By Jim Turner
A new company has been formed and lecture operations
have begun!
The members of The Eclectic Viewpoint, LLC, arranged
their first speaker and presentation for Sunday afternoon, March 28 (story
on page 5). We are also excited to announce tentative arrangements for
Dr. Glenn Kimball in April and Michael Cremo in May.
This will be the forty-first lecture since Cheyenne
Turner founded The Eclectic Viewpoint in late 1991, and the first by this
new partnership. As a one-woman operation, Cheyenne didn't have the time
to produce more than about six events each year. But, the growing number
of dedicated members of the LLC have the ability to do more, and we hope
to present a production each month.
The limited liability company form of business was
chosen because it offers the most flexible benefits of corporate limited
liability, partnership tax status and simplicity. Each member owns an equal
share and vote, and risk is limited to initial investment.
Charter Members each invested money and are: Dr.
Jonathan Boyd; Fred Davis; Dr. James Denito; Susan Tinkle; and myself.
It is already apparent this was a good move, but at the time these people
stuck out their necks, their money and their commitment, the outcome was
a question. I admire their courage. I hope you join in that and recognize
these people are the main reason we are able to continue.
Mark Disanti has since joined and we expect
others to be considered for membership soon. We need more help with the
work, intend to accept those we feel will join in our dedication to this
idea, and will limit the number of equal members for practicality. Mark
should also be recognized for his foresight and courage for joining at
this early stage. Thanks, partners!
It is particularly exciting to me that these friends
have joined together to continue Cheyenne's work. Shortly before she passed
away on August 24, 1998, I refused her plea for me to continue EV. I have
been assisting her with newsletter preparation and business operations
since 1993, but I felt totally inadequate to select the right speakers.
And, I envisioned a difficult emotional struggle becoming impossible to
overcome.
Shortly after her death, I learned by her will she
granted me the exclusive right to the trade name. It was a heavy responsibility,
one I intended to pass on to others as quickly as possible. Within a few
days, for reasons I still don't fully understand, I felt this over-powering
compulsion to protect that name and continue her dream.
I knew the only way to be sure EV stayed on Cheyenne's
plan was to keep sole ownership of the business, and that is what I started.
But, I needed the dedicated help and capital of partners. The LLC was the
answer.
I still own the company and trade name, but granted
the LLC the conditional right to use the name for the single, limited and
simple purpose of conducting lectures in Dallas.
My company is The Eclectic Viewpoint, publishes
the Forum magazine and conducts all other business operations. The Eclectic
Viewpoint, LLC, is a separate company, of which I am an equal member,
and has the function of selecting speakers and conducting their presentations.
Of course, the members of the LLC are not connected with The Eclectic Viewpoint.
It is an exciting concept! Several friends, dedicated
to Cheyenne's plan, are actively working to bring "interesting and helpful
knowledge" to our audiences. Our first step is to increase the number of
Dallas lectures, hopefully one the latter part of each month.
Then, who knows? Half of our 8,000 customer list
is all over the United States and many other countries and the list is
growing. With enough dedicated people, it's possible we could hold lectures
in other major cities, perhaps several each month.
What an idea! Only a couple of months ago, I was
discouraged and felt so overwhelmed, I was ready to just put everything
on hold. Thanks to these partners in the LLC, I'm now very optimistic and
firmly believe we have begun on the right path.
Psychic Bill Landis, one of our speakers last October
and now a dear friend of mine, said Cheyenne wanted me to know, "She and
an angel are helping you." Because of other things Bill told me she said,
private and unique only Cheyenne and I knew, my goose bumps rose to major
proportions. Emotion prevented me responding publicly, but I knew she was
there.
It may be only my imagination. Perhaps it is synchronicity.
Or, Cheyenne may be causing things to happen. What do you think?
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