Business as a Calling 2006: Set the Pace
November 2-5 at The Tampa Marriott Waterside, Tampa Bay, Florida
Seminars • Tours • Plenary Speeches (download MP3s)
Paraguay's First Lady charms MEDA convention
Paraguay's First Lady descended upon a Mennonite gathering here Nov. 2 and captured the hearts of fellow Mennonites with her effervescent testimony.
María Gloria Penayo de Duarte, wife of the South American country's current president, was the lead-off speaker at the annual convention of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Nov. 2-5 in Tampa, Florida.
She said she eagerly accepted the invitation "because of what MEDA has meant to Paraguay," referring to the agency's first work there in the 1950s and its current help to subsistence farmers. She said MEDA's biblical principles "had eternal consequences," and there was "no more wonderful work than that which leads each one of us to transform lives, lives of fullness."
Duarte described herself as "a daughter of God" and an "adopted Mennonite."
"When I introduce myself as a Mennonite people ask me if I speak German and was born in the Chaco," she said. "People are often confused about this. The true evidence of being a Mennonite is the faith."
She shared the story of her conversion to Christianity 12 years ago and her subsequent involvement with the Raices Mennonite Brethren Church in Asuncion, where she was baptized in 1997 and attends regularly.
Duarte recounted the efforts of her husband, Nicanor, who became president in 2003, to set a new moral course in a country where "corruption had become a way of life." He was assisted by several Mennonite businessmen whom he appointed to high-level positions and who "are showing it is possible to be in public office without contaminating themselves."
She also recounted challenges. Powerful economic interests were resisting tax reform, she said, and the press has ridiculed her, calling her "Mrs. Bible."
"People have made fun of us, but through all of this the Lord has given us his hand," she said.
She also described her personal efforts to alleviate poverty through a charitable foundation which operates programs of nutrition, education and family restoration. Its wholistic emphasis was modeled on Jesus, whose ministry covered spiritual, material and emotional concerns, she said.
Duarte spent three days visiting with MEDA members and participating in convention events before returning to Paraguay where her next task was to receive the king and queen of Spain. She said she felt "very comfortable" with her North American brothers and sisters, and was looking forward to helping host the Mennonite World Conference assembly in Paraguay in 2009.
The convention drew 434 attendees, including 40 college students and visitors from 10 countries.
President Allan Sauder reported that MEDA last year served 2.6 million clients in 35 countries through microfinance and agriculture programs. A particularly strong performer was the commercial distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria in Tanzania. Sauder said MEDA ended the year in the black, with donations rising six percent to $1.8 million (U.S.) and total revenues up 25 percent to $13.7 million (U.S.)
The head of MEDA's partner agency in Egypt, Nabil Abadir, called for Christians to build bridges amid political and religious tension. He said his organization, the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), has focused on commonalities to promote Muslim/Christian and Arab/western dialogue. It has also been successful with microfinance programs that are open to people of all cultures and faiths, he said.
"For a country like Egypt, undergoing a period of economic transition and deepening economic liberalization, the role of micro-enterprise is critical," he said.
He praised the partnership between MEDA and CEOSS in devising a loan program to provide safer equipment and educational opportunities to children who need to work in family businesses.
These efforts exemplified "Christian love in action, involving hard-working, intelligent compassion," Abadir said.
Global advertising guru Keith Reinhard, chair emeritus of DDB Worldwide, one of the world's largest advertising agency networks, urged the Americans in his audience to set new standards for global citizenship. He recently founded Business for Diplomatic Action to rebuild America's reputation abroad.
He said Americans needed to know that U.S. favorability ratings were on a steep decline.
"We are seen as insensitive, arrogant and ignorant of other cultures," he said.
Since "tourism is diplomacy by another name," Reinhard said Americans could promote visitor exchanges and push for "friendlier" visa and entry procedures for foreign visitors.
Recalling his Mennonite upbringing in Berne, Indiana, Reinhard encouraged his audience to follow traditional Mennonite values of love based on the teachings of Jesus.
