February
1997
How
to be an Activist: How to Meet a Chief Executive
By Henry Spira
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How do you make a Chief Executive aware of your
concerns? For the determined activist, the answer is remarkably
simple. Buy one share of stock in the company and attend the annual
shareholder's meeting. This will guarantee you a seat within speaking
distance of all the top officers including the Chief Executive.
This is your chance to get to the microphone and raise your issue in
front of the shareholders and the decision makers who are obligated to
respond to any legitimate concerns. Make absolutely sure your question
is clear and does not leave room for evasion. You may even be able, on
the spot, to set up meetings with high level corporate officers. At a
minimum you will have started the process of sensitizing decision makers
to the issues.
It's not necessary to go beyond speaking out at the annual shareholders'
meeting. But be warned: working with a large corporation over the long
haul is time consuming and you'll need a backup plan of action in case
they're not responsive.
You need to be comfortable speaking in public. A good way to prepare
yourself is to speak up at community or grassroots meetings. Before you
speak, outline, on paper or in your head, what you want to say in the
most direct way possible. Keep practising until you're comfortable speaking
to a group.
Picking a company may require some thought. You need to choose the issue
that concerns you. That will determine your choice of target. Animal
Rights International's main focus is currently farm animals, so we work
with corporations which have major connections with factory farming and
thus special obligations to farm animals. Henry Spira is co-ordinator
of Animal Rights International. For more information on ARP contact,
ARI, Box 214, Planetarium Station, New York, NY 10024.
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