Votepal Archives

PHILISOPHICAL ARCHIVE BLASTS FROM THE PAST REGARDING SHAREHOLDER ACTIVISM AT VOTEPAL.COM
(This history has nothing whatsoever to do with reality of the current moment. It helped formulate the present, but this history does not represent what is currently happening NOW. Many humans interpret the present by analyzing the past. It feels right and good, because we know what happened. But what happened doesn't necessarily explain why or how what happened: lost ya yet?). The fact of Life is the only way to further economic and social justice is to stay in the present... Another way of putting it: You can't Live effectively focusing on the view in the rearview mirror; if you do that, you might crash into something ahead...which, ouch, might hurt).

2009 Activities

|posted 6-2-09| Results of May 19, 2009 ALK shareholders meeting in Seattle, WA (click here)

|posted 5-6-09| We filed five Preliminary Forms of Proxy with the U.S. SEC's EDGAR; click on pdf links below:

First filing on 2-12-09 | Second filing on 2-18-09 | Third filing on 3-30-09 | Fourth filing on 4-13-09 | Fifth filing on 4-26-09

|posted 4-13-09| Letter from Vanguard offering its opinion on limited rights of 401(k) stockholders (click here pdf). This letter was in response to a request for clarification (click here pdf)

|posted 4-8-09| Management of AAG maintains CHALLENGER proxies will not be counted at Alaska Air's 2009 Meeting (click for pdf)

|posted 4-8-09| Alaska Air files Definitive Form of Proxy (click for pdf) on March 30, 2009

|posted 3-27-09| AAG CHALLENGERS and other supporters appeal U.S. SEC's decision to grant no-action on Cumulative Voting and Reforming Securities Class Actions to Alaska Air (click for pdf) | SEC denies appeal/reconsideration (here) dated Apr. 8, 2009

|posted 3-15-09| MP3 audio file of where we're at... Take a listen (about 15 minutes long)

|posted 3-15-09| U.S. SEC grants Alaska Air its no-action: Remaining two proposals regarding Cumulative Voting and Reforming Securities Class Actions omitted from AAG's proxy (click here for SEC pdf). Click here for Alaska's Air preliminary proxy statement filing, which they did on Mar. 13, 2009. In this filing, you can also read (in the Q&A section in the first seven pages) how AAG mangement asserts that the 2009 CHALLENGERS did not properly communicate our intent to nominate, so they don't recognize our candidates this year...

|posted 1-26-09| AAG management via O'Melveny & Myers sends supplemental correspondence to the U.S. SEC (Let me repeat one of my favorite sayings: "Is this any way to run an airline??"):
click pdf file 1;
click pdf file 2 (exhibits)

|posted 1-13-09| AAG CHALLENGERS and other supporters respond in rebuttal to U.S. SEC (click here for pdf)

|posted 1-1-09|
AAG management via their lawfirm O'Melveny & Myers submit a single letter to the U.S. SEC in an attempt to knock out all three 2009 proposals with one blow. So much for trying to work TOGETHER, which is the only legitimate way to create genuine wealth and value that can be shared by all ALK stakeholders...
There are two pdf files:
pdf file #1 (the main no-action letter)
pdf file #2 (exhibits)

|posted 1-1-09|
Steve Nieman on behalf of the 2009 AAG CHALLENGERS respond to the O'Melveny & Myers Dec. 15 2008 letter (html; will load faster; click me)

|posted Dec. 15, 2008|
AAG responds with letter from O'Melveny & Myers law firm (click here for pdf)

|posted Dec. 7, 2008|
ALASKA AIR GROUP, Inc. (stock:ALK) CHALLENGERS file three proposals for 2009 meeting––

Topics: Say on Pay (click to read pdf) sponsored by Horizon Air (PDX-based) aircraft mechanic Bill Davidge

Cumulutive Voting (click to read pdf) sponsored by Horizon Air (GEG-based) communications agent Terry Dayton

Reforming Securities Class Actions (click to read pdf) sponsored by Horizon Air (PDX-based) airline pilot Steve Nieman

2008 Activities

Alaska Air Group, Inc. management files June 23, 2008 US SEC 8K with final voting tally (click here)

|posted 8-29-08| (Click here) for pdf letter from AAG Associate Corporate Secretary Karen Gruen regarding initial management response to majority winning proposals Cumulative Voting and Say on Pay at the 2008 shareholders meeting...

ALASKA AIR GROUP SHAREHOLDERS MEETING CONCLUDED ON MAY 20, 2008 –– Board members Bill Ayer, Phyllis Campbell, Mark Hamilton, Marc Langland, Dennis Madsen and Byron Mallot were re-elected to one-year terms on the AAG's board.

