The ESOP Association Blog

Employee ownership blog – the blog of The ESOP Association

October 20, 2011 • 10:30 am 0

Celebrating Employee Ownership Month this Year? Don’t Forget to Share Your Stories with Us!

The 2011 Employee Ownership Month poster designed by Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc.

We know many companies are celebrating Employee Ownership Month (EOM) this October — company wide events, luncheons, ESOP games, ESOP Q&A sessions — and we want to hear about them.

We’ll be gathering stories over the next few weeks for an upcoming article in the ESOP Report highlighting the celebrations of our members. Tell us about your event and send us your photos, games, and ideas.  Drop us an email at mediaATesopassociation.org.

We’re looking forward to another year of fabulous EOM celebrations.

For more information about EOM, visit The ESOP Association’s website.

Filed under: Employee Ownership Message, Employee Ownership Month (EOM), TEA Members, , , ,

October 11, 2011 • 10:00 am 0

Employee Ownership Month

Since October is Employee Ownership Month, we thought we would share a letter from ESOP Association President, J. Michael Keeling, that was sent to the Association’s corporate members about EOM.  The letter follows.  Links to information mentioned will be provided.

Dear ESOP Association Member:

As in past years, enclosed in this year’s Employee Ownership Month (“EOM”) promotional tube is the attractive, member-designed EOM poster along with a form allowing you to have easy ordering of additional EOM posters.

EOM is an excellent time to raise visibility of the Association’s government relations work, and the work of its affiliated Employee Ownership Foundation.

Having a member of Congress, or a local Congressional staff person, visit an ESOP company is the best way to persuade a member to be pro-ESOP when ESOP issues are under scrutiny in Congress.  Our website has several tools to make the Congressional visit a positive one for the ongoing work of making this nation committed to improving and promoting employee ownership through ESOPs.

For example, review The Congressional Company Visit Kit: Practical Steps for Unparalleled Results, and the Advocacy Kit, as they provide general guidance for setting up a Congressional visit.

Don’t forget our widely acclaimed Press & Event Planning Kit which has a Congressional visit chapter for your use.

And, speaking of success, the Employee Ownership Foundation, over the past twelve years has provided the money to fund the research proving that ESOPs and employee ownership are good for America.  Most important is the work to alter the view of ESOPs in academic and think tanks, particularly business schools by funding Kelso Scholars at major U.S. universities.  (Ask gwenn@esopassociation.org for the 2010 Foundation report.)  To keep up the good work, the Foundation seeks more participation in its “Annual Campaign”.  Many companies give $1 per employee, or have each employee give $1 to fund the Foundation.  Raffles and similar events on a company wide basis have also been used.  So this 2011 EOM, join the community to help the “Annual Campaign” for the important Employee Ownership Foundation.

Any other questions relating to EOM:  contact us via letter, telephone, fax

(202 / 293-7568) or e-mail (esop@esopassociation.org).  We hope you and your employee co-owners consider taking part in both of these special EOM activities to promote your company’s ESOP and the Employee Ownership Foundation.

Sincerely yours,

J. Michael Keeling, CAE

President

Filed under: Employee Ownership Month (EOM), Member Services, ,

October 4, 2011 • 1:02 pm 0

Holden Industries Hosts Meeting with Congressman Dold

Since it is Employee Ownership Month (EOM) and many ESOP companies are planning and hosting events to celebrate, we thought we’d share a few posts about events as well.  While this event didn’t take place during EOM, it’s a good example of the events and meetings that take place in October. For more information about EOM, visit The ESOP Association’s EOM page. If you have an event to share, drop us a line at media@esopassociation.org.

TEA Member Holden Rep. Dold Aug 2011

From left: Joseph Haas in background; Congressman Dold; Kevin Wierzbicki, Comco Press Operator at Nosco; Agustin Zavala, Comco Second Press Operator at Nosco.

Holden Industries hosted Congressman Robert Dold (R-IL) at Holden’s Nosco, Inc. printed packaging facility in Waukegan, IL. A facility tour was followed by an hour-long town hall meeting with approximately 100 employee owners. Congressman Dold emphasized the number one issue facing the nation is jobs, as well as, discussing the fiscal issues facing Medicare and Social Security and the need for bipartisan solutions to solve these pressing problems.

Following the town hall meeting, the Congressman joined members of management and representatives of the company’s Employee Communication Committee to discuss issues of concern to Holden as a manufacturer and as an S corp ESOP company. Participants shared stories of how the ownership culture has impacted Nosco and other Holden operations, as well as, discussing the results of studies showing S ESOP companies performed better during the recession and employee owners of S ESOP companies retire with retirement accounts five to seven times greater than participants in 401K plans alone. Management emphasized the S ESOP structure enabled Holden employees to purchase the companies from the second generation owner, preserving the businesses and jobs in their current locations, enhancing their c

TEA Member Holden Rep. Dold August 2011

Congressman Dold at the town hall meeting with Holden employee owners.

competitiveness in the global business environment, and providing the opportunity to enjoy their retirement with dignity.

