Family Talk

July 2008
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Irene Preston Miller

Posted on August 5th, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: Michael & Irene Miller.

This morning, at eight o’clock, my mother, Irene Preston Miller, passed on to the next world. I think we all agree that she was prepared and ready to leave. For the past several days she had not been responsive and she had been declining in health over the past months.

She was not a woman to be confined to a wheel chair. She had always been an independent (liberated) woman before it was fashionable and had always been active in her community, in the arts, an in various forms of service.

Philip is preparing a memorial statement that I will publish when it is available. But, I thought the following additional photos might be of interest and a memory of her.

This photo was taken November or December 1941 at the Royalton Hotel.

This photo says “Finch sculpture class, 1st figure.” My mother was always practicing some form of arts or crafts, and I think it began with her training as a concert pianist, then sculpture, photography, etc.

This photo also says Royalton hotel, 1941.

This photo is of Diana and her mother and was taken at the Arthur Avedon studio in NY to send to Michael who was in India or Burma at the time during WWII.

Here is a recent photo of mom with Diana and Philip. She never belonged in that wheel chair. Now she is free.

0 comments.

Life…Day Two

Posted on July 8th, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: Gil, Layli & Serena.

5 comments.

Welcome to the World Amira

Posted on July 8th, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: Gil, Layli & Serena.

Yesterday, 7-7-07, Amira Joon Miller-Muro was born (8.13lbs, 21 inches tall) after more than twelve hours of labor and finally, a “C” section delivery.

Layli (and Gil) are tired and resting. Amira is beautiful, calm and perfect. Welcome to the world. Here are some first day pictures with Serena and Sandi, Gil’s mom.

1 comment.

Tahirih Justice Center Wins Best Managed Non-Profit

Posted on June 21st, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: General Family Talk.

There are a lot of non-profit organizations in Washington, D.C. But, of course, only one is led by a Miller. So, the competition wasn’t that hard. Seriously, at the awards banquet were 300 Washingtonians from the Washington Post and the not for profit world in Washington and the award is a great tribute to Layli’s management and leadership skills.

TAHIRIH WINS 2007 WASHINGTON POST AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE IN NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT

The Tahirih Justice Center is proud to announce that we have won the prestigious 2007 Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management. Tahirih will receive a $10,000 cash grant, as well as a scholarship for one staff member to attend the Georgetown University Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadershipâ€™s Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate Program.

Washington Post Award logo The award selection committee noted several outstanding management practices for Tahirih. Some examples of management excellence include:

Extensive use of pro bono attorneys and other professional services;
Thoughtful and strategic planning for both the short- and long-term on the department level as well as across the entire organization;
Use of market research and assessing its impact on their strategic plan;
Organizational sensitivity to staff workload and burnout potential, including offering second-hand trauma training and a timesheet code for staff respite time; and
Mindful engagement in the struggle to encourage cultural sensitivity, including both training staff in cultural competency and providing training to other outside groups.

We are thrilled and extremely grateful to be recognized with such a prestigious award. Our work would not be possible without you, our supporters. We hope you will continue to remain engaged in our work as we continue to serve immigrant women and girls fleeing violence.

For more information about the award, please read our press release.

Now in its 13th year, The Washington Post Award is a competitive program open to all 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the Washington metropolitan area. Candidates are judged in the areas of fiscal management, information and communication, organizational development, people development, planning, resource development, risk management, and use of technology. The award is sponsored by The Washington Post Company, with additional support from RAFFA and Georgetown Universityâ€™s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership.

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The Four Grandchildren: Serena, Zoe, Jalil, Evan, soon to be five.

Posted on June 9th, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: General Family Talk.

0 comments.

One More Book…

Posted on May 17th, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: Larry and Carole.

For many years I have promised, pledged, sworn, that I would complete a book that attempted an indepth look at the Baha’i Writings as they applied to business and management. I have done articles and bits and pieces but never had the discipline or urgency to get the promised book done. Well, it is finally done and published.

This is about my eighth book (depending exactly on which ones you count, training manuals, etc.) and when you send them off to the publisher there is, of course, a sense of relief that it is done. When you finally recieve a copy of the published work, always an interminable wait, you often look at it and say to yourself, “Oh, no, I said that!” Or some other form of disappointment. With this one, however, I feel very good about it. Perhaps because it draws heavily on the Baha’i Writings, or because I now feel that I have said everything I have to say and wanted to say. The publisher, George Ronald, and the editor, Wendy Momen, did very little cutting of material and allowed me to address issues such as the role of leaders in the Baha’i community, with no censorship, in fact, encouragement. Finally, I feel that I have said the things that I really wanted to say, and I am pleased with it. (This may sound egotistical, but it is a matter of contrasts. After many publishing experiences I know that I am generally the one most critical and dissatisfied with my own work.) Now, I hope others will find it useful.

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Langdon Admitted to International Business School

Posted on May 6th, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: Langdon.

Langdon, who has been working at IFES for the past several years, has now been admitted to ESADE in Barcelona for an MBA program. ESADE is ranked as the number one international business school by the Wall Street Journal, an important ranking in the business world.

ESADE is also known for it emphasis on a global outlook, teamwork and social responsibility. It will be a great transition from the non-profit world to the business world.

ESADE is committed to training executives and individuals with great potential to lead the organisations of today and the future.

The MBA programmes fosters the development of management skills and expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit, with the emphasis on a clear global outlook, ethical prinicples and a sense of social responsibility.

Today, after almost 50 years of experience, and over 28,000 alumni worldwide, enjoying the recognition of companies, institutions, high rankings and the work of a great team, ESADE continues to spearhead new management values and the development of management skills as a central element to its educational purpose.

Lang will begin his program in August of this year. Lang was most likely accepted to this program in large part because of the international work he has done in Baghdad, Pakistan, East Timor and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Congratulations, Lang!

1 comment.

Serena Soccer Star…maybe

Posted on May 6th, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: Gil, Layli & Serena.

First soccer experiences are not necessarily indicators of future success. Maybe some day an Olympic invitation…but for now, these pretty well reflect Serena’s initial relationship to soccer practice.

She obviously loves the soccer ball.

These rules kill me!

You’re supposed to do what?

I like sitting on top of your tummy, Mom.

Sensitive parents can tell when they have had enough.

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A Trip to Merlefest

Posted on April 30th, 2007 by Larry.
Categories: General Family Talk, Larry and Carole.

As an “old” guitar picker (old as distinct from “good”) one of my favorite things is to go to Merlefest, Doc Watson’s bluegrass festival held every year in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Here are a few of my favorite photos from this weekend.

Little Pickers: musicians of every age gather around for jam sessions that go on all day and night for three days.

Old Timers:

Doc Watson on stage at the age of 84 years and can still play a million times better than I can.

One of the great things about Merlefest was seeing some of the fantastic young groups who are preserving the best of the old time country and bluegrass music traditions. Her are a couple:

Uncle Earl (yes, four young women!) Excellent CD’s, and the banjo player, Abigail Washburn also has a great CD.

New generation jam session on the Watson stage with some chaotic combination of Uncle Earl, The Duhks, Crooked Still, and The Infamous Stringdusters. It was a great session at 11 in the morning.

Crooked Still

The great old Del McCoury Band performing on the Watson stage with 70 thousand in attendance.

One of the eight stages has continual instruction workshops. Here is Roy Bookbinder, Happy Traum and John Hammond. Roy is no doubt telling one of his stories which comprise about half of his act.