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

Materials Distributed: Core Values, Code of Ethics, 01/15/05 minutes, Chris Carson's internship goals, Capital Homesteading template letter, Dan Parker's review of Capital Homesteading book (White Court Advisor of 02/05).

Meeting was called to order at 10:45 AM by Harriet Epstein, Rotating Chairman. The Opening Prayer was offered by Chris Carson. The Core Values and Code of Ethics were read.

Harriet Epstein presented CESJ with a first-day issue of the George Mason postage stamp, postmarked at Gunston Hall. The executive committee accepted the stamp with gratitude. Norm Kurland commented that CESJ's mission is to help launch a "second American Revolution" that seeks to realize globally George MasoníƒÙs recognition in the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights that access to the "means of acquiring and possessing property" is a fundamental human right and reason for establishing government.

Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes. Dawn K. Brohawn moved to accept the minutes of the 01/15/05 Board Meeting Minutes. Norman G. Kurland seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

News/Information Items

Welcome to CESJ Intern Chris Carson (internship objectives; suggestions for meetings & projects); Alan Wong letter and Univ. of Conn. presentations. Norman Kurland welcomed CESJ intern Chris Carson. Chris outlined the three phases of his internship: 1) read basic CESJ literature including Capital Homesteading for Every Citizen, The Capitalist Manifesto, Curing World Poverty, and essential writings, and develop a set of questions and answers based on the readings, 2) analyze CESJ's Social Security reforms, comparing them to the Bush proposal, and prepare a matrix comparing other proposals with Capital Homesteading, and 3) try to arrange initial meetings with policy makers leading to follow-up meetings with CESJ spokespersons.

Harriet mentioned that she had been attending conferences of organizations opposed to Pres. Bush's proposal. One speaker had served on Pres. Clinton's committee on Social Security reform; she had presented four alternatives for eliminating the social security deficit. Harriet said she would get contact information for Chris.

Dawn Brohawn suggested that in developing a simplified Capital Homesteading pitch for Capitol Hill, Chris should capitalize on the fact that he is a young person concerned about his future under Social Security and on why young people would be interested in the Capital Homesteading approach. Norman Kurland suggested that he point out why Pres. Bush's proposal would cause a generational split, and why Capital Homesteading would offer a win-win solution. Dawn also suggested that we seek out Social Security conferences that Chris could attend as a CESJ observer. As another internship objective, Dawn suggested that Chris prepare a study guide with FAQs to guide people through the material on the CESJ website. Norman Kurland also recommended that in his spare time, Chris try to get 3-6 other interns together and have Norman Kurland or Dawn Brohawn lead a discussion on Social Security and the Capital Homesteading alternative. Chris should approach the American Studies Program about hosting a seminar on "the Ownership Society and Alternative Ideas for Saving Social Security."

We received a card and a letter from our former intern Alan Wong.¨› He is following up on arrangements for Norm Kurland to make a presentation at the University of Connecticut.

Meetings with Ali Alyami, Rabbi Kranz; Chairman of Republican National Committee; Norman Kurland 2/24/05 talk at conference of the Center for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. Norman Kurland set up a meeting between Rabbi Kranz and Ali Alyami (President of the Center for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia). Rabbi Kranz invited Ali and Norm to a conference being organized by the Republican Party to reach out to African-Americans. Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele was a keynote speaker, along with Ken Mehlman who had run Pres. George W. Bush's campaign and is now Republican Committee chairman. At the conference Norman Kurland talked to Mehlman's aide, and gave him the Capital Homesteading book and flyer, along with the Iraq oil proposal, and asked him to forward those materials to Mehlman.

Through Ali Alyami, Norm Kurland will speak on a panel at a Freedom House conference on February 24th, on "Oil Power to the People." Norm's presentation will offer Saudi Arabian citizens an oil ownership sharing approach similar to CESJ's proposal for Iraq, as an economic step for supporting democratization in Saudi Arabia.

Meeting with Art Nicoletti (Philadelphia). Norman Kurland and Norman Bailey traveled to Philadelphia to meet with Art Nicoletti (a man in his 60s who is a national anti-drug activist) and Fr. Ray Helmick, a Jesuit priest who teaches conflict resolution at Boston College. There will be a follow-up meeting in April with Norman Bailey and the former president of Connecticut College for Women, who was unable to attend this meeting. Art and the priest liked the Community Investment Corporation concept. Their present strategy is to divert confiscated drug money to use for community development. Norm Kurland and Norman Bailey pointed out the limitations of that approach, noting that it can only deal with the symptoms and not bring long-term economic development that empowers every citizen through ownership. They emphasized that we need to start talking about Capital Homesteading as a way to finance growth for community development. Art is now on a fifty-city tour.

African Marshall Plan (Sioum Gebayou/Jim Montgomery). Sioum Gebayou, an engineer from Ethiopia, was introduced to Norm by Ulysses Jim Montgomery (an MIT engineer). They have been developing a Marshall Plan for Africa, starting with Ethiopia. Gebayou knows the new president of Ethiopia, and thinks he may be open to Capital Homesteading. They are reaching out to traditional black and women colleges, targeting this plan to the black diaspora, as a way of relating back to Africa. Norm Kurland raised the idea of a new common currency for Africa, the "afro," which they liked. He suggested some political targets who they should seek out: Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, John McCain, Barak Obama, George Allen and other politicians seeking the African-American vote. Jim Montgomery thinks he can get to Condeleeza Rice, but mentioned that it is taking more time than he expected to get to congressmen and senators.

Rick Osborne/Joe Lunch Buckett visit and meeting in Olney, Maryland. Rick Osbourne, a former teacher and the erstwhile press secretary for "Joe Lunch Buckett," traveled to the D.C. area (January 21-22, 2005) to meet with Norman Kurland and Bob ScanloníƒÙs Just Faith group in Olney. The focus of the meetings was to develop a strategy for introducing the American Revolutionary Party and Capital Homesteading into the political arena. (The ARP is being formed as an independent party, but would endorse a Democratic or Republican candidate if he or she accepted the ARP platform.)

Meetings were held on Friday evening (1/21) and Saturday morning (1/22), with Norm Kurland, Rick Osbourne, Dawn Brohawn and Rowland Brohawn. In his organizing efforts back in Illinois, Rick mentioned, he is getting resistance from people in his group to language in the ARP platform referring to the "culture of death." Norman Kurland says he would be open to dropping that phrase, but leaving the reference to a "culture of life."

Rick and Norm traveled to Olney, Maryland on Saturday evening, despite the threat of a blizzard. The visit went well. Attending the meeting were Bob Scanlon, some members of the Just Faith group, Pat Clawson (from Flint, Michigan) and Steve Clark (who heads up the Global Citizen Network and relates to the labor unions). Steve Clark mentioned that he likes Capital Homesteading and the Just Third Way concepts, but "had problems" with some parts of the ARP platform. (Norm suggested that he take the parts of the platform he likes and push those.) Pat Clawson (who is a news reporter who was the President of the Libertarian Party in Virginia and a friend of Ralph Nader) commented that he is against the idea of a third party; maintaining they are impractical.

Rick reported that he has had three or four monthly meetings of the Illinois ARP group. He was expecting the numbers of attendees to increase geometrically according to his person-to-person recruiting formula, but the numbers are going down instead of up. His group decided that trying to sell the ARP/Capital Homesteading message to family and friends was not working. Rick has decided that he will try going to Democrat and Republican county meetings. He is now developing a power point presentation on Capital Homesteading. Norman Kurland advised getting the message to young people (high school and up); he also suggested that Rick try and recruit at least two other people from his Illinois group to attend the April 15^th "Focus on the Fed" event.

Oglebay Norton Employee Buyout (Update). We will know today (2/16/05) if Oglebay Norton is prepared to negotiate on the employee buyout proposal. The finance group (Eos) is still in the picture. ON is out of bankruptcy, where they eliminated $200 million in debt. They held a board meeting last Thursday.¨› Norm commented that we put together a great professional team and that Rob Woodman has done a fantastic job as President of the Oglebay Norton Employee Economic Empowerment Association (ONEEEA). The EEI/ONEEEA proposal should be attractive to the company, but ON is now making a lot of money due to the high demand for shipping. This would increase the selling price to the employees, if the company decides to sell.¨› The advantage to the company to sell to the workers under our plan is that it would get them out from under the legacy costs. ON could contract for shipping services at a favored rate with the new company, which would be organized under Justice-Based Management to deliver higher value at a lower price. The bottom line is that we woníƒÙt give up, but we may have to wait.

Bangladesh Project. Fr. Bill sent Norm the articles of incorporation and corporate charter for CESJ Bangladesh and JBM Garment Company. The Marianists are committed to putting in some money, but everything relies on Fr. Bill.

Upcoming meeting with Bill Frenzel. The first meeting between Norm Kurland and Rep. Bill Frenzel (now at the Brookings Institution) was cancelled due to a sudden emergency. The meeting was rescheduled for February 25. Chris Carson will go with Norm to deliver one copy of Capital Homesteading for Every Citizen before the meeting.

Focus topic: April 16^th CESJ Annual Meeting and Celebration.

Status Report on celebration plans. Subcommittee has not yet met.

Status Report on April 15^th Focus on Fed event (ARP). The event is much reduced in scope, we expect about two dozen people. Props: Signs, lunch box containing $3,000 Capital Credit voucher, scrolled "Declaration on Monetary Justice" tied with ribbon, Rick OsbourneíƒÙs "$3K Plan," article on "Farmers at the Fed," Capital Homestead book and flyer. ARP delegates will deliver Capital Homesteading package inside to Fed personnel to bring to Chairman Alan Greenspan. Norman Kurland said that Olaf Klasen and Peter Challen have expressed an interest in the event. The nearest metro station is Foggy Bottom.¨› WeíƒÙll need a loudspeaker.¨› We need to apply for a permit, which Kemp will call about. We will meet at 11:30 a.m. at the North entrance of the Fed (C Street between 20^th and 21^st Street). We should videotape and photograph this event.¨› Kemp also suggested we get an Abraham Lincoln re-enactor to be the master of ceremonies.

April 15^th program given "worst case." Dawn K. Brohawn sent Kemp an e-mail enquiry regarding specifics (legal, etc.) of a meeting/gathering at the Federal Reserve. Dawn will follow up with Kemp. At that time we will develop a contingency plan, if necessary.

April 16^th program following April 15^th Fed event. In the morning, we can show the video from the day before. This will need to be edited down to 30 minutes. Hold an abbreviated business meeting. Pass out minutes, treasurer's report, bulleted news update on current projects. Handouts for CESJ celebration: determine at March meeting. ARP Resolution, CH book Flyer, Rick's $3K Plan, $3,000 "capital credit vouchers."

Next steps. Re-do the resolution for the Federal Reserve (change "Ownership Campaign" to "American Revolutionary Party"). The signed Resolution will be delivered to the Federal Reserve. We will stress the themes in the Shared Vision Statement, that access to capital credit is a fundamental human right -- without a free enterprise version of economic justice and economic democracy, political democracy will not work. Stress themes of: "Money Power to the People," "Focus on the Fed," "Capital Self Sufficiency" and "Economic Independence." Emphasize the word "Justice." We need a letter inviting Greenspan to become a member of ARP. Norm will contact Rabbi Kranz to invite him to participate and speak at this event. Speakers: Rick Osborne, Walter Fauntroy, Norman Bailey, Norman Kurland, Rabbi Kranz, Fr. Cassian Yuhaus, Rep. Wyvetter Younge, Dr. Ali Alyami, Tommy Kersey, Dawn Brohawn. Special invitees: Sen. Barack Obama, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, Rep. Bennie Thompson. Some time will be made for others to speak. We need to send a letter in advance to Alan Greenspan, notifying him of the event and requesting an audience. Notify Bill Greider, in case he might want to cover this story.

Ongoing Projects Decision/Follow-Up Items

Capital Homesteading marketing update (Social Security letter/Op-Ed campaign; Network initiatives: Harriet Epstein; Steve Roy, Bill Perk, John Pimenta, Stever Nieman, Rowland Brohawn; Virgil Wood/Walter Fauntroy. Upon reviewing the Capital Homestead book marketing letter to be sent to various groups, the following suggestions were offered: Boil the letter down to 3 paragraphs, and put some emotion in the opening paragraph. In the brief e-mail letter, include links to the CH flyer and our recent Op-Ed (put this on the CESJ website so people can download and read or send in e-mail).

People in our network have been helping to market the book: John Pimenta sent out about 50 e-mails to columnists and politicians writing about Social Security and the ownership society to alert them to the Capital Homesteading book. His outreach resulted in friendly responses from Michael Barone of U.S. News and World Report and another national commentator. John Pimenta is also promoting the Abraham Federation.

Norman Kurland will send his Op-Ed on "How the Fed can Save Social Security" to a select CESJ list so that our people can start sending it out to their networks. N.B., have Chris Carson contact Newt Gingrich at the American Enterprise Institute, mentioning his internship dealing with Capital Homesteading. Chris should also approach Pennsylvania Congressmen and Senators on Capitol Hill, e.g., Rick Santorum. Harriet Epstein is working on getting Norman Kurland speaking engagements. We plan to get the Capital Homesteading book to Bill Frenzel and Michael Barone (U.S. News and World Report). Steve Roy gave a book to Cheryl Richardson, speaker/author (host of the show "Amazing Grace" who knows Oprah Winfrey). Steve is trying to get a book to Oprah through her. Bill Perk is working on Barak Obama; he has gone to several events where Sen. Obama has spoken, made several contacts with ObamaíƒÙs Illinois assistant Patrick Scates.

Steve Nieman has been mentioning Capital Homesteading to columnists writing about Social Security and the Ownership Society. Rowland Brohawn is sending e-mails to radio talk show hosts who are conducting interviews on these subjects. He sent an e-mail regarding Capital Homesteading to economist and TV personality Ben Stein. Humberto Rodriguez sent the book to the President of the Progressive Bank in Dallas. Norman Kurland is trying to put Humberto in touch with Greg Southworth (a psychotherapist with an M.B.A. who came across the CESJ website and joined) to encourage them to start a CESJ chapter in Dallas. Virgil mentioned Kelso and the Second Income Plan in his new book In Love We Trust: Lessons I Learned from Martin Luther King, and gave a talk before a group of young philanthropists, giving good press to Capital Homesteading. At a recent conference, Walter Fauntroy spoke about Capital Homesteading.

Strategic Meetings (Cardinal McCarrick; Senator Barak Obama; Senator Rick Santorum; Senator George Allen). Fr. Cassian is writing today to ask Cardinal McCarrick to meet with Norm Kurland and himself. Fr. Cassian will also be seeking meetings with Fr. Hugg of the Center for Concern in DC.¨› The focus of the meetings would be to find convergence between theology and justice, and how that applies to the world (i.e., "the Just Third Way"). Fr. Cassian is also trying to set up a meeting with Senator Santorum at his Scranton, Pennsylvania office to have Norm and him present the Just Third Way and Capital Homesteading as a much-needed economic agenda for the Pro-Life movement.

Bill Perk is approaching Barak Obama's aide (Patrick Scates) at his Southern Illinois office to arrange a meeting with Norm Kurland. Norm will contact Rep. Bob Marshall to see if he will help set up a meeting with Senator George Allen regarding the Iraq oil proposal and Capital Homesteading.

Olaf Klasen. He sent an e-mail to Norm Kurland a short time ago concerning a joint proposal with his group for a UN project for economic development in Estonia.

Bakir al Hassani. He got back in touch with Norm a couple of days ago. He liked the Iraq oil proposal and the draft preamble to the new Iraqi constitution, and mentioned that he was presenting these ideas to Shiite leaders in Iraq. He should be returning in April or so. He wants to talk with Bob Crane and Norman Kurland then to strategize.

Harriet Epstein's Three Projects. 1) Harriet is arranging a talk for Norm Kurland at Temple Rodef Sholem, April 10, 9 am. 2) She needs to get back to Tim Caplan of the Phi Beta Kappa association (Tufts Chapter) to select a date for Norm's presentation. 3) She sent a book to Barbara Kennelly (National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare), but has heard nothing back so far.

Soldier of Justice. No obvious candidates. Make decision in March.

Norman Kurland Talk. Norman Kurland will be giving a talk next Tuesday at the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy.

Focus Topic for the next meeting: Planning the April celebration.

The date of the next Executive Committee Meeting will be Wednesday, March 16, 2005 at 10:00 am to noon. The date of the next Board Meeting is April 16, 2005 (Annual Meeting: 10 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Celebration: 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.)

A motion to adjourn was made by Norman G. Kurland and seconded by Michael D. Greaney. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 12:15 pm.