X-Spam-Flag: NO X-Envelope-From: lwiese@ibcp.com Return-Path: Received: from zixvpm01.ibcp.com (68-77-236-2.ded.ameritech.net [68.77.236.2]) by mail951c35.nsolutionszone.com (8.13.6.20060614/8.13.1) with ESMTP id mBCGCjTL007423 for ; Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:12:48 -0500 Received: from zixvpm01.ibcp.com (ZixVPM [127.0.0.1]) by Outbound.ibcp.com (Proprietary) with ESMTP id 53762244090 for ; Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:12:45 -0500 (EST) Received: from cioniexc003.ibcp.com (cioniexc003.ibcp.com [10.8.16.27]) by zixvpm01.ibcp.com (Proprietary) with SMTP id BB447244083 for ; Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:12:43 -0500 (EST) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5 Content-class: urn:content-classes:message MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C95C74.7667A243" Subject: RE: Monthly Newsletter & a few other things Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:12:42 -0500 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: <002801c95c72$32285160$0b01a8c0@user> X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: Thread-Topic: Monthly Newsletter & a few other things Thread-Index: Aclcckpm8lrWfGmgTS2dk/ql5cj2NwAAhTVQ References: <002801c95c72$32285160$0b01a8c0@user> From: "Wiese, LaNette" To: "Patty and Mike Finan" X-MMR: 0 X-Antivirus: Scanned by F-Prot Antivirus (http://www.f-prot.com) This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C95C74.7667A243 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Great comments Patty! =20 LaNette R Wiese=20 Assistant Branch Manager=20 Kinde=20 Independent Bank=20 989-874-4500=20 Fax 989-874-5107=20 Privacy Statement:=20 This message may contain confidential information that is protected under state and/or federal law. If you received this message in error, please notify the sender by fax or email and delete this message. If you properly received this message, you may use its contents only in strict accordance with our instructions and privacy policy. If any person makes a false or misleading representation to obtain customer information, that person may have committed a federal crime, and we may report that person to the proper authorities. =20 ________________________________ From: Patty and Mike Finan [mailto:mpfinan@centurytel.net]=20 Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 10:56 AM To: Wiese, LaNette; Rene Nichols; Michel & Ilze Ricou, The Port Austin Motel; acct.ability@yahoo.com; Stephen Schmidt; Darci Finan Subject: Re: Monthly Newsletter & a few other things Here are my comments - I put them in red. =20 Patty ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Wiese, LaNette =20 To: Rene Nichols ; Michel & Ilze Ricou, The Port Austin Motel ; Patty and Mike Finan ; acct.ability@yahoo.com ; Stephen Schmidt ; Darci Finan =20 Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 9:26 AM Subject: RE: Monthly Newsletter & a few other things Rene, I will forward. thanks =20 LaNette R Wiese=20 Assistant Branch Manager=20 Kinde=20 Independent Bank=20 989-874-4500=20 Fax 989-874-5107=20 Privacy Statement:=20 This message may contain confidential information that is protected under state and/or federal law. If you received this message in error, please notify the sender by fax or email and delete this message. If you properly received this message, you may use its contents only in strict accordance with our instructions and privacy policy. If any person makes a false or misleading representation to obtain customer information, that person may have committed a federal crime, and we may report that person to the proper authorities. =20 ________________________________ From: Rene Nichols [mailto:nichols78@msn.com]=20 Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 5:10 PM To: Wiese, LaNette Subject: RE: Monthly Newsletter & a few other things =09 =09 Good comments & thanks for taking time to do this......it would probably be good for each of us to share our comments and any new ideas with the whole board.....might lead to more good things.....I didn't want to forward your comments without asking first....Would you mind forwarding them to the rest of the board? =20 Talk to you soon, =20 Rene =09 =09 =09 ________________________________ Subject: RE: Monthly Newsletter & a few other things Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:03:45 -0500 From: LWiese@ibcp.com To: nichols78@msn.com =09 =09 =09 =20 =20 LaNette R Wiese=20 Assistant Branch Manager=20 Kinde=20 Independent Bank=20 989-874-4500=20 Fax 989-874-5107=20 Privacy Statement:=20 This message may contain confidential information that is protected under state and/or federal law. If you received this message in error, please notify the sender by fax or email and delete this message. If you properly received this message, you may use its contents only in strict accordance with our instructions and privacy policy. If any person makes a false or misleading representation to obtain customer information, that person may have committed a federal crime, and we may report that person to the proper authorities. =09 =20 ________________________________ From: Rene Nichols [mailto:nichols78@msn.com]=20 Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 4:00 AM To: Chamber of Commerce; Acct.Abililty/Stacey Viers; Port Austin State Bank; Port Austin Motel/Ricou, Michel; Captain Morgans; Huron City Museums; Wiese, LaNette Cc: Nichols, Rene Subject: Monthly Newsletter & a few other things =09 =09 Hi Joyce, =20 For our next and future newsletters, I'd like to see the following content: =20 Copy of unapproved minutes for members to review. (as an attachment) . Rene I don't believe that we should be sending out unapproved minutes. I think it is up to the board to approve the minutes to make sure the information is correct. It is like something going to print that might have errors. I believe that the approved minutes should be emailed to the members as soon as they are approved. I'm with LaNette on this - maybe we could put a summary of what happened, if you really want them to know. But the minutes should only go out after having been approved. Maybe this will encourage more to come to meetings? =09 List of current members that have paid 2009 dues and a reminder that per our by-laws, dues are due Sept 1. I believe that maybe a couple times a year we should send out a current list of members. I disagree with stating who has paid dues and who has not. Reminders to individual members about late dues are appropriate, but not to the entire membership community. I would resent this, if I was having a hard time coming up with my dues. Send out a members list via e-mail, but don't include it every month.