[Lapg] Substantial update from Slow Money: The growth of the Slow Money Principles

Sat Oct 30 08:32:14 PDT 2010

One of the most remarkable aspects of the launch of Slow Money has 
been the participation of our members and the emergence of the 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=meBZpt3VY0iJEOT7bJ7FSE0RURCm81Lp>Slow 
Money Principles.  Thank You.  In this day of financial razzmatazz 
and uncertainty, 12,000 of us have taken the time to consider and 
affirm a new vision of money and the soil.

Now, Slow Money is ready to move from launch to full-scale 
implementation.  Slow Money initiatives are emerging around the 
country, money is starting to flow and our momentum is building.

For more highlights, scroll down to see our progress report.

"The Slow Money Principles are the path to a new, healthy food 
system. Sign them and be counted!"
- Greg Steltenpohl, Founder, Odwalla

We couldn't agree more with our friend Greg.   It's not just about 
transactions. It's about relationships and values. It's about a new 
way of thinking that will catalyze a major cultural and economic 
shift towards preservation and restoration. 

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO TWO FRIENDS, so 
that they can read the 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=kT4uS81aHCAXWRxNXgQpnU0RURCm81Lp>Principles, 
and, we hope, join you and the rest of us who share abiding concerns 
about the fertility of our soil, the vitality of our culture and the 
health of our economy. 

It is impossible to overstate the importance of the simple act of 
signing the 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=hjmoC6n4S7dlrXVdLthaBE0RURCm81Lp>Slow 
Money Principles: 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=A5H5uqyke4QxdLxL%2BuZDcE0RURCm81Lp>http://bit.ly/slowprinciples.

NPR calls us a movement. ACRES USA calls us a revolution. Business 
Week cited us as "one of the big ideas for 2010."

We are still at the beginning. But what a promising beginning it is!

Of course, if you are also moved to increase your participation by 
becoming a member of the 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BhpQIgm32skZsi38vOC%2FtU0RURCm81Lp>Slow 
Money Alliance, we'd love to welcome you. 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=QON6hBhztiOU%2FLCMBq0VK00RURCm81Lp>Click 
here to make a financial contribution of $25 or more, supporting our 
work convening national and regional gatherings and incubating the 
new products and services that will enable a million people to invest 
1% in local food systems with a decade.

With deep gratitude,

Ari, Woody, Michael, and David

<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5ln65mLDYTtH6jNSkLR2DU0RURCm81Lp>

<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Fk3oeZ3aXc%2BDemxT0%2FvKRU0RURCm81Lp>

Slow Money Progress Report
   October 2010

"Slow Money gets right to the heart of everything that's ailing our 
economy and corroding our culture. . . It offers a formula for a new 
kind of capitalism in which farmers' markets and stock markets both 
flourish.''

-Kerry Trueman, Huffington Post

The buzz surrounding Slow Money has been enormous and in 2010 we 
moved from vision to action. This year affirmed that Slow Money is a 
powerful movement that will rebuild our economy both literally and 
metaphorically from the ground up, by catalyzing the flow of billions 
of dollars into small food enterprises.

Some of this year's highlights include:

