Concerned Citizens meet to discuss Chamber problems

[Jack]

A group of concerned citizens were at Mel’s Seafood Monday night to discuss the problems facing the local economy and the reasons this community continues to lose jobs, people and momentum. At the top of the list was the lack of leadership at the Chamber of Commerce. Evidence shows that there has been a total collapse on business development and absolutely no follow-up or interest by the Chamber in the recruitment of new jobs and residential inquiries to El Dorado.

[EldoMasterBlaste r]

And did anyone come up with any ideas?

[Jack]

No, we just decided to drink until things seemed better,... Its working out .

[Hmm]

Apparently you haven't been reading the paper recently.

This city is on the verge of getting good paying jobs from the call center.

Get real.

[Well]

That call center decision has not been made yet, but thanks for the reminder. Reps from the call center company are supposed to be in town tomorrow in cognito to get a feel for the community. So, on the first day back to school, we are all supposed to be on our best behavior with smiles on our faces and a skip in our step.

[julieann]

Mel's is closed on Monday.

[EldoMasterBlaste r]

Hmm wrote:

Apparently you haven't been reading the paper recently.
This city is on the verge of getting good paying jobs from the call center.
Get real.

That's one in how many years? And for that one we have to buy a building for WAY more than it is worth and lease it to them praying they don't pull out early.

But that is the problem with the chamber. They put all there eggs in one basket at a time. They need to working on 5 or 6 recruitments like that at a time so if a couple fall through they aren't left sitting there with their thumbs up their...well you know where.

[downtown dan]

julieann wrote:

Mel's is closed on Monday.

thanks. freaking brilliant

[Wishing]

EldoMasterBlaster wrote:

<quoted text>
That's one in how many years? And for that one we have to buy a building for WAY more than it is worth and lease it to them praying they don't pull out early.
But that is the problem with the chamber. They put all there eggs in one basket at a time. They need to working on 5 or 6 recruitments like that at a time so if a couple fall through they aren't left sitting there with their thumbs up their...well you know where.

praying they don't pull out early.

I wish your dad would have pulled out early.

[Hmm]

ElDo blaster, do you know how much the state gives companies to move to Little Rock and other urban areas?

Honey, money is doled out by the wads to lure businesses. Mississippi practically gave out BJs to get Toyota to move into their state.

It takes money to make money.

In defense of the chamber, there have been many, many businesses who have been turned off by El Dorado — some because of our lack of shopping, some because of our poor roads (no connection to an interstate system)— a menagerie of reasons.

It isn't the chamber's fault.

Let's face it. What major company wants to relocate to the middle of nowhere? Promise or no promise. It's difficult to get businesses in here, and it may take 100 failures to get one success story.

We don't have a reliable, educated work force here. You aren't gonna get high level jobs here. All we have are good ole boys who can pull rigs or make gas at Lion or build things.

We have zero brain power in our workforce, because everyone moves away.

Don Wales can't educate our workforce, all he can do is sugarcoat it and try to entice businesses to this town.

And if you think anything else other than the above stated is the truth, then you are sorely misinformed.

[Marcus]

Hmm wrote:

Apparently you haven't been reading the paper recently.
This city is on the verge of getting good paying jobs from the call center.
Get real.

Don't talk to me about what is about to happen, just look at the track record of the Chamber of Commerce in saving jobs the past two or three years.

The chamber is TOTALLY VOID of leadership and direction on this front. The sooner a change is made at the top the better off we all will be.

[EldoMasterBlaste r]

Hmm... There are CoCs all over the country in towns with less to offer than ELD for years.

Let's face it. Don couldn't run a chicken plant so what qualifies him to recruit companies? And even if he did have the skills to run a chicken plant that isn't the same skill set required to recruit.

I don't have that skill set either but I'll bet I could find someone who does.

[Truth Be Told]

Skill is not an issue. Education is not an issue. You don't need either one to have a chicken plant. Culture is an issue. Desire is an issue. Motivation is an issue. Coruption is the result of being on the wrong side of each of these issues.

[Robt J]

Don Wales doesn't bring people together, he divides them. Wales doesn't understand the basic principle of working together for a common good. He would rather sit on his butt and blame others like Richard Mason for his own lack of performance.

Can anyone name just one thing he has accomplished in his time as Chamber executive?

[EldoMasterBlaste r]

Truth Be Told wrote:

Skill is not an issue. Education is not an issue. You don't need either one to have a chicken plant. Culture is an issue. Desire is an issue. Motivation is an issue. Coruption is the result of being on the wrong side of each of these issues.

Skill and Education aren't issues when it comes to recruiting a business to El Dorado or running a chicken plant or any other business? If you really beleive that I'd strongly suggest that you lay off the pop culture, self help books.

[Educated]

EldoMasterBlaster:
Your posts are becoming more and more rediculous. They are not well thought out and mostly contain information about the leadership in this town that you so desperately want to be part of. You spend far too much time on this site. Give it a break every once in a while. You may actually have something intelligent to say if you don't take Topix so seriously. what "Truth be Told" posted is true. It seems to me you have a hard time with anyone saying anything about corruption or the lack desire to actually attract new business here.

[Foxtrot]

Educated wrote:

EldoMasterBlaster:
Your posts are becoming more and more rediculous. They are not well thought out and mostly contain information about the leadership in this town that you so desperately want to be part of. You spend far too much time on this site. Give it a break every once in a while. You may actually have something intelligent to say if you don't take Topix so seriously. what "Truth be Told" posted is true. It seems to me you have a hard time with anyone saying anything about corruption or the lack desire to actually attract new business here.

Amen brother

[EldoMasterBlaste r]

Well Educated and Foxtrot. I can hardly think how to respond to that. We have an idiot say that skill and education aren't at issue when we are talking about someone who is hired to recruit business into the city.

I so have a problem when people say there is corruption who when asked to post anything to back up such a statement doesn't.

[truth be told]

EldoMasterBlaster wrote:

Well Educated and Foxtrot. I can hardly think how to respond to that. We have an idiot say that skill and education aren't at issue when we are talking about someone who is hired to recruit business into the city.
I so have a problem when people say there is corruption who when asked to post anything to back up such a statement doesn't.

I will try to make it real simple for the simple minded. The people responsible for making desicions, keeping business here, or attracting new business will always be in charge. They do not want new business or care if current businesses stay. No matter what happens their situation, status, and authority will remain the same. Keeping this in mind, skill and education are not an issue. Money in this town does not change hands. It never will because it is guided by an unbreakable ring of corruption.

[yikes]

EldoMasterBlaster wrote:

Well Educated and Foxtrot. I can hardly think how to respond to that. We have an idiot say that skill and education aren't at issue when we are talking about someone who is hired to recruit business into the city.
I so have a problem when people say there is corruption who when asked to post anything to back up such a statement doesn't.

The grammar police just called and said you are due back in your cell for repeated butchery of the English language.