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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION |
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PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) |
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OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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Filed by the Registrant |
[X] |
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |
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Check the appropriate box: |
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12 |
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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(if you checked "filed by registrant above" do not fill this in: Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): |
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11: |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Total Fee Paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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Filing Party: |
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Date Filed: |
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Spartan Maryland Municipal Income Fund
Telephone Voting Script
Introduction
Hello, Mr./Ms. (Shareholder). My name is ___________. I am calling on behalf of Fidelity Investments following up on a recent proxy mailing they sent you regarding the Spartan Maryland Municipal Income Fund. I'm assisting Fidelity in connection with the proxy vote to approve several important proposals that affect the fund and your investment in it. I am calling you to encourage you to vote your proxy if you have not yet done so.
Have you received the proxy material? The package was mailed in July. (Describe the mailings to the shareholder if he/she does not recall it ==> 6"x9" WHITE envelope P.O. Box 9131 Hingham, MA 02043-0131 return address.)
If NO: Confirm shareholder's address for the purpose of sending proxy materials.
Q: Could I please confirm your address for the purpose of sending proxy materials to you?
(If address is incorrect, please write down correct address at end of script under "Comments" and forward to Fidelity.)
Tell the shareholder that a new package will be mailed to him/her. Ask the shareholder to review the material upon receipt and vote his/her shares by signing, dating and mailing the proxy card in the return envelope provided, before the shareholder meeting September 13th. Inform the shareholder that if he/she wishes to vote by touch tone phone, toll-free he/she may do so using the information located on the proxy card. Thank the shareholder for his/ her time. (End phone call.)
I will have a new proxy package mailed to you. Please review the material when you receive it and vote your shares by signing, dating and mailing the proxy card in the return envelope provided, to ensure that your vote is counted at the shareholder meeting scheduled for September 13th. If you would like to vote by touch tone phone, toll-free, follow the instructions on your proxy card. Or, you may fax your signed proxy card to 1-888 - 451-VOTE (8683). Thank you for your time this evening. (End call.)
If YES: Q: Have you reviewed the material?
If NO: Please review the material at your earliest convenience and vote your shares by signing, dating and mailing the proxy card in the return envelope provided, to ensure that your vote is counted at the shareholder meeting scheduled on September 13th. If you would like to vote by touch tone phone, toll-free, follow the instructions on your proxy card. If you would like to vote by fax, you may fax your signed proxy card to 1-888-451-8683.
If YES: Do you have any questions?
If YES: Only answer questions using the proxy material. (See attached list of approved Q&A). (DO NOT GUESS). If the shareholder has questions that are account-specific and outside the scope of the proxy statement, ask if they would like to be transferred to a Fidelity representative.
If YES: Conference in Fidelity at 1-800-544-3198, introduce the customer, and transfer the call. (End call.)
I'd be glad to transfer you to a Fidelity representative right now to help answer your questions. Please hold while I call Fidelity. (Once Fidelity rep answers and customer is still on hold ==> This is ______from DF King. We are assisting Fidelity in calling Spartan Maryland Municipal Income Fund shareholders to encourage them to vote the proxy that was recently mailed to them. I have a shareholder on hold and they have further questions I am unable to answer. Could you please speak to him/her? (Then conference call in customer and introduce customer to Fidelity rep ==> Hello, Mr./Ms. ______, I have ________ from Fidelity on the line and he/she'll be happy to help answer your questions. Thank you. (Transfer customer and end call.)
If NO: Politely refer them to Fidelity at 1-800-544-3198. Thank the shareholder for his/ her time. (End phone call.)
If shareholder sounds hostile:
Thank the shareholder for his/ her time. (End phone call.)
Okay, I will give you Fidelity's phone number in case you'd like to
call them at another time. The phone number is 1-800-544-3198.
Thank you for your time this evening. (End call.)
