As we near the midway point of the year I wanted to reach out to you to share my thoughts on the future of ASLM. Like many not for profits the past 12 months have been a challenge, but thanks to the creativity of our team we have not only been able to survive, but have had an extraordinarily successful year by offering our members value through new approaches to engagement and education, while preparing ASLM for the next stage of growth.

“Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive.” (Jamais Cascio)

Reflecting on the quote from Jamais Cascio above, surviving has never been our goal. Our objective is to thrive and to innovate to increase knowledge and application of Lifestyle Medicine. We know that Lifestyle Medicine has a unique ability to impact some of the most pressing health issues of our time and we are committed to seeing it reach its full potential.

While we can’t be sure of the future ahead of us we do know that uncertainty will be a constant and that building a resilient organisation capable of championing the field of Lifestyle Medicine is crucial. To that end I am excited to announce the launch of the Lifestyle Medicine Innovation Fund (LMIF) which will act as a driving force for innovation and capacity building for ASLM.

To support this launch I have setup a monthly ongoing donation equal to $2500 per year for the next two years. I am asking ASLM members and supporters to consider making their own contribution, at a level they feel comfortable with, and to invest in the future of Lifestyle Medicine. Setting up a monthly regular donation is a very simple and impactful way to support ASLM. If you have any questions or would like to discuss making a larger contribution, I invite you to contact our team to talk further.

Here is how it works; We have learnt that ASLM member projects are some of the most exciting and important initiatives in health care. We have heard some amazing ideas over the years and that is why a portion of the funds collected will be allocated to supporting member projects.  Funding member projects will be selected through a vote run in conjunction with our annual conference and electronically. We are also seeking consultation with members and supporters to help shape the future strategy of the LMIF.

ASLM is incredibly grateful to our members for their passionate support which allows us to fund the existing operations of ASLM. We are committed to ensuring membership fees remain as low as possible which can make funding growth and taking risks with innovation challenging. ASLM needs your support to make a foundational donation to the LMIF. All donations made to ASLM are tax deductible and with the end of financial year fast approaching this is the perfect time to make an investment in the future of Lifestyle Medicine.

I hope you join me in donating to ASLM and making an investment in the growth of Lifestyle Medicine.  Please do not hesitate to contact the ASLM team if you have any questions.