August 11, 2006

SEC Chairman Christopher Cox

Dear SEC Chairman Cox,

My wife and I own shares in several mutual funds.

We believe that it would be in our best interest, and in the best interest of most investors in mutual funds, if the boards of such funds were required [i] to have an independent chair and [ii] to be composed of directors at least three-quarters of whom were independent.

Sincerely,

Lawrence C. Foard
34 Tekoa Terrace
Westfield, Massachusetts 01085-2632