Thomas Anticipates New Role as Chair of ICCR Board:
Work goes hand-in-hand with BBT's socially responsible investing

When BBT's Will Thomas attends the Annual Fall Event of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) in New York City in October, he will be wearing a new hat. After attending the fall fundraising event for the past two years as a representative of BBT, this year he will be attending as chair of the ICCR governing board.

The board, which gathers for three regularly scheduled meetings each year and convenes by telephone other times as needed, will gather following the annual event for the first time since this summer's election of officers. In addition to conducting the board meeting, Thomas will set the agenda, taking into consideration the tasks the members want to have addressed.

Sister Patricia Wolf, executive director of ICCR, was not surprised that Thomas was elected chair after only one year on the board. His active participation prior to becoming a board member, she explained, was a testimony to his leadership.

"Will brings numerous strengths to the position of board chair," said Wolf. "He brings commitment to the mission of ICCR and socially responsible investing (SRI), which is faith-based investors using the power of investments for the benefit of people. He also brings organizational strength through his financial and technological expertise. And he has a wonderful temperament. Will is very responsive and attentive to the needs of the organization."

Thomas' election as chair of the 15-member board comes at a time when ICCR is implementing a new structure for its work with corporations.

"One of the first tasks the board faces is to complete the development of the new structure," said Thomas. "We need to see that it is fully implemented and functioning properly, with staff having the resources and support they need."

In the new structure, the work that was previously done through six issue groups is now being done through the following nine working groups - Access to Health Care; Contract Supplier System; Corporate Governance; Enabling Access to Capital; Environmental Justice; Global Warming; Promoting Human Rights; Violence and Militarization of Society; and Water and Food. Each working group has staff time allocated in addition to ICCR member time. Rather than working through legislative channels to initiate change, members identify issues related to corporate social responsibility and address them through shareholder advocacy. For shareholder advocacy efforts, ICCR sometimes partners with other organizations such as the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies and the Union of Concerned Scientists, combining scientific and legislative expertise with ICCR's shareholder strategies.

ICCR is run by four program staff and 10 support staff, all headquartered in New York City. ICCR is a not-for-profit organization and depends upon membership fees, donations, and grants to fund its work. The Annual Fall Event brings in much-needed funds while giving members the opportunity to meet and work with one another.

Thomas' work with the ICCR board goes hand-in-hand with his role in overseeing BBT's SRI strategy. In response to his election as board chair, BBT management adjusted Thomas' workload to allow more time for his SRI work.

"I'm very pleased with BBT's response," said Thomas. "They have stepped up to assume some of the responsibility on behalf of the board in order to see that those joint responsibilities get done."

The Church of the Brethren's involvement in ICCR dates back to the early 1970s. For a brief period in the late 1990s Brethren membership in ICCR was discontinued. In the fall of 2000 BBT became a member to strengthen the shareholder advocacy component of its overall SRI efforts.

"We are delighted that the Church of the Brethren is active in ICCR," said Wolf. "With its commitment to peace and the care of all creation, the church makes a valuable contribution. Will's commitment and sensitivity to issues that endanger people, along with his gentleness, embody the spirit of the Church of the Brethren."