If not hostile: After answering all questions, offer the shareholder the opportunity to vote by telephone. Let the shareholder know that you will be recording the next part of the call, to ensure accuracy in his/her vote. Confirm the shareholder's identity by having him/her repeat his/her full name, address and the last 4 digits of his/her social security number. Record the shareholder's vote on the proposal.
If the shareholder asks how the Board of Trustees voted,
inform him/her that the Board of Trustees recommend a vote in favor of the proposals.
Inform the shareholder that a confirmation letter will be sent to him/her, with a phone number to call if an error was
made in recording his/her vote, or if he/she wishes to change his/her vote for any reason. Thank the shareholder for his/her time, and end the phone call.
To facilitate your voting of the proxy, you can vote by telephone. If you would like to vote by telephone, the next part of our call will be recorded. This is to ensure accuracy of your vote. Also, we will be sending you a confirmation letter for your records with a phone number to call in case any error was made in recording your vote, or if you wish to change your vote for any reason.
Would you like to vote by telephone?
If NO: Politely refer him/her to Fidelity at 1-800- 544-3198. (End call)
If YES: Confirm the shareholder's identity by having him/her repeat their full name, address and the last 4 digits of his/her social security number. Record the shareholder's vote on the proposals.
Could I please have the last four digits of your social security number? (If it doesn't match, ask for the last four digits of the social security number on the account.)
(If customer does not feel comfortable giving any part of his/her social security number, empathize and say that we require identification through this method to take a vote over the phone. If the customer is still uncomfortable, explain that while you cannot take the vote over the phone, you can mail him/her proxy materials and they can vote by mail or touch tone phone, toll-free.)
I understand that you may feel uncomfortable giving part of your social security number over the phone. It is part of our required procedures, however, to ensure proper identification before we take any votes over the phone. Is this OK with you? (If customer agrees, proceed with vote. If customer doesn't agree, offer to send proxy materials.)
Agrees to Give Last Four Digits of SSN:
Now I will read you the proposals and ask you whether you vote "For", "Against", or "Abstain".
Spartan Maryland Municipal Income Fund
The proposals are
1. To elect a Board of Trustees.
2. To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants of the funds.
3. To authorize the Trustees to adopt an amended and restated Declaration of Trust.
4. To amend Spartan Arizona Municipal Income Fund's, Spartan Maryland Municipal Income Fund's and Spartan Short-Intermediate Municipal Income Fund's fundamental investment limitation concerning the concentration of their investments in a single industry.
5. To amend each fund's fundamental investment limitation concerning underwriting.
Do you vote "For", "Against" or "Abstain?"
Thank you. As I mentioned, I'll be sure to send a confirmation of your vote to you by mail. Thanks for your time this evening. (End call.)
Does Not Agree to Give Last Four Digits of SSN: Unfortunately, I will not be able to take your vote over the phone. What I can do is have a new proxy package mailed to you. Please review the material when you receive it and vote your shares by signing, dating and mailing the proxy card in the return envelope provided, to ensure that your vote is counted at the shareholder meeting scheduled for September 13. If you would like to vote by touch tone phone, toll-free, follow the instructions on your proxy card. If you would like to vote by fax, you may fax your signed proxy card to 1-888-451-VOTE (8683). Thank you for your time this evening. (End call.)
Spartan Maryland Municipal Income Fund
Log Sheet
Date__________________
DF King Rep_________________
Address Correction
Social Security No. (record from database; do not ask shareholder)________________
Shareholder Name_______________________________________________________
Street Address _________________________________________________________
City_________________________ State_____________ Zip Code_________________
Materials to Be Sent
Proxy Card Only ________
Full Proxy Kit __________
Comments
Notable Shareholder Response____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Other Comments________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Was Shareholder Transferred to Fidelity Representative? Yes_______ No________
Spartan Maryland Municipal Income Fund
Script for Leaving a Message on an Answering Machine
Hello, Mr./Ms. (Shareholder). My name is ___________. I am calling on behalf of Fidelity Investments following up on a recent proxy mailing they sent you regarding the Spartan Maryland Municipal Income Fund . I'm assisting Fidelity in connection with the proxy vote to approve several important proposals that affect the fund and your investment in it.
