A lectern? Either free-standing or desk-top.

Dumb question --- to do what?

Dumb aside, I was searching for engrave-able gifts. Uncommon Goods has a lot of, well, uncommon ones. None will work for this. But I love this custom signpost!

http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/personalized-family-member-signpost

Do you know what he is moving on to?

I find a lot of engraveable items to be tchochkes and so I don't love them. Things I have seen and loved are embossed leather journal, pen, compass, desk clock,anniversary clock. Most of these would be below your price range. I do think I have seen vineyards do up a case with a commemorative label. Would that work? Also, Could you give an engraved memento and a gift certificate, perhaps to a restaurant?

Do you know of a favorite book he has? Maybe a first edition?

Is there something you could get that is somehow related to the charitable work? E.g. if it was an art's charity, maybe a framed print of an exhibit, or if it was a charity focused on helping people in another country then maybe an antique map of the area nicely matted.

We've had various items framed for departing executives, including relevant photos and meaningful artwork. On some of the photos, we've had our group add their signatures to the mat in gold or silver pen (then had the entire piece framed behind glass), and those have been some really neat going away gifts. I have no idea what would be meaningful to your retiree, but perhaps something along those lines would be nice for him. Presumably he already has all sorts of "stuff", but likely also has a home office where he could display such a memento to remind him of his time, and everyone he worked with, at your organization. You might not come close to your budgetary limits, unless you framed something more costly in a very nice custom frame.

Beagles - we do have a call into his wife in re that q, thinking of a first edition too. The charity's focus is educational, so it kind of overlaps with his personality and interests anyway.

Tinam, He isn't retiring, he is stepping down from a charity. Hmm, I think that woul d be overbudget but I will ask!

Local -- I agree. I wanted to get him the condensed OED with the magnifying glass, but he owns it already, we found out. I think given his many years of service it is important that the gift note that, that it documents it, as it were. Now that my first idea doesn't work, my inclination is to get a token with an inscription (tiffany paperweight or somesuch) and put the big money in a gift card (like the custom ones with custom messages and images I did at the holidays)

TR:

but likely also has a home office where he could display such a memento to remind him of his time, and everyone he worked with, at your organization. You might not come close to your budgetary limits, unless you framed something more costly in a very nice custom frame.

Yes, this, exactly. I do like the idea of something we could all sign. Again, this could be the token part of the gift and a custom gift card can be the bulk.

ETA - he is not retiring from his career, he is just stepping down from this charity, which he did in a addition to his current career

Gotcha. Yeah, we've also done this for non-retiring execs who are simply transitioning to new assignments and leaving our office. They seem to appreciate having a little something to remember us by.

again apropos of nothing, love this

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/36/84/a0/3684a0f2ba4e976c8db373bac1dc262a.jpg

Yes, Mt. I read that he was stepping down. I just mentioned the retirement because the gift we did was for someone retiring. You don't think you could get a print for $300 - $700??? We did, but of course it would depend on the artist. We've also done the photo/signature gift and it is very well rec'd. I am usually in charge of these and almost always do something less costly with a nice gift card or cash att'd.

Unless it is really, really special it is just another engraved thing that never makes it onto the wall or onto the desk. People who are involved in charitable work at that level undoubtedly get dozens of gifts like the ones you are describing over the years. I personally would try to get him something he would actually use, like a sterling silver iphone case or ipad case, engraved with his name and the dates of his board tenure.

Does he already have a wooden swivel bookstand for his OED? If not a custom one perhaps with an inlay wood be really nice.

KSWL, IKWYM, but I don't think that would be the case with him, I think he'd like a small memento. This has been his primary charity by far, and its not just one of those posts that is merely a figure head thing for the largest donors. I also floated the idea of an (engraved) apple watch.

Local, trying to find that out!

Mtn, there is an artist here who makes book sculptures like that one.

My in-laws got me one for Christmas last year.

If you're ever up this way (45 minutes outside Philly) and want one, I'll get you the name of the place.