=20 =09 A brief note to the membership updating the status of the Visitor's Guide. For example, how many members have taken out and paid for an ad to date. I think it would be nice to have some information on the Visitors Guide in the Newsletter. It is good communication to the members. Maybe they might have some suggestions. Again, I do not think we want to point out who paid and who hasn't paid or even those that have taken out an ad because to some members that don't take ads I do not want them to feel like they are any less important than those that do take out ads. An update on the status of the guide is a great idea and maybe a number (out of total membership) who has taken an ad out - example 40/60 members. But don't list by name. You can see who took out an ad when you get the guide.=20 =09 A list of upcoming chamber events, name of the chair person and their phone number. I agree with this completely, but chairs need to make sure to get Joyce this information in a timely manner. I would add e-mail to the contact information.=20 =09 A report from each Chair with an update on their event. I agree with this also, but the chairs need to make to get Joyce the information in a timely manner. They cannot wait for every board meeting and than expect Joyce to get everything done for the Newsletter in time. We would need set deadlines for chairs to get info to Joyce so she can get the newsletter out. If she doesn't receive any information, it is up to her to include what she wants in the newsletter. I don't think Joyce should have to hound chairs to get information. If they don't get the details to her, they can't complain that their event wasn't covered.=20 =09 A monthly report from the Treasurer. Monies received, detail of expenses paid for the previous month and account balances. The Newsletter is not a balance sheet. I do not think this information is appropriate for the Newsletter. I have plenty of reports that I do each month so that there is never a question of what was spent where. I do not have a problem with Joyce forwarding these reports to all of the members. I do not have a one page report. I think we should leave this up to the members - let them know they are available. If they want a copy of the financials, they can be e-mailed. Joyce can set up a distribution list of those that want financials sent. If you really want something included - use the yearly summary page that LaNette gave out at the meeting.=20 =09 A short note from the President. I agree a note from the President is a great idea. Should be included. =20 Names and e-mail addresses of our board members. Again, I think maybe a couple times a year that this should be done but not every month. Joyce already has this on the newsletter - she just needs to add the e-mail addresses.=20 =09 Date of next board meeting. Agree Yes =09 Date of next membership meeting. (Not every board meeting has to be a membership meeting). Agree Yes =09 A recognition area to thank members for their recent volunteer efforts. Agree Again Joyce needs to be given this information in a timely manner because if she is expected to know who to thank someone could get missed. Again - we need to set up a deadline (given by Joyce) of when she needs any newsletter information. Maybe she sends out a reminder to let us know the deadline is coming up? =09 I'd like our businesses to be able to post their new seasonal hours, particularly stores and restaurants. I think they should be able to post seasonal hours but I do not think that it needs to be in every Newsletter. Again the businesses need to get Joyce the information and if they change anything also get that information to Jocye. This could be done just for the winter months. I think it could get crazy to try and include every member's hours in a newsletter every month. Is this info on the Web site? Anyone could check that during the summer. =20 =09 A feature story each month on at least two current businesses. I think that this is a good idea. Who is going to be responsible for picking who is featured and what information is featured? Joyce is only one person. The board either needs to decide who to include, or just go down the list alphabetically. Could they write up their own or is Joyce okay with doing this? For some businesses, this could be a hard thing to accomplish.=20 =09 A feature story for each new member. I think this is a great idea. I believe the person that is responsible for getting the new member should be doing the feature story. Joyce is only one person working 16 hours per week. Great idea - again we need to decide logistics - who does the writing.=20 =09 The fireworks committee has a series of fund raising activities planned. We need to feature them every month. I agree that every event that is being planned should be featured in the Newsletter. Again, Joyce has to be provided with the information in a timely manner to get this done. These should be included just like an other upcoming event.=20 We need to note that we are doing a membership drive to get as many new members now so they may be included in the visitor's guide. A membership drive should be included in the Newsletter. The deadline for this is coming up - doesn't Joyce need all the info by the end of this month? =20 At this time, I'll ask that our secretary review all content for accuracy before sending it to our membership. I think we decided that everything should be forwarded to the entire board and if we do not respond it means we agree. I agree with this but we need to make sure we respond by the deadline if we have feedback. Joyce should not have to follow up with us. The more eyes on things the better. However, I think we need to trust Joyce when there is a tight deadline.