Holden management concluded the meeting by asking Congressman Dold to consider becoming a co-sponsor of H.R. 1244, explaining its provisions and the bipartisan nature of its support, including the five Illinois Congressman who have already become co-sponsors.  Holden’s employee owners were joined by Mary Josephs of Verit Advisors who was instrumental in arranging the visit by Congressman Dold.

Thanks to Holden’s Art Miller for sharing information and photos from the meeting.

Filed under: Employee Ownership Month (EOM), Government Affairs, TEA Members, , ,

October 3, 2011 • 10:11 am 0

Employee Ownership Month

Employee Ownership Month

Employee Ownership Community to Celebrate throughout October

 The ESOP Association and the employee ownership community will celebrate Employee Ownership Month, which is a tribute to the tremendous spirit of employee ownership, throughout the month of October.

Employee Ownership Month is an opportunity for ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) companies across the nation to educate employee owners, the public, and government officials about the incredible benefits of ESOPs. For more information about Employee Ownership Month, click here.

“It’s my pleasure to announce the start of Employee Ownership Month,” said J. Michael Keeling, president of The ESOP Association. “Our members work to promote employee ownership and its benefits every day and deserve to be honored for their efforts.”

Facts about employee ownership in the U.S.:

  • There are approximately 11,500 ESOPs in place in the U.S., covering 10 million employees (approximately 10% of the private sector workforce).
  • The 20th Annual Economic Performance Survey conducted in 2011 by the Employee Ownership Foundation found:
  • 92.2% of survey respondents reported that creating employee ownership through an ESOP was ‘a good business decision that has helped the company.’
  • 58.3% of companies indicated they have created an ESOP education program or ESOP advisory committee since establishing the ESOP.
  • 72.9% of respondents indicated the ESOP positively affected the overall productivity of the employees.

How will you be celebrating this year? Drop us a comment and let us know.

Filed under: Employee Ownership Month (EOM),

September 30, 2011 • 1:51 pm 0

September 2011 Monthly Wrap-Up

In case you missed it, here’s a roundup of this month’s posts:

The ESOP Project

Some thoughts on Labor and Labor Day

A pro-ESOP bill was introduced in the Senate

We shared information about downloading a copy of the 2011 Press & Event Planning Kit

We also shared a video of The ESOP Association’s President talking about ESOPs and employee ownership

Information on the Indiana Congressman who spoke up for ESOPs

The Employee Ownership Foundation released the results from the 20th Annual Economic Performance Survey

The ESOP Association shared a statement it submitted to the Finance Committee on tax reform and retirement security

Indiana businesses and ESOPs

A DOL Update

A guest blog about ESOPs in Spanish

Good news for ESOP advocates

We took a look back at this year’s AACE Award winners

A second DOL update

AND don’t forget to update your bookmarks with our new address – www.esopassociationblog.org

Filed under: AACE - Annual Awards for Communications Excellence, DOL Proposed Fiduciary Regulation, Economic Performance, Employee Ownership Foundation, Employee Ownership Message, Employee Ownership Month (EOM), Government Affairs, TEA Members, ,

September 12, 2011 • 10:12 am 1

Employee Ownership Month 2011 – Download Your Press & Event Planning Kit Today

Every October, The ESOP Association and its members celebrate Employee Ownership Month (EOM).  Each summer, the Press & Event Planning Kit, which highlights EOM activities of ESOP Association members, is shared with all corporate members to help generate event ideas.

Download your copy of the 2011 Press & Event Planning Kit.

EOM is a celebration of the incredible spirit of employee ownership and an opportunity to educate employee owners about the tremendous benefits of ESOPs.  It is also an opportunity to educate the public, elected officials, and the media as to why employee ownership through ESOPs is good public policy and this Kit will help you in your endeavors.

The Press Kit is filled with event summaries and ideas, public relations strategies, and government relations information.  It is estimated a document like this would cost a minimum of $25,000 to create for your company if you commissioned a prominent firm to research and produce the publication for your company.  You’re getting it free as an ESOP Association member privilege.

Get started TODAY!  Download your copy of the 2011 Press & Event Planning Kit.   A link to the Kit can be found on the Employee Ownership Month page.

If you have questions or would like to submit stories about your EOM events, please send an email to media AT esopassociation.org.

You will be receiving by mail a complimentary copy of this year’s winning poster designed by Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc., located in Lafayette, Louisiana (pictured at top).  If you would like to order additional poster copies, please order online.

Filed under: Employee Ownership Month (EOM), ,

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