Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Chamber of Commerce Video & Audio

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February 7th 2009
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Sitting and waiting for 2 hours while the C of C exec. board talked in executive session......annoyed and irritated me! The voting protocols implemented for the paper ballot to oust the Moshers almost put me over the edge. So if you [the exec. board] thought that I was being aggressive with my camera, panning the members of the executive board......to bad! I was not in your face as I was sitting anywhere from 10 to 20 feet away from any member. What you may have heard in my voice as I spoke to you [the board] was me attempting to control my anger.




C of C meeting VIDEO from p guston on Vimeo.



The next video is an audio only, that is why the screen is black, it just happens to be on a video player. It is the audio from the entire meeting after the executive session.


C of C Meeting Audio Only from p guston on Vimeo.

Many thanks to Dotster from Abay.com for his technical expertise in solving all the problems I encountered with the video and the audio.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

I.m not sure if I heard this right,Ron Thompson
had 4 votes , The vote was realy 9 to 3 .Why was Thompson,and the 2 other so set against having Alex kicked out?Do they have something to hide?
Maybe this should be looked into!!!

jim cummings said...

Yes You Heard It Correctly! RT had his vote plus 3 absentee votes. 2 of those votes came with no instructions. In other words those 2 votes were free to be used at RT's discretion.

Anonymous said...

Ron had 4 votes ,3 from absentee and 1 for himself,who was the one who seconded this motion that was the other vote to cast Alex out,The real vote was 9-2,Funny how Ron brought this up when Alex wasn't around to defend himself,When is Ron going on vacation, at that time a motion should be made to do the same to him! Also I feel the chamber should do something about how they vote on things, for one if your not there your vote isn't given to someone else and counted,if your not there you get no vote,not one casted by the head of the board or maybe they put your name in a hat and what ever board member draws the name they get to cast the vote.I would also like to hear what was said behind closed doors. One more thing not pertaining to this, hows that new police car going to look at the street crossing.what's wrong with the old one or dose the village have that much extra money?

jim cummings said...

Let me say this again! There were 3 absentee votes, as you said anony. 6:49pm. If you listen to the audio, Ron explains that of the 3 absentee votes 1 came with some sort of instruction as to how that 1 absentee vote was to be cast. Now granted, those instructions were not made clear. I am only hoping that one particular absentee vote truly represented that persons choice. Maybe it did, maybe it did not.

Anonymous said...

Am I missing something here? If absentee votes from board members are allowed, why is attendance mandatory at a certain number of meetings or else you're kicked out?
Why not just give King Ronnie all seventeen votes to do with what he pleases, and not bother having any meetings. It would save the mysterious screaming board member wear and tear on his vocal chords.

jim cummings said...

I am not sure anony. 8:03 pm. Maybe to create the illusion of a democracy?

Anonymous said...

Ok, SO.... did I miss something here too? It seemed that his Eminence RT proposed a motion based on something that in the first minute the Mayor said was NOT correct. The motion should never have moved past that moment. No one seemed to want to second it for that very reason but it seems the Lemming sitting closest just did it to play along. I can think of very few people who have given back in that business community for the betterment of all than Alex has. Nice work doing this when he leaves. What a bunch of chicken brained morons you are. I agree with every word of the letter he wrote that was read aloud. Try the Kool-Aid kids. It's good for you. Sad day. If I were Alex I'd hold my head high and know that those watching know the truth. Sad part is that King RT thinks he's above it all. You are in charge there? well, that's like being the tallest midget.

jim cummings said...

To all that post comments anonymously:
I appreciate your thoughts and comments. I also understand that you may not want to create a google account. However!
It would give this topic more impact if you would identify yourself at the end of your comments. I have made this request before, I know that you probably won't. Just thought I would ask again...
Jim Cummings

Anonymous said...

Hello Jim, as a tourist now who is only in the Bay seasonally I follow things in the off season by reading this site. Is there anyone on here who can explain the reason for this sanction? Pirates Weekend/Days has been a product of a great group of people but I was always under the impression that Mr. Mosher directed it or was at least extremely responsible for it's success. Watching this video is I'm sure only a snap shot of events and in itself leaves me with more questions than answers. Is being banned from any official Chamber activity actually a punishment of some type and if so for what? Not knowing what precipitated this I can only say it can in no way diminish what Alex has achieved for the community through years of dedication and I hope that all parties can indeed work towards improving the image of the area. Times are tough and getting tougher in the tourism area. Missing a beat on any event that draws revenue could be costly.

