Philanthropy Roundtable 2007 Annual Meeting

The Philanthropy Roundtable’s 2007 Annual Meeting, "Inspiring the Philanthropic Imagination," will be held at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California, from November 8-10.  The printed invitation and the online registration form indicate that advisors to donors are eligible to attend.  They do mention journalists as well, but not specifically bloggers. Early Registration fee is $950. 

In the printed invitation I noticed not only a breakout moderated by Bill Schambra, on "Learning from Mistakes in Philanthropy," but also one moderated by his colleague from Hudson, Dr. Amy Kass. She is leading a discussion class, "Giving Well, Doing Good: The Philanthropic Vision of Carnegie and Tolstoy." Tolstoy? The pacifist, Christian anarchist? Go Amy!

Tolstoy wrote:

The Anarchists are right in everything; in the negation of the existing order, and in the assertion that, without Authority, there could not be worse violence than that of Authority under existing conditions. They are mistaken only in thinking that Anarchy can be instituted by a revolution. But it will be instituted only by there being more and more people who do not require the protection of governmental power ... There can be only one permanent revolution - a moral one: the regeneration of the inner man.

I suspect Carnegies' Gospel of Wealth will be more congenial to Amy's audience of conservative thinkers and funders.

The contrast between the palace of the millionaire and the cottage of the laborer with us to-day measures the change which has come with civilization. This change, however, is not to be deplored, but welcomed as highly beneficial.  It is well, nay, essential for the progress of the race, that the houses of some should be homes for all that is highest and best in literature and the arts, and for all the refinements of civilization, rather than that none should be so.   Much better this great irregularity than universal squalor.  Without wealth there can be no Mæcenas. 

Given the correlation noted by Carnegie between extreme wealth and excellent taste, I only hope that Amy's breakout room is large enough to accommodate the audience fighting for a seat.  Next year, she might do a session on  Maecenas's friend, Trimalchio.  That, if properly catered, would be a sellout. 

Comments

[Albert]

Carnegie’s just the ticket. We need men and women who know on what side of the bell curve they’re on. And I think Dr. Kass would be wise to avoid Tolstoy’s views on patriotism, “the cruel tradition of an outlived period.” What would we do if we couldn’t hide the bodies overseas?

[Phil]

You don't attend?

[Albert]

They don't invite just any old riff-raff. Wise men who appear fools, yes, but not fools tout court.

[Phil]

You can sign up right off the web page. Maybe you could contribute to the breakout on Good Capitalism, Bad Capitalism.