Re: CSICOP's Taking Stock
SkeptInq@aol.com
Fri, 18 Apr 1997 15:04:32 -0400
Following are some posts, and our replies, in response to
our recent announcement of our plans to seek donations to
CSICOP to use to purchase shares in large media companies.
Barry Karr
To: SkeptInq@aol.com
Bloody brilliant! Why don't you solicit "investors" from SI's readership so
we can buy a block they can't ignore? (Any point in doing so?)
Bob Imrie
{That's the plan. We need as few as one to be able to go to share holder
meetings, but the more you have the more seriously you are taken.
Also, if we can actually build the fund up a bit we can use the dividends
they pay us to fund our complaints against them. Something really
beautiful about that.
Barry Karr}
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Would love to help you, but have never bought any stock/bonds, etc. in my
life. Am not rich, either. What do you want me to do?
- Gail
{Hello Gail,
Thanks for your post and for your interest in this project! If you'd like to
contribute to the fund, one thing you could do would be to send us a
contribution, in any amount, made out to the "CSICOP Media Stock Fund."
We ave already established an account with Dean Witter Reynolds.
We will deposit the check and buy shares.
The beauty is is that we don't have to have a large number of shares to try
to have an effect - of course, the more you have the more seriously you are
taken, but, as
always, we will do the best we can.
Barry Karr}
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Subject: RE: CSICOP's Taking Stock
Barry & CSICOP et al
An excellent idea!!!
... Carl
{Thanks Carl, I hope it takes off!}
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Just for curiosity: If I buy stock in NBC?CBS/FOX/ABC -
supposedly if that's possible in Europe - can I authorize
CSICOP to represent me at the shareholder's meeting?
JWN
[In a follow-up JWN writes:]
Hello,
I have asked whether it is possible to buy
stock in Europe from CBS etc., but the minimum
charge (for me) would be US$ 75 per fund in administration
costs, and again that amount for every time stockdividend
had to be converted etc.
So that's a losing proposition for me. Still it might
interest American skeptics whether they can give you
their voting power if they own stock.
Jan Willem
Nienhuys
{Jan, You could open up an account for yourself in the US.
I don't know the answer to the voting power question yet, I will
find out from our broker soon. Barry}
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Great idea. You following the trial in Australia. I sent data from my
personal files on what was to be the star witness for the defense Ron
Wyatt whom I've been after for sometime. Unfort. he backed out at the
last moment as it would have been a 'slam dunk' for the prosecution.
Joe Zias
Curator of Anthropology/Archaeology
Israel Antiquities Authority
{Joe, thanks for the post. Yes we are waching these events.
Eugenie Scott, who is a CSICOP Executive Council member,
is going to Australia to testify. By the way, I saw you on the
Shroud of Turin show on CBS here in the US - you did a good
job. The show wasn't perfect, in fact it had some major flaws,
but overall it wasn't the worst thing I've seen on the Shroud either.
Barry Karr}
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From: (Douglas E. Hill)
To: SkeptInq@aol.com
Perhaps a way to get an even bigger interest is to have your supporters
make some of their own investments in these companies, and vote with you
during shareholder voting.
There are many mutual funds set up to encourage conscienous investing,
perhaps some investment firm should set one up along these lines.
--Doug Hill
P.S. I enjoyed hearing Ray Hyman in Costa Mesa last Saturday.
{Doug,
Thanks for the post. I've got a call into our broker to find out if people
can
give CSICOP their proxy, or if there is a way we can coordinate voting
on resolutions.
Barry Karr
PS: Glad you enjoyed the Hyman lecture. CSICOP put him on the
road for lectures in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego last
weekend. I hear he did a very good job and people were very pleased with the
events. We had
another group in New York City (Westchester County)
doing a seminar over the same weekend. CSICOP goes Coast to Coast!!