The 2009 CREF Annual Meeting was on Monday, July 20, 2009, at 3:00PM, in New York City. It was at the company headquarters (address below.)
How'd they pick that date? Well, I noticed that it's precisely halfway between Memorial Day and Labor Day! Participant proposals had to be submitted by February 13, 2008. For the 2009 meeting, proposals will have to be submitted between October 14, 2009 and February 12, 2010.
The first official notice of the next meeting date may appear in the middle of a Quarterly Statement of your TIAA-CREF Account, or on the TIAA-CREF Web Site. So read them carefully! The official notice is an SEC-regulated Proxy Statement, which comes by mail or e-mail, several weeks before the meeting.
2009 Meeting: July 20, 2009 at 3:00 PM.Note: You have to bring a government-issued photo ID to verify that you are the person in question. Read the restrictions on "large bags" and computers. There are other security rules to consider, like no cameras or recording devices. (Most corporate meetings are recorded by the company.) In 2005, my 12"x16"x4" soft nylon shoulder bag was prohibited. Fortunately for me, they checked it in the lobby, although they had warned that checking services would not be available. They ask you to turn off your cell phone, but they don't check whether it has a camera built-in to it.
The 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009 meetings were held in New York City, at 730 Third Avenue, New York NY 10017-3206. They were in Wharton Auditorium, named after a past president, Clifton Wharton, Jr. . I attended a "Mid-Career" financial checkup in a large group, some years ago, in this room.
The 2004 meeting was held in Charlotte, NC, at 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd, between Exits 45 and 46 of I-85 North of Charlotte. The office park is just West of I-85. It was in a company auditorium which was about 40% full. I flew to Greensboro (GSO), which was much cheaper than Charlotte, but a 90-mile drive. Winston-Salem is a similar distance from Charlotte. Modest hotels outside Charlotte ranged from $40-$80 in 2004.
The 2008 meeting was held in Denver, CO, at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202.
Like any corporate meeting, there will be security guards in business attire everywhere. There was no problem leaving the room to use the rest rooms on the same floor, and re-entering the room quietly. When you arrive, look for a table with printed handouts on it. There's likely to be ice water on a table outside the meeting room.
Don't be startled if there's a peaceful demonstration in front of the building. It won't affect your ability to enter the lobby and show your ticket and identification. At a winter meeting, participants were ordered to carry their outerwear, rather than wearing it to the elevator. I have a feeling this was related to exposing posters for a demonstration, rather than any fear you are "packing heat". But for the first time in 2005, they used a metal detector arch at 730 Third Avenue for the meeting.
You might be given a "Visitor" ID badge, probably adhesive-backed, to display on your chest. It won't show your name. If they don't use badges, keep your admission pass with you at all times. You may have to present it again. You don't have to remember which floor you're going to. There will be a dedicated elevator with an operator to prevent you from going anywhere else.
The front row or two may be set off for seating by the TIAA trustees and TIAA-CREF management.
(Note that these agendas are the ones handed out at the meetings. The agenda that's printed in the proxy seems to be "preliminary".)
The proponent of a proxy proposal gets 5 minutes to present it. Other speakers are limited to 3 minutes.
There are two likely times to speak. One would be "on" one of the participant proposals. The other would be during the general comment period. When Mr. Allison recognizes you, an attendant will bring you a wireless microphone. Do not attempt to hold the microphone. This is to prevent you from "seizing" the floor! I will say that no one was forced to stop speaking at the meetings I've been to. (At the Con Edison meeting, there's a "quiz show" timeclock on the dais, and a loud hockey-buzzer when your three minutes run out.) When you start to speak, identify yourself, and where you are a participant.
I've found that it's better not to try and pack too much into your speech. If you can speak slowly and thoughtfully, you may be more effective. One question is whether you wish to force them to wait to the end of your speech to answer your questions. This can be done with your voice and compositional structure, but you also risk their not remembering all the questions in the body of the speech. It may be best to put your questions all at the end.
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