Mine was custom made b/c I wanted a travel theme, they will make anything you want. I'm going to get another made this year w/ a dog theme for my FL dog room. I suspect this was reasonably priced too b/c my in-laws don't spend thousands of dollars on gifts :)

An apple watch! Perfect! I have given two now as gifts and they have been the most appreciated things we've ever given anyone. One of the recipients calls me almost once a month to tell me how much he LOVES it. And it's the kind of thing that he could use even if he has other watches. Even if he has an apple watch already, if you get him a much nicer one he can decommission his and give it to a child or friend.

Would someone who has devoted so much time and energy into a charity really want to receive something as extravagant and expensive as some of the things you and others are describing? Is the money coming from the charity's budget or from the board members' own pockets? Everyone I know who is devoted to a special charity would be embarrassed to receive something ostentatious and would prefer the $ go to the charity. Is there something that the $ could do at the charity as an improvement in his honor? A bench on the grounds, a drinking fountain or a special tree or ?

Of course it's not coming from the charity!

An engraved sterling pen? DH received a sterling silver Mont Blanc fountain pen but I checked and they're beyond your price range. He also has Montegrappa -

http://www.saksoff5th.com/memoria-pinstripe-sterling-silver-ballpoint-pen/0400087276500.html?CAGPSPN=pla&gclid=CjwKEAjw9Zu5BRCS_OuVibujhQ0SJAD7t4Kr_aTFmrTVEGuv6pt94ifOUNAbmgwR7wMJLlUCQB33_RoCUvTw_wcB&CAWELAID=120133820000844794&site_refer=GGLPRADS001_OFF&catargetid=120133820000401001&prod_id=0400087276500&cadevice=c

I was also wondering about a realllly nice engraved pen....like http://www.bespokebritishpens.co.uk

I love the idea of a beautiful pen.. IF he is one who has held on to the art of writing. I also like the idea of a piece of artwork but it's so tricky-- must be the right artist, the right subject, the right price, etc. A friend once gave me a sculpture and I loved the gesture but now 20 yr later, it's difficult to find a place for it in my home-- but i can't bear to hide it away.

I love the idea of a meaningful photo from his time with the charity-- if one exists. A personal inscription or quote on the matte or frame would be most special.

A favorite first edition-- or one that in some way reflects the charity is a nice idea also.

Are there lifetime memberships to a nearby museum.. perhaps a favorite in NYC? Oops. Nevermind. Way out of budget range!

I also like the idea of a tree.. if he is in a home he'll stay in for life. Of course you could do the same at a park or similar. We put in a garden at our local library in honor of a beloved neighbor/educator.

Robo, you are always sending me off to look at bespoke British stuff and getting me into trouble!

Oly, Maire, Robo, Funky, et al. Thank you for all of the good ideas.

I am going to narrow it down to 5 ideas and share it with the rest of the board. These were really helpful everyone, thanks.

Is there some kind of honorary thing in town if it's a town related thing...naming something after him in school, a bench in a park, a one time scholarship grant or prize for a student contest?

Ok I live and work near a space-crazy tech city, but did you know you can get a star named for someone? And you get a certificate proving it is 'your' star and it's location in the galaxy. I have lost the link to how to do this, but it's probably not hard to find. Then get a gift card to go with.

I got a clock as a going away gift from one job and love it. I have it in my office, it is a desk clock. I also like clocks that are part of a nice framed photo, double purpose. But not good if he already has too many clocks. That's why the small desk one I got was great, since I had more than enough wall clocks. Another thought is a very nice one of those digital frames with a selection of photos of things he was involved in at your organization. Maybe one of those embedded in a nice frame you could engrave? Don't know if such a thing exists, but that would be cool!

I am the volunteer coordinator for a small non-profit. We tailor our "retirement" gifts to the volunteer. Often it's a little bit silly, like the gourmet jams we gave one volunteer because we could always count on her to get us out of one (a jam, get it?) or the geode we gave to the guy who we called "our rock". We always include a compass though. Sometimes it is the main gift, a nice one, engraved. Other times it is a tiny cheap favor included with the rest of the gift. Either way, we tell our volunteers that the compass signifies their leadership through the years but that we also give it to them so they can always find their way back to us. Tears just about every time.

Bose radio for music and books on tape

I have an Amazon Echo and love it for that kind of thing, but it's not a classy "engrave it" kind of gift. But it would be cool.

I already had to submit my ideas and its up to the group from here; thanks, anyway!

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