Jan. 29, 2020
My name is Caroline D. Gabel. I am a shareholder. I speak for a multi-generational family which holds a substantial trust fund. We are in the process of moving some of our assets to ESG managers, most at the impetus of our Generation 2 family members. I also speak unofficially for members of Rachel’s Network, an organization of women of wealth who donate to ESG causes and regularly use stockholder resolutions to effect the kind of changes we want to see in corporations I have actively opposed disenfranchisement of certain “types” of voters in certain states. Now I find the same forces are trying to disenfranchise ME! through this proposed rule. I and those for whom I speak care very much that their financial investments reflect their philanthropy. The SEC will be hearing from a number of them directly. We use shareholder resolutions to make companies in which we invest better citizens for today and for tomorrow’s world, not to destroy them. We are their owners. They are where we put our money. I strongly oppose Proposed Rule 14 a-8, which takes away my and my family’s and my colleagues’ right to our views, voice, and vote through shareholder resolutions.