[Vision2020] Faith and fireworks and the Moscow Chamber

[Bill London]

D-
I am continuing this thread to let you know the history of distrust that I, for one, have with the Chamber.  And yes, I understand that you just got here and are hoping to change it.  That is why I am bothering to respond.
The Chamber chose to not admit that the former director resigned under duress and then chose to not respond to the former director's charges.  Those decisions were cloaked in that well-worn "can't ever comment on personnel decisions."  That despite the fact the former director had resigned, had left town, and had made some serious charges about the bias and incompetence of the Chamber board.  I thought then, and believe now, that the Chamber needed to explain its position and decisions.  At that point, it was no longer just a issue of personnel, the question had become the open-ness of the Chamber's decision-making.
As I noted before, that is just the latest example.  And hopefully, the last. 
Good luck
BL
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Darrell Keim 
  To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 3:10 PM
  Subject: [Vision2020] Faith and fireworks and the Moscow Chamber


  Bill and Vision 2020:

  A couple of comments added to Bill's well reasoned note.
   
  On 10/15/07, Bill London < london at moscow.com> wrote: 
    Like Bruce, I welcome a stronger Chamber of Commerce.  And one of the best ways to do that is for the Chamber to become something more than a businessman's club.

  Anyone that wants to help the Chamber in its mission is invited to join us, and will be considered for one of our sub-committees.  And, as I've already noted, our Board of Directors is selected via nominations from our membership. 


      After all, the Chamber does get a significant percentage of its operating money from the taxpayer through support from city of Moscow, etc.  My main complaint is the lack of transparency and open-ness in its decision-making. 

  I'm not sure that I can concur with this.  The city's support (both financial and otherwise) is crucial to our success.  But, numerically speaking, I believe they fund less than 10% of our operating budget.  

  Please don't misinterpret that to mean that we can be closed in our decision-making process.  It doesn't.  My prior post explained what our procedures are, and how we operate.  It seems a fairly democratic and fair structure to me.  If we appear opaque, I suspect people aren't asking our board or staff questions.  
   
    The sacking of the previous director (after just a few weeks on the job) and the refusal by the Chamber to admit or explain what was going on is the most recent example.
    I hope the new director will break open the culture of secrecy at the Chamber.

  I'm surprised you'd bring this up as your example.  Surely you understand that the Chambers hands were tied on this.  Personel matters can not, and should not be addressed publicly.  You know better, Bill!  


    Keim speaking directly through V2020 is a good start

  Happy to do so.  I believe knowledge about how our Chamber functions and what it does are the best way to address questions people may have.  I'm happy to speak to people that drop by the office, too.


    BL
    Darrell Keim


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