As an owner of the Spartan Maryland Municipal Income Fund, you should have received proxy materials in the mail. At your earliest convenience, please sign, date and mail the proxy card in the return envelope provided to you. If you have any questions about the proposals or did not receive any proxy material, please call Fidelity at 1-800 544-3198
Q&A
On what proposals am I encouraged to vote?
You may be asked to vote on the following proposals:
1. To elect a Board of Trustees.
2. To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants of the funds.
3. To authorize the Trustees to adopt an amended and restated Declaration of Trust.
4. To amend Spartan Arizona Municipal Income Fund's, Spartan Maryland Municipal Income Fund's and Spartan Short-Intermediate Municipal Income Fund's fundamental investment limitation concerning the concentration of their investments in a single industry.
5. To amend each fund's fundamental investment limitation concerning underwriting.
What role does the Board play? (Proposal 1)
The Trustees oversee the investment policies of each fund. Members of the Board are fiduciaries and have an obligation to serve the best interests of shareholders. In addition, the Trustees review fund performance, oversee fund activities, and review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the funds.
What is the role of the independent accountants? (Proposal 2)
The independent accountants examine annual financial statements for the funds and provide other audit and tax-related services. They also sign or certify any financial statements of the funds that are required by law to be independently certified and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Why is the fund proposing to adopt an amended and restated Declaration of Trust? (Proposal 3)
The new Declaration of Trust gives the Trustees more flexibility, and, subject to the applicable requirements of federal and state law, broader authority to act. This increased flexibility may allow the Trustees to react more quickly to changes in competitive and regulatory conditions and, as a consequence, may allow the funds to operate in a more efficient and economical manner.
Adoption of the new Declaration of Trust will not alter the Trustees' existing fiduciary obligations to act in the best interests of the funds' shareholders. Before utilizing any new flexibility that the new Declaration of Trust may afford, the Trustees must first consider the shareholders' interests and act in accordance with such interests. Please review the proxy statement for specific details about this change.
Proposal 4: Why is the fund proposing to amend its fundamental investment limitation concerning concentration of its investments in a single industry?
The primary purpose of the proposed amendments is to clarify the fund's fundamental concentration limitation to conform to a limitation that is expected to become standard for all funds managed by FMR. Adoption of the proposed limitation is not expected to affect the way in which the fund is managed.
Proposal 5: Why is the fund proposing to amend its fundamental investment limitation concerning underwriting?
The primary purpose of the proposed amendment is to clarify the fund's fundamental investment limitation concerning underwriting to a limitation which is expected to become standard for all funds managed by FMR. Adoption of the proposed limitation is not expected to affect the way in which the fund is managed, the investment performance of the fund, or the securities or instruments in which the fund invests.
Has the fund's Board of Trustees approved each proposal?
Yes. The Board of Trustees has unanimously approved all of the proposals and recommends that you vote to approve them.
How many votes am I entitled to cast?
As a shareholder, you are entitled to one vote for each share you hold on the record date. The record date is July 17, 2000.
How do I vote my shares?
You can vote your shares by completing and signing the enclosed proxy card(s) and mailing it in the enclosed postage paid envelope. If you need any assistance, or have any questions regarding the proposals or how to vote your shares, please call Fidelity at 1-800-544-8888.
How do I sign the proxy card?
Individual Accounts: Shareholders should sign exactly as their names appear on the account registration shown on the card.
Joint Accounts: Either owner may sign, but the name of the person signing should conform exactly to a name shown in the registration.
All Other Accounts: The person signing must indicate his or her capacity. For example, a trustee for a trust or other entity should sign, "Ann B. Collins, Trustee."
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