Berkshire Hathaway 1999 Annual Report Download - page 19

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Shareholder-Designated Contributions
About 97.3% of all eligible shares participated in Berkshire's 1999 shareholder-designated contributions program,
with contributions totaling $17.2 million. A full description of the program appears on pages 70 - 71.
Cumulatively, over the 19 years of the program, Berkshire has made contributions of $147 million pursuant to the
instructions of our shareholders. The rest of Berkshire's giving is done by our subsidiaries, which stick to the
philanthropic patterns that prevailed before they were acquired (except that their former owners themselves take on the
responsibility for their personal charities). In aggregate, our subsidiaries made contributions of $13.8 million in 1999,
including in-kind donations of $2.5 million.
To participate in future programs, you must own Class A shares that are registered in the name of the actual
owner, not the nominee name of a broker, bank or depository. Shares not so registered on August 31, 2000, will be
ineligible for the 2000 program. When you get the contributions form from us, return it promptly so that it does not
get put aside or forgotten. Designations received after the due date will not be honored.
The Annual Meeting
This year’s Woodstock Weekend for Capitalists will follow a format slightly different from that of recent years.
We need to make a change because the Aksarben Coliseum, which served us well the past three years, is gradually being
closed down. Therefore, we are relocating to the Civic Auditorium (which is on Capitol Avenue between 18 and 19 ,
th th
behind the Doubletree Hotel), the only other facility in Omaha offering the space we require.
The Civic, however, is located in downtown Omaha, and we would create a parking and traffic nightmare if we
were to meet there on a weekday. We will, therefore, convene on Saturday, April 29, with the doors opening at 7 a.m.,
the movie beginning at 8:30 and the meeting itself commencing at 9:30. As in the past, we will run until 3:30 with a
short break at noon for food, which will be available at the Civic’s concession stands.
An attachment to the proxy material that is enclosed with this report explains how you can obtain the credential
you will need for admission to the meeting and other events. As for plane, hotel and car reservations, we have again
signed up American Express (800-799-6634) to give you special help. In our normal fashion, we will run buses from
the larger hotels to the meeting. After the meeting, the buses will make trips back to the hotels and to Nebraska
Furniture Mart, Borsheim’s and the airport. Even so, you are likely to find a car useful.
We have scheduled the meeting in 2002 and 2003 on the customary first Saturday in May. In 2001, however, the
Civic is already booked on that Saturday, so we will meet on April 28. The Civic should fit our needs well on any
weekend, since there will then be more than ample parking in nearby lots and garages as well as on streets. We will
also be able to greatly enlarge the space we give exhibitors. So, overcoming my normal commercial reticence, I will
see that you have a wide display of Berkshire products at the Civic that you can purchase. As a benchmark, in 1999
shareholders bought 3,059 pounds of See’s candy, $16,155 of World Book Products, 1,928 pairs of Dexter shoes, 895
sets of Quikut knives, 1,752 golf balls with the Berkshire Hathaway logo and 3,446 items of Berkshire apparel. I know
you can do better.
Last year, we also initiated the sale of at least eight fractions of Executive Jet aircraft. We will again have an array
of models at the Omaha airport for your inspection on Saturday and Sunday. Ask an EJA representative at the Civic
about viewing any of these planes.
Dairy Queen will also be on hand at the Civic and again will donate all proceeds to the Children’s Miracl e
Network. Last year we sold 4,586 Dilly® bars, fudge bars and vanilla/orange bars. Additionally, GEICO will have
a booth that will be staffed by a number of our top counselors from around the country, all of them ready to supply you
with auto insurance quotes. In most cases, GEICO will be able to offer you a special shareholder’s discount. Bring the
details of your existing insurance, and check out whether we can save you some money.
Finally, Ajit Jain and his associates will be on hand to offer both no-commission annuities and a liability policy
with jumbo limits of a size rarely available elsewhere. Talk to Ajit and learn how to protect yourself and your family
against a $10 million judgment.