Insanity back home
By Avelino Maestas on Jul 27, 2008 in Personal
I don’t read my hometown newspapers as often as I would like. Therefore, the recent news that the Chamber of Commerce board refused executive director Nicole Robbins’ request for a three month working leave of absence comes as a shock. I know the board members, and I’m left wondering how they possibly arrived at their decision.
From a purely practical standpoint, how long will it take to begin a search for a new director, conduct interviews, and hire somebody? After that, wait for the new director to learn about the community, the chamber members, the state of Grant County’s economic prospects, etc. Three months with a director who is out of town but working is nothing compared to the loss of institutional knowledge and good will among chamber members.
But setting that aside, what kind of example does the board set? By the response expressed by the chamber members who attended last week’s meeting, I would say Nicole has the support of the community. One could surmise that their support was earned. Indeed, I’ve never heard anything but praise for her performance as director. Nicole sought an amicable way of addressing some personal problems while continuing her work for the Chamber. Who hasn’t been a similar position?
The board’s message to its membership is thus pretty straightforward: “When the chips are down, don’t count on us…”
As all this was going down, I was again wishing you were actually PRESENT in New Mexico, ’cause I know you would have had the inside dope right away.
Nick Seibel | Jul 28, 2008 | Reply
A request for a special membership meeting, with 49 signatures, was sent to the Secretary of the Chamber board:
“Pursuant to New Mexico Statute Chapter 53, Article 8 section 13 – C Meetings of Members, and as specified in the by-laws, Article V – B, we, the undersigned, as members in good standing of the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce, hereby request a Special Membership meeting be called as soon as is practical, and not more than 30 days from the date this notice is delivered.
The stated purpose of this meeting is to allow the membership to discuss the Board actions relating to the request for leave of absence by the Executive Director, Nicole Robbins. It is also to consider the possible removal of the entire Board of Directors by a membership vote. Additional agenda items will be submitted by the Chamber Membership as they see fit. An agenda will be distributed to Chamber Members at least five days prior to the scheduled meeting.
A location will be chosen by the Secretary that will allow for the attendance of at least 50 percent of the current paid membership.”
It is my understanding that the effort to recall the Chamber board will continue even if Nicole is not reinstated or chooses not to return. A lot of people are *very* upset over this issue and feel that the Board is ‘tone deaf’ in failing to recognize how their actions are viewed by Chamber members and the general public– just as they did during the relocation of the Farmers Market a couple of years ago, as well as the firing of April Weitlauf (another one of the 6 directors the Chamber has had in the past 5 years).
Mitch Hellman | Jul 29, 2008 | Reply