Example: A women and agriculture meeting let all participants choose a packet of seeds to use as a name tag. Women wrote their name on a sticker and attached it to the packet. Then they used a straight pin to attach the packet to their clothing. Participants could then plant the seeds when they returned home, a delicious and useful way to remember their time together. This also solved the problem about what to do with name tags!
Example: Giving handmade beeswax candles with a note attached -- "You are a light unto the world." -- as a token of appreciation and celebration for new U.M.W. officers at an induction ceremony. The candles were made by a co-op of low income women. Alternatively, you could buy some compact florescent light bulbs, attach the same message and be more high tech. This would also help recipients become more energy-efficient! (See p. y for product catalogues.)
Example: At an inter-faith training event, participants were asked to bring one of their own scarves to give away. At the closing ceremony, the closing meditation talked about all the uses for and symbolism behind scarves. Participants were invited to place the scarf they brought on the worship center. Later in the ceremony, participants came to the worship center and selected a different scarf to take home with them as a way of carrying back their memories, and the specific spirit of another participant with whom to be in solidarity. (Participants had written prayers and tied them up in their scarves before setting them on the center.)
This also could be done with t-shirts, tote bags, jewelry, books, coffee mugs, recipes, etc.
Example: As door prizes or incentives, offer coupons for a free car wash, lawn mowing, weeding the garden, walking the dog, babysitting, dinner for a certain number of people, fixing a drippy faucet, etc.
Example: Give gift in mission cards rather than a memento.