The ballots have been counted and the following people (in alphabetical order) were elected to the Chamber Board of Directors. They will serve a two-year term:
Jeff Ackerman
Tom Coleman
Steve Cottrell
Michelle Litton
Congratulations to the winners — with one caveat. As I’ve written before, it is a conflict of interest for a newspaper editor, who directs newsroom coverage, to sit on a Chamber board. It shows what a long way our community has to go to adopt more professional standards.
A code of ethics for the Society of Professional Journalists is here. “Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know,” it reads in part.
Continuing Directors are:
Dave Painter-SPD
Duane Strawser-Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop
Larry Birdsong-Associate member
Madelyn Helling-Associate member
Barbi Jackson-Scott Jackson’s Real Life Fitness
Jesse Locks-Nevada City Film Festival
Jim McConnaughay-Country Collectibles
Karen Marinovich
Mimi Simmons-ERA Cornerstone Realty
Gary Tintle-Tintle Inc.
Kirk Valentine-Nevada City Classic Cafe
Bob Weiner-Judi’s of Nevada City
Non Voting-City Liaison-Gene Albaugh-City Manager
Some of the board members, including former board members of the Downtown Association, were appointed, not elected by the chamber membership. This has upset some merchants.
Some board members have a real penchant for public “bad mouthing” too.
The new board has a lot of work to do in recruiting new chamber members, raising funds and addressing the legitimate criticisms that are raised about its actions.
One example: We are ideal candidates for chamber membership with a Nevada City-based venture — already promoting the city’s restaurants, shops and art galleries to visitors from outside the area, not just locals. Our venture also is a big sponsor of the city’s events such as the Farmer’s Market and SYRCL Film Festival.
We visit the chamber regularly to get information for our business, such as Fall foliage maps, walking tours of the old “Chinatown,” etc., and find the staff and volunteers friendly, helpful and professional.
As residents, we also spend much of our discretionary income in town.
But we have some of the same concerns about the chamber leadership.
Joining the Grass Valley chamber and Truckee chamber will be a much easier decision for us.