Directions – Lauren Harbert
This month has plenty to celebrate, recognize and be ready for
Hello LTEN community, and welcome to May! I hope you are having a fantastic month – April showers bring May flowers, right? Wherever you are, I’m sure you’re looking forward to the sunshine and warmth that this season brings.
This month also brings several days to celebrate or recognize. In a week or so we will recognize our moms for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 14. I love to celebrate the strong mom figures in my life – including my incredible mom, who recently retired after more than 40 years in education. And, of course, Happy Mother’s Day to our extraordinary moms in the LTEN community!
Later this month, things turn a little more somber as we mark Memorial Day. I hope you will join me on Monday, May 29, to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. And, of course, again, a huge thank you to all the veterans in the LTEN ranks – your service, like your membership, is appreciated.
Those aren’t the only days worth noting. Here’s a random fact: Right before we honor mom, we can indulge in “National Eat What You Want Day” on May 11. I think I might indulge in a couple of chocolate chip cookies – my favorite sweet snack! What would you choose to enjoy on this tasty day in May?
But there’s much more to celebrate this month – we’re also quickly counting down the days to #LTEN2023, our 52nd LTEN Annual Conference, taking place this year at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Ariz. I am excited to see all the planning and hard work come together, and I’m looking forward to the unique keynote presentations, workshops and events we have planned.
Have you registered yet? We’re expecting a very large crowd this year, so please do sign up to join us. You can register and find agenda information within this issue or at
www.LTENconference.com. For me, one of the events I most look forward to at the LTEN conference is the annual teambuilding charity drive, when our members come together to have fun while helping those less fortunate. That comes right before the annual networking reception event, so you can plan to make a completely entertaining evening out of it.
This year we’re hosting our charity team-building and networking event offsite at Copper Blues (CB) Live, just down the street from the JW Marriott. We’ll have shuttle buses running all evening between the venue and the hotel, so you can join us when you like, and drag yourself away from the fun whenever you’re ready.
This year our LTEN Charity Committee selected a worthy recipient of your volunteer time. Our team-building activity will support Arizona Helping Hands, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the essential needs and support for the children and families in the foster care community locally. I hope you’ll join me in supporting this incredible charity while in Phoenix – if you haven’t experienced the good feeling that comes from helping such a worthy cause, then please plan to join us.
Let me also take a minute to recognize the LTEN Charity Committee members –each year they put a lot of hard work into setting up the giveback event, and this year is no exception. Be sure to thank them when you meet them at the event:
- Jim Page, Novartis – Committee Chair
- Vicki Colman, Eisai – Past Committee Chair
- Patricia Busby, ACTO
- Mark Currier, CLD
- Leslie Mason, Amryt Pharma
- Jennifer Muszik, Biogen
- Chris Platanos, Alnylam
- Alison Quinn, Kite Pharma
- Bailey Sampson, Illuminate
Speaking of thanks, don’t forget to thank the sponsors that make it all possible as well. This year, three companies are sponsoring the team-building charity drive, and we couldn’t do it without them: ACTO, CLD and Illuminate.
By the way, you don’t have to wait until next month to begin helping. You can contribute to Arizona Helping Hands before, during and after LTEN2023.
- Before the event, or if you can’t make the event, you can contribute online to help children in foster care or shop with Amazon wish lists.
- If you want to help at the event, select the activity when you register for the conference. If you missed doing that, you can also just show up at the charity activity on June 13.
- Finally, you can continue to give after the event as you’d like. Arizona Helping Hands has a matching program to make your gifts go even farther and do even more. Here’s a link to our charity page: www.LTENconference.com/charity/.
LTEN, of course, is doing its part. In addition to donating the care packages you’ll help assemble, we’ll also be giving a large donation to Arizona Helping Hands on the morning of Thursday, June 15.
Well, clearly, there’s a lot on our plates this month, so maybe we better get to it. Be sure to take time this month to enjoy a treat, call or visit with your mom, thank a veteran and get ready to help some children in need. In each instance, you’ll be glad you did.
Lauren Harbert is executive director of LTEN. Email Lauren at lharbert@L-TEN.org.