=20 =09 I realize your current format requires you to create the newsletter at home. For the time being, I have no problem with you creating it using Word or another program that is currently available on the Chamber computer. I know it won't be as nice looking or include pictures, but I feel the content is more important at this time. We do not have proper equipment at the Chamber Office. I really believe that we need to budget in new equipment and programs so that all of the work of the director can be done at the chamber office. I agree but what is the problem with Joyce working on things from home?=20 =09 We need to focus on using the monthly newsletter as a means of getting timely and helpful information to the general membership. As for the timing of the newsletter, the secretary should have the unapproved minutes to you within a week of our monthly meetings. The treasurers report should be presented as a short one page document at our monthly board meeting which you will put in the newsletter. I have enough reports to do as it is. They are very detailed. I do not have a one page report. If Stacey wants to come up with this from LaNette's report, that is fine. See the comments above. =20 The rest of the information should be easy enough to keep updated.=20 My letter this month will let them know to contact the chamber office with seasonal hours of operation and let them know you'll be featuring a couple businesses each month. I'll have it to you by Monday.=20 =20 On a seperate note, all ad monies and forms for the Car Show should be going to the committee chair. The chair should record his/her list and then submit the checks to the treasurer when the ad sales deadline has been reached. It is then the chair's responsibility to forward that information to his/her sub committees for further action. I know you've been helping out, but this is the procedure that should be followed. I don't agree with this. Keri is not accessible and it does not make sense to wait to deposit money when we have it ready to go. The advertising subcommittee can report to Keri where we are but this is adding in unncecessary work. The advertising subcommittee reports where we are at just like the rest of the subcommittees.=20 =20 When bills need to be paid, it will be the chair's responsibilty to present them to the board for approval of payment. We need to follow this procedure with each event so nothing falls through the cracks. I know you're willing to help where ever needed if the chair asks for it. I thought we passed the budgets for events so that the chair did not have to bring the bills for approval each month. Things will become late if they need board approval for everything. I have the budgets so if something comes in way higher than what it on the budget I will not pay it until I address the board. We really need to clarify this issue - everyone needs to know how we are supposed to function when it comes to paying bills for events. =20 =09 Lastly, I'd like the secretary to get the chamber mail and dispurse it. This is no offense to you, but there is information that comes to the chamber that should be viewed by a board member first, not by a member, employee or contractor. The system is currently backwards. It is also our secretary's responsibility to discuss correspondence received at our board meetings. Now that I have spoke to you, it makes sense that the secretary gets the mail. We just need to make sure we take this off the list of duties for the director. I understand from our discussion, Rene, why you want this to happen. I agree we need to change the by-laws.=20 =20 We've come to depend on you as director to perform functions that board members should be doing. I'd like to correct that, if possible. I also want the secretary to review any material that may be going to print on behalf of the chamber. You've been doing a great job in that area, but a board member needs to put an approval on any content that represents the chamber. At this time, I want that approval to come from the secretary. Again - I think it needs to be the entire board reviewing info. However, we do need to trust Joyce. She is the best thing to happen to this Chamber and I don't want to put limits on her ability to do her job.=20 =20 There are exciting times coming to Port Austin. We have a year to get the chamber in line with these changes, performing as a well oiled machine and ready to move into the new Welcome Center when completed. While these changes may be difficult for you and the board, I'm confident you can implement them and help our chamber move forward.=20 =20 My comments are my opinions. I am not saying that I am correct about everything. If you or any of the other board members can explain to make me change my mind I am more than willing to listen. Sometimes when someone else explains the reasoning behind what they would like to change it can make more sense. Thanks=20 =09 =09 We need to make sure that we reassure Joyce that we trust her to do her job. Some of the comments and the way they were presented have caused her to question that. I know we talked about better ways to communicate this, Rene, but I think we all need to be careful that this doesn't become a contentious board. I was there when the Chamber was run like a dictatorship and there was not a sense of cooperation or teamwork. It wasn't fun. I know we can get be a great team as we go forward. Rene, I think you need to talk to the board about your goal of where you want us to be in the future.=20 I'll have my letter for the newsletter to you by Monday. =20 Rene =20 =09 =09 =09 ________________________________ Suspicious message? There's an alert for that. Get your Hotmail(r) account now. =20 ________________________________ Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. Get your Hotmail(r) account. =20 ------_=_NextPart_001_01C95C74.7667A243 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Great comments Patty!
 