"Loving those who hate you is a very disarming tactic," he said, adding that "those who love God must love their brothers and sisters around the world."
The convention concluded with Linford and Janet Stutzman, both from Eastern Mennonite University, relating how they combined their passion for sailing with their love of the gospel by outfitting a sailboat and retracing the Mediterranean journeys of the Apostle Paul.
In Paul's time, they said, the Mediterranean was the Roman Empire's "liquid connection for globalization."
The same grain ships that fueled Rome's expansion made long-distance passenger travel possible for people like Paul. The "seeds of the commercial system" were carried below deck, and "the seeds of the gospel" traveled above deck.
"Most of us here, like Paul, are citizens of a powerful and glorious empire. You are entrepreneurs of the kingdom on a sea of change," they said, urging their audience to "travel the trade routes of globalization with a vision of the kingdom." -- Wally Kroeker for MEDA News Service
Seminars
1. Microbusiness North American Style.
No one disputes the spectacular global impact of microfinance, but what
about our own backyard? Here, too, microbusiness is reducing poverty.
In this session two experts will explain how – Peter Rose, MEDA’s
program manager for microenterprise development, and Lars Gilberts,
economic development director of South Florida Urban Ministries’ ASSETS
program.
2. The MEDA Microfinance Story.
A microfinance primer, with emphasis on the role of investment funds,
presented by Bill Harrington, MEDA’s microfinance investment advisor.
3. Full Circle in Paraguay.
A vision took root in 1953 when MEDA was formed to help Mennonite
newcomers boost their businesses. Today, Paraguay’s Mennonites are in
turn helping their indigenous neighbors with fresh economic and
investment initiatives. Kurt Falk of MEDA Paraguay, Dan Sauder of
Sauder Woodworking Co., and Gerhard Pries, MEDA’s CFO, will trace the
movement’s rise and bright future.
4. Egypt, the Gateway to Africa and the Arab Region.
Here’s a chance for an up-close look at MEDA’s work in one of the
world’s most exciting regions. Our partner in Promoting and Protecting
the Interests of Children Who Work (PPIC Work) is the Coptic
Evangelical Organization for Social Service (CEOSS). Egyptian
microfinance expert Wafaa Williams will share how her Christian faith
deepens her work with the poor and disadvantaged women through
microfinance.
5. Economic Forecast and Commentary.
Join Del Good, professor emeritus of economics, Goshen College, and a
Canadian counterpart, for this popular convention analysis, critique
and discussion of economic trends in the United States and Canada.
6. Leading from the Inside: 5 Practices of Effective Leaders. Exemplary
leadership is built on a foundation of credibility. Explore these five
practices in the context of Jesus’ leadership and see how they apply in
business, with Lee Schmucker, Schmucker Training and Consulting, and
Allon Lefever, director of the MBA program at Eastern Mennonite
University.
7. Leading in a Flat World. This
seminar will discuss “10 flatteners that changed the world” from The
World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman, an internationally recognized
interpreter of the changing global business scene. Reading all or part
of the book beforehand will be helpful, though a summary of key points
will be distributed at the workshop. Leader is George Lehman, director
of Graduate Programs in Business at Bluffton University.
8. Selling Farm Equipment in the Ukraine: Balancing Risk with Opportunity.
Two farm equipment dealers, Wilmer Otto (U.S.) and Michael Horsch
(Germany) who also work together in a real estate development firm,
will discuss the motives, opportunities and challenges of doing
international business in the Ukraine. One theme will be the urgency of
Mennonite businesspeople partnering with and mentoring young
entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
9. Canadian Estate Planning Update.
It’s now easier for Canadians to donate publicly traded securities. Get
the low-down on this and other tax changes affecting charitable giving
and estate planning. Presenter Doug Wagner, a certified financial
planner with Dundee Wealth Management in New Hamburg, Ont., serves on
the Investment Advisory Committee of Mennonite Foundation of Canada.
