I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1519
To provide for the recognition and designation of the official society to
administer and coordinate activities in the United States to commemorate
and celebrate the achievements of the second millennium and to promote
even greater achievements in the millennium to come by endowing an
international cross-cultural scholarship fund to further the development
and education of the world’s future leaders.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 1, 1997
Mr. DAVIS of Virginia (for himself, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mrs. MEEK of Florida,
Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. SCOTT, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. CONYERS, Mr.
FAZIO of California, Mr. HERGER, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. WOLF, Mr. ROE-
MER, Mr. STEARNS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, Mr. CLAY, Mr.
DIAZ-BALART, Mr. SISISKY, Mr. WHITFIELD, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr.
TORRES, Mr. CLEMENT, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. PASTOR, Mr.
FROST, Mr. HAMILTON, Mr. LEACH,, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr.
DUNCAN, Mr. PETRI, Mr. BENTSEN, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of
Texas, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. THOMPSON, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. PICK-
ETT, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr. BISHOP, Mr.
BATEMAN, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr. PORTER, and Mr. MARTINEZ) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary,
and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiciton of the
committee concerned
A BILL
To provide for the recognition and designation of the official
society to administer and coordinate activities in the
United States to commemorate and celebrate the achieve-
ments of the second millennium and to promote even
greater achievements in the millennium to come by en-
dowing an international cross-cultural scholarship fund
to further the development and education of the world’s
future leaders.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Millennium Society Act of 1997’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I—RECOGNITION OF THE MILLENNIUM SOCIETY
Sec. 101. Findings.
Sec. 102. Purposes.
Sec. 103. Recognition of the Millennium Society.
Sec. 104. Conformance of articles of incorporation and bylaws.
Sec. 105. Objects and purposes of the Society.
Sec. 106. Powers of the Society.
Sec. 107. Nonpolitical nature of Society.
Sec. 108. Membership.
Sec. 109. Active board of directors.
Sec. 110. Officers of the Society.
Sec. 111. Prohibition on distributions of income or assets and on loans to mem-
bers.
Sec. 112. Liability for acts of officers and agents.
Sec. 113. Prohibition against issuance of stock or payment of dividends.
Sec. 114. Symbols, emblems, trademarks, and names.
Sec. 115. Agents for service of process.
Sec. 116. Books and records.
Sec. 117. Audit of financial accountability.
Sec. 118. Use of assets upon dissolution or liquidation.
Sec. 119. Reservation of right to amend or repeal chapter.
Sec. 120. Reports to President and Congress on operations.
TITLE II—COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMPS
Sec. 201. Sense of Congress.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘Society’’ means the Millennium
Society recognized under section 103; and
(2) the term ‘‘Millennium Scholars Program’’
means the international scholarship program estab-
lished, endowed, and administered by the Society, as
described in section 105(6).
TITLE I—RECOGNITION OF THE
MILLENNIUM SOCIETY
SEC. 101. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) the advent of the year 2000 and the third
millennium provides the citizens of the United
States an opportunity to celebrate the achievements
of civilization to date and to promote even greater
achievements in the millennium to come;
(2) as the United States approaches the third
millennium, it is fitting and proper that the citizens
of the United States join the citizens from other na-
tions around the world in the international celebra-
tion of the new millennium in a manner which en-
courages freedom and international peace and un-
derstanding;
(3) the advent of the third millennium offers
opportunity to bring together young women and men
(C) to administer an international scholar-
ship program to support the education of young
leaders from around the world to promote even
greater achievements in the next millennium;
(2) to foster international fellowship and free
and open discourse between all peoples on an unoffi-
cial and nongovernmental basis, helping to develop
friendly relations among nations and individuals to
promote the cause of freedom and peace;
(3) to promote international understanding, tol-
erance, freedom, peace, cooperation, and genuine
friendship by bringing together young women and
men of excellence, leaders in the arts, sciences, edu-
cation, religion, communications, agriculture, fi-
nance, government, business, journalism, athletics,
diplomacy, medicine, law, and other professions and
fields of endeavor, from throughout the world for
charitable fundraising, education, international ex-
change and communication, and other such chari-
table purposes;
(4) to sponsor educational conferences, chari-
table fundraisers, and other charitable activities, in-
cluding sponsorship of the World Millennium Char-
ity Ball (an international gathering of diverse young
leaders from all continents of the world on Decem-
ber 31, 1999), to celebrate the dawn of the third
millennium; and
(5) to provide for a Millennium Scholars Pro-
gram, an international cross-cultural scholarship
program for preparing young leaders from around
the world for even greater achievements in the next
millennium by furthering their education, leadership
abilities, cultural understanding, and dedication to
peace.
