A registration form is at the bottom of this page

  Some scholarships may become available
for bona-fide students

NOTE: The Conference was professionally video taped and is available on DVDs for $335  for the full conference; or a DVD of any individual speaker for $49; any 5 speakers for $195. (order form below)

2007 Conference Schedule:
(speaking times and positions are subject to change)

Stephen Zarlenga      (early photo)

Director and co-founder of the American Monetary Institute; author of The Lost Science of Money book; and the Refutation of Menger's Theory of the Origin of Money; and Greening the Dollar a free CD,  plus various articles and speeches, presents the background; objectives; challenges and methodology of the AMI and the Conference agenda and goals. An overview of what the AMI has accomplished since its founding in 1996  and our challenges and hopes and plans for the future.

Ken Bohnsack

Ken Bohnsack creator of the Sovereignty movement in America, for the Federal Government to provide interest free loans in the form of U.S. notes to all governmental bodies from School boards to cities, and States, based on a per capita rule. More than 3300 such governmental bodies including two states signed Ken's petition supporting this program, which continues now as an important part of the American Monetary Act. Ken describes what would happen if our federal government created our money, instead of the private banks with their latest fiasco. Ken is an advisor to the American Monetary Institute, and a recipient of the Institutes Lifetime Achievement Award.

Robert Poteat

Robert Poteat is one of America's most knowledgeable, reality based experts on our money system. A long term and meticulous monetary researcher, certainly among the top half dozen in America in awareness of monetary systems, and the leader of AMI's Chapters in Portland, Oregon; and in  Seattle and Centralia, Washington, will discuss The Facts and Mythology of Inflation. Why inflation should not be a problem in a properly structured monetary reform, and what elements are necessary to achieve that result.

3:45 PM    David Hershey, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, Managing Director,
 Lotsoff Capital Management Speaks on:  The Arthur Kitson Story

David    Hershey

Arthur Kitson's (1860 – 1937) Story: how a lighthouse manufacturer shined a bright light on the dark machinery of the money and banking system. In 1901 the Briton Arthur Kitson invented the vaporized oil burner which had the effect of increasing, by power of six times, the illumination from lighthouses. He became quite wealthy from his patented invention. Not one to rest he next wrote the books that helped launch a national monetary debate in England. Arthur Kitson regarded the Money Power as the chief cause of the world's economic evils and misery. Noble Laureate Frederick Soddy (1877- 1956) dedicated his major work Wealth, Virtual Wealth and Debt to Arthur Kitson, calling him the doyenne (elder spokesperson) for monetary reform. Why was Kitson so highly regarded in his day? What was the sound standard Kitson recommended to replace the fraudulent (gold) standard? How different would the world be today if only we had attended to the works of the British monetary reform movement?

4:30 PM  Richard Distelhorst, monetary reformer and political activist:
                    How Much Real, Permanent Money
                 Needs to be Spent into Circulation

Richard    Distelhorst

Richard DistelThe Elements Necessary for International Monetary Reformhorst, a well known monetary reformer and political activist; a WWII veteran (Ist Marine Division, Guadalcanal); long term monetary researcher (another of the top monetary leaders in America) recipient of the AMI Lifetime Achievement Award, and leader of the AMI Chapter in Burlington, Iowa speaks on How Much Real, Permanent Money Needs to be Spent into Circulation  and How U.S. Taxpayers will benefit, as we move to a constitutional Money System. Dick also discusses aspects of how the American Monetary Act addresses injustices of the Federal Reserve System, and what it would mean to local communities.

5:15 PM    Panel of Thursday's speakers

Speakers summarize and field more questions on their subjects.

6:00 PM or so, Break before Reception

Friday 28th September

8:00 AM     Coffee, breads and jams availilable at meeting room.

9:00 AM        Brian Leslie, Editor of the British Green Party's Sustainable Economics                     on Money Reform - The Key to a Peaceful, Sustainable Future

Brian Leslie

Brian Leslie was introduced to monetary reform between the two World Wars by his parents who were campaigning for Douglas's Social Credit ideas. He joined the Green Party in 1982, and argued for monetary reform within it. For the past 16 years he produced and edited Sustainable Economics, the Green Party's Policy Working Group's bi-monthly magazine newsletter. As one of the United Kingdom's most advanced monetary thinkers, he see's the fraudulent debt-money system as the key issue preventing reform toward a peaceful, socially just and sustainable future for humanity. His talk will connect money reform to the various other crucial issues which require urgent reform.