LaNette R=20 Wiese
Assistant Branch Manager
Kinde Independent Bank=20
989-874-4500
Fax 989-874-5107

Privacy=20 Statement:
This message may = contain=20 confidential information that is protected under state and/or federal law.&= nbsp;=20 If you received this message in error, please notify the sender by fax or e= mail=20 and delete this message.  If you properly received this message, you m= ay=20 use its contents only in strict accordance with our instructions and privac= y=20 policy.

If any person m= akes a=20 false or misleading representation to obtain customer information, that per= son=20 may have committed a federal crime, and we may report that person to the pr= oper=20 authorities.

 

From: Patty and Mike Finan=20 [mailto:mpfinan@centurytel.net]
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 = 10:56=20 AM
To: Wiese, LaNette; Rene Nichols; Michel & Ilze Ricou, The= Port=20 Austin Motel; acct.ability@yahoo.com; Stephen Schmidt; Darci=20 Finan
Subject: Re: Monthly Newsletter & a few other=20 things

Here are my comments - I put t= hem in=20 red.
 
Patty
----- Original Message -----
Fro= m:=20 Wiese, LaNette= =20
To: Rene Nichols ; Michel = &=20 Ilze Ricou, The Port Austin Motel ; Patty and Mike Finan ; acct.ability@yahoo.com ; Ste= phen=20 Schmidt ; Darci Finan
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 9:= 26=20 AM
Subject: RE: Monthly Newsletter &a= mp; a=20 few other things

Rene,
I will forward.
thanks
 

LaNette R=20= Wiese
Assistant Branch Manager
Kinde= =20
Independent= =20 Bank
989-874-4500
= Fax 989-874-5107

Privacy=20 Statement:
This message ma= y contain=20 confidential information that is protected under state and/or federal=20 law.  If you received this message in error, please notify the sende= r by=20 fax or email and delete this message.  If you properly received this= =20 message, you may use its contents only in strict accordance with our=20 instructions and privacy policy.

If any person= makes a=20 false or misleading representation to obtain customer information, that p= erson=20 may have committed a federal crime, and we may report that person to the= =20 proper authorities.

 

From: Rene Nichols [mailto:nichols78@msn.com]= =20
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 5:10 PM
To: Wiese,= =20 LaNette
Subject: RE: Monthly Newsletter & a few other=20 things

Good comments & thanks for taking time to do this......it = would=20 probably be good for each of us to share our comments and any new ideas w= ith=20 the whole board.....might lead to more good things.....I didn't want to= =20 forward your comments without asking first....Would you mind forward= ing=20 them to the rest of
the board?
 