SEC. 103. RECOGNITION OF THE MILLENNIUM SOCIETY.
(a) RECOGNITION.—The following organizations are
recognized as the ‘‘Millennium Society’’:
(1) The Millennium Society, a nonprofit cor-
poration of the United States chartered and orga-
nized under the laws of the State of Illinois on No-
vember 21, 1983, and operated exclusively for chari-
table and educational purposes within the meaning
of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, including its members and directors.
(2) Any other organization that—
(A) is organized and operated by the cor-
poration referred to in paragraph (1); and
(B) is operated exclusively for charitable
and educational purposes within the meaning of
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986.
(b) OFFICES.—The Society shall maintain its prin-
cipal offices and national headquarters in such place in
the United States as is determined by the Society, and
may hold its annual and special meetings in such places
as the Society shall determine.
SEC. 104. CONFORMANCE OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORA-
TION AND BYLAWS.
The board of directors of the Society shall take such
actions as are necessary to conform the articles of incorpo-
ration and bylaws of the Society to the provisions of this
Act.
SEC. 105. OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF THE SOCIETY.
The objects and purposes of the Society are—
(1) to establish national goals for commemora-
tion and celebration of the millennium in the United
States and participation by the United States in
such international events;
(2) to promote and support official celebrations
of the millennium in the United States and to co-
ordinate those celebrations with international com-
memorations and celebrations of the millennium;
(3) to exercise exclusive jurisdiction, either di-
rectly or through its constituent members or organs,
over all matters pertaining to the participation of
the United States in commemorations or celebra-
tions of the millennium;
(4) to assist organizations and persons con-
cerned with the millennium in commemorations or
celebrations of the millennium;
(5) to coordinate activities and hold forums and
symposiums to promote educational and cross-cul-
tural exchange; and
(6) to establish, endow, and administer the Mil-
lennium Scholars Program, an international scholar-
ship program that provides for university level ex-
change for exceptional young women and men from
all regions of the world and all pursuits who have
proven leadership abilities, true academic superi-
ority, and a demonstrated desire to further inter-
national understanding in order to better prepare
those young leaders for greater achievements in the
next millennium by furthering their education, lead-
ership abilities, cultural understanding, and dedica-
tion to freedom and peace.
SEC. 106. POWERS OF THE SOCIETY.
The Society is authorized—
(1) to adopt and amend articles of incorpora-
tion and bylaws for the management of its property
and the regulation of its affairs, not inconsistent
with the laws of the United States or any State in
which the corporation is to operate;
(2) to adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal;
(3) to choose officers, managers, and agents as
the business of the Society may require;
(4) to approve and revoke membership in the
Society;
(5) to charge and collect membership dues;
(6) to determine the criteria for and establish
subsidiary organs and chapters as may be necessary
to the purposes of the Society;
(7) to sue and be sued, complain, and defend in
any court of competent jurisdiction;
(8) to make contracts;
(9) to establish and maintain offices for the
conduct of the affairs of the Society;
(10) to acquire, hold, and dispose of real and
personal property as may be necessary for the pur-
poses of the Society;
(11) to accept gifts, legacies, and devises in fur-
therance of its Society purposes;
(12) to borrow money to carry out the purposes
of the Society, including to issue notes, bonds, or
other evidences of indebtedness, and to secure the
same by mortgage, subject in each case to the laws
of the United States or of any State;
(13) to provide financial assistance to any orga-
nization or association, other than a corporation or-
ganized for profit, in furtherance of the purposes of
the Society;
(14) to conduct campaigns for raising funds
and to accept contributions from individuals, cor-
porations, and other bodies, foundations, and organi-
zations;
(15) to mint, create, and distribute commemo-
rative coins and medals, edit, publish, make, display,
and sell books and magazines, pictures, slides, com-
pact discs, videos, cinemas and other commemorative
items as may be necessary or desirable for the ac-
complishment of the purposes of the Society;
(16) to buy, sell, and generally deal in appro-
priate and related souvenirs, commemorative coins
and medals, curios, mementos, and publications;
(17) to publish a newsletter, magazine, book, or
other publication and exclusively produce and broad-
cast on radio, television, film and other media, con-
sistent with Society purposes;
(18) to participate in the production of an
international celebration and sanction related events
within the United States; and
(19) to do any and all acts and things nec-
essary and proper to carry out the purposes of the
Society.