9:45AM    Prof. Bob Blain speaks on
                        Democratic Money: The Antidote to Empire

Prof Bob Blain

Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Co-inventor of Cooperation: The Wealth of Nations Game which simulates different economic systems to identify an optimum model. Author of The Most Wealth for the Least Work Through Cooperation; and Weaving Golden Threads of Sociological Theory. The Original instigator of the Ithaca Local Money movement  he will speak on  Democratic Money: The Antidote to Empire.  Bob is an advisor to the American Monetary Institute.

10:30 AM    Ole Mackeprang, European Financier speaks on
                                Money Systems & Warfare

Ole Mackeprang

Ole Mackeprang, European Financier speaks on "Money Systems & Warfare" and will update us on the practical changes the Euro has brought about since its launch several years ago. At that time the Euro was proclaimed "dead on arrival." Today pundits are saying that the U.S. Dollar is the casualty. Mackeprang speaks 8 or 9 languages and has worked in 62 countries, principally France, Germany, Italy and Spain (Banque Rothschild and Banque de l'Union Parisienne are some of the more famous of the companies he has worked with). He has recounted his fascinating experiences in a new book pictured at left, which is destined to become a highly interesting motion picture. I've read much of it and the life experiences described are what American kids (20 & 30 year olds) can only dream about in today's world. It will make an exciting film, and Yes - we shared some of those experiences working together in old Europe!

11:15 AM James Gibb Stuart – How We Successfully Advised Malaysia
                         During The 1997 Asian Currency Crisis
                                         (subject will be updated)

James G. Stuart

Known as the Grandfather of British Monetary reform James G. Stuart is a monetary "warrior!" Author of "Fantopia," and organizer with Alistair McConnachie of Prosperity Newsletter and the acclaimed annual Bromsgrove Monetary Conference in Birmingham, UK, Stuart and four others gave the advice to the Prime Minister of Malaysia during the 1997 Asian currency debacle, that helped Malaysia avoid the worst IMF attacks and allowed her the fastest recovery. Stuart sees his role as a unifier of various  avenues to monetary reform: "There is...a reform which - even a few short years ago  - we might have initiated from different directions, but which  -  thanks to your own spadework at the AMI - could easily spread across the English-speaking nations. Win one and with adjustments we could conceivably win them all."   James is a recipient of the American Monetary Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award.

      

1:00 PM      Randy Cook, Director, National Organization for Raw Materials on
     The Relation Between Raw Materials Production And The Money System
               

Randy Cook

President of the National Organization for Raw Materials (NORM) since 1997. Beginning in 1936 NORM has studied the nation's economic record, submitted legislation and taught the realities and methods of what it calls "par economy;"  and publishes its annual Economic Report of the Producers. Randy presents the evidence and logic for monetary growth being based on this production; how this can be done, for example in agriculture through a revitalized farm parity program. He has especially helped us refine the Parity section of the American Monetary Act.

1:45 PM    Dr. Norman Ehrentreich, Quantitative Investment Analyst, speaks on
       The Monetary Views of Silvio Gesell and the Chicago Plans 100% Reserves

Dr. Norman    Ehrentreich

Dr. Norman Ehrentreich, born in East Germany, is a quantitative investment analyst in the fixed income department of RiverSource Investments of Minneapolis and is responsible for forecasting the interest rate decisions of the Federal Reserve System's Federal Open Market Committee. Norman has been interested in monetary reform ideas even before he started studying economics. In Germany, he has published various articles on the relevance of Silvio Gesell’s monetary reform ideas. In his talk, he will compare Gesell's views with the 100% proposal of the Chicago School (pre-monetarism), arguing that both schools are two sides of the same coin and complement each other.