Talk to you=20 soon,
 
Rene



Subject: RE: Monthly Newsletter & a few other things
Date: Thu= , 11=20 Dec 2008 13:03:45 -0500
From: LWiese@ibcp.com
To:=20 nichols78@msn.com


 
 
LaNette R=20 Wiese
Assistant Branch Manager
Kinde= =20
Independent= =20 Bank
989-874-4500
= Fax 989-874-5107
<= SPAN=20 lang=3Den-us>Privacy=20 Statement:
This message ma= y contain=20 confidential information that is protected under state and/or federal=20 law.  If you received this message in error, please notify the sende= r by=20 fax or email and delete this message.  If you properly received this= =20 message, you may use its contents only in strict accordance with our=20 instructions and privacy policy.
If any person makes a fal= se or=20 misleading representation to obtain customer information, that person may= have=20 committed a federal crime, and we may report that person to the proper=20= authorities.
 

=
From: Rene Nichols [mailto:nichols78@msn.com]= =20
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 4:00 AM
To: Chamber = of=20 Commerce; Acct.Abililty/Stacey Viers; Port Austin State Bank; Port Austin= =20 Motel/Ricou, Michel; Captain Morgans; Huron City Museums; Wiese,=20 LaNette
Cc: Nichols, Rene
Subject: Monthly Newsletter= =20 & a few other things

Hi Joyce,
 
For our next and future newsletters, I'd like= to=20 see the following content:
 
Copy of unapproved minutes for me= mbers=20 to review. (as an attachment) .  Rene I don't believe that we s= hould be=20 sending out unapproved minutes.  I think it is up to the board to ap= prove=20 the minutes to make sure the information is correct.  It is lik= e=20 something going to print that might have errors. I believe that the appro= ved=20 minutes should be emailed to the members as soon as they are=20 approved. I'm with LaNette on this - maybe we = could=20 put a summary of what happened, if you really want them to know. But the= =20 minutes should only go out after having been approved. Maybe this will=20= encourage more to come to meetings?
<= /SPAN>

List of current members that have paid 2009 dues and a reminder = that=20 per our
by-laws, dues are due Sept 1. &n= bsp; I=20 believe that maybe a couple times a year we should send out a current lis= t of=20 members.  I disagree with stating who has paid dues and who has=20 not. Reminders to individual members about lat= e dues=20 are appropriate, but not to the entire membership community. I would rese= nt=20 this, if I was having a hard time coming up with my dues. Send out a memb= ers=20 list via e-mail, but don't include it every month.=20

A brief note to the membership updating the status of the Visito= r's=20 Guide.  For
example, how many members have taken out and paid for= an=20 ad to date.   I think it would be nice to have some inform= ation=20 on the Visitors Guide in the Newsletter.  It is good communicat= ion=20 to the members.  Maybe they might have some suggestions. Again, I do= =20 not think we want to point out who paid and who hasn't paid or even= =20 those that have taken out an ad because to some members that do= n't=20 take ads I do not want them to feel like they are any less important than= =20 those that do take out ads. An update on the s= tatus=20 of the guide is a great idea and maybe a number (out of total membership)= who=20 has taken an ad out - example 40/60 members. But don't list by name. You = can=20 see who took out an ad when you get the guide.=20

A list of upcoming chamber events, name of the chair person and = their=20 phone number.  I agree with this completely, but chairs need to m= ake=20 sure to get Joyce this information in a timely manner. I would add e-mail to the contact information.=20

A report from each Chair with an update on their event. &n= bsp;I agree=20 with this also, but the chairs need to make  to get Joyce the inform= ation=20 in a timely manner. They cannot wait for every board meeting and than exp= ect=20 Joyce to get everything done for the Newsletter in time. We would need set deadlines for chairs to get info t= o Joyce=20 so she can get the newsletter out. If she doesn't receive any information= , it=20 is up to her to include what she wants in the newsletter. I don't think J= oyce=20 should have to hound chairs to get information. If they don't get the det= ails=20 to her, they can't complain that their event wasn't covered.=20

A monthly report from the Treasurer.  Monies received, deta= il of=20 expenses paid
for the previous month and account balances. &n= bsp;The=20 Newsletter is not a balance sheet.  I do not think this=20= information is appropriate for the Newsletter.  I have plenty of rep= orts=20 that I do each month so that there is never a  question of what was = spent=20 where.  I do not have a problem with Joyce forwarding these rep= orts=20 to all of the members. I do not have a one page report. I think we should leave this up to the members - let them= know=20 they are available. If they want a copy of the financials, they can be=20= e-mailed. Joyce can set up a distribution list of those that want financi= als=20 sent. If you really want something included - use the yearly summary page= that=20 LaNette gave out at the meeting.
<= /SPAN>

A short note from the President.  I= agree a=20 note from the President is a great idea. Should be= =20 included.
 
