Web Wealth: Shareholder activism

Shareholder activism continues to gain in popularity, and these Web sites may help you decide if throwing your weight around in a proxy fight is something for you.

Co-op America. Billing shareholder activism as "economic action to reform corporate practices and policies," this site provides basic guidelines for getting involved with a company by requesting a dialogue with management, engaging in proxy votes, and even launching divestment campaigns. People who join Co-op America are interested in taking "economic action to solve social and environmental problems," the site says. But the rules of engagement are the same for most anyone seeking to challenge a public company's leadership.

www.coopamerica.org/socialinvesting/shareholderaction/

Breakout blog. An example of online corporate activism, this is a blog by Yahoo Inc. shareholder Eric Jackson, who spent the last year appealing for help in his effort to shake up management at the Web search company - an effort that helped unseat the company's then-CEO in June. Jackson now offers his experience as inspiration to other small shareholders.

» READ MORE: http://breakoutperformance.blogspot.com/

Good, bad, ugly. This text of a speech, "Shareholder Activism: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," delivered by the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, says: "We see some stupid things masquerading as reform" and singles out pressure for short-term gains, the involvement of trial lawyers, and government interventions. The speaker, Thomas J. Donohue, insists, too, that "shareholder activism that elevates one group's agenda over the goals of other investors doesn't just ruin companies - it ruins a country."

» READ MORE: www.uschamber.com/press/speeches/2006/060421_shareholders_activism.htm

Shareholder meet-ups. Want to compare notes with other activists? You might have guessed that the Internet offers places to find like-minded folks.

http://shareact.meetup.com/