As Rapport points out, investing is a crap shoot, and it is imperative to have as much reliable input as possible before decisions are made. A research committee is appointed to study a stock under consideration. Valueline, which is available at the Peter White Public Library, is relied on heavily. Only stocks considered by these two publications to be high performance are bought, and then only after membership discussion and a majority vote. With regard to the former, Bennett notes that her colleagues are very vocal.
All members share pertinent information from the literature on finance and business.
Local authorities also are consulted. Once a specific stock is bought, a member is assigned to follow its progress and to report on it. After using such resources as Investing with Your Values by Brill, Brill and Feigenbaum, they made a motion at the February 2000 meeting to have stock stewards include information on issues of social responsibility when reviewing a company and to screen out companies that are involved in tobacco, alcohol and weapons. The motion passed unanimously. She notes that some enduring friendships have been formed.