[Vision2020] Chamber President and FirstBank

[Art Deco aka W. Fox]

Joan, Scott, Tom, Dan, et al,

Joan has made two very important points in her posts today.

1.    In an earlier post, she mentioned double entry accounting software.  Had
the chamber been using even one of the most inexpensive of these programs, their
books would not be out of balance.  Accounting software is designed (when
properly working) so that an unbalanced entry cannot be made.  But being in
balance is only one step in having accurate books; other problems can occur if
all entries are not accurately entered in a timely manner.

2.    Joan give the short list of documented, undeniable, business-wise and
sensitivity-wise unforgivable, sometimes asinine problems that have occurred
because of Kimmell's ineptitude.  Given the current brouhaha, is it possible now
for Kimmell to ever regain the confidence of the community?  Will it ever be
possible for him to lead a respected and well-liked chamber?  How will this
current mess affect the mission and future of the chamber and the community?

Many think that the answers to the above questions portend that Kimmell,
whatever his strengths (affability is certainly one of them), will never be able
to be an effective, unifying leader for the chamber.

An honorable person in his position would have the grace to resign and gain at
least some measure of community respect back.  If not, a conscientious chamber
board who is aware of all of its responsibilities and duties would take the
obvious step for the health and future of the chamber, and for the health and
future of the community which in the past it has served so well regardless of
the initial pain incurred.

Wayne

Art Deco  (Wayne Fox)
deco at moscow.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joan Opyr
  To: Scott Dredge ; Vision2020 Moscow
  Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 1:01 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Chamber President and FirstBank


  Scott writes:

  >I can also look up my bank and brokerage accounts
  >online - and even my Alaska Airlines Visa account -
  >and get my balances to the penny.  However, if I were
  >talking to a reporter and for some reason I felt the
  >need to quote balances for any of these accounts I
  >would likely be off by a fair percentage.  We're
  >ratholing on this issue.

  >I'm not overly concerned about ballpark numbers that
  >come up in the course of a conversation with a
  >reporter.  My question is this...is the Chamber in
  >financial dire straits and, if so, why?


  Can I get an amen from the choir?  Why make up a number and thus look
uniformed?  Why not simply refuse to answer the question?  Hem, haw, shuffle
some papers, and say, "I'll have to get back to you on that."  Works for John
Kerry and George Bush.

  Scott is right.  Is the Chamber or is it not in dire financial straits?  If
the Chamber board chooses the path of inaction regarding Paul Kimmell's
management problems, bookkeeping problems, hiring problems, and (the
seven-minute icing on this doorstop of a fruitcake) the decision to orchestrate
a Robert E. Lee leadership retreat, then what will the fallout be among Chamber
members?  How many will resign, taking their thousands of dollars in membership
dues with them?  Good questions, all, and all unanswered.

  Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment

  PS: I'd like to propose an alternative for those businesses who no longer feel
comfortable with the Chamber of Commerce.  You are welcome instead to join
Auntie Establishment's Chamber of Horrors.  I can't guarantee you a year-round
sales boost, but come Halloween, you'll be swamped with customers.  Opyr is the
Ukrainian word for vampire, you know.  Oh wait, you didn't know?  Oops!  What a
giveaway!

  Listen to the children of the night  . . . what beautiful music they make.


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