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<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="+5" color="#000000"><b>COLUMN:
Trying to live peaceable lives in Moscow<br>
<br>
</b></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="+3"
color="#000000"><i>Paul J. Kimmell<br>
</i>As a child, I would wander through Philadelphia staring at the
Liberty Bell and through Independence Hall not knowing what that
"experiment in liberty" was all about or that the men who
signed the Declaration of Independence had risked their lives,
fortunes, honor, and reputations for a very risky proposition.<br>
<br>
During my years of public service, I've come to realize the great
amount of scrutiny that one in such a position is under. Much has been
written of my dual roles of late, both as a Latah County commissioner
and as executive director of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce.<br>
<br>
Unlike some in the media and in the community, I am accountable to all
of you in one form or another. For the record, I wish to respond to
some of these recent attacks on my character and the organizations I
work for.<br>
<br>
First of all, I want to assure those of you involved in the chamber of
commerce our financial situation is not grim but in fact fairly
healthy. In the 3 1/2 years I have been with the organization, our
bottom line has improved steadily. While some of our numbers have been
taken out of context, it is difficult to explain them without looking
at them as a whole and in one setting, which is what our
Executive/Finance Committee does every month. They have realized areas
that needed to be fine-tuned, and have provided great direction to our
outside bookkeeper, making sure each account is properly
categorized.<br>
<br>
During this process, some items have needed to be moved from the
Chamber Foundation to the Chamber - again, per the
Executive/Finance Committee. That is what some of these numbers that
have been discussed reflect. This committee is well aware of the
Foundation's and the Chamber's status - none of these decisions
have been made without their direction, contrary to what some have
implied. This same volunteer-based committee and Chamber Board
continue to provide this important oversight while making suggestions
as to how we provide our membership and the community with quality
services. This is a group of small-business owners dedicated to
improving and protecting Moscow's quality of life and business.<br>
<br>
I am also very proud of our chamber staff and the tremendous amount of
work they produce on behalf of Moscow and its businesses. Like many of
you, they're overworked and underpaid, but I appreciate how well they
represent this community when the phone rings or a visitor stops in
for travel information.<br>
<br>
As the community's "front door," the chamber is often the
first impression someone has of Moscow. We take this responsibility
seriously and we make sure it is a warm and inviting one. We operate
on a fairly small budget and we rely on the great generosity of our
business community to help us provide these services.<br>
<br>
Can we do better? Absolutely.<br>
<br>
I'm often reminded just how fortunate we are to live in a place where
crime is low, the air is clean and the culture is abundant.<br>
<br>
I am also very aware of the importance in protecting these assets, our
farms and farmlands, our forests and lumber mills, our water and other
resources, our businesses and institutions and, most importantly, our
people and our community's rich heritage.<br>
<br>
Moscow is a great community full of genuine, caring and active
citizens. I am thankful that I live in a country where I have not
needed to worry about liberty or freedom, that the past and present
sacrifices of those in the armed forces protect us.<br>
<br>
As of late, however, there has been a small but loud group of
displeased persons who claim tolerance, yet they are showing how
intolerant they are of other religious and/or moral views.<br>
<br>
It's important for me, and others, to keep in mind the majority of us
are trying to live in an area that we are convinced is one of the best
places on Earth to live and raise our families.<br>
<br>
I am concerned some have grown suspicious of others in our community
and harsh words have been expressed. Accusations have been made about
one another and those who have control of the "public
square."</font></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="+3" color="#000000"><br>
Moscow is far too good a town for this kind of behavior to continue.
Our founding fathers would have expected more, and so should we.<br>
<br>
* Paul J. Kimmell is executive director of the Moscow Chamber of
Commerce and a Latah County commissioner.</font></div>
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