2:15 PM Dr. Cay Hehner, Director Henry George School of Social Science, NY.
                     Why Lionizing Adam Smith Has Harmed Mankind

Cay Hehner

Dr. Cay Hehner, holds a Masters degree in Economics and Phd in Social Science and Languages (Magna Cum Laude) on the Ideological Origin of the Holocaust and the Intellectual Resistance, Free University, Berlin. He has taught languages and economics in Berlin, Milan, Rome and New York, and has done extensive work as a Television writer/producer including with The Discovery Channel. He summarizes his continuing research on why Adam Smith's "Program" was bad for humanity:  "Had the majority of the economies...not followed Smith, but rather the man he considered his outstanding mentor:  David Hume as well as Humists David Ricardo & Henry George the Cold War would not only have been avoided, as well as...global environmental devastation... (and) we would all be healthier, wealthier & wiser for it – not mention the real danger of global economic & ecological calamity.

3:00 PM         Randall Burns speaks on
                     Some Unseen Relations Between Monetary Policy and Immigration

Randall Burns

Randall Burns holds a degree in Economics from the University of Chicago and worked over 20 years as a software engineer  & developer. He has written on public policy issues for the Oregon Peace Worker and he is a regular contributor to VDARE.com--a popular web site focusing on immigration policy. Burns' genealogy is connected with our monetary system. He shares the Mayflower ancestor with George W. Bush and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who helped save the Plymouth colony from ruin and his great grandmother's uncle was a leader of the Radical Republicans involved in the Greenback era. His great grandfather, James Stark, was campaign manager for the leading Democratic opponent of Woodrow Wilson-who approved fromation of the Federal Reserve.

3:30 PM COFFEE BREAK

3:45 PM   Reed Simpson, Kansas City Chapter leader  on
                 Launching the Kansas City AMI Chapter

Reed Simpson

After successfully completing the Magnificent Mile Swim Challenge  at the Ami 2006 Conference (see photos below!), Reed was asked to open an AMI Chapter in Kansas  City. Earlier this year he launched the AMI Chapter in Kanas City, Missouri,  culminating in bringing together over 40 people of different ages and backgrounds for a talk by Stephen Zarlenga and Charles Walthers. Reed will describe in detail the promotions he  used in order to do that, and how he is moving the Kansas City Chapter forward.

4:15 PM   Larry Rudebusch, discusses lessons from his recent
         Libertarian Candidacy for Congress in South Dakota
                    on a Monetary Reform Agenda

Larry   Rudebusch

Larry Rudebusch, the AMI Chapter Leader in Bruce South Dakota ran an uphill battle for Congress last year as the Libertarian Party Candidate, not with their normally incorrect monetary viewpoint, but based on the American Monetary Institute's monetary vision. He'll tell us about the challenges and hopes involved. In running his family farm and also as a member of NORM (National Organization for Raw Materials) Larry knows first hand the relation between farm production, pricing of farm products, the cost of growing and harvesting them, and monetary policy including the nefarious role played by debt.

  4:45 PM Prof. Kristin Kucsma speaks on:
             Reaching Students with An Accurate Monetary Message

Prof. Kristin  Kucsma

Prof. Kucsma writes: "Many Americans cannot conceive of a United States without the Federal Reserve. They simply are incapable of thinking outside the box... The incapacity of so many Americans in this respect renders them politically and economically unfree...It is our duty to ensure that our students are truly free once they are released from our institutions of higher learning, and it is our obligation to do so responsibly... providing them with the practical and technical tools necessary to form informed opinions about topics of supreme importance..."

5:30 PM Carl Herman speaks on
             Introducing Younger students to Monetary Reform

Carl Herman teaches economics at La Canada High School. He has an Ed.M from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, is a National Board Certified Teacher and been honored by two Los Angeles mayors and U.S.C. as one of the city’s best teachers. He has taught monetary reform consistent with AMI’s proposals since 1996. He is author of the book, Teaching Social Competence: A Citizen’s Guide. Carl’s expertise is how to communicate monetary reform in a concise and engaging way that rivets the attention of that most challenging of audiences: teenagers.