Names and e-mail=20 addresses of our board members.  Again, I think= maybe a=20 couple times a year that this should be done but not every=20 month. Joyce already has this on the=20= newsletter - she just needs to add the e-mail addresses.=20

Date of next board meeting.  Agree Yes
<= /SPAN>

Date of next membership meeting. (Not every board meeting h= as to=20 be a membership meeting).  Agree Yes

A recognition area to thank members for their=20 recent volunteer efforts.  Agree Again Joyce needs to be gi= ven this=20 information in a timely manner because if she is expected to know who to = thank=20 someone could get missed. Again - we need to set up= a=20 deadline (given by Joyce) of when she needs any newsletter information. M= aybe=20 she sends out a reminder to let us know the deadline is coming= =20 up?

I'd like our businesses to be able to post their new seasonal ho= urs,=20 particularly
stores and restaurants.   I think they should be abl= e to post=20 seasonal hours but I do not think that it needs to be in every Newsletter= .=20 Again the businesses need to get Joyce the information and if they change= =20 anything also get that information to Jocye. This c= ould be=20 done just for the winter months. I think it could get crazy to try and in= clude=20 every member's hours in a newsletter every month. Is this info on th= e Web=20 site? Anyone could check that during the summer.=20  

A feature story each month on at least two current businesses.  I= think that=20 this is a good idea.  Who is going to be responsible for picking who= is=20 featured and what information is featured? Joyce is only one person.= =20 The board either needs to decide who to include, or= just=20 go down the list alphabetically. Could they write up their own or is= =20 Joyce okay with doing this? For some businesses, this could be a hard thi= ng to=20 accomplish.

A feature story for each new member.  I= think this=20 is a great idea.  I believe the person that is responsible for= =20 getting the new member should  be doing the feature story.  Joy= ce is=20 only one person working 16 hours per week. Great id= ea -=20 again we need to decide logistics - who does the writing.=20
<= BR>The=20 fireworks committee has a series of fund raising activities planned. = ; We=20 need to
feature them every month.<= FONT=20 face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff>  I agree that every event that is= being=20 planned should be featured in the Newsletter. Again, Joyce has to be prov= ided=20 with the information in a timely manner to get this done. These should be included just like an other upcoming even= t.=20
 We need to note tha= t we=20 are doing a membership drive to get as many new members
now so they ma= y be=20 included in the visitor's guide.=   A  membership drive should be included = in the=20 Newsletter. The deadline for this is coming up= -=20 doesn't Joyce need all the info by the end of this month?=20   

At this time, I'll ask that our secretary review all content for= =20 accuracy before sending
it to our membership.  I= think we=20 decided that everything should be forwarded to the entire board and = if we=20 do not respond it means we agree. I agree= with=20 this but we need to make sure we respond by the deadline if we have= =20 feedback. Joyce should not have to follow up with us. The more eyes on th= ings=20 the better. However, I think we need to trust Joyce when there = is a=20 tight deadline. 

I realize your curren= t=20 format requires you to create the newsletter at home.  For the
ti= me=20 being, I have no problem with you creating it using Word or another=20 program
that is currently available on the Chamber computer.  I k= now=20 it won't be
as nice looking or include pictures, but I feel the conten= t is=20 more important at this time.  We do not have proper equipment at the Chambe= r=20 Office. I really believe that we need to budget in new equipment and= =20 programs so that all of the work of the director can be done at the chamb= er=20 office. I agree but what is the problem with J= oyce=20 working on things from home?
<= /SPAN>

We need to focus on using the monthly newsletter as a means of= =20 getting timely and
helpful information to the general membership.
A= s for=20 the timing of the newsletter, the secretary should have the unapprov= ed=20 minutes
to you within a week of our monthly meetings. The treasur= ers=20 report should be presented
as a short one page document at our monthly= =20 board meeting which you will put in the
newsletter.  &n= bsp;I have=20 enough reports to do as it is.  They are very detailed. I do not hav= e a=20 one page report.  If Stacey= wants=20 to come up with this from LaNette's report, that is fine. See the=20= comments above.
 
