The Memnosyne Foundation

presents

Investing for a Sustainable World

Aligning investments with values

 Sponsors

Community Supporter

Welcome

     Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk, Co-Founder and President Memnosyne Foundation     

Transforming the World using your money and your life:  

Where we are and where we could be going  

An overview of the current status of investment, advocacy and community development opportunities, and an opinion as to what is to come..

     George Gay, CEO First Affirmative Financial Network

10:30 - 12:15 Concurrent Sessions AM

Session A - Social Research and Its Application

Social research is based on in depth analysis of both qualitative information and quantitative data from a variety of sources.  Although  considered by many to be the back bone of sustainable investing, newcomers to social investing often do not have the opportunity to learn about the breadth and depth of this type of research.  Fundamental to sustainable investing is the idea that companies that effectively manage corporate responsibility and sustainability-related risks and opportunities should perform well over the long term. 

      Alya Z. Kayal, Esq., Vice President, Social Research, 

      Calvert Asset Management  Bethesda, Maryland

Session B - Native Americans and Shareholder Activism

Some Native Americans have recently gained economic clout that they never had before.  Organization such as the Oneida Trust have used their rights as shareholders to advance issues important to their tribe.  They have had the support of other shareholder activist, institutions and individuals.  Susan White discusses the issues as seen from a Native American's point of view.  She will discuss the tactics and strategies that shareholders can use to affect the policies of corporations.  

     Susan White, Oneida Tribe Indians of Wisconsin, Oneida Trust

     Jonny BearCub Stiffarm, Fort Smith Assiniboine & Sioux Nation, Native Energy

     Sister Susan Mika, Socially Responsible Investment Coalition, San Antonio, Texas

Session C - Mission Based Investments

Grounding investment policy in mission aligns 'state and church' for non-profits and charitable institutions.  Does the effort required bring commensurate benefits?  How can an institution achieve alignment without burning out its finance committee?  Does it hold fiduciary risks?    In order to track the returns of Socially Responsible firms Peter Kinder and Amy Domini created to The Domini 400.   The Domini Social^SM Index (DS400) is a float-adjusted, market capitalization-weighted, common stock index of U.S. equities. Launched by KLD in May 1990, the DS400 is the first benchmark index constructed using environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. It is a widely recognized benchmark for measuring the impact of social and environmental screening on investment portfolios.

Session D - Community Investment

Across America and around the world, many communities lack affordable housing, child care, health care, and jobs that pay a living wage. Putting money into under-served communities as an investment strategy that remedies economic disparity by providing lower-income people access to capital, credit, and training that they otherwise would not have. Community investing, however, is beyond charity and is a sound investment practice. These investments earn competitive returns, like non-community development investments, but also produce a social return that is attractive to investors and helps communities in need. The community investing institution typically provides training and other types of support and expertise to ensure the success of the loan and its returns for investors. Four Texas community investment institutions tell of the opportunities for community investing.

     Teri Portillo, Womens Southwest Federal Credit Union

     Janie Barrera, ACCION Texas

     Victor Elmore, Texas Mezzanine Fund

     Arthur Hollingsworth, Lone Star New Markets

12:30 - 1:45 Luncheon

A 30,000 Foot View of the 2007 Report on Socially Responsible Investing Trends in the United States

*Growing SRI Assets Under Management

*Increased support for Social, Environmental and Governance, Shareholder Resolutions

*Rapid Growth in Community Investing

*Growing Concern about Climate Change and Crisis in Darfur

*Increase in New Products and Fund Styles 

     Lisa Woll, CEO, Social Investment Forum

2:00 - 3:45 Concurrent Sessions PM

Session E - Sustainable Investing  

Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Desalinization...What the next five years may hold for "new tech" and options for investors investing in equities, offering solutions to the worldwide energy and water crisis.

     Tom Moser -  Associate Director of Portfolio Resources Advisor group

Session F - The Fiduciary Ethos

If you are a trustee, foundation investment committee member, fee based advisor or use an investment advisor this session in important to you. "Fiduciary ethos" is intended to define the leadership protocols and fiduciary practices of prudent investment decision makers - to outline the requisites that make their roles and responsibilities authentic, and ultimately practical. This session covers subjects that represent the difference between "good" and "great" investment decision makers, those who recognize that being an investment fiduciary is a form of public service, and that their leadership is critical to the success of their organization.

.     Don Trone, President and Founder Foundation for Fiduciary Studies,

Session G - Carbon Trading - Using Markets to Curb Global Warming

Rob McAndrew will explain the need and method of carbon trading through the growth and development of the Chicago Climate Exchange.  "CCX is a financial institution whose objectives are to apply financial innovation and incentives to advance social, environmental and economic goals through the following platforms.

  - Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) is North America's only and the world's first global marketplace for integrating voluntary legally binding emissions reductions with emissions trading and offsets for all six greenhouse gases.

   - Chicago Climate Futures Exchange (CCFE) is a landmark derivatives exchange that currently offers standardized and cleared futures and options contracts on emission allowances and other environmental products. CCFE is a wholly owned subsidiary of CCX. (Visit CCFE's web

   - The European Climate Exchange (ECX) was launched by CCX in 2005, and is now the leading exchange operating in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme

     Rob McAndrew, Senior Vice President, Chicago Climate Exchange  

Session H -  Catching the Green Wave of Sustainable Investors Sustainable investing that combines rigorous financial analysis with equally rigorous ESG analysis is a proven investment process that effectively positioned can attract business.   As the wave of sustainability rises with new mainstream adaptors, the opportunity for advisors to increase clients and assets has never been better.  Learn how profiling, prospecting and positioning one’s business is vital and how use of multiple tools in the marketing-sales-retention toolbox can produce desired results.  

     Bob Helmuth, Vice President Advisor Sales, Pax World Funds

     Rob Thomas, President, Social (k)

4:00 - 5:00 Reception for Attendees and Speakers

Registration $135 

Early Bird Special $100.00 - Save $35

register before July 31, 2008

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