Related point for the chamber: I live in a winter resort town and this is our first winter in this recession. WOW! We expected things to be bad but this is even worse than that. Let's just say it's very humbling. all of our numbers are way down. Restaurants are closing, seasonal people being laid off, lodging is empty and lift ticket sales are down. I can expect/predict that the 1000 Islands is going to see the same effect this coming summer. A proactive marketing effort is the only hope you have of luring travel dollars to the area. People are just NOT spending here this year. It will be vital that the Chamber get a plan together prior to summer to attract people. Not doing so will have a very deep impact. A unified effort will yeild better results than a divisive one. Good luck in the upcoming season.

I tried to post under my name ad couldn't, Jim, so to be more effective I am happy to sign this letter.

Respectfully,

Douglas Tulloch

Anonymous said...

Come on JC there was positivly no yelling going on behind closed doors.To me ,not telling the truth implies a liar.

Anonymous said...

Yes Ron had three proxy's, two to vote as he wanted and one to vote as per instructions. That is the way the C Of C bylaws have been set up for along time concerning voting and proxy's.May not be right but set up that way years ago. If you think it's wrong get on there and change it. Now I was at the meeting and I understood that there were 9 votes to oust Alex out of 15 present. Isn't that correct? Is it also correct the two directors who don't take enough interest to be there, that there votes have to be a no count towards the motion. I believe. What was the vote a year or so ago when Alex got ousted by a majority vote? And PS Alex goes away every winter and often for 4 or 5 months.He has often stated at a Nov or Dec meeting that he is going to the Bahamas for ?x? amount of months and will keep in contact.
If you went to all the meetings for the last 2 or 3 years you would understand the situation more. Truly to many bosses (17), that's also partially why we go through so many exec directors. Been talked about for years.

Anonymous said...

Hey I was present and there was no yelling, lots of discussion but no yelling. Quit exaggerating Jimmy!

Anonymous said...

Jim, you took the part out of your blog about how Mayor Robb and Supervisor Millett supported the Moshers. Why, was it not appropriate or just inaccurate. We readers need to know the TRUTH!

jim cummings said...

Anonymous 11:17 am
I never detailed what was said by either of them. Just mentioned that Supv. Millett wrote a letter and Mayor Robb spoke. If you want to know the facts of what each of them said, then watch the video or listen to the audio...

Interested said...

1. Let's paint the whole picture...what brought this on? Alex accusing someone of white collar crime...so what exactly does that mean? Should charges be filed? Have it investigated.

2. I have known RT for years and one thing I know about Ron is that he does not go off half cocked. He is very accurate or at least tries to be as honest and as forthcoming as possible. His attributes to the downtown area by both he and his wife, are obvious. In order for him to do what he is doing...something must've gone wrong.

3. Pirates Weekend will go on no matter what happens. Terry Side has already said he would take it over, and he is as good as it gets when it comes to that weekend. Change can be a good thing if not sabotaged by people trying to MAKE it go bad. Calling the players in Pirates Weekend and asking them if they will still be a part of the weekend if Alex is ousted is dead wrong. You are trying to sabotage the event before a decision is made. Talk about bringing bad publicity to the Bay.

4. There are Chamber members who gripe about everything. I know that a female rest. owner made a scene because there was a food vendor at the pavilion during bike weekend even though each business was offered the chance to put something up there. So this person lit into several people regarding this issue and she was at that meeting. Not the first time it's happened either.

Let's fill everyone in on what started this process. How can you judge what went on if you don't know.

Also, I find it very sickening, that most businesses are only open 4 months of the year, and then they run off to some place warm and comfy while the rest of us stay here and freeze and keep the Town/Village going. How many of the people at that meeting have businesses and are here year-round...hmmmm RT comes to mind. The "Lemming" sitting next to him stays all year.

Anonymous said...

There are two sides to this story.
How many people have quit committees or never come back after being on a committee with Alex? Quite a few - No Coincidence! It's hard to get volunteers!
How many directors have gotten off the chamber because they didn't have the extra 60 minutes at every chamber meeting to listen to Alex give some sermon or complain about his civil rights being violated. Quite a few again.
Let's be real, if two different boards two years apart voted by MAJORITY to limit Alex's _?_?_?_?_?_ then he's doing something very wrong!

