| Dear Friends, It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Spring Member Gathering this month. Amid the pine trees of the Columbia River Gorge, over two hundred leaders gathered to discuss what "Changing the Game" means to the SVN community. We gained insights from some of the world's most innovative social entrepreneurs, and hosted debates and dialogues to explore the best ways to create a sustainable future. We heard from ranchers, Portland's Mayor, large investors, microfinanciers, activists, and inventors. We explored issues of racism and privilege during Lee Mun Wah's provocative and powerful session, "What Stands Between Us." And attendees had the opportunity to see game-changing businesses in action in downtown Portland on the Sustainable Business Walking Tour organized by Eric Friedenwald-Fishman and Brian Detman. We are posting recaps, photos and videos of the conference on SVN's blog. Gunter Pauli's and Watts Wacker's presentation slides are available now, and videos from their sessions will be posted over the next week. Many thanks to Conference Co-Chairs Eric Friedenwald-Fishman and MaryAnne Howland for their many contributions to our Spring Member Gathering. Click here to see highlights from our Spring Member Gathering. Be sure to mark your calendars for our Fall Conference to be held in Long Branch, New Jersey, October 21 - 24. We've lined up exceptional speakers including social commentator Jim Hightower, The Nation Editor Katrina vanden Heuvel and brilliant author and management strategist Otto Scharmer. We're also thrilled to welcome back Van Jones who will be leading our opening circle. We hope you'll join us. Thank you for supporting SVN and working to create a just and sustainable world. In service,
Deborah Nelson
Executive Director
| | Network Updates |  |  SVN Local Gathering: Philadelphia
Thursday, May 27 Social Venture Network and SVN member Ben Bingham of Benchmark Asset Managers invite you to connect with other socially responsible business CEOs, entrepreneurs, and investors at the home of Benchmark founder, Sam Folin, in Philadelphia. The atmosphere will be casual with plenty of conversation and mingling. Appetizers, beer and wine will be provided. Special thanks to SVN Local Gathering sponsor RSF Social Finance. SVN is Hiring! - Director of Recruitment & Marketing SVN will be hiring a Director of Recruitment & Marketing next month. This position's key goals will include: expanding the network to 600 members by 2012, increasing revenue generated through SVN's sponsorship and recruitment efforts, strengthening SVN's brand and communications, and increasing attendance at SVN events. Click here for the complete job description. 2010 SVN Spring Member Gathering Recap SVN's 2010 Spring Member Gathering brought together hundreds of responsible business leaders and SVN had videographers, bloggers and photographers on hand to record the proceedings. Click here to read recaps of each session and download presentation slides. We will also be posting video highlights of the plenary sessions on our blog in the coming weeks. You can be sure to hear about new posts on our blog, Facebook and Twitter pages. | | Members in Action | |  Greener Cleaner: Jeffrey Hollender Tells Newsweek His Story
With heavyweights like Clorox, S.C. Johnson and Kimberly-Clark starting to follow Seventh Generation's lead in "green" cleaning products, founder and SVN member Jeffrey Hollender tells Newsweek this month that when these big players spend millions telling the public that "green works, it helps us too." Seventh Generation's "Chief Inspired Protagonist" is profiled this month in Newsweek as a "Green Guru." He has tapped a new CEO for Seventh Generation but isn't letting up in his quest for a more sustainable economy. Jeffrey is stepping up his lobbying efforts through the American Sustainable Business Council (see below). Click here to read the full article.  Investors' Circle Becomes First Global Impact Investing Ratings System Partner
Socially responsible angel network Investors' Circle has become the first Global Impact Investing Ratings System (GIIRS) partner. GIIRS aims to drive more capital to higher impact investments by providing investors with comparable impact ratings and analysis for companies and funds. As a result of the IC-GIIRS partnership, all companies that are selected to present at Investors' Circle's biannual Venture Fairs will be required to obtain a GIIRS rating. B Lab launched GIIRS in January in collaboration with the Global Impact Investing Network and Rockefeller Foundation. Click here to read the full press release.  Trish Karter Honored for Fighting Family Homelessness
SVN Board Member Trish Karter, CEO and co-founder of Dancing Deer Baking Company, was honored by the non-profit One Family, Inc. with its Founders Award at its annual Mothers of Inspiration gala. Presented by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, the award recognizes Trish's ongoing work to raise awareness around family homelessness. Dancing Deer and One Family created the Sweet Home Project in 2001 - a program that donates 35% of the retail price of Sweet Home goodies to One Family's initiatives to end homelessness. Every year, Dancing Deer employees - the "Deers" - travel to homeless shelters to provide children with the opportunity to create sweet holiday memories by decorating gingerbread houses with their parents. Click here for the event website.  The Soul of Green Gets Green Light for Television Show
