Three insights gained

1. We think we listened to someone who may just become the next generation's Bono. He's Jon Foreman, the leader of Switchfoot (the band that performed) and he is by far the most impressive college dropout surfer dude any of us ever met.
2. There's a new wave of desire for innovation and engagement in the private giving field.
3. People are interested in our concept. That is, once they understand it.

We spent four days in San Diego at The Gathering, a conference for philanthropists who want to grow in the art of giving. 

During that time, SixSeeds Partners and Shareholders may be encouraged to know that the CEO got his "elevator pitch" down from a rambling 5 minute spiel on Thursday afternoon to a crisper 20 second quickie by Sunday morning. But it's still not easy to explain our peculiar vision and structure. If anyone out there has come up with a short little descriptor -- "Well, it's like a family support group meets the Gates Foundation meets the AmeriCorps" -- I'll take the help.

As mentioned, the more folks understood us, the more they told us that we were meeting a critical need; but it also seems that for many, the need has lurked under the surface and only becomes fully conscious once we name it. John, our Board Chair, was especially struck by how parents' eyes lit up when he spoke of our concern for the formation of virtue in our kids.

At the conference, we purposefully refrained from recruiting new Early Stage Partners. But a family who didn't even attend and only heard of us through an email sent out by the conference sponsors looked up our web site and signed up almost immediately (and acquired 20 shares!).

All to say, I think we're on to something.

P.S. We've decided to designate Switchfoot the official rock band of SixSeeds. Please adjust your shuffle lists accordingly.