-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, LZp9/ES1bWwP3YuTonbZRQVQxcBoTUaWWamP+k+kK+t7Xo4cXPdMlqbJyYQeT1HW MWg/tReRvamU6/xSCsxk/w== 0000791049-05-000007.txt : 20050324 0000791049-05-000007.hdr.sgml : 20050324 20050324100552 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000791049-05-000007 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: PRE 14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20050517 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050324 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050324 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CASCADES TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000791049 IRS NUMBER: 136868231 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: PRE 14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-04626 FILM NUMBER: 05700491 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 380 MADISON AVE STE 2300 CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10017 BUSINESS PHONE: 2126976666 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 380 MADISON AVENUE STREET 2: # 2300 CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10017 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: TAX FREE TRUST OF OREGON DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19890810 PRE 14A 1 orpx05.txt PRELIMINARY PROXY AND FORM OF CARD File Nos. 33-4382 & 811-4626 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [X] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [ ] Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-12 THE CASCADES TRUST (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300 New York, New York 10017 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (212) 697-6666 (Registrant's Telephone Number) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required Important Notice Please Read Immediately Aquilasm Group of Funds Tax-Free Trust of Oregon 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017 Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on May 17, 2005 To Shareholders of the Trust: The purpose of this Notice is to advise you that an Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Tax-Free Trust of Oregon (the "Trust"), the only series of the Cascades Trust, will be held: Place: (a) at the World Forestry Center 4033 SW Canyon Road Portland, Oregon; Time: (b) on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time; Purposes: (c) for the following purposes: (i) to elect eight Trustees; each Trustee elected will hold office until the next annual meeting of the Trust's shareholders or until his or her successor is duly elected (Proposal No. 1); (ii) to ratify (that is, to approve) or reject the selection of KPMG LLP as the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005 (Proposal No. 2); (iii) to act upon any other matters which may properly come before the Meeting at the scheduled time and place or any adjourned meeting or meetings. Who Can Vote What Shares: (d) To vote at the Meeting, you must have been a shareholder on the Trust's records at the close of business on March 15, 2005 (the "record date"). Also, the number of shares of each of the Trust's outstanding classes of shares that you held at that time and the respective net asset values of each class of shares at that time determine the number of votes you may cast at the Meeting (or any adjourned meeting or meetings). By order of the Board of Trustees, EDWARD M. W. HINES Secretary April 5, 2005 Please Note: If you do not expect to attend the Meeting, please vote by any of three ways: by telephone, by the Internet or by completing the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the accompanying stamped envelope. To avoid unnecessary expense to the Trust, we request your cooperation in voting no matter how large or small your holding may be. Tax-Free Trust of Oregon 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York 10017 Proxy Statement Introduction The purpose of the Notice preceding this Proxy Statement is to advise you of the time, place and purposes of an Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Tax-Free Trust of Oregon (the "Trust"), the only series of the Cascades Trust. The purpose of this Proxy Statement is to give you information on which you may base your decisions as to the choices, if any, you make in voting. The Trust's Manager (the "Manager") is Aquila Investment Management LLC, 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017, a subsidiary of the Trust's founder, Aquila Management Corporation. The Trust's principal underwriter (the "Distributor") is Aquila Distributors, Inc., 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017. The Trust's Investment Sub-Adviser is U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. (the "Sub-Adviser"), 555 S.W. Oak Street, Portland, Oregon 97204. A copy of the Trust's most recent annual report will be sent to you without charge upon written request to the Distributor, at the above address, or by calling 800-437-1020 toll-free or 212-697-6666. This Notice and Proxy Statement are first being mailed on or about April 5, 2005. You should read this Proxy Statement prior to voting. If your shares are registered