6:00  Chicago Educator Steven Walsh on his research into Ben Franklin's Pennsylvania
     system and Bringing the Monetary Subject into Grammar and High School Curriculums

Steven Walsh

Stephen Walsh, a highly respected Chicago educator of long standing, has extensive work experience across wide cultural  barriers in several parts of the world. After attending the AMI 2005 Conference, he developed a deep interest in monetary studies and is co-ordinator of the AMI Chapter in Chicago. Steven has been focusing on writing an accurate yet understandable primer on money for young students. Interestingly, in Chicago, qualified teachers are properly given the power to decide in large part, which books their students will study. This could be highly instructive in promoting monetary reform. He commented after  his first reading of my book: "If Zarlenga's book had been out there in the 60's and 70's we would have known what to have done beyond being flower children."

6:30 PM    Dieter Braun, from Ludwig Maximilians Universität Münich, on

               Faulty Methodology in Fractional Reserve Accounting, and
                                  the Concentration of Wealth

Dr. Dieter   Braun

Born in 1970, Dieter studied Physics and Biophysics in Ulm and Munich, Germany and earned a PhD in Biophysics on experimental work in Neuro-Silicon coupling. We first met Dieter when he was doing Post Doctoral experiments at Rockefeller University in New York City. He is now the head of an independent research group on Biophysics, focusing on nanothermal biotechnology, and Applied Physics at Ludwig Maximilians Universität in Munich, Germany. Dieter's devotion to investigating monetary matters reminded me of the great Frederick Soddy. He has applied advanced computer models to isolating factors causing wealth concentration and estimating how long it takes before such concentrations "go vertical!" This also led Dieter to a major critique of errors of methodology in "fractional reserve" bank accounting, published in Applied Physics Journals. Dieter's presentation will make news.

6:30 PM    Brief  Panel of Friday's Speakers

Several of Today's Speakers summarize and field questions on their subjects.

Saturday September 29

8:00 AM  Coffee, breads and jams available

9:00 AM    Ken Bohnsack, Founder of Sovereignty introduces the late Dr. John Hotson,
         through Hotsons outstanding video presentation that we are calling
               Monetary Reform: An Idea "Whose Time Has Come!"

John Hotson

John Hotson (1930-1996) was professor of Economics at Waterloo University, Canada; a leading proponent of real monetary reform and founder of the Committee on Monetary Reform and Education in Canada. He supported Ken Bohnsack's Sovereignty proposal and in 1991 Ken and John and Prof. Bob Blain were guests of New Zealand's Democratic Party. This is the classic talk (video on DVD) that Hotson gave there. We found it thanks to reminders of its existence from Bill Hixson another founder of COMER. Hotson's reform proposals, from 1991 through 1996 sound very much like the AMI's proposals do today. This DVD is available for $30 postpaid. It represents Hotson's most concise statement of his monetary reform ideas. Included are several print files of his fascinating no-nonsense  articles.

10:00 AM  Charles Walters founder of Acres USA, environmental farming
 magazine on    The Agricultural Parity Program And The Money System
                                                   (subject will be updated)

Charles Walters

The founder of Acres USA environmental farming magazine is well known among the farming community as one of the "grand proponents" for justice toward American farmers. We experienced his reach first hand, when we made new contacts with farm operators within actual eyesight of our upstate NY headquarters, only after Charles reviewed The Lost Science of Money book in Acres. He describes and discusses the importance of the Parity system to farming and to the economy, and how it can serve as a key indicator for determining how much money should be put into circulation (which is the subject of his book "Unforgiven.") Charles is an advisor to the American Monetary Institute.

10:45   David I. Kelley speaks on
                     Towards a Progressive and Equitable Taxation System

David I. Kelley

Dave Kelley, Legal and Economic Researcher of Ohio has witnessed firsthand the growing disparity in income and the resulting impact on wealth over the last three decades as a Certified Financial Planner. The issues advisor to presidential, senatorial and congressional campaigns, Kelley is also a Registered Principal with the NASD, author of two books on pensions, hundreds of articles and columns in the financial area with over 40 articles focusing on pensions and Social Security. His talk at the 2005 & 2006 AMI Monetary Reform Conferences on The Concentration of Wealth in America were among the highest rated presentations by participants.

