Credit to @Draddy for the header image.
Every year, all active Nest Members receive a member gift in January (so January 2024 is a Nest gift for all 2023 members). The member gift is a surprise and is meant to be a thoughtful collection of items that Nest members will find useful and unique.
For context, here is an overview of the 2023 Nest member gift:
- NLU shoehorn
- NLU ice mold
- TrapDraw-inspired grocery bag
- NLU sharpie
![The 2023 Nest Member Gift: A shoehorn, a reusable bag, an NLU sharpie and an NLU ice mold.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/3ac4adfe5353159616b6419be21f3faf4b2cb826-1332x1000.jpg?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
We actively try to avoid your standard golf gift and member/guest-type products, and as the Nest membership grows, it’s harder and harder to find a gift that’s universally loved. This positive and negative member feedback has led to one of my favorite Nest traditions: The community reaction to the Nest member gift on our message board.
Before we get into some of my favorite responses in the thread, I think one Nest member summed up what I love about this annual tradition so much.
![Nest member TeddyPargame comments on The Nest member gift.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/c735ee34b04346adab879c71c4b4fb2367fd7d25-1348x694.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
Juxtapose that response with these two, and you get a true thrill ride of discourse worth your time:
![Two Nest members unhappy with their annual member gift.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/9f643c5f91a2edd2722ce6df4d270e4b9c6073ba-1264x786.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
If you are a Nest member who’s unfamiliar with the message board, this would be a great time to jump into the Member gift thread and get involved (just start scrolling down, don’t worry about hopping into the thread mid-discussion). Another good starting point and a post I highly recommend reading in its entirety is KVV’s impassioned defense of the Shoe Horn.
If you are not a message board user, below is a selection of my favorite commentary from this year’s Nest gift thread.
The Nest member gift alternate uses category: My favorite type of post.
![Nest member golf4miami uses their Nest member gift as an ice cream spoon.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/dbc47b27bebf6bc8beb72274a9b255e6cbe4157d-1086x1016.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
![Nest member chrismarz extends his shoehorn.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/8881bf5d0d8518cb9413f1615f2ff99552750c09-1138x958.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
The Nest member gift sincere feedback category (always appreciated):
![An item-by-item review of the 2023 Nest Member gift from SmokyMtn.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/720ba08c8070f5d7a197ff71825347db5987396d-1242x1260.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
The creative meme category (crowd favorites):
![SergioTracker crafts an excellent meme about the 2023 The Nest member gift.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/c848660a289164cfc9c2cc04e9613d226ee4d291-1164x1230.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/d729ee1e5fca577c91bd09b259d486de8da9c183-1260x1436.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
![Bat signal meme of the annual member gift.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/89b8716b77402a7b746d007b2002cf350139c839-1272x914.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
The Nest Member gift malcontents (who are essential and valued in this annual discourse):
![Unhappy members of The Nest.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/89a505d93747ef087a03fc181446f169427fcd50-1306x1418.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
![Straight to the dumpster!](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/4edbe618ccf4be77203a7c2261c15da565c50f3c-1228x386.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)
And the converted malcontents:
![Southpaw72 has come around on the annual Nest member gift.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/96if0dtl/dev/310e16197dfe62ec62bfb79907bfa6c248abe9ae-1254x680.png?w=880&fit=max&auto=format)