AAG management provided preliminary results at the end of the meeting. Cumulative voting received 51 percent of the vote and “say on pay” received 53 percent of the vote. Management's 2008 Performance Incentive Plan also passed, while John Chevedden's proposal for a mandatory shareholder vote triggered by adoption of a poison pill failed.

Thanks to all who took the time to investigate our electronic solicitation, and voted for our candidates and resolutions –– Steve Nieman

ALL CORRESPONDENCE BELOW INTENDED FOR TARGETED ALK STOCKHOLDERS

posted Apr. 26, 2008 Look at an example of a CHALLENGER VIF; see the grayed box with the Voter Control Number? This is what you plug into the appropriate textbox on www.401Kproxy.com (easiest and quickest) (click here pdf) (gotta get crackin', too; deadline May 15, 2008, 11:59 PM EDT [and NOT a minute later!; these proxy-counter guys are dead serious!])

posted Apr. 26, 2008 ALK Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) Stockholders; Us poor people really got some hoops to jump through in order to vote for the CHALLENGERS: Here's an example of the Smith Barney Proxy Card. See below the text box that contains these shares' Voter Control Number where it says "Place X here if you plan to attend and vote your shares at the meeting"? Go to www.proxyvote.com, put in your VC# and click that box. This will generate a "legal form of proxy" or get out of jail free card (to vote your shares yourself). This piece of paper (example) ONLY comes in the mail, so allow for at least ten days (again, get crackin'). Attach this to the CHALLENGERS' proxy card (click here) and deliver to AAG management, the Inspector of Elections William Marsh of IVS Associates or to the CHALLENGERS (fax 360-666-6483, scan and email to reachus@votepal.com, or put in Steve Nieman's mail box at work). Isn't this EASY?? Welcome to the Labyrinth Land of proxy voting. You'd think someone doesn't want you to vote your shares...

posted Apr. 26, 2008 Vanguard mails second letter to AAG 401k stockholders which contains CHALLENGERS' Voting Instruction Form (VIF) (click here pdf)

posted Apr. 20, 2008 Vanguard mails first letter to AAG 401k stockholders informing them of CHALLENGER internet solicitation (click here pdf)

posted Apr. 20, 2008 NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS (click here html)

posted Apr. 14, 2008 AAG CHALLENGERS file Definitive Proxy Statement (click here for EDGAR)

posted Apr. 11, 2008 For comparisons on how filed SEC docs have been edited, here's a quick link to all AAG CHALLENGER SEC filings on EDGAR (click here)

posted April 6, 2008 Alaska Air Group files its definitive form of proxy on April 4, 2008 (click here)

––Begin Correspondence on the 2008 Contest (click here) ––

2007 Activities

Proxy Voting problems we observed during this year's season (click here for a sub-archive)

The AAG filed a 10Q with the U.S. SEC on Aug. 7, 2007 (click here)
Scroll down to pages 55-57 to read the vote totals of the CHALLENGERS and the shareholder resolutions...

(June 13, 2007) THANKS TO ALL WHO TOOK THE TIME TO BECOME INFORMED –– AND VOTED!! (Unfortunately, this is a LOT more complicated than it has to be. How about next year we try to further SIMPLIFY things??)

2007 AAG CHALLENGERS finish wrestling with EDGAR; go Definitive (DEFC14A) on June 5, 2007, one week before the shareholders meeting (click here to link to EDGAR)

AAG, INC. FILES DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT ON MAY 1, 2007 (click here to link)

2007 CANDIDATES: RICHARD FOLEY; STEVE NIEMAN; TERRY DAYTON; CARL OLSON

2006 Activities

May 17, 2006~~
PRELIMINARY VOTE TOTALS FROM THE MAY 16, 2006 AAG ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING-- (click here)

Richard D. Foley's take on the vote (click here)

AAG CHALLENGERS' DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT/ BALLOT CARD AND VIF(html)

Me and My EDGAR –– Musings from the corporate campaign trail (here)

(Dateline 5-12-06)
Vanguard/ADP provide fax (631) 254-7622; extend AAG worker voting deadline to 11:59 Monday, May 15 –– day before meeting (here)

Vanguard voting instruction letter (pdf) (dated 4-17-06)

Beneficial Holders: Here's what ADP's Legal Form of Proxy Looks Like (pdf)

HOT OFF EDGAR: AAG AMENDS BYLAWS; some reaction (posted 3-17-06)

additional AAG correspondence