Attending: Norman G. Kurland, Dawn K. Brohawn, Michael D. Greaney, Harriet Epstein, Kemp Harshman, Rowland Brohawn.

Materials Distributed: Agenda, Core Values, Code of Ethics, minutes of the 12/16-17/03 Executive Committee Meeting, First Quarter Treasurer's Report, Wall Street Journal article on the United States promoting socialism in Iraq for the national oil company, specifications for Illinois CIC legislation, "Alien Canadian Cucumber Attack" article, Volunteer Profile draft.

Meeting was called to order at 10:30 AM by Kemp Harshman, rotating chairman.

The Opening Prayer was offered by Dawn K. Brohawn. The Core Values and Code of Ethics were read.

Approval of Board Minutes from Prior Meeting. A motion was made by Norman G. Kurland to accept the minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting of December 16-17, 2003. Dawn K. Brohawn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Approval of Treasurer's Report. The First Quarter Treasurer's Report was read by Michael D. Greaney for Kemp Harshman, Treasurer. Dawn K. Brohawn moved to accept the report as read. Norman G. Kurland seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

News/Information Items

·        Senator Santorum letter on Capital Homestead Proposal for Iraq; follow-up (mtg. W. DoD). Norman Kurland met with Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. Fr. Cassian Yuhaus was largely responsible for the meeting due to his initiative in following up the original request. Fr. Cassian is now trying to set up a luncheon or dinner meeting with Senator Santorum. The Senator might be the leader we've been trying to surface. If he buys in, we may have what we need. Norman Kurland got a call yesterday from Jeff Green, the liaison of the provisional Iraqi government, set up a meeting with the Department of Defense for next Friday. There are all kinds of complications, Capital Homesteading Accounts for all citizens. Dawn K. Brohawn said that on the subject of interest-free money Choudhury might help. The UN is pushing for elections. Norman Kurland said that both considerations are good points. Harriet Epstein said that Bush is pushing for state ownership of the national oil company, but will fail. Then there may be time for our stuff. Norman Kurland said that the national oil company plan was a massive blunder in our favor. The international and American oil companies and Iraqi technocrats are in favor of socialism, possibly as a means of gaining or retaining power. This is the same sort of reasoning that brought down the Iranian Shah. They did not include oil in their program of broadened ownership. In Iraq broadened ownership of the single most valuable natural resource will break down barriers between groups. Norman Kurland said that the insurgents can only operate in friendly or neutral territory. Economic democracy will undermine the insurgents. Go above the leaders to the people. Jeff Green says that is common sense. Kemp Harshman commented that Bremer has common sense. He keeps politics out of oil, business, and the economy.

·        Bush Administration Proposal to Renationalize Iraq Oil Industry. Above.

·        Humberto Rodriquez Capital Homestead Initiative with Rep. Pete Sessions. Humberto received and a master copy of the flyer. He is distributing the flyers. He got through to Pete Sessions, who had breakfast at Humberto's house. A member of Sessions staff requested a copy of the book. It is not clear what the follow-up will be.

·        Bill Perk Carbondale Community Investment Corporation Initiative. Bill Perk wants to develop land in Carbondale. The land was donated to a non-profit organization that has not done anything with it. The current owner wants to have the land transferred back to the city. Bill Perk wants to put in a Community Investment Corporation instead. Norman Kurland has been invited to speak at the Lincoln's Birthday celebration on Capital Homesteading and the Community Investment Corporation. Norman Kurland developed legislative specifications for Rep. Wyvetter Younge. These can also be applied to Iraq.

·        Meeting with Bob Crane and Dr. Radwan Masmoudi (Center for Islam and Democracy). Norman Kurland met with Bob Crane and Dr. Masmoudi and had a good meeting. Dr. Masmoudi appeared to track on binary economics. Bob Crane and Dr. Masmoudi are organizing a conference on "Economic Justice in Islam." Bob Crane feels that the founding principles of the United States reflect the real values of Islam.

·        Meeting with Dr. Roy Want and Sam Ashelman (publishing Chinese Curing World Poverty). Norman Kurland met with Dr. Wang and Mr. Ashelman at Coolfont. They expressed interest in having Curing World Poverty published in China, and Capital Homesteading when translated. Dr. Wang may have been expecting to talk about business deals at the meeting instead of philosophy. Norman Kurland gave Dr. Wang a copy of Curing World Poverty. He seemed to track on it. He suggested a new title, "Curing Capitalism" that may be more appropriate for China.

