Bretton Woods Monetary Institute & Festival
“The aim of the Bretton Woods Conference was the creation of a dynamic world community
in which the peoples of every nation will be able to realize their potentialities in peace.”
Henry Morgenthau, Chairman 1944 Bretton Woods Conference & United States Secretary of the Treasury.
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OUR FORTUNES
The Funding of the Inauguration
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The Inauguration of “The Bretton Woods Monetary Institute & Festival” is first and foremost a labor of love, redemptive love. As such, it is our intent that cost is not a barrier for anyone’s participation, particularly for a gathering that seeks, as we do, to introduce new and more enlightened ways of working with money. To pour a new and fine “wine” into an old and beleaguered “vessel” (funding vehicles/ approaches) amounts, we suggest, to “business as usual” and, thereby, does not serve such a striving. Simply expressed, the Inaugurators of the Bretton Woods Monetary Institute and Festival trust that we can do better on this vital score.
Toward that end, at least two commitments are required of the participants in the Inauguration:
1) The good will that stands behind the realization that “our” money is part and parcel of the common wealth, on the one hand;
2) The spirit of enterprise, self-reliance, on the other.
In the former case, we invite those able to contribute toward the costs outlined in the following to do so, as generously as your fortunes allow — not just for yourself but recognizing that there are a good number of fellow participants whose fortunes are modest, who would otherwise be unable to take part and contribute to the Inauguration. Beyond their participation, expenses we have; none of the organizers are on a salary.
To assist in this goal, funds can be transferred via PayPal to the fiscal agent of the Center for American Studies at Concord.
(If you wish to use another method, please contact Stuart Weeks, center trustee.)
In the latter case, we invite those who need support to make a concerted effort — enterprising and self-reliant — to reach out first to friends and colleagues in your circles who recognize: i) both the goals and the significance of the Inauguration; ii) the value that you can bring to it; iii) are who may prove to be able, willing, and glad to lend you a hand. If such supporters are not attending the Inauguration in person, ideally they would be taking part in a Companion Inauguration in their/your community, city, state or nation. The point is that you will be working together.
If such an effort falls short of your financial need in order to attend, we invite you to add your name to the profiles for “Destined Donors.” We look forward to receiving from you a picture, the title of your work, a paragraph summary of that work, and a word about how you look forward to contributing to the Inauguration — along with any web sites or related links that fill in the picture. Send this information to the profile coordinator.
That said, the following offers a fuller picture of what inspires this aspect of our work. Your thoughts are most welcome.
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“Money, which represents the prose of life, and which is hardly spoken of in parlors without an apology,
is, in its effects and laws, as beautiful as roses.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Nominalist & Realist”
If money, the “Almighty Dollar,” is to serve us — as opposed to we serve it — if our fortunes are to foster the ideals of life, liberty, and not merely the pursuit, seemingly endless, of happiness, but its actual attainment, our use of money must, we suggest, become more enlightened.
We are committed to this goal by funding the Inauguration of “The Bretton Woods Monetary Institute & Festival” via the notion of “Destined Donors,” the mounting wave of Spiritually Responsible Investing.
The ground swell for this rising wave is what has come to be referred to as Socially Responsible Investing. This innovation in investing arose in the 1960’s and has grown from “scratch” into a trillion dollar industry. This approach to investing has also been spoken of as “sustainable,” “green,” “ethical” or “socially conscious” investing.
Spiritually Responsible Investing aspires to carry Socially Responsible Investing on to its next and, we propose, inevitable step. It does so out of an appreciation for the fact that, while Socially Responsible Investing has made a major contribution to our fortunes, concern grows that even greater crises are pending.
If this is the case, might it be so for a reason?
Might something essential still be missing in our understanding of, and relationship to, money: an approach to investing that moves beyond that which is “social,” including socially conscious, socially acceptable, socially approved… to a higher or more “spirited” understanding of what money actually is — in a healthy social order?
We refer to money as the essential medium or means of exchange. Simply expressed, money not only allows us to exchange with one another our goods and services, but to do so in a way that allows us to unfold our skills, talents, give expression to our genius in service to the well being, the prosperity of humankind. In this regard, money can come to be understood as serving the revelation of the Human Spirit.
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Photo Gallery from 2015 Betton Woods Convocation (if password required, enter concordium)