Anonymous said...

Watching this video I could not help but wonder what each person in that room was thinking. The silence was deafening. A typical Chamber meeting where only one voice is heard. I guarantee that at the next meeting some obscure person will be brought in or a letter from an excommunicated member now redeemed will be presented. A new vote and Alex& Bj will be gone!
I think it was Rick, ironically, who mentioned ego, duh!
Wonder how it feels to sell your soul to the devil?
Interesting, again there are no by-laws for something as important as voting. The whole thing was unbelievable and everyone there should be scared. One day it will be your turn.

curmudgeon said...

I live here all year and actually enjot it. I can't run my business much past Labor day, because the ten, or so, kids I hire go back to school.
At the end of my first year as a C of C member, I was "awarded" a Letter to the Editor, composed by the executive board of the C of C. In it, I was described as unpatriotic, apathetic, having no vision, and generally being an a$$hole because I disagreed with a plan to turn Upper James St. into a park.
I paid my dues, donated to the events, and for my troubles, got rewarded with a hatchet job in the local newspaper by the very group I was paying to promote my business.
While the faces have changed, and James St. is still a street, I see the same individuals at work behind this smear of the Mosher family.
You are right, Anony 10:08, only now there is a king AND queen of the midgets

Anonymous said...

Hey Jimmy are you going to the Chamber meeting this monday. I hope so because I cant wait to see the look on your face when RT throws you out of the meeting on your sorry ass. You pissed us off. Better watch your back.

jim cummings said...

I hesitated to approve that comment, but that is some of the crap I get when I open up my blog to anonymous said comments. Just great just effin great.....

Anonymous said...

The stuff that you write p guston isn't any different, just your honest reporting right??

Anonymous said...

Curmudgeon your not telling all the true facts about the supposed letter to the editor! What about your letter?
Oh and Curmudgeon of course you never wrote anything or said anything that initiated retailatory remarks. We all know you to well. Why do you think chez didn't get elected and probably never will due to your antics.

DoTsTeR said...

Let me know when you get a video death threat. :)

Been there, Done That..

Johnny T.

Anonymous said...

Curmudgeon, the woman who was upset over the vendors was your wife, so is she now the queen?

jim cummings said...

Well anonymous said 6:29 you went out of your way to call me pguston everyone else that has posted a comment has called me either Jimmy or JC. Are you trying to divert attention from your previous comment about where I should watch my back? Just to let you know....if RT throws me out then at least I won't miss House and 24 like I did last week

Anonymous said...

J C I wrote 6:29 but i didn't write 6:07. Must be another one of your many admirers. check your ip's through gipole and you could tell.
Your sockpupeeting again.

jim cummings said...

yawn

Anonymous said...

Everything "Interested" stated is true and to the point. There are many situations that the people of A-Bay are not aware of in reference to having Alex step down as Bill J. The Ex. session was held in order to protect Alex's reputation within the village. RT purposely did not want to air all his antics and actions through out the years to the public ear. But it will come out now more than before the meeting was held.

Alex has mentioned to Terry Sides on more than one occasion he wanted Terry to take over for him as Bill J. during Pirates. Terry is a natural and would do fresh new skits to help Pirates increase their already very popular event. I have heard on many occasions that Pirates have become stale and something new was needed to spruce things up. Same skit year after year, nothing new was added. Terry will have fresh ideas and we all know how creative and dedicated this man is! He will do a hell of a job as Bill J.

As for the yelling during the meeting, I can only account for yelling that was during open session right before the vote. And as you stated Jimmy that was you controlling your anger.

Before anymore people get angry we better realize that this town reflects the people that live here and how we react to situations without all the facts known.

jim cummings said...

Good points Anonymous 7:11 am.
I would just like to remind everyone that there was NO YELLING or SCREAMING in exec session or in the regular session. What do I have to do! Call you and remind you!
Here are some facts about me:
I have a Deep Voice.
I speak in public more than the normal person does.
When I am upset or angry/mad my voice goes DEEPER, my voice will also quiver and I speak slower.
I was NOT yelling or screaming as anony. 7:11 suggested.
On the Video and Audio my voice is LOUDER than anyone else that spoke at the meeting.......
That is because I was the closest to both of the microphones.
Let me remind all of you once more.....
There was no yelling or screaming at that meeting ;)

jim cummings said...

This thread is closed!