in the name of your broker or someone other than yourself, you may authorize that person to vote your shares. If your shares are registered in your name, then you may vote in one of three ways: (1) Proxy Card The enclosed proxy card authorizes the persons named (or their substitutes) to vote your shares; the Trust calls these persons the "proxy holders." As to the election of Trustees you may authorize the proxy holders to vote your shares for the entire slate indicated below by marking the appropriate box on the proxy card or by merely signing and returning your proxy card with no instructions. Or you may withhold the authority of the proxy holders to vote on the election of Trustees by marking the appropriate box. Also, you may withhold that authority as to any particular nominee by following the instructions on the proxy card. As to the other matter listed on the proxy card, you may direct the proxy holders to vote your shares on this proposal by marking the appropriate box "For" or "Against" or instruct them not to vote your shares on the proposal by marking the "Abstain" box. If you return your signed proxy card and do not mark a box on the proposal, the proxy holders will vote your shares for that proposal. (2) Telephone Voting To vote your shares by telephone, call the toll-free number on your proxy card. You will be prompted to enter the control number on your proxy card. Follow the recorded instructions using your proxy card as a guide. If you vote by phone, you need not return the proxy card by mail. (3) Internet Voting To vote your shares by the Internet, please contact the Trust at the Internet address shown on your proxy card. You will be prompted to enter the control number on your proxy card. Follow the instructions on the screen, using your proxy card as a guide. If you vote by the Internet, you need not return the proxy card by mail. General Information You may end the power of the proxy holders to vote your shares by: (i) so notifying the Trust in writing; (ii) signing a new and different proxy card (if the Trust receives it before the old one is used); (iii) voting your shares at the meeting in person or by your duly appointed agent; or (iv) calling the toll free number provided or contacting the Trust's Internet address, both of which are detailed on your proxy card, entering your control number and revoking your previous vote. Proxies for shares held by brokers in "street name" and not voted or marked as abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum. They will be counted as present in determining voting results, and will therefore have the same effect as negative votes. The Trust is sending you this Notice and Proxy Statement in connection with the solicitation by its Trustees of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting to be held at the time and place and for the purposes indicated in the Notice or any adjourned meeting or meetings. Whenever it is stated in this Proxy Statement that a matter is to be acted on at the Meeting, this means the Meeting held at the scheduled time or any adjourned meeting or meetings. The Trust pays the costs of the solicitation. Proxies are being solicited by the use of the mails; they may also be solicited by telephone, facsimile and personal interviews. Brokerage firms, banks and others may be requested to forward this Notice and Proxy Statement to beneficial owners of the Trust's shares so that these owners may authorize the voting of their shares. The Trust will pay these firms their out-of-pocket expenses for doing so. On the record date, the Trust had three classes of shares outstanding. All shareholders of the Trust are entitled to vote at the meeting. Each shareholder on the record date is entitled to one vote for each dollar (and a proportionate fractional vote for each fraction of a dollar) of net asset value (determined as of the record date) represented by full and fractional shares of any class held on the record date. On the record date, the net asset value per share of each of the Trust's outstanding classes of shares was as follows: Class A Shares, $10.90; Class C Shares, $10.89; and Class Y Shares, $10.89. The meeting is expected to act only upon matters that affect the Trust as a whole: the election of Trustees and the selection of an independent registered public accounting firm. On matters that affect the Trust as a whole, all shareholders of the Trust, including the shareholders of all classes of shares of the Trust, are entitled to vote at the meeting. On the record date, the total number of shares outstanding for each class of shares was as follows: Class A Shares, 33,328,168; Class C Shares, 4,003,197; and Class Y Shares, 3,267,683. On the record date, the following holders held 5% or more of a class of the Trust's outstanding shares. On the basis of information received from the institutional holders the Trust's management believes that all of the shares indicated are held by them for the benefit of clients. Name and address Number of shares Percent of class of the holder of record Institutional 5% shareholders TO BE UPTATED Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, FL 380,470 Class C Shares 9.45% 