10. ONE: The Art and Practice of Conscious Leadership. Learn
to be a conscious leader with the CASTLE Principles as presented in the
book ONE by Lance Secretan. Interactive and reflective exercises will
help you recall your personal best – and reach it again. Ken Byler, of
Higher Ground Consulting Group in Souderton, Pa., is an authorized
member of the ONE Team.
11. Resiliency: Bouncing Back!
The ability to bounce back and transform setbacks into growth is vital
for individuals, businesses and congregations. Hope Witmer, director of
Philhaven’s employee assistance program, will help you discover your
resiliency quotient.
12. Back to Business: Recovering from Disaster.
Adele London, MEDA’s New Orleans staff person, Kevin King, executive
director of MDS, and Rachel Hess, MEDA’s director of community economic
development, will explore the role of business recovery in
comprehensive community restoration and the value of MEDA-MDS
collaboration in helping businesses rebuild after the Gulf Coast
hurricanes.
13. Rebuilding Rural Livelihoods in Tajikistan. Tajikistan
is the poorest of the countries that emerged from the break-up of the
former Soviet Union. Nigel Motts, MEDA project manager, and Sanavbar
Shirapova, executive director of our microfinance partner in
Tajikistan, will show how MEDA is bolstering the fruit and vegetable
sub-sector by investing in partnerships that build trust, hope and
business.
14. Sprouting New Seeds in Jamaica. Microbusinesses
in Jamaica are reaping the benefits of Micro Enterprise Financing Ltd.
(MEFL). MEFL’s institutional model brings together private and public
sector players with financing by Scotia Bank, CIDA and Kingston
Restoration Co., and technical assistance from MEDA. Debra Williams,
MEFL’s executive director, will share the amazing story of this
agency’s growth.
15. The Double Bottom Line: Another Way to Measure Success. Good
business requires vigilant attention to profit or loss. But what if you
add a second bottom line, like social impact? J. Alex Hartzler, a
former Internet executive and now president of an urban real estate
development fund, will discuss how faith in God can affect business
decisions, and how success can be measured more broadly than just the
financial statement.
16. The Real Weapon of Mass Destruction. It’s
not guns or chemicals – it’s poverty, and it claims 10,000 victims
every day. One of the best ways to combat it is through business, says
development specialist David Befus, author of the new book Where There
Are No Jobs. He’ll outline commercial solutions for poor people, and
show how to balance fiscal prudence with social and spiritual goals.
17. Where There Is No Techie. Here
is what you need to make technology decisions (spam, spy ware, viruses
and more) as a CEO or senior manager. Jason Garber, Eastern Mennonite
University graduate with degrees in business, economics and computer
information systems, began his own firm at age 14 and continues to
serve EMU and the community. EMU grad Mike Stoltzfus is director of
information systems at Harman Construction and related companies.
18. Shifting Gears: A Family Business Story. Listen
in as father and son tell the story of Horning Dodge of New Holland,
Pa. Donald Horning, recently retired from a life of selling cars, and
his son, Chad, an investment manager at MMA, will share an illuminating
blend of family enterprise history and business analysis, recently
recorded in Chad’s book, Shifting Gears.
19. Fences, Bridges and Spacious Places: A Geography of Business and Faith-Based Nonprofit Collaboration. This
seminar will focus on three vital tasks for businesses and Christian
nonprofits working together to address human needs and apply biblical
teachings. It will be led by Edith Yoder, executive director of Bridge
of Hope National, which enlists church action to end and prevent
homelessness for women and children across the U.S.
20. Married to the Business — and Me! A
relaxed look at how to maintain friends, family and balance when you
are married to someone with a passion for their work. Presenter Dale
Shantz, Wellesley, Ont., is an emergency nurse with vast experience as
a care giver in many parts of the world. (He is married to a
businessperson.)
21. Career Choices.
Here’s help in weighing personal, professional and service goals.
Resource people will be Barry Bartel, new president of Bethel College
(Kansas); Jason Garber, information technology specialist from Eastern
Mennonite University (Virginia); and Kara O’Brien, MEDA intern in Egypt
(invited).