SEC. 107. NONPOLITICAL NATURE OF SOCIETY.
The Society shall be nonpolitical and nonpartisan
and, as an organization, shall not promote the candidacy
of any person seeking public office.
SEC. 108. MEMBERSHIP.
Eligibility for membership in the Society and the
rights and privileges of members shall, except as provided
in this chapter, be determined as the articles of incorpora-
tion and bylaws of the Society may provide.
SEC. 109. ACTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) COMPOSITION AND CHAIRMAN.—The control and
management of the affairs and funds of the Society shall
be vested in a board of directors, as provided in the arti-
cles of incorporation of the Society.
(b) TERMS.—The term of each of the members of the
board of directors shall be as provided in the articles of
incorporation or bylaws of the society. The Board shall
elect a permanent board of directors on or before January
1, 2001, to administer the Millennium Scholars Program.
(c) MEETINGS.—The board of directors shall meet
not less than twice annually, and at such other times as
may be determined in the manner provided in the articles
of incorporation or bylaws of the Society. No meeting of
the board of directors may be held except at a time and
place stated in the bylaws or in a written notice that is
transmitted to each member at the time and in the man-
ner provided in the bylaws.
(d) ELECTION AND REMOVAL.—Directors of the So-
ciety shall be elected at the times and in the manner pro-
vided by the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the
Society and may be removed from office in the manner
provided by the articles of incorporation and bylaws.
SEC. 110. OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY.
(a) AUTHORIZED POSITIONS.—The officers of the So-
ciety shall be those provided in the articles of incorpora-
tion and bylaws of the Society. The board of directors may
modify the composition of the offices of the Society as the
board considers appropriate.
(b) PRIVILEGES.—Subject to the provisions of this
Act and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the
Society, the privileges of the officers of the Society shall
be those prescribed by the board of directors of the Soci-
ety.
(c) COMPENSATION.—Officers of the board may re-
ceive compensation or other remuneration for their serv-
ices, as determined by the board of directors. An officer
may be reimbursed, with the approval of the board of di-
rectors, for expenses that the officer incurs in the perform-
ance of the duties of the office.
(d) ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE.—Officers of
the Society shall be elected annually by action of the board
of directors and shall continue in office at the pleasure
of the board.
(e) DUTIES.—The duties of the officers of the Society
shall be such as usually pertain to the offices they hold
and shall also include such additional duties as may be
delegated by the board of directors.
(f) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AND OTHER PERSON-
NEL.—The board of directors may employ an executive di-
rector and such other paid employees as may be necessary
to assist the officers and the board and to carry out the
programs and business of the Society. The executive direc-
tor and the other employees shall serve at the pleasure
of the board of directors. The board of directors shall fix
the compensation and prescribe the duties of the executive
director and such other paid employees.
SEC. 111. PROHIBITION ON DISTRIBUTIONS OF INCOME OR
ASSETS AND ON LOANS TO MEMBERS.
(a) INCOME AND ASSETS.—Except as provided in
subsections (c) and (f) of section 110, no part of the in-
come or assets of the Society shall inure to any of its mem-
bers, directors, officers, or employees, or be distributable
to any of them during the life of the Society or upon its
dissolution or final liquidation.
(b) LOANS.—The Society may not make loans to offi-
cers, directors, or employees. Any director who votes for
or assents to the making of a loan or advance to an officer,
director, or employee of the Society, and any officer who
participates in the making of such loan or advance shall
be jointly and severally liable to the Society for the amount
of such loan or advance until the repayment thereof.