270,190 Class Y Shares 7.88% National Financial Services Corporation 200 Liberty Street New York, NY 2,447,471 Class Y Shares 71.35% South Valley Bank and Trust P.O. Box 1784 Medford, OR 288,630 Class Y Shares 8.41% Additional 5% shareholders The Trust's management is not aware of any other person beneficially owning more than 5% of any class of its outstanding shares as of such date. Election of Trustees (Proposal No. 1) At the Meeting, eight Trustees are to be elected. Each Trustee elected will serve until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor is duly elected. The nominees selected by the Trustees are named in the table below. See "Introduction" above for information as to how you can vote your shares in the election of Trustees. The following material includes information about each nominee and each officer of the Trust. All shares of the Trust listed as owned by the Trustees are Class A Shares unless indicated otherwise. All of the nominees, except for Mr. Leach, are presently Trustees and were elected by the shareholders in May, 2004. All nominees have consented to serve if elected.
Nominees(1) Number of Positions Held Portfolios Other Directorships with in Fund Held by Trustee Trust and Complex(4) (The position held is Name, Address(2) Length of Principal Occupation(s) Overseen a directorship unless and Date of Birth Service(3) During Past 5 Years by Trustee indicated otherwise.) Interested Trustees(5) Diana P. Herrmann Trustee since Vice Chair and Chief Executive 10 None New York, NY 1994, President Officer of Aquila Management (02/25/58) since 1998, and Corporation, Founder of the Vice Chair of the Aquilasm Group of Funds(6) and Board since 2003 parent of Aquila Investment Management LLC, Manager, since 2004, President and Chief Operating Officer since 1997, a Director since 1984, Secretary since 1986 and previously its Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, 1986-1997; Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chair since 2004 and President, Chief Operating Officer and Manager of the Manager since 2003; Vice Chair, President, Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President of funds in the Aquilasm Group of Funds since 1986; Director of the Distributor since 1997; trustee, Reserve Money-Market Funds, 1999-2000 and Reserve Private Equity Series, 1998-2000; Governor, Investment Company Institute (2004) and head of its Small Funds Committee since 2004; active in charitable and volunteer organizations. John W. Mitchell Trustee since Principal of M & H Economic 1 None Portland, OR 1999 Consultants; Economist, Western (07/13/44) Region, for U. S. Bancorp since 1998; Chief Economist, U.S. Bancorp, Portland, Oregon, 1983-1998; member, Oregon Governor's Council of Economic Advisors, 1984-1998; Chairman, Oregon Governor's Technical Advisory Committee for Tax Review in 1998. Non-interested Trustees James A. Gardner Chair of the President, Gardner Associates, an 1 None Terrebonne, OR Board since investment and real estate firm, since (07/22/43) 2005 and 1989; Partner, Ranch of the Canyons, a Trustee since real estate firm, since 1991; President 1986 Emeritus, Lewis and Clark College and Law School; director, Oregon High Desert Museum since 1989, Vice Chairman since 2002; active in civic, business, educational and church organizations in Oregon. Gary C. Cornia Trustee Director, Romney Institute of 4 None Orem, UT since 2002 Public Management, Marriott (06/24/48) School of Management, Brigham Young University, 2004 - present; Professor, Marriott School of Management, 1980 - present; Past President, the National Tax Association; Fellow, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2002-2003; Associate Dean, Marriott School of Management, Brigham Young University, 1991-2000; Utah Governor's Tax Review Committee since 1993. Edmund P. Jensen Trustee since President and CEO, VISA 1 BMG-Seltec, a software Portland, OR 2003 International, 1994-1999; company. (4/13/37) director: Phoenix Technologies, a Tech/BIOS company, 2000 - present; Corillian Corp., a banking software company, 2000 - 2002; Trintech, a payment software company, 1999 - 2002. Timothy J. Leach None Executive Vice President & Chief 1 None Orinda, CA Investment Officer, U.S. Trust (08/28/55) Company, 2004-present; Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, Private Asset Management Group, Wells Fargo Bank, San Francisco, CA, 1999-2003; President and Chief Investment Officer, ABN Amro Asset Management (USA), 1998-1999; President & Chief Investment Officer, Qualivest Capital Management Inc. and Senior Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, Trust & Investment Group, US Bancorp, Portland, OR, 1994-1998; Trustee of Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, 2001-2002. Ralph R. Shaw Trustee since President, Shaw Management 1 Schnitzer Steel Industries, Portland, OR 2000 Company, an investment Inc., Magni Systems, Inc., (08/23/38) counseling firm, since 1980, Integra Telecom, Inc., General Partner, Shaw Venture Telestream, Inc., BMG Seltec Partners since 1983, Shaw Corporation, Rentrak Venture Partners II since 1987 Corporation. and Shaw Venture Partners III since 1994 (US Bancorp, parent of the Sub-Adviser, is a limited partner in the last three ventures). Nancy Wilgenbusch Trustee since President, Marylhurst University 1 Chair, Oregon Regional Marylhurst, OR 2002 since 1984; member, Ethics Advisory Board for (09/17/47) Committee of the American PacifiCorp; West Coast Institute of Certified Public Bank's Board; director, Accountants; former Chair, Cascade Corporation, a Portland Branch of the Federal leading international Reserve Bank of San Francisco; manufacturer of lift truck active board member of a number attachments, director, of civic organizations. Scottish Power Other Individuals Trustees Emeritus Lacy B. Herrmann Trustee Founder and Chairman of the N/A N/A New York, NY Emeritus since Board, Aquila Management (05/12/29) 2005 and Corporation, the sponsoring Founder organization and parent of the Manager or Administrator and/or Adviser or Sub-Adviser to each fund of the Aquilasm Group of Funds, Chairman of the Manager or Administrator and/or Adviser or Sub-Adviser to each since 2004, and Founder, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Trustee and (currently or until 1998) President of each since its establishment, beginning in 1984, except Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust, Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust and Pacific Capital U.S. Government Securities Cash Assets Trust through 2003, Trustee until 2004 and Chairman of the Board, Emeritus since 2004; Director of the Distributor since 1981 and formerly Vice President or Secretary, 1981-1998; Trustee Emeritus, Brown University and the Hopkins School; active in university, school and charitable organizations. David B. Frohnmayer Trustee President, University of Oregon N/A N/A Eugene, OR Emeritus since since 1994; former Dean of the (07/09/40) 2003 University of Oregon Law School and former Attorney General of the State of Oregon; Trustee, Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, 1997-2003. A Trustee Emeritus may attend Trustee meetings but has no voting power. Officers Charles E. Executive Vice Executive Vice President of all N/A N/A Childs, III President funds in the Aquilasm Group of New York, NY since 2003 Funds and the Manager since (04/01/57) 2003; Senior Vice President, corporate development, formerly Vice President, Assistant Vice President and Associate of the Manager's parent since 1987; Senior Vice President, Vice President or Assistant Vice President of the Aquila Money-Market Funds, 1988-2003 James M. McCullough Senior Vice Senior Vice President or Vice N/A N/A Portland, OR (06/11/45) President President of Aquila Rocky since 1999 Mountain Equity Fund and four Aquila Bond Funds; Senior Vice President of the Distributor since 2000; Director of Fixed Income Institutional Sales, CIBC Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Seattle, WA, 1995-1999. Jerry G. McGrew Senior Vice President of the Distributor N/A N/A New York, NY (06/18/44) President since 1998, Registered Principal since 2002 since 1993, Senior Vice President, 1997-1998 and Vice President, 1993-1997; Senior Vice President, Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund and five Aquila Bond Funds since 1995; Vice President, Churchill Cash Reserves Trust, 1995-2001. Sally J. Church Vice President Vice President, Tax-Free Trust N/A N/A Portland, OR since 2002 of Oregon since 2002 and (10/17/48) 1989-1997; retired, 1997-2002; Vice President of Aquila Cascadia Equity Fund, 1996-1997. Christine L. Neimeth Vice President Vice President of Aquila Rocky N/A N/A Portland, OR since 1998 Mountain Equity Fund and (02/10/64) Tax-Free Trust of Oregon; Management Information Systems consultant, Hillcrest Ski and Sport, 1997; Institutional Municipal Bond Salesperson, Pacific Crest Securities, 1996; active in college alumni and volunteer organizations. Robert W. Anderson Chief Chief Compliance Officer of the N/A N/A New York, NY (08/23/40) Compliance Trust, the Manager and the Officer since Distributor since 2004, 2004 and Compliance Officer of the Assistant Manager or its predecessor and Secretary current parent since 1998 and since 2000 Assistant Secretary of the Aquilasm Group of Funds since 2000; Consultant, The Wadsworth Group, 1995-1998. Joseph P. DiMaggio Chief Chief Financial Officer of the N/A N/A New York, NY Financial Aquilasm Group of Funds since (11/06/56) Officer since 2003 and Treasurer since 2000; 2003 and Controller, Van Eck Global Treasurer Funds, 1993-2000. since 2000 Edward M. W. Hines Secretary Partner, Hollyer Brady Barrett & N/A N/A New York, NY since 1985 Hines LLP, legal counsel to the (12/16/39) Trust, since 1989; Secretary of the Aquilasm Group of Funds. John M. Herndon Assistant Assistant Secretary of the N/A N/A New York, NY (12/17/39) Secretary Aquilasm Group of Funds since since 1995 1995 and Vice President of the three Aquila Money-Market Funds since 1990; Vice President of the Manager or its predecessor and current parent since 1990. Lori A. Vindigni Assistant Assistant Treasurer of the N/A N/A New York, NY Treasurer Aquilasm Group of Funds since (11/02/66) since 2000 2000; Assistant Vice President of the Manager or its predecessor and current parent since 1998; Fund Accountant for the Aquilasm Group of Funds, 1995-1998.
