The following was added yesterday as a comment to a previous posting, but we fear that NA Confidential readers might miss it, so it's being moved here. T
The author, Rick Carmickle, is owner of Carmickle's Photography, which is located in the White House Centre downtown on Pearl Street.
Here is Rick's informative note:
"As the facilitator of the newly established Downtown New Albany Merchant's Association, I want to express that when I started this project, I sent post cards to every business located in an area of Vincennes to West 10th, the Ohio River to as far north as Arni's Pizza.
"In fact I have paid out of my pocket mailing expense for two mailings inviting any and all business to attend these meetings. Our last meeting had over 20 merchants attending, the mostever for this type of event.
"We are an independent organization, separate from any government agency, and I damn well hope to keep it that way. This is an open forum for business owners and shop keepers; our goal is to get people talking to each other, let each other know what wares and services we have to offer.
"Downtown New Albany will never be what it was when I was a kid growing up six blocks west of State Street, but it sure as hell shouldn't be a ghost town either.
"I plan on attending the forum on March 2, as I understand it is a panel discussion without input from the public, although that is not what it was touted as in the paper a few weeks ago.
"If any readers of this forum wish to attend our merchant meetings, they are an open forum held the second Tuesday of the month, in the White House Centre. You are more than welcome to attend.
"Sorry this post is long, but I feel the frustration of the little city trying to act like the big city, and for the most we get Chicken Little, 'the sky is falling, the sky is falling!'
"Thank you for your time!"
Previous NA Confidential coverage of the Merchant's Association
The Tribune: Merchants looking to improve downtown (01/16/05)
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2 comments:
Mr. Carmickle has been badly misinformed about public participation in the March 2 symposium. The whole purpose of the event is to solicit public input.
The topic is "New Visions for Downtown New Albany."
Now, apparently, someone has convinced Rick that "it is a panel discussion without input from the public."
So, who is it? Why are you afraid to identify yourself? Rick, who should know better, has been persuaded of this cockamamie idea.
We have been actively soliciting public input for over four weeks now, we've invited the school system to have its pupils submit essays, we've done everything in our power to invite public input. We've asked for people who aren't comfortable speaking in public to submit their ideas for the rejuvenation of downtown, however that is defined.
In addition to soliciting public input for over a month, we hold scheduled Monday night discussions in our Speak Out events, all of which have been dedicated to this precise topic since the announcement of the event.
Our plan is to compile all of the public input in booklet form for distribution to the attendees. But guess what? Rather than offer their ideas, someone is manufacturing their own version of the event and spreading bunk.
It is important to note that this event is NOT a forum to hear complaints. We're looking for ideas and solutions. Anyone...repeat, ANYONE, with an idea, whether it's fully fleshed-out or just a random spark of an inkling of a kernel of an idea, has already been invited to submit that idea for discussion by our panel.
In addition, each attendee will be given a card to write a question or suggestion for discussion by the panel, which our moderator, Ann Baumgartle, will consider for discussion by the panel.
Furthermore, this is a discussion that will not end on Wednesday, March 2. Attendees will be invited to submit their ideas through the week after the event for inclusion in a written report. That report will be available to anyone.
The event is not targeted and is not a rebuke to anyone. It is part of our standard commitment to be a place for ideas to percolate. The quarterly symposium was a core priority for us long before we even found our property and chose New Albany to open our store. The renaissance of New Albany is a natural topic for any discussion of public affairs.
Finally, this is not intended to be a unique event. We've already scheduled the second Public Affairs Symposium for the second quarter, which will address preservation in conjunction with Preservation Month (May) in Southern Indiana.
This is something we are committed to do every quarter for so long as we are here in New Albany. This is something we are committed to do on a weekly basis as part of our Sound Off series, currently held every Monday.
I know Rick bears us no ill will. We have attended every DMA meeting we could and continue to support his efforts.
But someone has
Tim,
Perhaps you could explain the connection between a pat on the back from Paul and the intellectual integrity of an argument made on a blog. If you do it well enough, I could give up my job and just live off the notoriety generated by the coffee mug he once gave me as a thank you.
Don't get me wrong. I like Paul a lot and respect his academic work enough to have hired him to speak at a leadership conference. Sadly, though, I must report that All Things Considered has yet to call.
If I weren't so busy being flattered by the threatening tone of your earlier recommendation, I may have noticed that you conveniently didn't respond to my challenge of revealing relationships with past and present New Albany business people and politicians.
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