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Welcome to the March 2008 edition of the LeadAmerica Alumni Newsletter! A
MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER
The 2008 LeadAmerica conference season was marked by over 10,000 outstanding students attending conferences throughout the United States and Abroad and concluded with a select group of students being part of history in the making as they attended the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in Denver and Minneapolis, respectively. All of those students have now joined an alumni network of over 70,000 LeadAmerica Alumni Scholars from around the world. 2009 will start off no less remarkably with the phenomenal capstone Presidential Youth Leadership Conference (PYLC) in Washington, DC during the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America! I can’t believe it’s been four years already since over 400 students and staff converged on our nation’s capitol to witness the historic swearing in of our current president and the ensuing Inaugural Parade that followed. In addition to that our students attended a blow-out youth rally, took part in an awesome political simulation, and drank in all the sights and experiences that historic and great city has to offer. The upcoming conference will be no exception and we’re planning some really remarkable experiences that will blow the top off anything that we did in 2005! As you focus on schoolwork and the many exciting extracurricular activities, adventures and opportunities that life brings your way, we at LeadAmerica are proud to include you in our family and wish you every success and achievement in the coming months as you continue on your path of a lifetime commitment to leadership, service and learning. I trust that you, like all of us, are excited about the upcoming year and the phenomenal conference season that is unfolding for us in just a few short months. Stay in touch and look for some exciting new information about our 2009 offerings. In the meantime, be sure to reserve your space for January 16th to the 21st in Washington – I’ll be there and I look forward to seeing you, too!
FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK Liberty and Leadership As a respected magistrate in 18th Century France, Chretien Guillaume de Lamoignon de Malesherbes was renown for his criticism of the despotic actions of the French monarch and the royal administration. However, against the backdrop of the chaos of the French Revolution, the aged Malesherbes volunteered to represent the arrested monarch Louis XVI as his defense attorney. For his respect of legal precedent and the dictates of liberty, Malesherbes was rewarded with the same fate of Louix XVI - the guillotine. His belief in liberty inspired his sense of duty and empowered him to lead, even though it cost him his life. His legacy and respect for the duties of liberty would be revived in the pen of his great grandson, Alexis de Tocqueville, one of the greatest defenders of liberty and the duties of such. The relationship between liberty and leadership is crucial in understanding the responsibilities the may or may not result from leadership. The great political philosopher John Stuart Mill argued that “Liberty consists in doing what one desires.”1 Conversely, the British statesman Lord Acton argued that liberty is “not the power of doing what we like, but the right of being able to do what we ought.”2 Liberty can therefore be defined as either the power or right to do what we want, or the power or right to do what we ought. Essentially, does liberty free us as leaders to pursue our own ends exclusively or does it empower us with a moral imperative to lead and serve an agenda outside of and beyond ourselves? What Malesherbes understood and Alexis de Tocqueville argued is that the dictates of political and economic liberty places certain duties and responsibilities upon leaders. Though liberty enables us to lead, this leadership demands the discretion of duty. To live in a free society like the United States of America is a tremendous blessing. But it must be remembered that the context of liberty places certain duties on those who would lead within this context. Rather than understanding this relationship as the shackles of duty, thinkers like Acton and de Tocqueville understand that liberty empowers leaders with the moral imperative of servant leadership. History demonstrates that liberty is the greatest element that can empower and inspire mankind. It also demonstrates that liberty understood as separate from duty and responsibility, as something opposed to service, is the root of despotism. Perhaps the great Roman writer Livy summarized the blessing of liberty best, “They should use their liberty with discretion.”3 Cited Works: 2 John Dalberg-Acton, Selected Writings of Lord Acton, vol. 3, Essays in Religion, Politics and Morality, ed. J.R. Fears (Indianapolis: Liberty Classics, 1988) 613. 3 Livy, Livy (London: Heinemann, 1919-1959), vol. 10, bk. 34, 49.
We want to know what you think! Was the recent visit of the New York Philharmonic to North Korea an effective diplomatic tool? Was it a misguided publicity stunt? Not Sure? Read on to learn more… “Now [they] have our Phil-harmony technology!” ~Stephen Colbert As a matter of policy, the United States maintains no diplomatic or trade relations with certain countries deemed to be hostile towards the U.S. or its interests. Backed with a 13-trillion dollar economy and the most powerful military in history, strategic alliances with the United States are a valuable commodity to foreign nations. Accordingly, the removal of diplomatic relations serves as a strong, effective sanction against any country who is deemed a menace to American or international security. Among these nations are Iran, Cuba and North Korea, all of whom have some ongoing conflict with the United States. Last month
however, the New York Philharmonic traveled
to Pyongyang, North Korea for a precedent-setting
performance for the country’s elite.
