In brief

Community Gifts kicks off season of giving

November marks the beginning of the monthlong Community Gifts Through Harvard campaign — the University’s workplace charitable giving campaign. The goal for this year is $1 million. Last year, more than 600 human service agencies and charities in the Greater Boston area received funding from Harvard affiliates. For more information, or to pledge online, visithttp://www.community.harvard.edu/communitygifts.

Vendor fair to explore the ease of being green

Harvard Strategic Procurement will hold its preferred vendor fair on Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Radcliffe Gymnasium. Representatives from Harvard’s printing partners, IKON, B&H Photo and Video, and OfficeMax will be on hand to discuss offset and digital print needs, the latest technology in imaging and audio visual products, environmental trends in the industry, and selecting the right office products for the right job. The fair will also include free educational seminars, giveaways, business card drawings for door prizes, and refreshments.

HILR’s new Green Committee spotlights transportation

In conjunction with the Harvard Green Campus Initiative, the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement (HILR) recently launched a green committee. The new committee aims to raise the environmental consciousness of the institute’s members, who number more than 500. The committee is currently spotlighting alternative modes of transportation, including public, biking, and walking, as meaningful ways to combat global warming.

Using the Commuter Cost Calculator (managed by University Operations Services), HIRL members — and indeed, the whole of the University community that regularly commute to Harvard Square — can see just how their choice of transportation affects not only the environment but their wallets as well. Access the calculator athttp://www.uos.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/cc/survey.pl.

Upcoming Goethe-Institut concert to feature Harvard composer

An ensemble–in–residence at Harvard University, White Rabbit, will perform chamber music by Department of Music doctoral student Karola Obermueller on Dec. 8 at the Goethe-Institut Boston (170 Beacon St.). Presented in cooperation with the Consulate General of Germany, the concert begins at 8 p.m. A donation of $10 is suggested.

Safra Foundation seeks fellowship applicants

The Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics is now accepting applications from graduate students for its 2008-09 fellowship in ethics. Eligible students are either writing dissertations or engaged in major research on topics in practical ethics, especially ethical issues in architecture, business, education, government, law, medicine, public health, and public policy.

Students should be enrolled in a doctoral program of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or in one of Harvard’s professional Schools, and should have completed all course requirements and general examinations by September prior to the fellowship year. In professions such as law or medicine, where a doctoral dissertation is not required for an academic career, advanced students taking leaves of absence, recent graduates, and Harvard affiliates engaged in postgraduate training are also eligible.

The application deadline is Nov. 15. Visit http://www.ethics.harvard.edu/ for more information.

Holyoke group art show seeks submissions

Harvard employees who work at the Holyoke Center are invited to participate in the eighth annual group art exhibition, to be displayed from Dec. 7, 2007, through Jan. 2, 2008, in the Holyoke Arcade’s exhibition space. The goals of this exhibition are to showcase the artistic talents and creativity of Holyoke Center staff and to celebrate the Holyoke Center community.

For more information, contact Deena Anderson, events and exhibitions coordinator at the Holyoke Center, at deenaanderson@verizon.net. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 15.

Arboretum seeks T-shirt designs for Lilac Sunday

In commemoration of its 100th Lilac Sunday event (set for May 11, 2008), the Arnold Arboretum is now accepting T-shirt designs that capture the spirit of this annual tradition. Designs must be original, limited to two colors, and intended for the front of a T-shirt.

The deadline for submissions is Nov. 30. Please submit a photograph or digital file of the design (each artist may submit up to three designs) to arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu. Original artwork will not be accepted. Please note that the winning design will become the property of the Arnold Arboretum and will be printed on the official Lilac Sunday 2008 T-shirts, along with the artist’s name.

Submissions will be evaluated on how well they reflect the spirit, history, and beauty of Lilac Sunday. The winning design will be selected by January 2008 and all finalists’ designs will be displayed in the Arboretum’s Hunnewell Building throughout January 2008 and again on Lilac Sunday.

The artist of the winning design will receive a one-year membership with the Friends of the Arnold Arboretum and 10 free 2008 Lilac Sunday shirts. T-shirts will be available for sale on Lilac Sunday 2008. For more information, contactarbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu.