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

Materials Distributed: Core Values, Code of Ethics, Draft minutes of 05/17/05 meeting, 6/9/05 Charles Rangel letter to NK re ARP, cover of Joe Lunch Buckett book.

Meeting was called to order at 10:25 AM by Joe Recinos, Rotating Chairman. The Opening Prayer was given by Kemp Harshman. The Core Values and Code of Ethics were read.

Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes. Dawn K. Brohawn made a motion to table the reading of the minutes. Norman G. Kurland seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

News/Information Items

Mac McGrath. The CESJ executive committee took a few minutes to remember our dear friend, co-founder and board member emeritus, Col. Vincent J. ("Mac") Mcgrath, who died Friday, 20 May 2005, at age 91. Norman Kurland got a call from his son Terence, notifying us of Mac's death. Norman Kurland and Marie attended the wake, and the next day, a CESJ delegation of Norman Kurland, Rowland Brohawn, Dawn Brohawn, Jean B. Fry and Michael D. Greaney attended the funeral. Mac was buried with full military honors at Quantico National Cemetery. His life was one of perseverance and achievement, in the military, business and volunteer worlds. Mac contributed his strategic thinking, great common sense, and unwavering belief in and commitment to CESJ and the Just Third Way. We will remember Mac with deep affection and respect, as one who reminded us that CESJ's special role must be as "Keeper of the Just Third Way Flame."

Response from Rep. Charles Rangel (ARP Letter) and Meeting with Students for Saving Social Security. In response to Norman KurlandíƒÙs letter regarding the newly formed American Revolutionary Party and the Declaration of Monetary Justice, we received a very positive response from Rep. Rangel, who is a key Democrat in the House Ways and Means Committee on Social Security. Norman Kurland suggested that the Students for Saving Social Security meet with Rangel. This group (probably a Republican counterpart to Move On), is promoting personal accounts, but they have no specific program or agenda. SSSS's office is located approximately four blocks from the White House. They have a web site, www.secureourfuture.org, and 91 coordinators at universities and colleges around the country. Norman Kurland thinks they may provide a base of young people for organizing to change the system, and could help mobilize people power behind Capital Homesteading through the American Revolutionary Party. Jonathan Swanson, the group's President, may have worked as an intern in the Bush White House. Ursula Williams, who is in charge of outreach, met with Norman Kurland and Dawn Brohawn last week. She had found CESJ on the web. After her discussions with Norm and Dawn, she seemed to indicate strong interest in Capital Homesteading as a specific agenda with a social justice orientation. Norman Kurland has offered CESJ as a resource to her group. CESJ gave Ursula an "Own or Be Owned" tee shirt and "OWN" button, and encouraged her to distribute our materials to her group.

CESJ delegation at UMAA Conference. May 27-29, 2005, Norman Kurland, Fr. Habiger, Norman Bailey, Walter Fauntroy and Bob Crane made presentations to a national conference of Shiite Muslims (the United Muslim Association of America), with over 2,000 attendees. Walter Fauntroy was asked to give the "DC Welcome Speech" on the opening evening, as well as a statement at the closing dinner. Norman Bailey spoke about the American Revolutionary Party and Norm Kurland and Fr. Habiger spoke on an interfaith panel. Norman KurlandíƒÙs impression was that the audience was fired up about the CESJ vision and proposal for Iraq.

The organizers arranged for Norman Kurland and the delegates to meet with their board. Norman Kurland stressed that he wanted to form an interfaith partnership to develop a Just Third Way solution to the Iraq crisis. There was only one nay-sayer. Norman Kurland responded by asking if he had a better solution. The Imam of the largest Shiite mosque in the U.S. raised a couple of similar questions regarding the "political practicality" of the proposal. The head guy promised to call back.

One important contact who appears to be a global thinker and very positive is Jawad Khaki, a Muslim from Tanzania, who is a VP at Microsoft Corporation handling global technology and teaching at Beijing University.¨› Norm was very impressed with him and mentioned the Institute for Peace through Justice being formed, as well as the positive contacts we've had on the Iraq proposal with Cardinal Theodore McCarrick (through Fr. Cassian Yuhaus) and a top aide to Secretary Condoleezza Rice (through Bob Crane). Norm suggested that Jawad try and contact Bill Gates, Sr. on the Iraq proposal and as a possible source of funding for the Institute.

We found out later the UMAA board had met and decided not to go further with the discussions on the Iraq proposal. The reasons given were that the situation in Iraq is too complicated and the people there wouldn't understand the idea of getting free shares in Iraq's oil industry. Bakir al-Hassani, had previously reported that there was some interest in Iraq, particularly from the #2 Ayatollah under Sistani, whom he met with for 2 hours. However we may be dealing with a socialist orientation on the part of some of the Iraqi leadership and scholars, who are also talking about "oil for the people," but without a clear plan. There also seems to be a campaign of disinformation: Bakir claimed he heard reports that hard-core Baathist leaders were meeting with the Israelis in Qutar, in order to re-establish the Baathist Party in Iraq in exchange for getting the U.S. out of Iraq by December. Bakir is now in Canada, and withdrawing from the Institute.

Norman Kurland talked with Fr. Cassian, and plans to follow-up with Bob's contact and Jawad Khaki.

Institute for Peace Through Justice/Iraq proposal. See above.

Students for Saving Social Security. See above.

Global Justice Movement (New Zealand GJM). A woman from New Zealand signed up as a member of the Global Justice Movement and asked if we had any contacts in New Zealand. She mentioned in an e-mail that she had developed a GJM t-shirt and is trying to start a chapter. She has a background in public relations.

Publication of Joe Lunch Buckett book; Equity by John Case, Corey Rosen, Martin Staubus. Rick Osborne has published a popularization of Capital Homesteading in his new book that packages the various entries from his Joe Lunch Buckett web site. Norm felt that the book presents binary economics and Capital Homesteading in a down to earth manner that should appeal to the average person more than the policy oriented Capital Homesteading for Every Citizen. In his own book Rick gives credit to CESJ's book and Norm Kurland. Norm felt that more focus was given to the character Joe Lunch Buckett than to encouraging people to join the American Revolutionary Party and its Capital Homesteading platform. It does refer to Capital Homesteading as "the big idea."

Norman Kurland will ask Rick if CESJ should take over the ARP web site. The Joe Lunch Buckett concept has some communications strengths, but doesn't highlight ARP sufficiently. Rick's attempt to start an ARP chapter seemed to fizzle, even though his "each one reach two" strategy offers a sound way to grow the movement. Rick Osbourne thinks the ARP platform is too intellectual for most people. He wants to make simple Power Point presentations on Capital Homesteading to Democrats and Republicans using the Joe Lunch Buckett persona.

Inc. Magazine writer John Case sent Norm Kurland a copy of his recent book, co-authored with Corey Rosen and Martin Staubus. Equity gives a good historical presentation on Kelso and the ESOP movement (including something on Norm Kurland's involvement), but refers to Kelso's writings as "impenetrable." This book is unlikely to engender respect for Kelso in academia, and it certainly woníƒÙt encourage anyone to read his writings. Doesn't mention Robert Ashford as someone introducing Kelso's ideas into academia. Well-written, but all the focus is on techniques and mechanisms, no principles or philosophy of justice (which is ironic given the title). In the index there is no mention of voting, or examples of companies that pass through the vote. The authors doníƒÙt deal with issue of power. The example of Springfield Remanufacturing is top-down, they don't pass through the vote to allow workers to select their own representatives to the board; the company is still controlled by a small group of original investors. In his writings and research, Corey Rosen has tended to downplay the importance of the vote, particularly because it doesn't show a measurable affect on company performance. However, the value of the vote is not going to be seen in the short-term bottom line, but in the long-term sustainability of an ownership culture over generations; at a point where company ownership may be at risk, the vote allows workers to have a voice over their own property. No mention of CESJ, National Maritime Union, or leveraged deals. Emphasizes responsibility without power (all duties, no rights). CouldníƒÙt find a mention of Fastener Industries as a model of participatory ownership. Participation is presented in a technocratic way, without presenting any principles of participation (as Kelso does). This book doesn't teach people how to act with power. Presents the trappings of ownership without the essence of ownership, because the authors don't appear to understand property or acknowledge its importance in building democratic systems.

Just Third Way blogsite (Steve Nieman). Steve Nieman has started up a new blog site devoted to the Just Third Way. We need to encourage people to visit it. Steve is putting up writings by various people, including some of Norm Kurland's e-mail correspondence to the network. Rowland put up a link on the CESJ web site to SteveíƒÙs blog, and Dan Parker put up a link on the Global Justice Movement web site. CESJ members should visit the site habitually.

Focus topic: How do we, with our present core group, open doors to potential prime movers who would support the Just Third Way and Capital Homesteading? Norman Kurland said that we need a canned response to people who sign up as members to the Global Justice Movement who want to become virtual volunteers, to get them involved at a minimal level. Each member of the core group should be encouraged to bring in two or three others. We need to offer simple responses they can be armed with, including questions along the lines of "do you have anything better?" Focus of message: the solution is the diffusion of power. Power corrupts, and must be broken up and put in the hands of each person.

Some draft language for a letter to virtual volunteers signing up on the Global Justice Movement website:¨› "CESJ holds itself out as the think tank of the Just Third Way and Capital Homesteading.¨› CESJíƒÙs ideas and applications are promoted by groups like the American Revolutionary Party and the Global Justice Movement (which promotes different approaches to the democratization of money and credit, and is international in its outreach).¨› Since you've signed up as a member of the Global Justice Movement, here are some things you can do [CESJ's "What You Can Do" list].¨› To be effective, hereíƒÙs what you have to do: 1) Study [develop basic reading syllabus], 2) Reach out to one or two other people, 3) Get your core group to reach out to prime movers [develop template letters that could be sent out to prime movers, blog sites, media people]. ItíƒÙs important that you learn these ideas well enough to communicate them to 2 or 3 other people who can reach out to 2 or 3 others, etc. To those who say to you that "it can't be done," ask "do you have a better solution?"¨› Ask them "What do you think economic justice is?"¨› Gather questions you encounter and send them to us. Refer others to the key websites [CESJ, GJM, ARP, Joe Lunch Buckett, etc.]"

Joe Recinos mentioned that he had recently been in touch with OttàÑn Solis, former Minister of Planning from Costa Rica who had supported the recommendations of the 1986 Presidential Task Force on Project Economic Justice. Joe should contact OttàÑn Solis, who is running for President in Costa Rica, and let him know about the ARP Platform. Describe a demonstration of Capital Homesteading with CIC, CSOP, ESOP, central bank reforms. This could involve alternative uses of agricultural products in conjunction with energy production (Equitech).

Decision/Follow-Up Items:

Web additions: Capital Homesteading pieces, "Focus on Fed" report and pictures; switching CESJ website from Interland to Ready Hosting. Rowland added "Focus on Fed" report to the web site. Added pieces from Social Security brochure: projections, safeguards, comparison matrix. He will also add: 1) ARP Platform, 2) Declaration on Monetary Justice, 3) Norman Kurland's presentation to the President's Advisory Committee on Tax Reform, and 4) Mike Greaney's letter published in the Wall Street Journal. We are thinking of switching CESJ's Internet Service Provider (ISP) from Interland to Ready Hosting. Switch all the web sites, since it's only $50 a year through Kemp Harshman, rather than $204 annually per website. Dawn K. Brohawn will do point by point comparison of the two ISPs.

Capital Homestead marketing (UK distribution; setting up a dedicated site to market Capital Homesteading). Harriet has not heard back from people to whom she gave copies of the book. We signed up for UK distribution of CESJ/Universal Values Media publications. There was no charge. We need a dedicated web site for Capital Homesteading.

We also need to identify someone who would do a Spanish translation of the Capital Homesteading book. Joe mentioned that Guatemala is the hub in Central America for three Internet services.

CESJ publishing projects/Economic Justice Media (Mike Greaney). Economic Justice Media, being developed as CESJíƒÙs publishing house, is prioritizing its selection of publications to be published by weighing potential market for a product and its importance for communicating the Just Third Way. Our top three selections to begin with: 1) the Fr. Ferree compendium, 2) Fr. FerreeíƒÙs The Act of Social Justice, and 3) William Cobbett's The Emigrant's Guide, which Mike Greaney believes will appeal to the Distributist network and open them up to Capital Homesteading as "a 21^st Century version of distributism." We might also add an "Own or Be Owned.com" web site to market items like T-shirts, CDs, posters, etc. that communicate the Just Third Way and Capital Homesteading; it would have a lighter and more humorous tone than CESJíƒÙs site.

Harriet Epstein suggested that we develop an organizational chart to show how the different publishing arms (imprints), blogs and organizations (CESJ, EEI, GJM, ARP, Joe Lunch Buckett, etc.) relate to each other. Mike Greaney described the relationships as "horizontal integration."

Strategic meetings: Cardinal McCarrick (Fr. Cassian Yuhaus follow-up letter; Mike Greaney paper on "Why We Need an Encyclical on Economic Justice"). Norman Kurland is waiting for Fr. Cassian to call. We will follow up on original letter to Cardinal McCarrick, focus on the Middle East, economic justice encyclical. Mike is working on a paper giving the rationale for why an encyclical on economic justice is needed.

Norm will follow-up with Rep. Bob Marshall to set up a meeting with Senator George Allen on the Iraq proposal.

Focus topic for next meeting. Same, plus how to respond to and coordinate volunteers from around the world. (Dawn will forward template letters to Harriet for interns and volunteers.)

¨›

The next Executive Committee Meeting will be combined with the quarterly board meeting. The next Board Meeting will be held Saturday, July 16, 2005, at 9:30 am.

A motion to adjourn was made by Dawn K. Brohawn and seconded by Norman G. Kurland. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm.