Any adult can act as a proxy as part of the Investor Suffrage Movement's proxy transfer trials. As a proxy, you can attend and vote at a shareholder meeting. You may also perform other tasks, such as submitting a shareholder proposal and shepherding it to a vote at a shareholder meeting. We ask that individuals who have never served as a proxy before start out by representing a shareholder at an annual meeting  before taking on more substantive proxy assignments. This webpage described how to volunteer for and perform that first proxy assignment.

To get started, we first need to match you with a shareholder whom you can represent as a proxy. Maybe you know someone who owns shares and would be interested in conducting a proxy trial for us. If not, open the following webpage listing various opportunities to represent participating shareholders as a proxy.

proxy_trials_master.xls

The file lists opportunities with the date and location of various corporation's shareholder meetings. You want to look for one that is coming up soon and that you can conveniently travel to. If the shareholder wants a proxy to perform a specific task, such as voting in a certain way or reading a statement at the shareholder meeting, this is also indicated. The shareholder will provide details.

Once you find an opportunity that interests you, e-mail Glyn Holton to apply. He will forward your name to the shareholder, who should get in touch with you. The shareholder doesn't have to assign you the proxy, so take time to communicate your intention to do a good job and to perform any specific tasks she requires.

Once you and the shareholder are both happy with the relationship, the shareholder will work to assign you the proxy. This may take some time, and it may actually fail. The proxy process is in such disrepair that individual failures should surprise no one. Don't worry if it happens. The shareholder can report the details of the failure to us, and you can apply for another proxy assignment.

When (if) the proxy assignment is successful, e-mail Glyn to let him know. The information is usually listed on the first page of the proxy materials. Go to the investor relations section of the corporation's website and you will probably find the proxy materials available for download. If not, call the corporation's investor relations department and ask them.

Take leaflets describing the Investor Suffrage Movement with you to the shareholder meeting. You can download and print these yourself (choose letter or A4 size), or you can e-mail Glyn and ask him to mail you some.

Dress well for the shareholder meeting but casually. A sport coat and loafers is preferable to a business suit. You want to look like a concerned citizen—not an MBA representing a financial institution.

Arrive for the meeting at least a half hour early. Bring a drivers license or other form of identification as well as any documentation of your proxy assignment the corporation may require.

While you are waiting for the meeting to begin, act as an ambassador promoting good shareholder meetings. People tend to ignore each other waiting for the meeting to begin. This is understandable. They don't know each other, and corporations tend to create a somewhat intimidating air at these meetings, with arbitrary rules and onerous security checks.  Obey the rules and put up with the security, but don't let them faze you. Shareholder meetings are supposed to be an opportunity for shareholders to deliberate—that means meeting and talking to one another. So meet people.

Walk up to the nearest stranger, introduce yourself, and ask what brings him to the shareholder meeting. If he seems inclined to talk, tell him about the Investor Suffrage Movement and give him a leaflet. After a few moments, move on and talk to someone else. In this way, you can promote the movement and distribute a few leaflets. The corporation may prohibit you from handing out leaflets en-mass, but there is every reason you can hand out a few in this manner.

When the meeting starts, take a seat, preferably near the front of the room. If your shareholder gave you instructions on what to do during the meeting (say, how to vote the shares) you must follow these. Otherwise, you can conduct yourself as you feel appropriate. Continue to act as an ambassador promoting good shareholder meetings.

If you want to ask a question or make a statement, raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged by the chair. When that happens, stand up and someone will come and hold a microphone for you. Clearly state your name and the fact that you are affiliated with the Investor Suffrage Movement (e.g. "My name is John Smith. I am with the "Investor Suffrage Movement.") If you are asked what the Investor Suffrage Movement is, reply "We are an organization that promotes shareholder participation in corporate democracy. I have fliers, if anyone would like one following the meeting, or you can check out our website." Then ask your question or make your statement. Be brief, polite and professional. If you convey a positive, professional image, people are likely to approach you after the meeting, which will afford another opportunity to distribute fliers.

After the meeting, your last step is to report back to us. Do this as soon as possible, while your memory is fresh. Send Glyn an e-mail. Describe events leading up to the meeting, especially any interactions with the corporation's investor relations department. Describe what documentation of your proxy assignment the corporation required. Let us know how the meeting went. Did the corporation run the meeting in ways you feel were inappropriate? Let us know and we can pursue change through a shareholder proposal. Did you learn any lessons that we should share with other proxies? Is there anything you would add to or change about the instructions on this page?

Send the e-mail, and you are done. For your next proxy assignment, maybe you would like to submit a shareholder proposal.

Report your results.