental movement for over 30 years. He has a degree in environmental education and natural history interpretation from George Williams College in Downers Grove, Illinois. Early in his career he worked as a counselor and instructor at camps, outdoor schools and nature centers throughout the United States and Canada and served as the Administrative Coordinator of an international organization called The Institute for Earth Education.From 1991 to 1999 Dave served on the Board of Directors of a natural products company called Turtle Island Food, Inc., makers of the famous Tofurky™. Dave was instrumental in helping Turtle Island move from a cottage business to one of the largest soy food manufactures in the world.
Dave has served as a Board Member and strong advocate of the Financial Integrity program, a member of the Board of Directors of Take Back Your Time and a member of The Simplicity Forum.
The Simple Living Network began as Dave's dream in 1985. His original idea was to distribute information and resources that assisted people in making lifestyle choices for reducing their environmental impact and living more in harmony with the earth and its life. As plans progressed, it became apparent that he did not want to buy into the traditional printed newslatter and mail order catalog mode of operation — it created too much environmental impact.
In 1994 Dave stumbled upon the infant Internet and saw the potential to accomplish his goal without actually printing and mailing a newsletter or catalog. Dave dropped everything and set about becoming a computer programmer fluent multiple computer languages. Since that time he has combined his skills to create The Simple Living Network, a cottage business that has grown to become a hub and focal point for the simplicity movement by providing a wide variety of resources and user supported community services.
In addition to keeping the wheels of The Simple Living Network turning, Dave works in the garden, plays the accordion with local bands, plays Frisbee golf, and volunteers in the community by maintaining the Trout Lake Website, serving as Vice President of the Trout Lake Grange and working with the local C.S.A. When the mountain weather permits, he spends as much time as possible exploring the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
Photo of Dave Wampler © 2009 by Brad Trent taken for Business Week. Used with permission.
• Close This • Close All - Fred Ecks, Newsletter Editor
Fred Ecks worked as a corporate software engineer for many years before happening upon the New Road Map Foundation's Financial Integrity program presented in Your Money Or Your Life. He diligently applied the steps in his own life, paying off his debt and eventually becoming Financially Independent when he was 35 years old. Since then, he has enjoyed a life blending a variety of volunteer work and personal enrichment.Fred can usually be found doing something outside. He's an avid ultramarathon runner, bicyclist, and backpacker. When he's not outside, he may be taking saxophone lessons, writing, speaking, or giving a hand with The Simple Living Network or The New Road Map Foundation.
• Close This • Close All - Ann Haebig, Assistant Newsletter Editor
Ann Haebig was a miserable dot-commer looking for a way out when she found the New Road Map Foundation's Financial Integrity program presented in Your Money Or Your Life. In looking for support carrying out the program, she found The Simple Living Network's Discussion Forums, and has been a participant in its conversations for eight years. She has saved enough to make full-time work unnecessary. She now works part-time for non-profits on causes important to her and volunteers for The Simple Living Network.When not occasionally working, Ann takes full advantage of her extra time by training for triathlons, learning guitar, hiking, and advocating for bicycles as transportation.
• Close This • Close All - Trout Lake, Washington
The Simple Living Network operates from Trout Lake, Washington, a small town at the base of Mt. Adams in the Cascade Mountains. An hour's drive up the scenic Columbia River Gorge from Portland, Oregon, we are about 20 miles north of Hood River, Oregon — the windsurfing capitol of the world.
Trout Lake & Mt. AdamsA community of about 1000, Trout Lake sits beside the White Salmon River and is bordered by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This convenient location affords us our share of opportunity to spend time in our favorite place — out-of-doors — surrounded by trees and animals, exploring on skis, bikes, or feet.
Our modest office occupied much of Dave's home (a "unique-fixer-upper-opportunity") and is filled with computers, projects in progress, stacks of books and all the other things required to keep The Simple Living Network running full speed ahead. When you make a purchase through our Bookstore you are supporting an independently owned home-based business.
Although there are probably better places from which to operate an international business, we consciously choose to live and work in the small community of Trout Lake. The Internet affords us a unique opportunity to test the theory that, in this day and age, it doesn't matter where you live and work.... So far, so good!
Visit the Trout Lake Website for additional information.
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