The rest of the information should be easy enough to keep=20 updated. 
My letter this month will let them know to contact the= =20 chamber office with seasonal hours of operation and let them know yo= u'll=20 be featuring a couple businesses each month.  I'll have it to you by= =20 Monday. 
 
On a seperate note, all ad monies and=20 forms for the Car Show should be going to the
committee chair.&nb= sp;=20 The chair should record his/her list and then submit the checks to= =20 the
treasurer when the ad sales deadline has been reached.  It is= then=20 the chair's responsibility
to forward that information to his/her sub= =20 committees for further action.  I know you've been
helping out, b= ut=20 this is the procedure that should be followed.  I=20 don't agree with this. Keri is not accessible and it does not make sense = to=20 wait to deposit money when we have it ready to go. The advertising=20 subcommittee can report to Keri where we are but this is adding in=20 unncecessary work. The advertising subcommittee reports where we are at j= ust=20 like the rest of the subcommittees.
 
When bills need to be paid, it
will be the chair's responsibilty = to=20 present them to the board for approval of payment.  We need
= to=20 follow this procedure with each event so nothing falls through the=20 cracks.  I know you're
willing to help where ever needed if the c= hair=20 asks for it.  I thought we passed the budgets for events so= that=20 the chair did not have to bring the bills for approval each month.= =20 Things will become late if they need board approval for everything.&= nbsp;=20 I have the budgets so if something comes in way higher than what it = on=20 the budget I will not pay it until I address the board. We really need to clarify this issue - everyone need= s to=20 know how we are supposed to function when it comes to paying bills for=20= events.
 

Lastly, I'd like the= =20 secretary to get the chamber mail and dispurse it.  This is no offen= se to=20 you,
but there is information that comes to the chamber that should be= =20 viewed by a board member
first, not by a member, employee or=20 contractor.  The system is currently backwards.  It is
also = our=20 secretary's responsibility to discuss correspondence received at our boar= d=20 meetings.  Now that I have spoke to you, it makes sense that = the=20 secretary gets the mail.  We just need to make sure we take thi= s off=20 the list of duties for the director. I underst= and=20 from our discussion, Rene, why you want this to happen. I agree= we=20 need to change the by-laws.
 
We've come= to=20 depend on you as director to perform functions that board members should<= BR>be=20 doing.  I'd like to correct that, if possible.  I also want the= =20 secretary to review any
material that may be going to print on behalf = of=20 the chamber.  You've been doing a great job
in that area, bu= t a=20 board member needs to put an approval on any content that represents
t= he=20 chamber.  At this time, I want that approval to come from the= =20 secretary. Again - I think it needs to be the entir= e board=20 reviewing info. However, we do need to trust Joyce. She is the best thing= to=20 happen to this Chamber and I don't want to put limits on her ability= to=20 do her job.
 
There are exciting times coming to Port= =20 Austin.  We have a year to get the chamber
in line with these cha= nges,=20 performing as a well oiled machine and ready to move into
the new Welc= ome=20 Center when completed.  While these changes may be difficult for you= =20 and
the board, I'm confident you can implement them and help our chamb= er=20 move forward.
 
My=20 comments are my opinions. I am not saying that I am correct about everyth= ing.=20 If you or any of the other board members can explain to make me change my= mind=20 I am more than willing to listen.  Sometimes when someone else= =20 explains the reasoning behind  what they would like to change it can= make=20 more sense.
Thanks 
<= /SPAN>
We need to = make sure=20 that we reassure Joyce that we trust her to do her job. Some of=20 the comments and the way they were presented have caused her=20 to question that. I know we talked about better ways = to=20 communicate this, Rene, but I think we all need to be careful that this= =20 doesn't become a contentious board. I was there when the Chamber was = ;run=20 like a dictatorship and there was not a sense of cooperation or teamwork.= It=20 wasn't fun. I know we can get be a great team as we go=20 forward. Rene, I think you need to talk to the board about your goal= of=20 where you want us to be in the future.

I'll have my letter for the newsletter to you by=20 Monday.
 
Rene
 


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