(See related stories, more links to related and public commentary here, here and here)
Andrew Travers:
"The press and public were not allowed at the chamber retreat. The bulk of the meeting allegedly addressed ACRA’s strategic plan and preparing for an upcoming change in board leadership. Donnie Lee, general manager of The Gant, will be taking over as board chair....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label 501 C-6. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 501 C-6. Show all posts
April 12, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "ACRA to decide on U.S. Chamber membership during private meeting"
(See related links to story along with public commentary here)
Andrew Travers:
"The board of directors at the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) will go behind closed doors to make its long-awaited decision on its controversial membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
ACRA is expected to take a final vote on the issue during a board retreat on Monday, April 23. The press and public — including chamber members — will not be permitted to attend the 45-minute discussion on the U.S. Chamber or any other portion of the daylong board retreat at The Gant.
Though 49 percent of ACRA’s budget comes from local tax dollars and public funds, the chamber is a nonprofit membership organization, and not legally considered a public body. So, it is not bound by Colorado’s open meetings laws. Those laws require public boards, like county commissions and city councils, to post notices for meetings and abide by strict rules controlling when and why they can exclude the public and press from meetings........
.......Chamber president Debbie Braun said Wednesday that board members want to speak openly without fear of having their views broadcast publicly through the media, as they make a final decision on this long-simmering and divisive issue.
“We want to have an honest dialogue,” Braun said. “We want to hear from everyone on the board, and we don’t want them to think they might get caught with a pull-out quote in the newspaper.”...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Andrew Travers:
"The board of directors at the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) will go behind closed doors to make its long-awaited decision on its controversial membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
ACRA is expected to take a final vote on the issue during a board retreat on Monday, April 23. The press and public — including chamber members — will not be permitted to attend the 45-minute discussion on the U.S. Chamber or any other portion of the daylong board retreat at The Gant.
Though 49 percent of ACRA’s budget comes from local tax dollars and public funds, the chamber is a nonprofit membership organization, and not legally considered a public body. So, it is not bound by Colorado’s open meetings laws. Those laws require public boards, like county commissions and city councils, to post notices for meetings and abide by strict rules controlling when and why they can exclude the public and press from meetings........
.......Chamber president Debbie Braun said Wednesday that board members want to speak openly without fear of having their views broadcast publicly through the media, as they make a final decision on this long-simmering and divisive issue.
“We want to have an honest dialogue,” Braun said. “We want to hear from everyone on the board, and we don’t want them to think they might get caught with a pull-out quote in the newspaper.”...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
April 3, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "The new cradle of civilization"
Updates: See related stories and public commentary here, here and here)
Steve Skinner:
"I was just looking over a list of Pitkin County nonprofits and it struck me. In many ways these groups, hundreds of them, account for a significant, if not the biggest, part of our valley economy. For me personally, I have found meaningful work in community radio at KDNK. This was a real relief because the commercial sector was outsourcing, maximizing profits and abandoning creativity.
That kind of thing is what spurs nonprofits to rise and grow in the first place. People are eventually repulsed by outsourcing, maximizing profits and abandoned creativity. Better yet, despite all the distractions, people want more than just stuff, and that’s where the nonprofits often come in. From human health services to Pica protection, thankfully, there is someone on it.
Nonprofits mostly do their special work in the background: protecting kids from abuse, suicide prevention, hospice, solar energy training, after-school programs, veteran’s programs, disabled services, pet shelters, clay, art, justice, environmental protection, writing, music, poetry, theater, volunteer groups, senior support, language assistance and on and on...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Steve Skinner:
"I was just looking over a list of Pitkin County nonprofits and it struck me. In many ways these groups, hundreds of them, account for a significant, if not the biggest, part of our valley economy. For me personally, I have found meaningful work in community radio at KDNK. This was a real relief because the commercial sector was outsourcing, maximizing profits and abandoning creativity.
That kind of thing is what spurs nonprofits to rise and grow in the first place. People are eventually repulsed by outsourcing, maximizing profits and abandoned creativity. Better yet, despite all the distractions, people want more than just stuff, and that’s where the nonprofits often come in. From human health services to Pica protection, thankfully, there is someone on it.
Nonprofits mostly do their special work in the background: protecting kids from abuse, suicide prevention, hospice, solar energy training, after-school programs, veteran’s programs, disabled services, pet shelters, clay, art, justice, environmental protection, writing, music, poetry, theater, volunteer groups, senior support, language assistance and on and on...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
January 21, 2012
SandBox Comments: Steamboat Today "Local Marketing District comes under scrutiny in wake of sales tax"
"I support this very much,” Scully said. “The public/private collaboration is critical. I’d like to know, where is the money coming from and where is it going, and what is it really translating into? It’s a lot of money. To me, the key is a scorecard. To me, it seems there should be a website.”
Ken Solomon asked that the LMD board consider broadening membership to represent the entire city.
“You’re receiving 50 percent of your (public) revenues from the new tax, and my understanding is there are only 600 eligible voters who live in the LMD out of about 8,000 voters in the city,” Solomon said. “It strikes me as unfair.”
LMD legal counsel Tom Sharp told Solomon that the requirement that members of the board be registered voters who live within the boundaries of the local marketing district is decreed by state statute and that the LMD has no power to change it. He added that when the LMD was created by City Council, it had the option to make itself the board of the LMD or to create the five-member board of LMD voters.
Steamboat businessman Steve Hitchcock told the board he thinks the LMD should pursue additional air service outside the ski season.
“With the new tax coming on and collected by businesses outside the LMD, I’d like to see the LMD take on the task of summer air,” Hitchcock said.
Porter replied that summer air service is on the LMD board’s agenda. Porter added that the revenues from the new tax will first be applied for the 2012-13 ski season.
At the city’s urging, public meeting notices for the LMD board now will be posted outside City Hall, at City Market and at the post office, as well as in a vestibule outside the Chamber’s offices at 125 Anglers Drive...."
(Read more? Click title. For now, as of this date, comment ability on this post and all marketing/tourism news stories that are currently hot topics will have no public comment ability on SandBox. Go to the original hubs of origins to express your views, please. Thanks, 'SandBox Nanny')
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
December 27, 2011
SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Chamber board considers its legal liability exposure"
"According to an article on San Diego-based Aspen Risk Management Group’s website, “charitable immunity,” which is based upon the notion that charitable organizations and individuals should be exempt from legal liability, has faded over time.
The website also says that general liability policies only cover basic exposures, such as premises and operations, and directors and officers may not be protected under a stand-alone liability policy.
When considering how much insurance to carry, nonprofits ought to consider all of their resources and financial strength, as well as the organization’s activities and what can go wrong at any of them, according to the website...."
(sack@aspendailynews.com)
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
The website also says that general liability policies only cover basic exposures, such as premises and operations, and directors and officers may not be protected under a stand-alone liability policy.
When considering how much insurance to carry, nonprofits ought to consider all of their resources and financial strength, as well as the organization’s activities and what can go wrong at any of them, according to the website...."
(sack@aspendailynews.com)
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)