(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 Local Non-Profit Watch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Local Non-Profit Watch. Show all posts
April 19, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "ACRA board should own U.S. Chamber decision"
(See related stories and comments here and here)
A couple of years ago, 'SandBox Nanny' was quoted a comment that she was told came from an Aspen Daily writer.
Something along the lines of his 'boss would never even think to tell him what to write in his reports'. The impression left was one of high ethics within the publication and its ownership. Commendable in the environment of 24/7 news.
Aprx. two years ago, a small group of local micro-bloggers said this, as background explanation for their post on their blog, regarding the complete power dominance that our three local newspapers hold in the Valley. A fact that explains many regional issues and helps one to understand the dynamic of Aspen as the core lifeblood of the Valley:
"Using the influence of long standing power and control, a dying era has resorted once again to manipulation and spin of the internet and media. Glenwood Springs, Colorado is a fairly small town. Two grocery stores, one post office and only one parent newspaper that holds a monopoly on local newspapers. Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Aspen Times, Citizens Telegram, Summit Daily, Vail Daily, GJ Free Press are all owned by Swift Communications, which serves a number of communities in California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota. Corporate offices located in Carson City, Nevada. We have only one independent and strong local newspaper that has been around for a long, long time that is not held by the monopoly of Swift Communications. The Aspen Daily Newsremains free from "corporate news media" with business offices located in Aspen, Colorado. The differences between the two newspaper companies is easy to see. Logistics level sees the Glenwood Post Independent filled with advertising in it’s print edition and SPAM filled pop ups in it’s online edition. We also have “up valley” and “down valley” views of our newspapers. Over the years, politics in our corridor has given strong class distinctions that distinguish between the two. The Daily is read by “billionaires” and “workers” alike. The “ghetto elite/wannabe elite” surf between the two. A growing number of citizens making a rising and impressive surge into social and political scenes are none of the above and use the Daily as the grounding point and the Post for a quick skim to catch up on buzz. The Post is the “down valley” for Swift. The Aspen Times is Swift’s “up valley” with both papers rarely in a war with each other over content as their content is the same. The Citizens Telegram, also owned by Swift, is the “real down” valley paper and is located in Rifle. Rebellious when it can to it’s parent and serves the seat of our big oil and gas industry. For those not familiar with the demographics of our town, Glenwood Springs sits in the middle and is considered the gateway to three influential and powerful commodities: big oil and gas to the west, public owned Vail Ski Resort and private held Aspen Ski Company. From the Summit Daily to the Grand Junction Sentinel, our news is followed all over the world. Politically, the Swift family is mostly blue but does once in awhile pander to the red, depending on which community it’s sitting in. "With the recession, folks cut back on the Post’s paid subscriptions and deliveries, instead picking it up free at newstands and walking the few blocks to do that. The Post and Times are larger in size and there are more pages. Logistics level with the Aspen Daily, shows less advertising and the folks still pay for subscriptions. It’s also the favorite of the estimated hundreds of blue collar workers who come from “down valley” to “up valley” and most locals throughout. Also holding the earned claim of being the paper absent second and third home owners subscribe to by mail. Politically, it’s hard to tell if the Aspen Daily News is blue or red. On journalistic levels, locals know if they want to read the full story, they go to the Daily. To get the gossip or juicy spin, they go to the Post or the Times. The Daily is also a free paper as well and can be found not only at news stands but piles delivered to local businesses, such as professional offices where one has to wait to meet an appointment. A “Good Morning” to another local hitting the newspaper stand at the same time, often holds a little eye contact and partial smile of knowing from each, as they nod politely and then reach for the symbols of what they support and believe in." (smalltown7)
The Aspen Daily News sometimes appears to be this slumbering force. One that is more than slightly eccentric as the staff and locals use it as a voice box. However, there is a reason the Daily is where locals really do go for the best insight into just the facts. There is inherent trust that staff and ownership have built up over a long period of time. Earned trust.
When the Aspen Daily speaks with breaking information or gives the somewhat rare editorial; the folks listen. Powerful at the right time, the Daily gets the point across.
