"Side bets: silence, response, or wordsmithing?"

I'll take wordsmithing for $.99, Alex.

"Shareholders frequently disagree with management's way of doing things.  We are diligently working to achieve benefits for all involved.  Discovery, development and placement into the stream of commerce new sources of the base components of modern industry create new economic activity which multiplies in its inertial impact as it ripples throughout all levels of our society, creating jobs and opportunity not only for the current generation, but its progeny for many decades to come.  In business, there is no nobler cause.  I am honored and humbled as the recipient of such a profound mandate.  But, to move forward requires the coordinated contribution of many skilled and visionary people.  Your Board of Directors are such people."

Something like that.