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Full Circle Fund’s annual Member Retreat 2010 was a fun, multi-day escape, allowing members to take a step back from their day-to-day activities. With an energetic yet focused environment perfect for team building, ideas were exchanged, relationships were strengthened, and collective ownership sought for the success of Full Circle Fund. Click the play button below to view the photos (by Sudeep M. Rao)

This year, 94 Members and guests gathered in Monterey for a weekend of serious fun on May 14 through 16. Thanks to Member Gary Bauer, many members rode in style on a luxury eco-friendly Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation Executive Motor Coach. Upon checking in, Members received a complimentary welcome gift of a Full Circle Fund fleece. The group quickly got comfortable and dove headfirst into the weekend. Members learned more about each other through the introductions activity and after finding out some very unique facts about their peers, members Wade Crowfoot and Carolyn Davies kicked off the infamous Jeopardy Challenge, where Full Circle Fund knowledge was tested and eardrums damaged. Finally, members cheered to the success of the weekend at the Friday wine and dessert reception.

On Saturday, the program began bright and early as Tracy Dooley and Steven Lurie led individuals in a reflection upon why they are part of the organization. Members shared their personal reasons such as life-changing realizations, a deep sense of community service, and a passion for engaging with nonprofits in a meaningful way. Education Circle Chairman Jeff Camp surprised the group with a debut performance of his original hit “Good For Nothing (Everything Comes Full Circle).”

Afterward, leaders from each Circle took the stage to report on the impact they have made in the past year and updated fellow members on current issues in their topic areas. Circle members then gathered into their respective circles to take a step back from the day-to-day and evaluate how they could make a greater impact in their work.

After lunch, the group reconvened in the main room to hear from Sara Olsen, Founding Partner of SVT Group. Sara’s talk raised questions about how to measure social innovation and the SROI of engaged philanthropy, laying the foundation for more work Full Circle Fund will be doing in the future to measure the impact of our work.

As is tradition, the Board came together for their Annual Report presentation on Full Circle Fund’s progress and challenges in 2009 and priorities for 2010. Staff Member Caroline Thompson also led an activity to get Members engaged in using the new Member Platform.

To further build on the goals for the year, Amy Lesnick lead the group into the section titled “Collectively Owning Our Future: Ideas and Action.” The groups separated into six teams to discuss pressing issues affecting our organization and next steps they would take. The day’s programming concluded with a talk from Haydee Moreno, the Executive Director of Self-Help Micro Branch, one of our Global Economic Opportunity Grant Partners. After an introduction by Project Lead Anna Binder, Haydee shared her personal story, and what led her to work in the financial services industry and fight predatory check cashing and payday loan operators that victimize low resource immigrant populations.

After a sing-along at the campfire with our Member Band, the 360s (Jeff Camp on guitar, Jeff Pollock on keyboard, Natasha Hoehn and Jennifer Anastasoff on vocals), members headed to the after party where DJ HeyMan supplied the funky beats that had members dancing late into the evening. After the dance party, members headed to the beach until the wee hours of the morning, before catching a few ZZZs and heading back home in the morning. Thank you to our speakers, members, volunteers, Board, Circle Chairs, Big Kahunas: Jeff and Eva Camp, and Josh Becker, and of course our event registration sponsor Eventbrite and our beer sponsor Lagunitas, and for the delicious desserts provided by La Cocina. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Posted in Retreat, Self Help, members, event, jeff camp