(1 ) The Trust's Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request by calling 800-437-1020 (toll free). (2) The mailing address of each Trustee and officer is c/o Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, 380 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017. (3) Each Trustee holds office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until his or her successor is elected and qualifies. The term of office of each officer is one year. (4) Includes certain Aquila-sponsored funds that are dormant and have no public shareholders. (5) Ms. Herrmann is an interested person of the Fund as an officer of the Fund, as a director, officer and shareholder of the Manager's corporate parent, as an officer and Manager of the Manager, and as a shareholder and director of the Distributor. (6) In this material Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust, Pacific Capital U.S. Government Securities Cash Assets Trust and Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust, each of which is a money-market fund, are called the "Aquila Money-Market Funds"; Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, Tax-Free Trust of Arizona, Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado, Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Narragansett Insured Tax-Free Income Fund and Tax-Free Fund For Utah, each of which is a tax-free municipal bond fund, are called the "Aquila Bond Funds"; Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund is an equity fund; considered together, these 11 funds, which do not include the dormant funds described in footnote 4, are called the "Aquilasm Group of Funds." Securities Holdings of the Trustees (as of 12/31/04) Dollar Range of Aggregate Dollar Range Name of Ownership in Tax-Free of Ownership in Trustee Trust of Oregon(1) Aquilasm Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee(1) Interested Trustees Diana P. Herrmann B E John W. Mitchell C C Non-interested Trustees Gary C. Cornia B D James A. Gardner B B Edmund P. Jensen C C Patricia L. Moss E E Ralph R. Shaw E E Nancy Wilgenbusch B B (1) A. None B. $1-$10,000 C. $10,001-$50,000 D. $50,001-$100,000 E. over $100,000 None of the non-interested Trustees or their immediate family members holds of record or beneficially any securities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor. The Trust does not currently pay fees to any of the Trust's officers or to Trustees affiliated with the Manager or the Sub-Adviser. For its fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, the Trust paid a total of $143,862 in compensation and reimbursement of expenses to the Trustees. No other compensation or remuneration of any type, direct or contingent, was paid by the Trust to its Trustees. The Trust is one of the 11 funds in the Aquilasm Group of Funds, which consist of tax-free municipal bond funds, money-market funds and an equity fund. The following table lists the compensation of all nominees for Trustee who received compensation from the Trust or from other funds in the Aquilasm Group of Funds during the Trust's fiscal year. None of such Trustees has any pension or retirement benefits from the Trust or any of the other funds in the Aquila group. Compensation Number of from all boards on Compensation funds in the which the from the Aquilasm Trustee Name Trust Group Serves TO BE UPDATED Gary C. Cornia $9,350 $24,350 4 James A. Gardner 9,950 10,325 1 Edmund P. Jensen 400 400 1 John W. Mitchell 9,100 9,100 1 Ralph R. Shaw 10,350 10,350 1 Nancy Wilgenbusch 9,000 9,000 1 Class A Shares may be purchased without a sales charge by certain of the Trust's Trustees and officers. The Trust's Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aquila Management Corporation ("AMC"), founder of each fund in the Aquilasm Group of Funds. As of February 28, 2005, these funds had aggregate assets of approximately $4.1 billion, of which approximately $2.5 billion consisted of assets of the tax-free municipal bond funds. AMC's address is the same as that of the Manager. AMC is controlled by Mr. Lacy B. Herrmann, through share ownership directly, through two trusts and by his wife. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, the Trust paid $1,764,876 in management fees. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, $542,073 was paid under Part I of the Trust's Distribution Plan to Qualified Recipients with respect to the Class A Shares, of which $23,353 was retained by the Distributor. With respect to Class C Shares, during the same period $321,397 was paid under Part II of the Plan and $107,132 was paid under the Shareholder Services Plan. Of these total payments of $428,529, the Distributor received $63,280. All of such payments were for compensation. The Distributor currently handles the distribution of the funds in the Aquilasm Group of Funds, including the Trust. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is responsible for the payment of certain printing and distribution costs relating to prospectuses and reports as well as the costs of supplemental sales literature, advertising and other promotional activities. The shares of the Distributor are owned 24% by Diana P. Herrmann, 72% by Mr. Herrmann and other members of his immediate family, and the balance by current employees of Aquila Investment Management LLC. Other Information on Trustees The Trustees have appointed a standing Audit Committee consisting of all of the Trustees who are "independent" and are not "interested persons" of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. The members of the Audit Committee are Gary C. Cornia, James A. Gardner, Edmund P. Jensen, Ralph R. Shaw and Nancy Wilgenbusch. The Committee (i) selects the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm (subject to shareholder ratification); (ii) reviews the methods, scope and result of audits and the fees charged; and (iii) reviews the adequacy of the Trust's internal accounting procedures and controls. Selection of the independent registered public accounting firm is also ratified by the Board of Trustees. The Audit Committee held one meeting during the Trust's last fiscal year. The Board of Trustees has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. During the Trust's last fiscal year, the Board of Trustees held four meetings. Each current Trustee was present for at least 75% of the total number of Board meetings and Audit Committee meetings (if such Trustee was a member of that committee). The Trust's policy is that all Trustees who can do so attend the Annual Meeting. The Trust has a Nominating Committee, consisting of all of the Independent Trustees. The Nominating Committee held one meeting during the last fiscal year. The committee will consider nominees recommended by the shareholders who may send recommendations to the committee in care of the Manager at 380 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017. The charter of the Nominating Committee is available on the Trust's website at www.aquilafunds.com. Since the beginning of the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year, no Trustee purchased or sold more than 1% of the outstanding shares of any class of shares of the Manager, Sub-Adviser or the parents or subsidiaries of either. Vote Required To be elected, each nominee must receive the affirmative votes of a majority of the shares present. Ratification or Rejection of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Proposal No. 2) KPMG LLP ("KPMG"), which is currently serving as the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, has been selected by the Trust's Audit Committee and ratified by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, as the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. Such selection is submitted to the shareholders for ratification or rejection. The following table represents fees for professional audit services rendered by KPMG for the audit of the Trust's annual financial statements for 2003 and 2004, and fees billed for other services rendered by KPMG. 2003 2004 Audit Fees $20,100 $20,700 Audit related fees 0 0 Audit and audit related fees 20,100 20,700 Tax fees (1) 10,067 8,100 All other fees 0 0 Total $30,167 $28,800 (1) Tax fees consisted of fees for tax consultation and tax compliance services. KPMG did not perform any services during the last fiscal year for the Trust's investment adviser (the Manager) or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Manager that provides services to the Trust. All audit and non-audit services performed by KPMG on behalf of the Trust or non-audit services performed on behalf of affiliated entities within the investment company complex where such engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Trust are pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Services to be considered between meetings of the Committee are pre-approved by a selected member of the Committee in accordance with applicable regulations and subject to additional procedures established by the Committee. The Audit Committee has reviewed all services performed and fees charged by KPMG and has accepted KPMG's representation that it is independent in recommending re-appointment of it for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. KPMG has no direct or indirect financial interest in the Trust, the Manager or the Sub-Adviser. It is expected that representatives of KPMG will not be present at the meeting but will be available should any matter arise requiring their presence. Vote Required Approval requires the affirmative votes of a majority of the shares present. Receipt of Shareholder Proposals Under the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, shareholder proposals meeting tests contained in those rules may, under certain conditions, be included in the Trust's proxy statement and proxy card for a particular annual meeting. One of these conditions relates to the timely receipt by the Trust of any such proposal. Under these rules, proposals submitted for inclusion in the proxy material for the Trust's next annual meeting after the meeting to which this Proxy Statement relates must be received by the Trust not less than 120 days before the anniversary of the date stated in this Proxy Statement for the first mailing of this Proxy