22. A Glimpse of Local Mennonite and Amish History.
Welcome to Florida – and an Anabaptist presence that goes back to the
mid-1920s when Amish pioneers began to make winter trips to the celery
fields east of Sarasota, and Mennonites from Lancaster Conference
started a mission in Tampa. Presenter Martin Lehman and his wife Rhoda
were sent in 1950 to pastor the church in Tampa, and have lived in
Sarasota since 1980.
23. Why Should the Global Church Come to Paraguay in July 2009?
Phyllis and Merle Good, communication consultants with Mennonite World
Conference, will interview María Gloria Penayo de Duarte, Paraguay’s
First Lady, and Larry Miller, general secretary of Mennonite World
Conference, to explore what Paraguay’s Mennonites have to offer the
world church and why it is important that the next MWC assembly take
place there.
24. Team-building and Cultural Diversity.
Recent ASSETS Miami graduate Priscilla Dames, Wingspan Seminars, will
show how to incorporate the benefits of diversity into your business
through team-building and awareness.
25. Melding Art with Business.
Debra Gingerich, communications manager for an e-commerce business,
will read from her first collection of poems Where We Start, which
features contemplative lyrics, historical narratives and edgy prose
poems about life’s sharp turns. She draws upon her Mennonite culture as
well as her husband’s upbringing in the former Yugoslavia to explore
the tensions between individual identity and community loyalty.
26. Sailing Acts: Keeping Pace with Paul on a Sea of Change. Janet
and Linford Stutzman recently spent 15 months aboard their sailboat,
Sailing Acts, retracing the Mediterranean journeys of the Apostle Paul.
They will share their dramatic experiences and what they learned about
their relationship with each other, God and the world.
27. Setting the Pace in Family Business.
Learn from the Steiner family’s many years of leadership in the
manufacture of agricultural and turf equipment. Mark and Dallas
Steiner, part owners of Venture Product Inc, Orrville, Ohio, will
challenge you to set the pace in your business and move the bar up from
good to great.
28. The Church-Business Connection: Why We Need Each Other.
How do businesspeople feel about church, and how do pastors feel about
businesspeople in congregational ministries? What can the church offer,
and learn from, the entrepreneurs in their midst? Join a lively
conversation with pastors Phil and Gail Ebersole (Peace Mennonite
Church), businessman Marty Friesen (Diemo Machine Works) and Peter
Wiebe, long time pastor and former MEDA staffer.
29. The Right Foundation for Giving. What’s
the best way to channel your giving – set up a family foundation, or go
some other route? Here’s help in choosing the right plan to structure
multi generational giving. The U.S. section will feature Michael Miller
of Mennonite Foundation and MMA Trust Company and Rod Diller of
Mennonite Mutual Aid. The Canadian section will feature Mennonite
Foundation Canada staff Rick Braun-Janzen and Mike Strathdee.
30. Re-inventing Your MEDA Chapter. Here’s
how to invigorate your local chapter with new projects, attendees,
leadership and vision. Ted Klassen, who put the sparkle into Winnipeg’s
Opportunities for Employment, and Howard Good, MEDA’s North American
vice-president, will roll out a mini-version of a new strategic
planning tool for chapters.
Tours
Thursday ToursDeep Sea Fishing:
A four-hour charter with a licensed captain in a deluxe boat on the
calm Gulf of Mexico, known for abundant tarpon, grouper, snapper and
mackerel. Tackle, bait, licenses, gourmet lunch provided. Up to five
guests per boat. 7:00 a.m. departure, 1:15 p.m. return. COST: $399 U.S./$462 Cdn
Tarpon Springs Adventure:
Historic Tarpon Springs throbs with the culture of its founding Greek
sponge divers. Board a small boat for a sponge-diving exhibition and
enjoy lunch at Santorini Greek Grill. Visit quaint shops, galleries and
a replica of St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople. 9:00 a.m.
departure, 4:45 p.m. return. COST: $129 U.S./$149 Cdn
Golf Outing: Westchase
Golf Course, designed by Lloyd Clifton, is carved out of a Cypress
forest, with long, narrow fairways and fast, smooth greens. Natural
wetlands, abundant wildlife, Aqua driving range and GPS on every cart.