600 people from 30 US states and 6 countries attended our 2nd Annual 
National Gathering in Shelburne Farms, VT. The energy at the 
Gathering was inspiring.
over $1.8M has already been invested in eight of the small food 
enterprises that presented at Shelburne Farms
countless relationships were developed among investors, 
entrepreneurs, foundations, and everyday people committed to 
addressing many of the pressing cultural, ecological and economic 
challenges of our time
Slow Money has caught the attention of the mainstream media and we 
have been covered by The LA Times, The Wall Street Journal, ACRES 
USA, NPR's All Things Considered, The Sun, the Huffington Post, and 
more. In addition, the successes and challenges of food and farming 
enterprises aligned with Slow Money have been chronicled in local 
papers throughout North America.
Slow Money placed 13th out of 2,500 entrants in Change.org's 
competition for the Top Ten Ideas for change in 2010.
Slow Money groups are meeting regularly in many regions. In 
Pittsboro, NC, small loans are being made to food enterprises with 
help from a local foundation. In Austin, TX a steering committee 
meets weekly and an inaugural event drew a standing room crowd to 
City Hall. In Madison, WI, a series of workshops are leading to the 
design of a local fund. Slow Money Northwest has secured investors 
for its Microloan Development Fund and is collaborating with BALLE on 
the Northwest Washington Community Capital Project. Initiatives in 
the Bay Area, Maine, Santa Fe, Boulder, Santa Barbara and Hudson 
Valley are all moving forward.
We formed the 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=3hWDSEsDc7abdKFtyy1d5U0RURCm81Lp>Soil 
Trust, a groundbreaking non-profit "mission-related investment" fund 
that will provide guarantees, seed capital and co-investment capital 
to slow money enterprises
We are working with Portfolio 21, RSF Social Finance, Calvert 
Foundation and Mission Markets to design for-profit Slow Money 
products and services that will allow wide scale popular 
participation.
Our incubation of Slow Munis (municipal bonds dedicated to local food 
investing) is progressing in collaboration with a premier group of 
investors and land trust professionals from around the country.
We named our first Executive Director, Ari Derfel, this summer. Ari 
is a nationally recognized leader and co-founder of the critically 
acclaimed Gather Restaurant in Berkeley, CA
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=INKjG7F%2Bxt6JRKxZ69eCbE0RURCm81Lp>1200 
people have joined the Slow Money Alliance, including 180 Founding 
Members, each of whom has contributed from $1,000 to $50,000
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=IgDpoNiInqq4pQIazf0YrU0RURCm81Lp>More 
than 12,000 people have signed the Slow Money Principles
More than 10,000 people have become Facebook fans
Sales of 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=RiJXLwIOxmf74%2BOxhB8fVE0RURCm81Lp>Inquiries 
into the Nature of Slow Money, Woody Tasch's literary work of art 
that started this movement, surpassed 12,000 copies. It has now been 
printed in Italian and Korean, the paperback version was just 
released, and a Japanese edition is coming soon
"We're in the business of shaping messages that promote a vision of 
sustainability in powerful, creative ways. Slow Money has 
extraordinary potential."

- Jonah Sachs, co-founder, Free Range Studios, Berkeley, CA

"I've been involved with a lot of movements over the last 40 years 
and this one has a real chance to make a difference. I can't tell you 
how excited I am to be part of it."

- Michael Kanter, Owner, Cambridge Naturals, Cambridge, MA

"The Slow Money national gathering was an extraordinary event. There 
was brilliance about it, a brilliance of connectivity and 
collaboration and shared commitment to this powerful economic and 
cultural vision. We are on the verge of a breakthrough. Slow Money is 
not only planting inspiring seeds, but also creating the conditions 
and the relationships for fundamental change and lasting impact. I 
was, and am, therefore, extraordinarily pleased to have been able to 
make the first contribution, right there on the spot in that tent 
that was brimming with so many wonderful and talented folks, to the 
Soil Trust. In Soil We Trust."

- Barry Hollister, Pittsfield, MA

"I've attended countless conferences and seminars over the years, but 
it was not until I was under the Slow Money tent at Shelburne Farms 
that I found a community of individuals with whom I can connect and 
actually get something done! The quality of the attendees and their 
breadth of experience was remarkable, as was the obvious shared 
commitment to the vision of Slow Money. I cannot tell you how 
valuable the connections I made were. I'm doing due diligence on a 
possible investment and have already met with another of the 
attendees to explore collaboration on investing in farmland near 
where I live. I do trust in the soil. And I trust that the future for 
and with Slow Money is going to be remarkable."

- Leslie Barclay, Owner, Round The Bend Farm, South Dartmouth, MA

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