11:30 AM    Prof. Michael Hudson speaks on The "Monetary Transparency Act" and
                      A Progressive Economic and Fiscal Policy for America

Dr.Michael Hudson

Author, Super Imperialism and Global Fracture; editor, Debt and Economic Renewal in the Ancient Near East; economic commentator for National Public Radio; Distinguished Professor of Economics, University of Missouri, Kansas City and Chief Economic Advisor to the 2008 Kucinich for President Campaign. Dr. Hudson was the first to publicly identify the mechanism of "Dollar Imperialism" through the U.S. Balance of Payments deficits. His talk focuses on the "Monetary Transparency Act" and its importance in making such information more accessible to both policy makers and the voting public. He discusses how this must dovetail with progressive programs for a more just taxation and credit system, including resolving the present real estate crisis in a fair manner. Michael outlines the requirements for establishing a sound fiscal policy for America, starting with progressive economic, taxation and monetary reforms.

12:30 PM LUNCH BREAK

1:15 PM      Prof. Glen Martin, Radford University speaks on               

Violence and Economics in Today’s World Disorder --
Transforming the Global System to One of Peace and Prosperity

Dr. Glen T. Martin

Dr. Glen T. Martin, President of the International Philosophers for Peace; Secretary General of the World Constitution and Parliament Association. The paper describes the global system as one of structural violence imposed by a tiny ruling elite who control 40% of the world’s wealth.  It describes the dynamics of the world economy under the World Trade Organization, IMF, World Bank, global capitalism, and of sovereign nation-states as a system of institutionalized violence in which massive state terrorism is used to crush opposition. The paper describes the  assumptions behind the Constitution for the Federation of Earth to ensure a global economics of prosperity for the vast majority and a global, non-military political system that will ensure peace as well as justice for the peoples of the Earth.

2:00 PM     Prof. Paul Davidson, discusses
    "Reforming the World's Money in the Absence of a Supernational Government"
                   Elements Necessary for International Monetary Reform

Prof. Paul     Davidson

Economics Prof. Paul Davidson, University of Tennesee, editor of the well known Journal of Post Keynesian Economics website and email group, will present the minimum elements necessary to place international monetary reform on the road to progress. Prof. Davidson, widely regarded as a leading expert on John Maynard Keynes ideas and life, author of the forthcoming book John Maynard Keynes (great Thinkers in Economics); will open AMI's discussion of international monetary reform, which must accompany or soon follow the needed national reforms. Its appropriate to start here with Keynes, since he played such a key role in structuring the present system, which objectively is now "on the rocks" and threatening the world's economies.

2:45 PM       Prof. Nick Tideman, former Senior Economist on the Presidents
                (White House) Council of Economic Advisors speaks on
         Justice in the Distribution of Seigniorage in a System with Local Currencies

Prof. Nic Tideman

Prof. Tideman received his Phd. from the University of Chicago in 69, under Milton Friedman; taught at Harvard, then served as Senior Staff Economist for the President’s Council of Economic Advisors in 70-71 and has been Economics professor  at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, since 73. He's focused on urban economics, public finance and efficient public decision making. Nic has previously engaged our participants in conceptual thinking, for example on using housebricks as a superior form of commodity money for those who are commodity money oriented. His topic "Justice in the Distribution of Seigniorage in a System with Local Currencies" will bring to the fore, important theoretical and practical aspects of the problem of pivate seigniorage on money systems, currently being ignored by the Federal Reserve. Nic is an advisor to the American Monetary Institute.

Six term Congressman from Cleveland, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Governmental Reform; 2004 and 2008 Candidate for the Presidency of the United States of America;  leading peace advocate: Dennis Kucinich, last year our key-note speaker on Economic Justice. will speak on Our Presidential Election Process and Government Reform. (This talk may be rescheduled to the after dinner event on Saturday)

4:00 PM Coffee Break

5:00 PM Stephen Zarlenga, Director, American Monetary Institute on
  Greening The $Dollar - Reclaiming our Rights Through Monetary Reform.

Stephen        Zarlenga

Stephen Zarlenga was invited to make a presentation on monetary reform at the National Convention of the U.S. Green Party on July 12, 2007, This powerful talk was so well received with potential reform importance developing through the Greens from it, that we will present it here so that participants can be aware of it. Instead of the sometimes heard "People won't understand this" political excuse, the Greens really understood it, and expected others to understand also! The Greening the Dollar talk is also available on CD.