SEC. 112. LIABILITY FOR ACTS OF OFFICERS AND AGENTS.
The Society shall be liable for the acts of its officers
and agents when acting within the scope of their author-
ity.
SEC. 113. PROHIBITION AGAINST ISSUANCE OF STOCK OR
PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS.
The Society shall have no power to issue capital stock
or to declare or pay any dividends.
SEC. 114. SYMBOLS, EMBLEMS, TRADEMARKS, AND NAMES.
(a) EXCLUSIVE RIGHT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the preexisting
rights described in subsection (b), the Society shall
have the sole and exclusive right to use the name the
‘‘Millennium Society’’ and to have and use in carry-
ing out its purpose the following trademarks, sym-
bols, insignia, emblems, seals, descriptive or des-
ignating marks, and slogans in the furtherance of its
functions:
(A) ‘‘Countdown 2000’’.
(B) ‘‘How to do something great for civili-
zation and have a ball doing it’’.
(C) ‘‘Millennium Scholars Program’’.
(D) ‘‘Millennium Scholar’’.
(E) ‘‘Millennium Scholars’’.
(F) ‘‘Dollars for Scholars’’.
(G) ‘‘Millennium Minute’’.
(2) AUTHORIZED USE BY OTHERS.—The Soci-
ety may authorize contributors and suppliers of
goods or services to use the trade name of the Soci-
ety, as well as any trademarks, symbols, insignia,
emblems, seals, descriptive or designating marks,
and slogans of the Society in advertising that the
contributions, goods, or services were donated, sup-
plied, or furnished to or for the use of, approved, se-
lected, or used by the Society.
by this section from continuing such lawful use for
the same purpose and for the same goods and serv-
ices.
SEC. 115. AGENTS FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS.
As a condition precedent to the exercise of any power
or privilege granted or conferred under this title, the Soci-
ety shall file in the office of the Secretary of State, or
similar office, in each State the name and post office ad-
dress of an authorized agent of the Society in such State
upon whom local process or demands against the Society
may be served.
SEC. 116. BOOKS AND RECORDS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Society shall—
(1) keep correct and complete books and
records of account and shall keep minutes of the
proceedings of its members, board of directors, and
committees having any authority under the board of
directors; and
(2) keep at its principal office a record of the
names and addresses of its members entitled to vote.
(b) INSPECTIONS.—All books and records of the cor-
poration may be inspected by any member entitled to vote,
or the agent or attorney of such member, for any proper
purpose, at any reasonable time.
SEC. 117. AUDIT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
Section 1 of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for
audit of accounts of private corporations established under
Federal law,’’ approved August 30, 1964 (36 U.S.C.
1101) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(78) The Millennium Society.’’.
SEC. 118. USE OF ASSETS UPON DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDA-
TION.
Upon dissolution or final liquidation of the Society,
after discharge or satisfaction of all outstanding obliga-
tions and liabilities, any remaining assets of the Society
shall be distributed in accordance with the determination
of the board of directors of the Society and in compliance
with the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Society
and all Federal and State laws applicable thereto.
SEC. 119. RESERVATION OF RIGHT TO AMEND OR REPEAL
CHAPTER.
The right to alter, amend, or repeal this title at any
time is hereby expressly reserved.
SEC. 120. REPORTS TO PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS ON OP-
ERATIONS.
The Society shall, on or before June 1 of each year,
transmit simultaneously to the President and to each
House of Congress a detailed report of its operations for
the preceding calendar year. The report shall include a
complete statement of its receipts and expenditures and
a comprehensive description of the activities and accom-
plishments of the Society during the preceding year. Cop-
ies of the report shall be made available by the Society
to interested persons at a reasonable cost.
TITLE II—COMMEMORATIVE
POSTAGE STAMPS
SEC. 201. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States
Postal Service should cooperate with the Society—
(1) in the issuance of appropriate first day of
issuance postage stamps commemorating the end of
the second millennium and the advent of the third
millennium; and
(2) in the production of a philatelic numismatic
combination as a unique item to be made available
to the public to commemorate the end of the second
millennium and the advent of the third millennium.
Æ