·        Meetings with New America Foundation, Dr. Robert Atkinson (Prog. Policy Inst.). Norman Kurland saw the NAF and Cato on C-Span on economic problems. Bob Atkinson caught Norman Kurland's eye. He appears to have a phenomenal grasp of overall economy. Norman Kurland will meet with him next Friday. Norman Kurland sent him a copy of the book. Where do they get their funding? Who are their directors, annual report. Norman Kurland got a sense that they are familiar with Kelso, Gates, etc. What is their philosophy? We want an econometric model.

Focus Topic: Refining and Expanding Strategy for Getting Capital Homesteading to President Bush and Other Presidential Contenders.

·        Status Report on Project. We have so far distributed about sixty complimentary copies. We are targeting academics, the media, political people, some religious. Some CESJ network, some "acknowledgees." We are sending out copies as we have time. We will send to talk shows with the aim of getting Norman Kurland on the shows. Harriet Epstein said that we should tell the CESJ network that there is much more information available via e-mail in lieu of the regular newsletter. Norman Kurland said to put the minutes up on the web. Kemp said that some talk shows sell books on their websites. Harriet Epstein said that maybe a way to find out who's sponsoring presidential debates. Get the sponsors to get copies of books to debators. Kemp said to get CESJ to suggest to be the head of a presidential task force on Iraq.

·        Review of Current Marketing Plan. We are working on a second edition by UVM. Add chapters on JBM and more to the glossary.

·        What Additional Actions Do We Need to Take? Fr. Miller sent addresses for bishops. Call Fr. Miller to export the data base.

·        Activating Support of CESJ Board, Counselors, Members and Associates. AARP, other counselors, National Committee to preserve social security.

Ongoing Projects, Decision/Follow-Up Items

·        Nominating Dr. Choudhury to CESJ Board of Counselors. Dawn K. Brohawn so moved, Norman Kurland seconded. Discussion. Norman Kurland said he was not totally sure how Choudhury relates to us. Maybe some risk he may not fit in. Came to us through Rodney Shakespeare. Heavy focus on the monetary. Arranged for Rodney to give talks on binary economics.

·        Planning for CESJ 20^th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Meeting. Harriet said a new format. Instead of talk, board sets three or four topics for input, hands out a fact sheet, break into groups, then summarize. Guests: some few out of area people might come. Aims for the next twenty years.

·        Nominations for 2004 CESJ Soldier of Justice Awards. Norbert and Herbert Hermes, Fr. Cassian Yuhaus. Norman Kurland so moved, seconded by Rowland Brohawn. Passed unanimously.

·        Progress Report on JBM Garment Factory, Marketing Company and Certification Process. The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative is meeting today, the sweatshop group. They are fighting imports, not moving forward. Trademark Office — got application refund, now putting back together to resubmit. Kemp will look into it.

·        Progress Report on CESJ and Global Justice Movement websites. CESJ: Reworking pages, home pages, adding pages, glossary and flyer. Santorum letter, what's new section. Paypal, working on details. Global Justice Movement: Dan Parker is in a survival mode, no news.

·        Progress Report on Oglebay Norton Employee Economic Empowerment Association initiative. They are meeting January 22, 2004 with Chairman of the Board of ONCo and Michelle Worth. Norman Kurland, Brad and Jonathan Spencer with up to five representatives from the board, members of the unions, AMO and USWA. Going Sunday to Cleveland, 2 days of brainstorming and Dan Bell, Rich Biernacki. Discuss best case scenario, then worst case scenario. This is an unprecedented case study, connected to Core Values, JBM and Kelso philosophy.

·        Progress Report on Brazil Project. No news. Norman Kurland sent e-mails, no response.

·        CESJ volunteer data form (Harriet Epstein). New version given to Harriet Epstein to edit some more. Dawn K. Brohawn wants to “sub” items made major. E-mail Harriet to input.

·        Focus topic for February executive committee meeting. Iraq, presidential task force.

·        Father Ferree Compendium. “Economic Justice Media” (CESJ’s “publishing arm”) is putting together a collection of some of Father Ferree’s shorter pieces. This will include “Introduction to Social Justice” (1948), “A Discourse on Social Charity” (1966), “Remarks Before the Lay Commission on the U.S. Economy” (1984), “Testimony Before the Lay Commission on the U.S. Economy” (1984), and “A Turning Point in History” (1985). The current foreword to “Introduction to Social Justice” will be reworked to introduce the compilation, and short paragraphs will be written to tie the pieces together. The first draft should be completed by the end of March.

The next Executive Committee Meeting will be held Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at noon. The next Board Meeting will be held Saturday, April 17, 2004 at 9:30 am.

A motion to adjourn was made by Norman G. Kurland, and seconded by Dawn K. Brohawn. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 3:00 PM.