Darn. Our graphic designers Crayola and Elmer are out of the office. Crayola is on maternity leave. She's a trooper, trying to breastfeed 64 little ones. And Elmer violated his restraining order when he was found in the glitter section at the craft store. Gotta know him to love him.

ANYWAY. We're turning to you for help designing the Zipcar holiday e-card. Here's your chance to express your creativity. Snap a photo. Compose a jingle. Star in a YouTube video. Whatever it takes to express your holiday Zip-spirit! When we did this back in 2005, lots of members poured their Zipcar-lovin' hearts into making some amazing pieces. Check out the bar that was set last year and visualize your creation getting blasted to tens of thousands of Zipsters.

The winner will get $250 in driving credit, two runners-up will get $100 in driving credit and a bunch of you will get some snazzy Zipgear. Email us your entry by December 3rd and we'll ask your fellow Zipsters to choose the winners next month.

For snail-mailers, send your entry to: Zipcar, 125 1st St., Cambridge, MA 02141 (Attn: Holiday Card Contest)

We know. The elections are supposed to be over. But Zipcar is up for INC Magazine's 50 favorite green companies! Each Zipcar takes about 20 cars off the road because about 40% of you give up your car or decide not to purchase one when you join. We think it's great, and if you do too, VOTE ZIPCAR for your favorite green company. Just click "Vote Now" and select Zipcar as your favorite.

Introducing Tahoe-Ready Zipcars!

Good news for all you ski bums and snow bunnies! Winter is fast approaching...shhhhhh...hear the sweet whisper of the slopes? Tahoe is calling you. And now you're good to go in a "Tahoe Ready" Zipcar!

Thanks to our pals at Lombardi Sports, eight all-wheel-drive Honda Element Zipcars have been outfitted with ski racks and tire chains. We're also throwing in a shovel, an ice scraper and some extra wiper fluid for good measure. You can find these Tahoe Ready Zipcars on your reservation page by choosing "AWD Honda Element" from the car model drop-down.

And don't forget to show your Zipcard at Lombardi Sports for sweet deals on merchandise and equipment rentals. They're also offering Zipsters the same discounts on lift tickets that they give their Rewards members. Check the Lombardi Sports web site for the whole scoop.

We're always looking for ways to make a better driving experience for our members. We can't promise chauffeured Zipcars anytime soon, but we've got some other ideas brewing. So tell us like it is and take this quick survey.

We don't give our cars cute names just for yucks, you know. Well, okay maybe a little. We loved reading your recent entries for our Scary Halloween naming contest. Let's give a hand to winner Mary L. Thanks to her, you'll soon be able to check out a shiny new Matrix or a Mazda Manticore. We also have to give a shout out to Julie S. for her entry of "Mwhahaha" and also Isaac D. for coining the new Tacoma Tarantula. Each of them received $25 in driving credit for their creativity!

Check out the newest Zipcar spots too:

• SF General Hospital (Potrero Hill)
• Fillmore St/Ellis St (Fillmore Center) (Western Addition)
• Castro St/Jersey St (Jersey Garage Door) (Noe Valley)
• Castro St/Jersey St (Castro Garage Door) (Noe Valley)
• Castro St/Alvarado St (Noe Valley/Castro)
• 24th St/Capp St (Mission)
• Folsom St/5th St (SOMA)
• Mission St/Anthony St (560 Mission) (SOMA)
• California St/4th Av (Inner Richmond)
• Golden Gateway (250 Clay) (Financial/Embarcadero)

Meals On Wheels

Brighten the season and volunteer with Meals On Wheels of San Francisco to deliver gifts to homebound seniors next month. Let a Zipcar be your very own sleigh as your spread some holiday cheer -- driving time on us! Volunteers will deliver gifts of blankets, slippers and robes -- all the cozy things that help make the holidays feel a little more comforting.

Deliveries will occur December 20th through the 22nd and shifts last a couple hours. You'll be able to sign up to volunteer on the Meals On Wheels web site soon. And if you drop an email to volunteering@mowsf.org, they'll let you know when you can sign up. Once you have your volunteering time set up, make your reservation, then email the details to Pam. She'll work some magic so you're not charged for that reservation.

REEL Piece of Garbage

We've teamed up with the Disposable Film Festival featuring a collection of shorts unlike any other. Participants create films using one-time-use disposable video cameras that you throw away when completed. Did you know such a thing existed? We didn't! So if you think you've got what it takes, pick up your $10 application (that's with the always present Zipster discount) and get started. If you feature a Zipcar in your shoot, we promise to put your film on our web site and send some free driving time your way. So what are you waiting for? Shoot. Cut. Dispose! Check the DFF site for details.

Stuff We Like: Green Zebra on the Loose

The Green Zebra Savings Guide is the place to go for exclusive deals from environmentally conscious and community-oriented businesses. They've got 250 offers from organic restaurants and markets, eco-friendly retailers, green home services, yoga studios, spas, bike shops, museums, indie bookstores and more. Not only is it nice to know where all these places are in town, but there's over $12,000 worth of savings just waiting for you to cash in (great for the holiday shopping season). Yep, we're in there too. Buy your own Green Zebra guide at www.thegreenzebra.org.

Reserve a Zipcar the week after Thanksgiving and check in the trunk. If you find a Green Zebra Guide, it's all yours! Our little gift to you.

Living the green, "carbon neutral" lifestyle is a noble idea, but as this article recently published in the Boston Globe points out, incorporating it into your everyday life can be challenging. Read this writer's wry take on the green movement and take comfort in the fact that you are doing your part to lower CO2 emissions by walking, using public transportation and car sharing.

"Who Killed the Electric Car?"

Last month we had the privilege of meeting Chris Paine, the director of an engrossing documentary called "Who Killed the Electric Car?" His film chronicles the forces behind the birth and death of the electric vehicle. Trust us, it's worth watching.

In fact, Chris actually took a trip in Prius Pravda to a conference on alternative fuels in the Bronx. He said he loved the ride and praised you, Zipcar members, for doing your part to help keep Mother Earth healthy. On a side note, Zipcar Prius Pravda and his Prius friends heave a great sigh of relief knowing that, unlike the electric car, they are here to stay.

GreenCitizen

Got a lot of old electronics lying around? Not sure how to dispose of them in an environmentally responsible way? Or maybe you just had some super secret stuff saved up on that laptop of yours and now you're paranoid about just throwing it out? Either way, GreenCitizen, our new pals and neighbors at 591 Howard Street can make it easy to do the right thing. They'll provide you with convenient, accountable and safe solutions and also make sure that your items are handled the right way and de-manufactured in the state of California. Other services include hard drive erasures, cell phone erasures and business pick-ups. For a complete list of recyclable items and fees check their web site or call them at 877.918.8900 -- they're open seven days a week and dole out a hefty 10% discount to Zipster-folk.

We try to refrain from jabbering on and on in each newsletter about all our fab member discounts. But check them out on our web site. There's cool eyewear, Pilates classes, books, games, sports stuff, wine and more. Happy savings!