'SandBox Nanny' agrees that it is inappropriate (at best) for ACRA to close off this meeting next Monday.
A meeting where we all know perfectly well the 'US Chamber flap' is not the real topic of the day. Amazing how power abuse can get away with so much more closet activity than everyone else.
Aspen Daily Staff:
"Officially, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s board of directors is not a public body. That may strike transparency advocates as off base, considering that 49 percent of the agency’s budget comes from lodging and sales taxes.
ACRA always seems to walk a fine line, between representing the interests of private businesses, while also maintaining its public role in the marketing and image crafting of Aspen. It’s caught in between these two missions with the question of its membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has staked out positions fighting federal climate change regulation.
The Aspen Skiing Co., the area’s largest — and wholly snow-dependent — local business, wants ACRA to cut ties with the U.S. Chamber, as do others in the community. Many ACRA businesses, as well as the chamber’s executive staff, say the $800-per-year membership has benefits, including networking and training opportunities.
After years of debate, the issue will be decided on Monday at the ACRA board’s daylong “retreat” meeting, but the public — including the owners and employees of hundreds of ACRA member businesses — is not invited. The ACRA board has decided to invoke a provision of its bylaws that allows the public to be excluded from its meetings, even though the regular monthly gatherings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
We urge ACRA to change its position and open the retreat to the public, at least for the U.S. Chamber membership discussion. The board needs to hear from its constituents one last time before making this decision. Either way, the decision will make headlines and draw attention from outside the valley, so the deliberations should be done publicly. As a private nonprofit, ACRA might not be breaking any state open meeting laws but we argue that it’s certainly violating the spirit of them by keeping the public out of Monday’s discussion...."
(Read more? Click title)
A couple of years ago, 'SandBox Nanny' was quoted a comment that she was told came from an Aspen Daily writer.
Something along the lines of his 'boss would never even think to tell him what to write in his reports'. The impression left was one of high ethics within the publication and its ownership. Commendable in the environment of 24/7 news.
Aprx. two years ago, a small group of local micro-bloggers said this, as background explanation for their post on their blog, regarding the complete power dominance that our three local newspapers hold in the Valley. A fact that explains many regional issues and helps one to understand the dynamic of Aspen as the core lifeblood of the Valley:
"Using the influence of long standing power and control, a dying era has resorted once again to manipulation and spin of the internet and media. Glenwood Springs, Colorado is a fairly small town. Two grocery stores, one post office and only one parent newspaper that holds a monopoly on local newspapers. Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Aspen Times, Citizens Telegram, Summit Daily, Vail Daily, GJ Free Press are all owned by Swift Communications, which serves a number of communities in California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota. Corporate offices located in Carson City, Nevada. We have only one independent and strong local newspaper that has been around for a long, long time that is not held by the monopoly of Swift Communications. The Aspen Daily Newsremains free from "corporate news media" with business offices located in Aspen, Colorado. The differences between the two newspaper companies is easy to see. Logistics level sees the Glenwood Post Independent filled with advertising in it’s print edition and SPAM filled pop ups in it’s online edition. We also have “up valley” and “down valley” views of our newspapers. Over the years, politics in our corridor has given strong class distinctions that distinguish between the two. The Daily is read by “billionaires” and “workers” alike. The “ghetto elite/wannabe elite” surf between the two. A growing number of citizens making a rising and impressive surge into social and political scenes are none of the above and use the Daily as the grounding point and the Post for a quick skim to catch up on buzz. The Post is the “down valley” for Swift. The Aspen Times is Swift’s “up valley” with both papers rarely in a war with each other over content as their content is the same. The Citizens Telegram, also owned by Swift, is the “real down” valley paper and is located in Rifle. Rebellious when it can to it’s parent and serves the seat of our big oil and gas industry. For those not familiar with the demographics of our town, Glenwood Springs sits in the middle and is considered the gateway to three influential and powerful commodities: big oil and gas to the west, public owned Vail Ski Resort