Marc: I note your endorsement of the NCEO group CEEO. While The ESOP Association feels strongly about its leadership role, and is proud of its leadership role in educating its members of the importance of employee participation, and employee empowerment, and while most members of our 10 person Board have very close, and strong ties to the NCEO, and have high regard for Corey Rosen’s work, I must report that my Board had a very negative reaction to
the mission of CEEO, and we expressed it clearly to Corey over the past several months. The reasons are varied, but would mainly fall into the category that drafters of the CEEO’s document endorsed the idea that some kind of standards, even private standards, would further the employee ownership movement whereas our Board feels standards would stymie the creation of more employee owned companies as business men and women do not wish to have their management styles conform to ideas of others.
We find that an approach of diversity and proper leading by example by groups such as the Association, our Foundation, the NCEO, and other groups interested in enlightened management versus standards suggesting that “one shoe size fits all” will result in the expansion of employee ownership, and the honoring of individuals who are owners of the companies where they work.
I send this note, not as a full expression of the views The ESOP Association’s Board had about the CEEO, but as just a short notice that in any discussion of the CEEO, I on behalf of the Board of The ESOP Association, would express a view contra to the one you express in your most recent communication.
I recognize that views of The ESOP Association are not to be determination of the EFES’s position, but as members through our Foundation, we do ask to be heard in any discussion of the CEEO.
-----Original Message-----
From: Marc Mathieu [mailto:marcmathieu@marcmathieu.be]
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 2:24 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: EFES Meeting of March 25 / Réunion de la FEAS
Please find in attachment the report of the meeting of EFES board members on March 25 in Brussels.
Vous trouvez en attaché le rapport de la réunion des membres du conseil de la FEAS à Bruxelles ce 25 mars.
Marc Mathieu
Secretary General
EFES - EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF EMPLOYEE SHARE OWNERSHIP
FEAS - FEDERATION EUROPEENNE DE L'ACTIONNARIAT SALARIE
Avenue Voltaire 135, B-1030 Brussels
Tel/fax: +32 (0)2 242 64 30
E-mail: marcmathieu@marcmathieu.be
Web site: www.efesonline.org
EFES' objective is to act as the umbrella organization of employee owners and all persons, companies, trade unions, experts, researchers, institutions looking to promote employee ownership and participation in Europe.