Dear TC campaigners (in both campaigns, Make TIAA-CREF Ethical-MTCE; and Social Choice for Social Change-SCSC):

Where We Are Now. Over the summer, we held a number of smaller actions preceding TC's annual meeting in July. Since then we've done much reflection and planning, taking into consideration that TC has recently indicated some receptiveness to our ideas and taken some favorable actions. In particular, we have had constructive contact with TC's new Director of Social Investing (their first employee with actual social investment expertise--an SRI insider who would not have been hired without our continuing pressure). We continue dialogue and are currently negotiating a meeting between TC reps and our MTCE coalition reps. See the attached letter which makes our case and requests a meeting.

At the same time, TC did not fulfill certain promises and has done nothing (to our knowledge) to influence the six companies targeted by our coalition (e.g. Wal-Mart and Nike). Hence while we have toned down our campaigning, we will carry on with lobbying and other actions (like demonstrations and seeking media attention) until we see more concrete results. We just restarted making media calls and leafleted at TC headquarters on November 3. There is less focus now on the specific SCSC effort within the broader coalition, as TC seems to be exploring those concerns with more vigor (principally community investing) for their socially responsible fund and otherwise.

Where We Are going: A Plea For Your Participation. And now we call upon you again to raise your voices—which you (and we as a group) are now known for! Just one person devotes significant time to this project, and while a dozen national activist groups contribute their energy, they too have only limited time for the campaign. It is up to you if we are to have more successes.

• Help us expand our base by getting the (second) attached message to as many colleagues, friends, activists, and others as you can. Ask them to sign up for our updates. If you can get any groups on board (with an endorsing letter, a petition, whatever), so much the better.
  
• Help organize a small action (literally takes but a few folks) at a local TC office. Typically this involves holding signs and distributing leaflets. Dozens of offices are now open nationally, even in smaller cities and college towns. We have had these over the years, but more regular actions could have a significant impact. If you are in the New York City area, we want to do the same at their Manhattan headquarters. Can you help on just one demo? Office "visits" (rather than demonstrations) are possible too, though not as effective. Let us know.
  
• Can you reach out to one TC trustee? While residing in their city is preferable, it is not a necessity. You can "adopt" a trustee, at whatever time commitment you can. Trustees continue to have a big voice at TC.
  

We have all the information/resources/materials you will need—so please consider taking one or more of these actions. Only with many pitching in have we moved the giant TC in the past. TC has enormous financial influence—by working to change them, you can help promote that a union worker in Colombia won't be killed, that a kid won't be subjected to propaganda about cigarettes or soft-drinks, or that a worker in Indonesia can earn just a little more to support a family. I'll continue to work hard on this, as I have for twenty years, I promise.

Neil

Neil Wollman, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow, Peace Studies Institute, and
Professor of Psychology,
Manchester College
260-982-5346
nwollman@bentley.edu