Excluding nuclear proliferation meetings,
it represents the first time a U.S. group
has traveled to the rogue nation in recent
memory. The world-famous performance
group began negotiations with North Korea
and the U.S. State Department over half
a year ago, as all parties suggested
it would be an initial step in warming
relations between the two countries. Opponents of the trip call it nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt, and one that will be used as ammunition for the North Korean propaganda machine. They envision state-sponsored advertisements boasting of how lucky the paltry American musicians were to come and learn from superior culture of the North Korean regime. Furthermore, detractors cite the hypocrisy of performing an extravagantly decorated and immensely expensive show for the social elite while millions of North Koreans are starving without electricity or running water. They suggest that promoting such an activity is a tacit endorsement of the regime and their social policies. In the middle of the fray, Philharmonic conductor Lorin Maazel insists that the group had no political intentions either way, and that they were simply there to give a performance, no different than anywhere else. They are musicians, he insisted, not diplomats or negotiators, and the only message he wished to convey was a shared appreciation of fine music. Regardless of any underlying motives, the visit was no-doubt historic, and will perhaps break a diplomatic silence that has existed for decades. We want to know what you think! Was the recent visit of the New York Philharmonic to North Korea an effective diplomatic tool?
To cast your vote on the LeadAmerica online poll and view last month’s poll results, visit www.lead-america.org/alumni. Read more
on the New
York Philharmonic’s
visit to North Korea.
STUDENT
OF THE MONTH
Keep America Beautiful Month What are you doing to Keep America Beautiful? During the month of April, gather some friends, classmates, family members, neighbors, and other city officials to join in an effort to clean up your community! A great way to start is to visit the local elementary school and teach the students about the benefits of recycling, planting trees and flowers, and picking up litter when they see it. To make the activity meaningful, choose a class to mentor and together you can pick up trash at the local park, paint over graffiti on a school playground, or plant trees in an area that could use some landscaping. It is a great opportunity to mentor a younger student and help to Keep America Beautiful! For more information about Keep America Beautiful and how to participate in an event in your area, visit http://www.kab.org National Humor Month We all know that laughter and a sense of humor can brighten someone’s day – so what are you doing to help? Consider rounding up some friends or classmates to come up with ideas to make people laugh. Create funny cards and distribute to people who could really use a smile, have a stand up comedy act at school to display people’s talent, or visit a local children’s hospital and host a laughing contest! As a friendly reminder, what you think is funny, may not be funny to others – so use good judgment on this one! For some ideas about how to make others laugh, daily jokes, and National Humor Month, visit www.larrywilde.com Teacher
Appreciation Week: April 28th – May
4th For more information on Teacher Appreciation Week, visit www.teacher-appreciation.info. A
Few Service Project Reminders…
THE PROGRAM PLACE Looking
for the Nation’s
Next Great Leader Students will tour Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, while also experiencing leadership and democracy in action as they travel to Capitol Hill to meet with their Senators and/or Representatives. In addition, students will have the opportunity to witness the debate and collaboration of one of the many congressional committees. These are just some of the amazing off-sites that you will experience while in Washington, DC! You will also hear from numerous leading experts in the field, including nationally recognized professors, Senators and Congressmen, military leaders and top business executives. As a LeadAmerica alumnus, the National Leadership Summit is an outstanding opportunity for you to gain a better vision into the facets of national leadership. This experience will allow you to build upon your existing leadership knowledge and continue your path towards excellence. You will no doubt leave the conference on your way to becoming one of the nation’s next great leaders. Are you ready for the challenge?
2008
ALUMNI REWARDS PROGRAM The 2008 Alumni Rewards Program will go into effect on March 15th, 2008. All claims under the 2007 Alumni Rewards Program must be redeemed by March 14th, 2008. Points not redeemed by March 14th, 2008 will be carried over into the 2008 Alumni Rewards Program and subject to the revised program criteria. NOMINATE
A FRIEND! APPLY
FOR A LEADAMERICA
SUMMER INTERNSHIP!* * To be eligible for an internship position with LeadAmerica, applicants must complete one full year of college by June 1st, 2008.
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It’s Fall, school’s back in
session, and as we at LeadAmerica reflect
on a truly AMAZING Summer, we turn our
eyes toward the year ahead. Isn’t
it that way for all of us? Life hands us
some remarkable experiences – opportunities
full of promise, hidden challenges and
possible outcomes determined by the choices
we make. Time doesn’t stand still
for any of us and if we don’t take
full advantage of those moments and make
the best possible choices, the opportunities
will pass. Many of you made a decision
to attend one or more LeadAmerica conferences
this past season and found that every moment
provided life-defining insight, challenges
and choices, and opportunities. 