  Possibly a Panel of some of Today's speakers - summaries and questions

A few of todays Speakers summarize and field more questions on their  subjects.

About 6:00 PM   Break for Dinner

7:00 PM   Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Sunday September 30th

8:00 AM  Coffee, breads and jams available in meeting room

9:00 AM Panel discussion on Proposed Legislation -
American Monetary Act  & Monetary Transparency Act

Dick Distelhorst, Steven Walsh, Stephen Zarlenga Robert Poteat and others discuss The American Monetary Act and The Monetary Transparency Act

10:00 AM  Dr. Edward Chambers President of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF)
                     discusses  Organizing for Power, Action and Justice
                  and Critiques the Conference with Suggestions for Future Success.

Dr. Edward     Chambers

Ed Chambers is a Philosopher, political organizer, and Author of "Roots for Radicals," Organizing for Power, Action and Justice; the advanced source book for achieving progressive goals. Dr. Chambers discusses principles of organization that can apply to monetary reform. The IAF, founded by the late Saul Alinsky has an exceptionally strong record in getting movements started and into self financing positions of strength.

11:00 AM  AMI Chapter Leaders integrate Chambers advice and
                        Discuss Successes and Challenges. AMI Chapters Panel on
      Political Action. Panel on Political Action Program (Planning AMI reform
      efforts until the next  conference)  Dick Distelhorst, Ken Bohnsack, and
      others present their views and experience.           

Dick Distelhorst; Robert Poteat; Larry Rudebusch; Reed Simpson; Larry Mulcahy; Stephen Zarlenga; Steven Walsh; Matt Hadzl; and others.

 (Assuming that Lake Michigan and the weather co-operate!)


All who seriously enter the swim challenge receive a magnificent mile T shirt.

2007 Conference Registration form is below (really!)

R.Simpson in Waves and 1/2 mile later arriving at Oak Street Beach.                            Zarlenga arrives at beach.      The swimmers: S. Zarlenga,                                                                                                                                                                                     R. Simpson, S. Walsh &                                                                                                                                                                                             G. Reinecker   Non-swimmers Ben Gisin                     Waves were near maximum                    AMI Chapter people, and conference attendees and Michael Hudson.                           for the swim challenge to go forward.

Conference Registration Form IS below!
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2008 Conference Registration Form

Click here for the printer friendly registration form, then print and mail it

____ Enclosed is my $______ registration donation for the AMI Monetary Reform
 Conference in Chicago Sept. 27th to  30th, 2007 (minimum donation $295 per person).
All participants must pre-register. There are no "at the door" registrations.

Very early registration discount if mailed by Feb. 5th is $220.

Early registration discount if mailed by May 15, is $245
  Discount for bona-fide Students and Activists is $195. Ask whether scholarships are available!

For excellent pre-conference reading and reference:
____ Please send me a copy of The Lost Science of Money book by Stephen Zarlenga.
 Enclosed is my check for $52 ($48 plus $4 S & H) [Foreign surface mail add $14; foreign
 air mail add $26] Many conference presentations assume that this book has been read.
 (click here for book description)

Check enclosed or:

____ Bill my credit card (no Amex):_________ ; You can also use PAYPAL, through the
 "Contribute" button at our home page.

 Card#_______/_______/_______/_______/

Expiration date____________ Signature_______________________________________

Print name_____________________________

Address______________________________City/State/Zip_______________________

Phone #_________________________ Email: _________________________________

*The American Monetary Institute as part of its responsibility in sponsoring the Conference reserves the right at its sole discretion and without public
 or private explanation, to restrict attendance at this Conference to persons it considers will enhance the purposes of the meeting, as detailed above
 and on the conference brochure.

Send by regular post to: 

The American Monetary Institute, PO Box 601, Valatie, NY 12184

ami@taconic.net      Telephones: 224-805-2200, or 518-392-5387.

Leave any messages in a loud clear voice! Really loud!

If Time before the conference is short, then phone or email us.

  Please click here to send email to AMI