From: Avery H Kolers [akolers@louisville.edu]
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 2:21 PM
To: rule-comments@sec.gov
Subject: File No. S7-36-02

November 8, 2002

Jonathan G. Katz
Secretary, SEC
450 Fifth Street NW
Washington, DC 20549

Ref: File No. S7-36-02

Dear Secretary Katz,
I am writing in support of the proposed rule regarding Disclosure of
Proxy Voting Policies and Proxy Voting Records by Registered Management
Investment Companies.
I am particularly concerned about mutual funds that purport to be
"socially responsible". As an investor concerned to ensure that my money
is not used for invidious ends -- be they irrational "platinum
parachutes" for crooked CEOs, or cynical assaults on workers' rights --
overseeing the voting behavior of my fund managers is a crucial power.
Currently I am able to exercise this power only if fund managers
voluntarily adopt disclosure policies.
The current situation reeks of boardroom logrolling and undermines my
confidence in the financial markets as engines of economic and social
progress. But since I have little if any choice in whether to have my
retirement funds in the financial markets, the current rules leave me
and millions of others like me in a double-bind. It is of the utmost
importance that we be able to oversee the behavior of our fund
managers.
Please finalize these rules without watering down their protections for
investors and the public.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Avery Kolers
1972 Deer Park Ave. #1
Louisville, KY 40205