Well, despite my best efforts the MEBSR board passed yesterday, meaning I’m an indentured servant a proud board member for the next three years.

I spent yesterday at the MEBSR spring conference. There were two keynote speakers: Steve Voight, president and CEO of The King Arthur Flour Company and Amy Domini, founder and president of Domini Social Investments.

Voight spoke about ESOPs since his company had gone through an employee buyout during the past decade, which didn’t really interest me, but after hearing the story of King Arthur Flour I’ll buy no other flour for the rest of my life. (They are one of the few/only companies that don’t bleach their flour, instead allowing it to age properly.)

Domini spoke passionately about her socially responsible mutual fund investing, and how far the world had come in just a couple of decades, and how much further we had to go.

But my big question: what does it mean to be a socially responsible company, and how do I get there and make payroll every week?, was still not answered.

I get the feeling that this is a question that has different answers for different people and different companies. I like the idea of being a socially responsible company, but does that mean I only use recyclable paper? That I have a health and dental plan? (We do.) That we hire a diverse work force? (Very difficult when living in Maine.) That we work in a green building?

As I learn more, I’ll share more.

Rich Brooks
Socially Responsible?

Tags: MEBSR |  King Arthur Flour | Domini | Socially Responsible