and private held Aspen Ski Company. From the Summit Daily to the Grand Junction Sentinel, our news is followed all over the world. Politically, the Swift family is mostly blue but does once in awhile pander to the red, depending on which community it’s sitting in. "With the recession, folks cut back on the Post’s paid subscriptions and deliveries, instead picking it up free at newstands and walking the few blocks to do that. The Post and Times are larger in size and there are more pages. Logistics level with the Aspen Daily, shows less advertising and the folks still pay for subscriptions. It’s also the favorite of the estimated hundreds of blue collar workers who come from “down valley” to “up valley” and most locals throughout. Also holding the earned claim of being the paper absent second and third home owners subscribe to by mail. Politically, it’s hard to tell if the Aspen Daily News is blue or red. On journalistic levels, locals know if they want to read the full story, they go to the Daily. To get the gossip or juicy spin, they go to the Post or the Times. The Daily is also a free paper as well and can be found not only at news stands but piles delivered to local businesses, such as professional offices where one has to wait to meet an appointment. A “Good Morning” to another local hitting the newspaper stand at the same time, often holds a little eye contact and partial smile of knowing from each, as they nod politely and then reach for the symbols of what they support and believe in." (smalltown7)
The Aspen Daily News sometimes appears to be this slumbering force. One that is more than slightly eccentric as the staff and locals use it as a voice box. However, there is a reason the Daily is where locals really do go for the best insight into just the facts. There is inherent trust that staff and ownership have built up over a long period of time. Earned trust.
When the Aspen Daily speaks with breaking information or gives the somewhat rare editorial; the folks listen. Powerful at the right time, the Daily gets the point across.
'SandBox Nanny' agrees that it is inappropriate (at best) for ACRA to close off this meeting next Monday.
A meeting where we all know perfectly well the 'US Chamber flap' is not the real topic of the day. Amazing how power abuse can get away with so much more closet activity than everyone else.
Aspen Daily Staff:
"Officially, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s board of directors is not a public body. That may strike transparency advocates as off base, considering that 49 percent of the agency’s budget comes from lodging and sales taxes.
ACRA always seems to walk a fine line, between representing the interests of private businesses, while also maintaining its public role in the marketing and image crafting of Aspen. It’s caught in between these two missions with the question of its membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has staked out positions fighting federal climate change regulation.
The Aspen Skiing Co., the area’s largest — and wholly snow-dependent — local business, wants ACRA to cut ties with the U.S. Chamber, as do others in the community. Many ACRA businesses, as well as the chamber’s executive staff, say the $800-per-year membership has benefits, including networking and training opportunities.
After years of debate, the issue will be decided on Monday at the ACRA board’s daylong “retreat” meeting, but the public — including the owners and employees of hundreds of ACRA member businesses — is not invited. The ACRA board has decided to invoke a provision of its bylaws that allows the public to be excluded from its meetings, even though the regular monthly gatherings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
We urge ACRA to change its position and open the retreat to the public, at least for the U.S. Chamber membership discussion. The board needs to hear from its constituents one last time before making this decision. Either way, the decision will make headlines and draw attention from outside the valley, so the deliberations should be done publicly. As a private nonprofit, ACRA might not be breaking any state open meeting laws but we argue that it’s certainly violating the spirit of them by keeping the public out of Monday’s discussion...."
(Read more? Click title)
April 18, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Eagle county Times "Diagnosis: Vail Hospital’s – Struggle with Credibility"
Clayton Moore:
"Is there something unhealthy going on at Vail’s Hospital – the Vail Valley Medical Center – VVMC?
You decide.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Is there something unhealthy going on at Vail’s Hospital – the Vail Valley Medical Center – VVMC?
You decide.
In a story first brought by Business Briefs – based on BB’s Public Record search – BB posted the 2009 compensation some of the VVMC officers have received. The information can be verified from a review of that non-profits (public record) 2009 Federal 990 Tax Return. (Click Here) ECT readers can “cut to the chase – compensation” with a quick look at Page 47 of that return (Click Here)....."
