Fall fair meetings have a different essence about them this year as opposed to last.
In 2012 some members insisted they be allowed access to the books. The board of the day drew a line in the sand and refused them.
Those who were asking for the books just kept on asking.
Egos took over and, by the end of the year, meetings had been reduced to shouting matches and all fair business had to be conducted in closed director’s meeting.
Last week’s meeting had some very frank opinions voiced about procedures used at the gate. It was reported that some volunteers had been surprised to see the procedures at the gate changed.
In 2012, after much debate, the fair instituted wristbands. This year the wristbands were replaced with another system for counting the numbers through the gate.
Some at the meeting felt the new system could have been better explained and perhaps the decision to move away from wristbands should have been more transparent.
Voices were raised and it started looking like déjà vu all over again.
Then someone did exactly what was needed – they took responsibility.
Director Ron Palmer explained that he had designed the new system -
the intent being to tighten up financial controls and accountability.
He said he regrets the fact that a meeting wasn’t held before the fair, adding that he had made some changes at the request of a long-time gate convener.
“I will apologize – there was some miscommunication. That was my fault,” said Palmer.
We should be able to live with that.
As Jodi Klein reminded everyone: life is a learning experience where you get the chance to identify the things you can polish up for next year.
We should be able to live by that.