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Laurena Weninger freelance editor at-large Publicly funded for private industry lobbyist non-profit Societies like ODCEDS were never the intention of the Society Act. In my opinion ODCEDS and EDO's abusing the special and lenient reporting restrictions and scrutiny afforded all non-profit Societies tarnish legitimate non-profit Societies. Non-profit Societies are afforded such relaxed inspection based on the premise that all - 100% of funding would come from volunteer donators who by virtue of their donation would generally participate in the direction and expenditures of said non-profit Societies. ODCEDS never had such a volunteer donation yet stonewalled each and every public inquiry by hiding behind the skirts of the Society Act. ODCEDS entire 100% funding comes mainly from involuntary Area C and Oliver taxpayers. The balance comes in the way of grants from the BC taxpayers at large via Victoria. ODCEDS membership is closed and limited to 10 appointed members who meet behind closed doors and would have you believe that their main interest is to make Oliver more attractive with a Five Star Four Season Wine Village Resort Condominium Retail Store Gourmet Restaurant Health Spa Ski Golf and oh yeah local Fruit Vegetable Farming and Ranching Development without duplication of any existing Town Business and in direct competition their own wine villages. The bottom line is that a lack of "tangible results" is what should have sunk ship ODCEDS three years ago. What is sinking the ODCEDS ship now is making Public the record and direction of ODCEDS' myopic expenditures and the umbrage taken with the EDO defending ODCEDS behind closed doors operations with the statement that "they have to do that because the people of Oliver are not smart enough to know what is good for them." It was less than a year ago when then council counsel man Hampson surreptitiously and before the named parties were served, supplied / passed you my ODCEDS writ and statement of claim. He was as wrong in doing that then as are his "axing" ODCEDS "explanations"now, in your Penticton Herald (03.09.09) article. John Micka ps Gleaners conduct is exemplary of how non-profits ought to operate. ODCEDS the Antithesis. Susan Valentine Oliver Chronicle Publisher Welcome back. Today’s paper publishes John Harding’s name 6 times on 5 pages as both author and editor. Yet, in the staff section his name is absent. Given that an item can be added or deleted as late as 11:25 a.m. on a Tuesday, the question is, was the omission of John Harding’s name as editor in the staff section intentional or accidental? I wanted to comment on the Editor’s lack of background understanding when he says, The decision to close ODCEDS was a monetary one, plain and simple…..and was not politically motivated. Of course the decision was politically motivated by the public exposure of the unchecked and unreasonable public monetary expenditures by ODCEDS and EDO on behalf of private enterprise. The fact that there was absolutely no return for the taxpayer’s money was also a factor. For Mr. Harding’s edification, whether he’s still the editor or not, he might attend Joe Cardoso’s Oliver and Osoyoos press conferences tomorrow. John Micka 498-1964 Environ Oliver Citizens Accountability in Government is a figment of fabrication. April 11, 2006, Canada’s Parliament tables the Federal Accountability Act. We promised to stand up for accountability and to change the way government works, Canadians elected this government to deliver on that commitment and today and from this day on, accountability in government is the law and we can all be proud of that fact pontificates Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The new Federal Accountability Commission plans to monitor the way Cabinet makes appointments to public offices, a procedural process long speculated to be rife with insider trading and patronage. May 2006,Prime Minister Harper cancels the Federal Accountability Commission's plans when his choice of Accountability Commission Chairman is roundly rejected. Undaunted, the Secretariat hired to support the Accountability Commission Chairman carries on, racking up +1 million to-date, in accountable expenses. Dec. 11, 2006, the Federal Accountability Act receives Royal Assent. Nov. 2007,a deputy executive director and administrative assistant are hired. May 2009, Federal Accountability Commission’s doors wide open. Oliver District Community Economic Development Society’s doors wide shut. Didn’t I tell you that the behind closed doors Centennial Parkland contraventions and contrivances would become Oliver’s Watergate and ODCEDS’ Waterloo? Mortimer |