It clearly passes the market test. For over a decade, people who have busy schedules have found the time and expended requisite resources to come and hobnob. There must be some networking value, at minimum.

You have a critical mass of people who tend to be powerful in terms of leadership and resources. To the extent that people's opinions coalesce around a set of conclusions, their focus gets directed to certain issues and it may in fact affect thinking and ultimately, in some very decentralized way, actual actions.

What's the prevailing sentiment on the global economy? Are we turning the corner? What's the extent to which we'll continue to feel repercussions from Sept. 11? Is the information technology cycle in a down phase, or is it turning around? Hearing the tenor of the discussions will be interesting.

We are a long time in learning that all our strength and salvation is in God.

Oh, how precious is time, and how it pains me to see it slide away, while I do so little to any good purpose

Again, Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time.