(Read more? Click title)
SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Protesters air concerns about Grand Junction credit union"
The lack of non-profit oversight in America is astonishing. There is nothing that oversees the ethics and financial oversight of IRS classified 501C3 or 501C6 non-profit organizations.
If you were to sit down and so some serious online research into how much crime is charged against non-profits or their employees, boards of directors as individuals and administrators; you would be shocked at the numbers. These positions of public trust really have no one to answer to except themselves within their own board of directors.
Read up on a troubling trend and consequence of no oversight here.
See related story and public comments here.
See a sister story on current issues in Colorado with non-profit credit union policies here.
Take a look and read up on what protestors in Grand Junction have to say by clicking the title.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
If you were to sit down and so some serious online research into how much crime is charged against non-profits or their employees, boards of directors as individuals and administrators; you would be shocked at the numbers. These positions of public trust really have no one to answer to except themselves within their own board of directors.
Read up on a troubling trend and consequence of no oversight here.
See related story and public comments here.
See a sister story on current issues in Colorado with non-profit credit union policies here.
Take a look and read up on what protestors in Grand Junction have to say by clicking the title.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
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 30, 2012
SandBox Comments: Eagle County Times "Education Foundation of Eagle County"
'by – what we learned' :
"Some ECT folks attended a recent meeting of one of Eagle County’s newest 501(c)3 non-profits – www.efec.org. (Photo – Amber Prince & Charles Overy)..." (Read more? Click title)
How long has it been now?
Couple of years?
How long has it been that the commmons have been finally starting to speak up in very public ways against the status quo in local politics and government issues through harnessing tools like the power of the blogosphere and social networking?
How long has their rising success been showing in powerful enough ways to make powerful non-profits, major corporate powers, powerful politicians, local governments and law enforcement pay attention to what lies beneath the surface of such entities and those held in positions of trust?
A year or so?
How long has it been since you, the individual voter/follower, realized that a light bulb, an epiphany of sorts, has come on in your way of thinking?
Today? Yesterday? A week ago? A few months ago?
All that matters is that your awareness has been pierced by first whispers, then outspoken voices cutting trails of communication avenues ahead of you. What you do with your awareness is your business and falls into what you're willing to experience when you make your own choices.
Thank you once again goes to the guys and gals over on the Eagle County Times.
Why?
For paying attention to the patterns within the news others make and cutting trail ahead of you.
We wish good luck to the 'Education Foundation of Eagle County'.
May you never forget that as a non-profit you and all who work within your organization are no longer just average citizens but rather persons in a position of trust. That you are held to a higher standard.
As far as the goal you have set for your organization, may you always remember that there are endless possibilities on both sides of the political spectrum that would accomplish true public education reform.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Some ECT folks attended a recent meeting of one of Eagle County’s newest 501(c)3 non-profits – www.efec.org. (Photo – Amber Prince & Charles Overy)..." (Read more? Click title)
How long has it been now?
Couple of years?
How long has it been that the commmons have been finally starting to speak up in very public ways against the status quo in local politics and government issues through harnessing tools like the power of the blogosphere and social networking?
How long has their rising success been showing in powerful enough ways to make powerful non-profits, major corporate powers, powerful politicians, local governments and law enforcement pay attention to what lies beneath the surface of such entities and those held in positions of trust?
A year or so?
How long has it been since you, the individual voter/follower, realized that a light bulb, an epiphany of sorts, has come on in your way of thinking?
Today? Yesterday? A week ago? A few months ago?
All that matters is that your awareness has been pierced by first whispers, then outspoken voices cutting trails of communication avenues ahead of you. What you do with your awareness is your business and falls into what you're willing to experience when you make your own choices.
Thank you once again goes to the guys and gals over on the Eagle County Times.
Why?
For paying attention to the patterns within the news others make and cutting trail ahead of you.
We wish good luck to the 'Education Foundation of Eagle County'.
May you never forget that as a non-profit you and all who work within your organization are no longer just average citizens but rather persons in a position of trust. That you are held to a higher standard.
As far as the goal you have set for your organization, may you always remember that there are endless possibilities on both sides of the political spectrum that would accomplish true public education reform.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
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)
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