Statement. The date for such submission could change, depending on the scheduled date for the next annual meeting; if so, shareholders will be notified. The fact that the Trust receives a shareholder proposal in a timely manner does not insure its inclusion in the Trust's proxy material, since there are other requirements in the proxy rules relating to such inclusion. Other Business The Trust does not know of any other matter which will come up for action at the Meeting. If any other matter or matters properly come up for action at the Meeting, including any adjournment of the Meeting, the proxy holders will vote the shares which your proxy card, telephone or Internet vote entitles them to vote, in accordance with their judgment on such matter or matters, except as noted. That is, by signing and returning your proxy card or by voting by telephone or the Internet, you give the proxy holders discretionary authority as to any such matter or matters. IMPORTANT NOTICE PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY Tax-Free Trust of Oregon NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS to be held on May 17, 2005 PROXY STATEMENT THE AQUILASM GROUP OF FUNDS 380 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 2300 NEW YORK, NY 10017 VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET OR MAIL 24 Hours a day, 7 days a week TELEPHONE 1-888-221-0697 To vote your shares by telephone, call toll free 1-888-221-0697. Follow the simple recorded instructions using this proxy card as a guide. If you vote by phone, you need not return the proxy card by mail. INTERNET VOTING www.proxyweb.com/aquila To vote your shares by the Internet, contact the Trust at www.proxyweb.com/aquila. Follow the simple instructions at the website, using your proxy card as a guide. If you vote by the Internet, you need not return the proxy card by mail. MAIL You can vote your shares by completing and returning this proxy card. Please mark your proxy, date and sign it below and return it promptly in the accompanying envelope which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing. Aquilasm Group of Funds Tax-Free Trust of Oregon Proxy for Shareholder Meeting May 17, 2005 Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Trustees The shareholder(s) of Tax-Free Trust of Oregon (the "Trust") whose signature(s)appears below does/do hereby appoint LACY B. HERRMANN, DIANA P. HERRMANN and EDWARD M. W. HINES, or any of them, as attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Trust to be held on Monday, May 17, 2005 at the World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, Oregon, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, and at all adjournments thereof, and thereat to vote the shares held in the name of the undersigned on the record date for said meeting on the matters listed on the reverse side. Such shares are entitled to one vote for every dollar of net asset value represented by the share balance printed below. Please read the proxy statement prior to voting. Annual Meeting Attendance We encourage you to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. If you can join us, please so indicate on the proxy card or e-mail us at info@aquilafunds.com Address changes/comments: _______________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ (If you noted any address changes/comments above, please mark corresponding box on other side.) Dated: __________________, 2005 _________________________________ Signature(s) PLEASE SIGN IN THE BOX PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S) APPEAR(S) ON THIS PROXY CARD. When signing as a custodian, attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, etc., please sign your full title as such. Joint owners should each sign. Tax-Free Trust of Oregon Please fill in box(es) as shown using black or blue ink or number 2 pencil. [X] PLEASE DO NOT USE FINE POINT PENS 1. Election of Trustees 01) Gary C. Cornia; 02) James A. Gardner; 03) Diana P. Herrmann*; 04) Edmund P. Jensen; 05) Timothy J. Leach; 06) John W. Mitchell*; 07) Ralph R. Shaw; 8) Nancy Wilgenbusch * interested Trustees __ [__] FOR ALL __ [__] WITHHOLD ALL __ [__] FOR ALL EXCEPT ____________________ INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for one or more (but not all) nominees, mark "FOR ALL EXCEPT" and write the nominee number(s) and/ or name(s) on the line above. [bolded in printed form] Management recommends a vote FOR all nominees listed above and FOR the proposal listed below. The shares represented hereby will be voted as indicated at right or FOR if no choice is indicated. 2. Action on selection of KPMG LLP as independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal No.2 in Proxy Statement) __ __ __ FOR [__] AGAINST [__] ABSTAIN [__] As to any other matter said proxies shall vote in accordance with their best judgment. __ I plan to attend the annual meeting in Portland [__] __ I plan to attend the outreach meeting in Eugene [__] __ I plan to attend the outreach meeting in Roseburg [__] For address changes and/or comments, please check the box at right and write them on the front where indicated. _ [_] THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----