Kudos for the Spring Retreat-"Refreshing and expansive." Spencer Douglass "I look forward to more of these priceless opportunities" Patty Kent Talia & Danny Bejarano between panels at Scripps "...terrific and enriching." Jesse Sprecher "To ...learn with this group of people is an honor." Deb Feinstein "With each gathering, another layer is revealed and we learn more about our fellow members." Roz Jonas (pictured at Miramar, l-r above: Craig Duchossois, Mike Hecomovich, Russ Smith, Gail Smith, Sandy Hecomovich, Richard Kent.) Four days of learning and laughter ... ...included a wealth of experiences. But most attendees agree that the greatest value of all was the opportunity to get to know each other in a way new acquaintances and even old friends rarely do. Organized by Washington D.C. members Ned and Diane Powell, retreat planning focused on ensuring that every attendee would participate. Group discussions explored the kind of questions we all think about thinking about, but don't quite know where to begin. "What is Enough?" moderated by Linda Benge. "Cat's in the Cradle" (what we pass along from our parents to our children), moderated by Jesse Sprecher; "Beyond the Edge: Love and Loss," moderated by Leni Herst; and many others, including what was perhaps the hit of the Retreat, "Heroes and Heroines," moderated by Paul Comstock. "Everyone participated," said Paul, "and the interesting thing was that as we delved deeply into our true perceptions of heroism, we made a discovery. The important thing in life is to be of service, because that's when you meet the true heroes -- people who struggle against enormous odds and come through with strength and generosity of spirit. The heroes are not those who provide help, but those who receive it." See a complete list of topics and moderators here; closing panelists are pictured above. At the close, Ned Powell summed up the takeaways from the panels -- his bullets are evocative! A visit with another kind of hero at Miramar Marine Corps Air ("Top Gun") Station was an experience that will last for most who watched a heart-pounding "touch and go" exercise (shown above), as young pilots trained to land big planes on carrier ships. Then, Retreat participants were joined by the young heroes for dinner, where the conversations helped us understand what the military experience requires of our young men and women today. There was much more. Fascinating presentations from some of the leaders in medical science today on aging, oncology, diabetes, and other hot topics were held on the glorious campus of the Scripps Institute (that's the beach shown above). And dinners at the Grand Del Mar, the resort hotel owned by L3 member Papa Doug Manchesterwere exquisite (we owe him great thanks!) The final discussion, "If I live to be 100" was an opportunity to sum up all that membershad discovered about themselves and their relationships during the retreat. Ranging from the comic (Ben Howerton had us in stitches) to the sublime (thanks, Diane--see her remarks here), the session left everyone feeling the time had been well-spent.

Ben and Peggy Howerton Your next opportunity to participate in an L3 Retreat comes up this October: watch your email for an announcement soon! Retreat Sidebar: The San Diego retreat provided a fitting venue for the presentation of the first "Paul Robshaw Award," created to honor and thank an L3 member who has made an outstanding contribution to the organization. The eponymous first award was graciously received by Paul Robshaw, without whose energy and tireless commitment, our young organization could not have grown so quickly. A complete picture album will be available later this week: watch your email for the link...or check under "Events" at www.L3.org!

EWI Off the Record: When U.S. Democrats and Republicans Met with Chinese Communists, What Happened Next? Wednesday, April 7, 2010 3 P.M. ET EWI organized a historic meeting in Beijing that Henry Kissinger called "the most significant development in U.S. China relations in a decade." Hear all about it from the people who made it happen: EWI's John Mroz and David Firestein. Advance registration is required. Call Damon Clyde at 212-824-4103 or email him at [email protected]. Call in information for April 7 at 3 P.M. Eastern is: Toll-Free: 866-740-1260 Outside U.S. & Canada: 303-248-0285, or visit http://www.readytalk.com/intl for toll-free numbers Participant Code: 8244127

Are We Recovered Yet? Quarterly Financial Update Thursday, April 22 Noon ET With Greg Young, Senior Portfolio Manager, Bernstein Global Wealth Management Today's upturn in the markets may yet lead to further twists and turns tomorrow...but Greg Young can give you the information you need to make educated decisions this quarter. Be sure to join online as well: Greg's charts and graphs are a value in themselves. As a bonus, you'll experience our new, easier-to-use webinar platform--keep the participation information, because it will work for future webinars as well! Call in: 1-800-270-1153 Use code 177472#. Once you're on the line, you can dial *0 for technical assistance if needed. Join online: go to www.atconference.com and use code 177472. Provide the requested information. The Hope in Human Rights: A Purposeful Journey into Past and Future June 10 to 12, 2010 Washington, D.C. Learn More and Register Today Delve into the history...be inspired by the courage of those who fight for change...and discover the compelling stories of people and initiatives that are changing the world today. VIP tours and meetings with leaders in the field included. Part of your registration fee supports the United States Holocaust Museum. Welcome, New Members Tomilee Gill Los Angeles, California. Sponsors: Paul Mikos and Al Nagy

Jim and Carol Hebets Paradise Valley, Arizona Sponsors: Rita Thomas; Mike and Sandy Hecomovich Paul and Lisa Karofsky Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Sponsors: Ron Feinstein and Ellen Remmer Wym and Jan Portman Cincinnati, Ohio Sponsors: Ellen Remmer and Tom Meredith Gene and Taffin Ray Rancho Santa Fe, California Sponsors: Alfredo Molina and Paul Robshaw If you know someone who qualifies for L3, simply email Monique Maley, or call her at 512. 334.4664, who makes it easy to sponsor a new member! Candidate Receptions currently scheduled (watch your email for information about receptions near you): Travelers Rest, South Carolina April 16 Phoenix, Arizona May 4 San Antonio, Texas May 5 Shreveport, Lousiana May 10 Houston, Texas May 12 Austin, Texas May 13 Boston, Massachusetts June 6 New York City June 8

Mark Your Calendar: Registration Opens Soon September 21 to 23, 2010: Women's Getaway, "Balance Your Life" at the fabulous Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs. October 13 to 16, 2010: L3 Fall Retreat at the historic Grove Park Inn at Asheville, North Carolina (shown, left). Look for a special personal invitation from members and hosts Jim and Vicky Anthony, along with panel chair Ben Howerton, coming to your email box soon. Fun Tip: You can find old Groucho Marx shows on You Tube, like this one with Jack Benny