SVN members Bianca and Michael Alexander of Conscious Planet Media have just gotten the green light for their series The Soul of Green which will be joining the second season of the Emmy-award winning Next TV on Fox. The Soul of Green is a mini-documentary series that highlights the people, stories and issues at the heart of the urban sustainability movement, including social justice, economic empowerment, culture and health. For those in the Chicago area, you'll be able to catch it on Sundays on Fox at 8:00am and My 50 at 12:30pm. For everyone else, click here to catch up on your episodes of The Soul of Green online.  Blessmans Reflect on Their Family's Start in Ebony Magazine In a series of profiles entitled "We Are Still Family" in the most recent issue of Ebony, SVN member Stephen Blessman and Patricia Jones Blessman offer complimentary tales of their Hawaiian meeting, their Reverend-approved courtship and their long, but ultimately joyful and successful, journey to have a child and create a family. See the May issue of Ebony for their full story entitled "A New Blessing." | | Welcome New Members | | The following organization have had members join Social Venture Network since last month's Networker. For details on applying for membership, click here. | | Upcoming Events | |  BALLE's 8th Annual Conference
May 21 - 23
Charleston, South Carolina Join innovators and entrepreneurs at BALLE's 8th Annual Business Conference "Lighting the Way to a New Economy." Attendees will come together to delve into the most relevant economic issues confronting us today, and to connect, share, and learn about practical, effective initiatives emerging from the grassroots for building local living economies. BALLE is an alliance of 80 community business networks comprised of 22,000 independent businesses from 30 US states and Canadian provinces. Details and registration at www.livingeconomies.org/conference.  Business-NGO Forum on Safer Chemicals Policies
June 3
Washington, D.C. The Business-NGO Forum on Safer Chemical Policies will gather business leaders and non-governmental organizations in Washington, D.C. to discuss how proposed federal legislation to overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 can meet the needs of, and create new opportunities for, downstream users of chemicals. Speakers at the day-long event include SVN member Jeffrey Hollender, founder of Seventh Generation, and Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Click here for details. For more information contact SVN member David Levine of the American Sustainable Business Council  Join Conversations with Bold Givers
Bolder Giving is offering four teleconferences in May and June. Join conversations with extraordinary givers who share strategies, challenges, and excitement about their giving. event page. Can't make those dates? Join Chronicle of Philanthropy "live chats" with the same Bolder Givers on the previous day. Click here to learn more about Bolder Giving.  Slow Money's Second National Gathering
June 9 - 11
Shelburne Farms, Vermont Slow Money is not an "-ism" (as in capitalism, socialism, consumerism, market fundamentalism), but it is a new way of connecting investors to local food systems. Join this emerging network of thought leaders, investors, donors, entrepreneurs, farmers, and activists. Collaborate with folks from all over the country where Slow Money is starting to sprout. Hear investment presentations from two dozen small food enterprises. Let's fix America's economy from the ground up...starting with food. Click here for details and to register.  The LOHAS Forum - Buy 1, Get 1 Free!
June 23 - 25
Boulder, Colorado Register before Sunday, May 23rd for the LOHAS Forum and you'll get two registrations for the price of one! At the LOHAS forum you'll be able to network with like-minded executives from all market sectors, speak with members of the mainstream media who are interested in covering companies and products designed for the conscious consumer, and hear the experts' latest trend data from the leading LOHAS market sectors. Come connect with international companies and understand the latest marketing trends. Click here for event details and click here to register.  Hollyhock Social Venture Institute
September 15-19
Cortes Island, British Columbia Join business leaders and social entrepreneurs for an intensive, interactive inquiry into how to face the day-to-day challenges of running a socially conscious enterprise at the Social Venture Institute. SVI gets you off the treadmill of your usual business life, while at the same time invigorating and enhancing your professional skills. The course will allow you to share innovative ideas, get direct feedback for current business challenges, and hear inspiring "True Confessions" from experienced leaders. Click here to apply. Hollyhock SVI sells out every year, so be sure to book early. If you need to get away to beautiful Cortes Island before September, Hollyhock is offering some spring spring retre |
"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." George Washington CarverWhat is Social Entrepreneurship?Statement of Faith
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