56572 had a long conversation with Chamber Jane this morning. She couldn't sleep. No wonder.
The rumors are true. CJ was terminated yesterday, her keys to the HCH taken.
CJ feels she was ambushed. She terms the current Chamber Board of Directors as "a Runaway Board." She plans to retain counsel and fight her termination.
There was little transparency in this Board's decision. Members were not asked if they would agree to a dues increase to maintain the current level of service. The Board decided, seemingly unilaterally, that a volunteer staff will be just fine. Let's just go back to what we had before the three new Directors who ambushed CJ yesterday came to town.
The Three Henchmen work for companies whose bosses are Rotarians. Today would be Tuesday (Chamber meets tonight at 6 at the VFW), a take your employee to Rotary Tuesday. Point out to them the Rotary Four Way Test. CJ will be there.
Chamber members should start thinking about adding to the expense side of the ledger for upcoming legal fees. Chamber Directors might want to think about how much less to add to the revenue side on the line Membership Dues.
Meanwhile, no matter the process or the outcome of this latest local episode, we are a sad flock.
1 hour ago
12 comments:
I hope there is some room for negotiation here and we can retain Jane as our most excellant emissary for Pelican Rapids.Could you post the names of the current board of directors for the chamber?I hope its too soon to talk about farewell gifts and dinners,don't suppose CJ wants a giant painted pelican!!!
Isn't this standard operating procedure now for Pelican Rapids? The school, churches and co-ops do it. Why should the C of C be exempt? My hopes are that Jane walks out of court a millionaire.
Philip:
Does the fact that, even as a Chamber member, I cannot give you a list of who the current Board members are reflect my apathy, their lack of communication (desire for anonymity?) or both?
Anonymous:
Could you define a bit more clearly your idea of the current 56572 SOP(Standard Operating Procedure)? Maybe even dare to be clear about who you are?
Who else is waiting for the rest of the story? Are we going to read about it in the Press and the Forum or will the board offer some details to their membership before their attorney tells them to keep mum. If this was a tough decision that had to be made there should be no shame in stating the facts, however, consideration should also be given to choosing drastic measures as a last resort. Hopefully the board has the best interest of the membership in mind and they treat CJ with the respect and dignity she deserves.
Lost in the angst over the revelations in 56572 yesterday is the first public indication that the other Chamber employee, Julie Lammers, is also leaving. Are we actually seeing the collapse of our business associatiopn before our eyes?
While Julie's departure appears to be at her request it leaves us without any proffesional staff at all!
While I cannot be at the Chamber meeting this evening I assume the Board will provide a clear and transparent explaination of the situation. While I do not know the new directors well those that served with me in the earlier terms were serious and dedicated servants of the membership.
I suspect that the shortfall of Chamber revenue in the current years is a real and serious situation leading to an inability to pay professional staff much less the much the high salary that would be needed to pay replacements for Jane and Julie.
I beg you, please, do not let the discussion tonight, deflect us from appreciation of two imdividuals who have served our business and community needs for many years.
Board members, I expect that your honesty and transparency will save the day and demonstrate to us that neither Jane nor Julie have cause to doubt our decent intentions and that litigation and discord neither serve them or us as individuals or businesses.
Joe Hilber
Small Business Owner,
Chamber Member
Volunteer Staff:
Someone to take care of the Tourist Information Center 6-7days a week, answer the phone, questions about Pelican
send out materials, visit the resorts, solicit new members, attract new businesses to Pelican
Attend Chamber Meetings, Rotary Meetings, State Tourism Meetings, Birding Trail Meetings,
Maplewood State Park Meetings...
Attend Tourism Trade Shows...set up the Minnow Races, Market Days, Christmas Craft Shows open houses ....etc. etc...
These are just a few of the many jobs Jane took care of in her 40-60 hour work week
I do not know how the Chamber can afford not to have her!
Good luck with the Volunteers!!
Just tuned in...but think it's incredible that all of the comments are cursing the board, but these contributors haven't bothered to show up at a meeting for as long as it takes to know who the board members are?! Don't know much about it, but should we always prejudge the situation? Seems like the same people always want to have everyone's voice in EVERY decision...Why even have a board for anything...If Everyone gets a vote on Every decision of Every business and Every entity in our town, area, county, state and so on...how do we expect to move forward on ANYTHING? We don't know the ins and outs of these decisions and need to wait to see the plans to judge correctly.
I'm sure Jane is a very nice lady. But, there must be good reason that the Chamber took this action. As far as a lawsuit goes.. good luck Jane it ain't goin' happen. People can fire people it's just the sad truth of it all, go out with your head high, and don't waste your much needed money on lawyers who can't do a thing.
Jim,
You wrote that "56572 is about building and sustaining community" yet you continue to spread malicious gossip and hear-say yourself and allow others to anonymously do the same or worse. Some very good people have been emotionally and financially damaged by this blog.
I challenge you to use the Four-Way Test in all you write and allow others to write on your blog.
The Four-Way Test asks the following four questions:
"Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"
Mary Johnson
Jim, I think the blog has been good for all of us, at least it makes us think.. which is almost always a good thing! Keep doing what your doing. MJ chill.
I wish to thank Mary Johnson for sharing her opinion on the 56572 blog. It is refreshing to to see someone certain enough of her opinion to sign her contribution to the public dialog. Thank you, Mary.
While I frequently disagree with Jim, his blog serves a critical community need. Even though I am a passionate supporter of the Pelican Rapids Chamber of Commerce I would never have known about the topic of last night’s Chamber meeting if it were not for Jim’s blog. While I was out of town at the time, his early warning allowed me to have some small input to the this critical membership meeting. I understand that more members were present and contributed than has been the case in months. This was due in part to Jim’s sticking his neck (his opinion) out.
Blogs , by their nature, are vehicles for opinions and we should not be surprised that we sometime or often disagree with the author. Jim’s blog reveals a strong love for Pelican Rapids and its citizens which always impresses me. If more of us were as transparent with our opinions like Mary and Jim our public discourse would be more loving and fruitful,
Thank you, Jim, Mary, Phillip, Mike, Jane and Julie and the Chamber Board for your dedication to us, the members of the Chamber, in this time of crisis.
I urge the businesses of the Pelican Rapids Area to renew their membership so that we can eventually restore the level of benefits we have enjoyed of recent years. If these benefit are being abandoned I assume we will see a reduction in dues. I, for one, do not support a reduction in benefits. The positive contribution of a full time Visitor’s Center and professional leadership is critical to many of our current businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our community. I pray that the current severe reduction in benefits will be short lived and, by spring, can be restored and enhanced.
Joe Hilber
Small Business Owner
Chamber Member
Who does one contact to offer their help to the chamber as a volunteer?
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