September 2010

Head to Asheville for Happy, Healthy Lives

The countdown is on! We are just a few weeks away from the 2010 Fall Retreat in Asheville, NC. The Grove Park Inn, nestled amidst the vibrant colors of fall’s foliage, provides a fitting backdrop for this five-day retreat. It’s the perfect opportunity for members to gather together to learn more about one another and to learn how they can further improve their lives and their health. The panels and workshops will focus on

meaningful conversations for the family, methods for preventing and reversing heart disease, and ways to live life to its fullest potential. A tour of the Biltmore Estate, a roaring 20s party with swing band and dancing, and a cowboy’s dream night of blue jeans on the Blue Ridge round out a weekend sure to be both inspirational and a dang good time. Registration for this event closes September 24th - don't miss out!

A message from the Executive Director L3 is quickly becoming the most significant group of leaders and philanthropists to take shape in the last decade. Barely two years old, we already have members in more than 100 US cities and 17 cities outside of the US. We’ve had profound success in bringing members together in their shared sense of purpose and multiplying their impact. It is our goal to continue to tap into the knowledge and interests of our members in order to create

experiences that are meaningful. A recent collaboration between two member organizations, CURE International Hospital and LEGS, illustrates the type of cooperative project we hope to see in abundance in the future. A Kenyan Surgeon in Kijabe writes: "The real news of the week was the arrival of the LEGS team. CURE Kijabe has been one of the international partners for the new artificial knee joint the LEGS team designed. The knee joint is very impressive for several reasons. First, we can make the joint here in Kijabe with simple tools in our brace shop. Second, the biomechanics of the joint when implanted into an artificial limb works well in restoring their gait. Finally, we can create a prosthetic limb for someone who has lost their leg for about $200. Buying a commercial joint for the knee component alone costs $600 or more which puts the cost out of reach for most Kenyans. You should see the smiles as patients arrive at CURE with crutches or a stick and leave walking with a new prosthesis a few days later. We are thrilled to be a partner in a truly life changing innovation." Purposeful travel is an important component in creating collaborative experiences where members share their passions with fellow members. Next fall, we will travel to that CURE International Hospital in Kijabe, where we will meet this surgeon and see those lives changed by this joint effort. We will also visit a village transformed by the work of another member organization, A Glimmer of Hope,

GOOD FOR THE MIND, BODY, SPIRIT Next week, the lovely ladies of L3 head to the fresh air and serenity of Colorado Springs. While enjoying food, fun, activities and, of course, some good old-fashioned female bonding, each woman will get in touch with her mind, body and spirit. Informative workshops and intimate discussions provide a guide for improving health and adding quality years of life. Additional opportunities exist for an adventurous day of flyfishing or a day of giving back while helping out at a "campus" for homeless families. Read more

L3 LOVE FROM THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE

which is building wells and schools and helping individuals stand on their own through micro-financing. At the heart of L3 is member participation. Our objective is to lead you on an intellectual and emotional journey through conversations and experiences that may take you out of your comfort zone, but will leave you enlightened and motivated. I look forward to seeing you on the next L3 Journey. A few items of business: We’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Jessica Rubinstein from The Milenthal Group - she has been fabulous. Her professionalism combined with her love of L3 made her a delight to work with. Please welcome our newest staff member, L3 Communications Manager Erika Sweeting. She comes to us from the Austin AmericanStatesman where she was the Online Content Producer. She earned double Bachelor degrees at The University of Texas at Austin one in Journalism with a specialization in Photojournalism and the other in the Plan II program. She holds her Master’s in Communication from Stanford University. As we bring our web content and newsletter creation in house, Erika will be responsible for all L3 communications.

Upon graduating, Harvard MBA students have the opportunity to sign "The MBA Oath," a pledge to act responsibly and ethically. According to a New York Times article, only about 20 percent of graduating MBAs signed the pledge. What about the other 80 percent? At a recent gathering in Philadelphia, L3 members debated the significance of this event and what it means for ethics. Member gatherings, occurring regularly in different regions, provide L3 members a chance to gather together for meaningful discussions on topics such as this. As members bond over real conversations, gatherings stimulate the mind and propagate new ideas. Consult the events calendar for an upcoming gathering near you. Read more MAGNIFY YOUR PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS

If you have visited your L3 dashboard lately, you may have noticed a new addition. The recently-launched foundation pages offer resources, tools and news you can use to help you improve your giving. Through this gateway, you can read member giving stories and find tools to plan your charitable contributions. Visit today to learn more. Read more

Are you on LinkedIn? Join the L3 group to help keep up with other members. Not sure how to get started with LinkedIn? Feel free to call Erika Sweeting at 512-334-4674 for a quick tutorial.