[Vision2020] Vera White's column on Kimmell

[Tom Hansen]

I wonder if Commissioner Kimmell used the photograph of Confederate General
Lee that is so prominently displayed in Doug Wilson's office.

 

Tom "who knows that the North won the Civil War" Hansen

 

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From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Mark Solomon
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2004 3:05 PM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Vera White's column on Kimmell

 

INK: Chamber boss Kimmell ready to lead with Lee
Vera White
The INKster has wanted to believe during the past year or so that Latah
County Commissioner/ Moscow Chamber of Commerce Executive Director/Christ
Church member Paul Kimmell refused to let his personal beliefs figure into
business either at the courthouse or the chamber office.

But she was speechless when she received a call last week from an irate
chamber member expressing dismay with Kimmell's choice of leadership
materials used at the Aug. 5 annual board retreat in Gritman Medical
Center's conference room. For his 1:30 p.m. leadership power point
presentation, Kimmell chose to use Confederate General Robert E. Lee as the
world's greatest example of a leader among men.

The INKster was forwarded a copy of the 17-page "Robert E. Lee on
Leadership." In addition to numerous historic photos, the back page proudly
displayed the Confederate flag. Although it came as no surprise since Christ
Church leaders seemingly worship Lee along with God, the INKster didn't know
whether to laugh or cry.

"Some chamber members were appalled when they found out about this retreat,"
noted one of the INKster's sources. "But under a new ruling, only board
members were invited."

"Understanding and Applying the Leadership Principles of General Robert E.
Lee" describes Lee as a leader for all ages who "remade a rag-tag bunch of
men into one of the most impressive fighting forces history has ever known."
Further, "as a business man, he took a debt-ridden Virginia plantation and
streamlined its operations; and as a teacher who turned a backwater college
into a prestigious university."

Of course the INKster wasn't there, but she wonders if Lee might have had an
edge with local government officials who were able to reduce the taxes on
the plantation. No doubt there was cheap labor available. And she's curious
as to whether Kimmell used the University of Idaho or New St. Andrews
College as an example for the "backwater college."

Under the section marked "Leadership By Example," Kimmell notes that "part
of Lee's strength was his supreme confidence, tied to both his religious
convictions and that he had unsparingly done his duty to achieve the goals
set before him."

Be that as it may, the INKster wonders how the Robert E. Lee Method of
Leadership would play out with other chambers in the region. Throw in the
Confederate flag and she imagines Moscow will rightfully find itself a
laughingstock.

Interestingly, one of the items on the retreat agenda was a roundtable
discussion on "Marketing Moscow to Seniors." The INKster imagines she
wouldn't be the only old person offended by a group of the town's leading
business people paying homage to the Confederacy.

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