L3C Business Structure?

Hey everyone...  have you heard of the L3C business structure?  It was originally launched in Vermont in 2008 and about a dozen states have adopted this legislation.  At the time of this writing Colorado has not adopted it yet.

We are considering this business structure as it allows a "For-Profit" business to have its Primary Purpose be sometihng other than Profits!  Our Primary purpose will be the employment of impoverished peoples from around our globe.  Of course, we must be "profitable" to be an ongoing, sustainable business.

So, have you heard of this structure and have any comments for us as we approach the start of this business as of January 4, 2010?

We are looking to incorporate in either Wyoming or Vermont, depending on information gathered between now and the new year.

I would really enjoy hearing from anyone who may know or who may others who know something about this business form.

So, please contact me at steve@durgin.biz to send me comments, suggestions, notes, etc.

Thanks again for walking along side me through this journey!


Steve Durgin

Another perspective on poverty - link to another person's journey in the Slums of India

Hi again,

I ran across this persons journey with the Dalit's and Slums of India.  This is a group from a church in Denver, Colorado who have gone to India before and this is their second trip.  Quite something when you experience it yourself - difficult to share and explain the depth of pain and suffering folks experience.  Take a look:

http://touching-india.blogspot.com/2009/11/teletransport-and-really-big-problems.html

http://touching-india.blogspot.com/2009/11/unexpected-holiday-and-elephant.html


I can't imagine living in a closet alone nor with my whole family!  I also can't imaging blinding my children to get some extra money.  What have we become?


There are MANY ways you can help the Dalit's.  Would you please consider helping in some way.

Here are a few:

1. Sponsor a Dalit Child ($28/mth) and provide for their education: http://www.dalitchild.com/
2. Provide funding for our Business Development Initiative through iDEAS to bring meaningful, dignified employment to the Dalit's: http://www.ideasworld.org/
3. Email me to chat about other options.  Maybe your church or youth group would like to get involved in some way.  Would you like to visit India too?

 Again, thank you to all of you who have taken steps to get involved and say "enough already"!  I appreciate your help.

Steve
steve@durgin.biz

Help me NAME this new company (a PRIZE will be awarded for the winner selected)!

Hello again,

I am now ready to get started with the company, having a better focus on what to do.  I would like to get a LOT of people helping me NAME this business.  Here is the background I'd like to provide:


Our Mission is to Employ Impoverished People Groups.
Our Vision is to employ 10,000 in 15 years.

Our Location(s) will be US, UK, Canada, India, and other locations around the world as we have needs for expansion.

Our FOCUS:

We will provide Back Office Support Services to small to mid-size organizations.
Some of our planned service offerings are:

 - Web Development
 - Web Maintenance (updates, changes, etc.)
 - Integration services with software like, Blackbaud, SalesForce.com (for-profit and non-profit version)
 - Donor Care (when you donate to an organization, what do they do for you in return [deposit your check into a bank account, send a thank you card, send you their newsletter, put you on their mailing list, ask you again for more, etc.])  We would handle the administration of these kinds of activities
 - Order Fulfillment (fulfilling orders and/or marketing programs where your actions cause an organization to respond and do something for you)

SO - help me come up with some catchy names for this company and the selected WINNER will receive $500.00. 

Just remember the name must have be available with the Colorado Secretary of State and an available URL.  So, recommend the name as well as your proposed web name ok?!?

Pass this on to your friends, co-workers, family, etc. to help us get as much input as possible.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP and I hope you send in a lot of suggestions.  There are no limites on how many you can send in.

To send in your suggestion, please go to my web site and click on the NAME tab.  In there will be a form to complete and submit.  [http://www.durgin.biz/name.html]  Please fill in the form as completely as you can.


Thanks!
Steve Durgin
steve@durgin.biz

The Caste System was outlawed 60 years ago!!!

When I heard this news, that the Caste System has been abolished 60 years ago, I thought that perhaps all this talk about the Dalit and their Freedom is old news...

So, I began digging a bit deeper.  Yes, it is true, the Indian Constitution no longer permits discrimination based on caste.  So then, what's the big deal?

Of the age groups that typically challenge social order, I think this group is the University age group, 18 - 24 year olds.  So, if 60 years ago this age group was a part of the change of the law, they would now be in their 80's.  It is reasonable that they never really adopted or accepted this change in the system.

Is it reasonable that the NEXT generation would accept this new law and have an affect on their behaviors?  Perhaps.

Is it more reasonable that the NEXT generation after this (now the grandkids of the University age people mentioned above) would accept the new law?  Probably or at least more than the previous generation - right?

Is it even more reasonable that the THIRD generation after the first would accept this new law (as we are now 45 - 60 years later?  One would think so!

So, CERTAINLY by the FOURTH generation (great - grandkids) would now accept and have adopted this new law and changed their behavoirs!?!

Watch this video and you tell me what you think!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_UnVZT0-0k


Please pass this on to concerned friends and FOLLOW my blog if you care to. 
Next Blog will be asking for your help in coming up with a catchy name for the business we will start which is designed with employing the Dalit's of India in mind.

Thanks again for walking along side me through this journey with impoverished people groups across the globe.

Steve Durgin