Lunch, mini-tournament prizes and transportation included. 7:00 a.m.
departure, 3:00 p.m. return. COST: $149 U.S./$173 Cdn
St. Armand’s Circle and Ringling Museum in Sarasota:
Tour the boutiques, shops and galleries of St. Armand’s. After lunch
(on your own) take a short ride to the Ringling Museum and Ringling
“castle,” with its Venetian gothic tastes and a glimpse of the Roaring
20’s. 9:00 a.m. departure, 5:00 p.m. return. COST: $119 U.S./$138 Cdn
Friday ToursDali Museum and the Historic Vinoy: Experience
the world’s leading display of works by Spanish surrealist Salvador
Dali, then visit Renaissance Vinoy Resort, a marvel of 1920’s
Mediterranean Revival architecture in the golden age of Florida
resorts. Conclude with afternoon tea and a walking tour with the hotel
historian. 12:30 p.m. departure, 5:30 p.m. return. COST: $99 U.S./$115 Cdn
Clearwater Beach and Dolphin Excursion: A
1½ hour cruise on a double decker boat to see amazing marine life in
natural surroundings plus spectacular Gulf of Mexico shore vistas and
Caladesi Island (bird food provided). Lunch at the Clearwater Beach
Pavilion. 10:30 a.m. departure, 5:00 p.m. return. COST: $119 U.S./$138 Cdn
Ybor City, Columbia Restaurant and Museum: Visit
Tampa’s historic Latin Quarter, site of the world’s largest cigar
factory. See the Ybor City Museum and its showcase of Cuban immigrant
life. Lunch at Columbia Restaurant, the world’s largest Spanish eatery
and home of the authentic Cuban sandwich. 12:30 p.m. departure, 4:00
p.m. return. COST: $79 U.S./$91 Cdn
The Changing Urban Landscape:
Get in touch with shifting demographics around the College Hill
Mennonite Church, pastored by Roy Williams, moderator of Mennonite
Church USA. Begin with a meal by a local caterer, then visit renewed
housing and other sites with church member Mike Garrick. 12:30 p.m.
departure, 4:30 p.m. return. COST: $39 U.S./$45 Cdn
Cooking School at Il Terrazzo Restaurant: Learn
the fine art of creating Northern Italian cuisine from Marriott’s
Executive Chef Michael Lottermoser. Includes two hours of culinary
instruction, wine-tasting and a four course luncheon. 11:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m. in Il Terazzo Restaurant. COST: $99 U.S./$115 Cdn
Saturday ToursStarship Yacht Lunch Cruise:
Set sail on Florida’s largest dining yacht. Our private MEDA charter
cruises from Channelside in downtown Tampa just a short walk from the
Marriott. You’ll enjoy a leisurely deckside tour of Tampa Bay’s rich
seaport history and a lunch buffet of soups, sandwiches and dessert.
Boarding begins at 12:00 p.m. for 12:30 departure, 2:45 p.m. return. COST: $79 U.S./$91 Cdn
HB Plant Museum, Hyde Park Village Shops and Bayshore Boulevard Scenic Drive:
Take a trip back in Florida history. Henry B. Plant was a
transportation magnate whose Victorian palace features Moorish
architecture and art treasures from a gilded rail age. Includes special
refreshment from Godiva Chocolates. 2:45 p.m. departure following the
Yacht Lunch Cruise, 5:45 p.m. return. COST: $59 U.S./$68 Cdn
Plenary SpeechesThursday:
Maria Gloria Penayo de Duarte (mp3 8.75 MB)
Friday:
Dr. Nabil Abadir (mp3 12.47 MB)
Saturday:
Keith Reinhard (mp3 8.77 MB)
Sunday:
Linford and Janet Stutzman (mp3 5.07 MB)
