Interesting Journal story....

As businesses leave Middletown, so do leaders

MIDDLETOWN —
Look down the roster of any Middletown government committee, council, commission or nonprofit’s board of directors, and you will likely see a lot of the same names.

They’re the same people who have volunteered or sought political office time and again. They’re from prominent families in the city, and many work for some of the most successful businesses in town.

Some city leaders say that kind of institutional knowledge and deep-seated ties to the community are needed for Middletown to be successful. But others say Middletown needs an infusion of fresh faces as longtime community leaders grow older and fade to the background.

As sitting City Council and school board members contemplate whether to run for re-election in November, many residents are wondering who will step up to fill the void if they don’t or who might challenge them if they do. In recent elections, there hasn’t been a flood of candidates pulling petitions and some have questioned whether the best and most qualified candidates are coming forward.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN RUNNING, IF YOU ARE NOT KNOWN, A MEMBER OF THE INNER CIRCLE OR HAVE A DIFFERENT AGENDA THAN THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP IS THE FACT THAT THE INCUMBANTS WILL TAKE NOTE OF YOUR RUNNING AND ENLIST ENOUGH OF THEIR OWN KIND TO DILUTE YOUR VOTES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO WIN. THE UNDERTOW OF MIDDLETOWN POLITICS IS BASED ON EXCLUSION OF ANYONE WANTING TO RUN THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT FEELS IS A THREAT TO THEIR DOMAIN.

Dick Slagle, interim president and CEO of the Chamber Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton, said the people who are familiar with serving on boards, commissions and campaigns are there because people know they’ll get the job done.

OH REALLY SLAGLE? THINK THE CURRENT BUNCH IS "GETTING THE JOB DONE" FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY AND IT'S CITIZENS? CHECKED THE REPORT CARD LATELY? HELL, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN GROUPS OF PEOPLE SERVING ON BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, ON COUNCIL OR OCCUPYING THE CITY BUILDING FOR DECADES THAT HAVE "GOTTEN THE JOB DONE". THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN THE SITUATION WE'RE IN. IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE ON THE SAME BOARDS AND COUNCIL OR, AT BEST, COOKIE CUTTER PEOPLE SAYING AND DOING THE SAME THING THE PREVIOUS PEOPLE DID. MEET THE NEW BOSS.......SAME AS THE OLD BOSS MENTALITY. NO ONE AROUND FOR DECADES TO RUN THE SHIP CORRECTLY. FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD, LOOK AT THIS TOWN MAN. WHAT WAS ONCE GOOD HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH INEPT, NON-FUNCTIONAL DIRECTION AND IDEAS.

Bailey said Middletown has to develop a way to cultivate young talented professionals, keep them here and keep them involved in the community. He said many older community leaders who have served their time, like Slagle, are being called out of retirement to serve on boards, lead organizations or run for office because there aren’t younger successors in place.

HELL NO, WE'VE DRIVEN ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE OFF EITHER THROUGH A LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE, LACK OF JOBS, LACK OF A FUTURE. THE COMPETENT YOUNG PEOPLE SEE WHAT IS HERE FOR THEM AND KNOW THEY CAN DO BETTER WITH LITTLE EFFORT ELSEWHERE. THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A TOWN THAT IS AS POORLY RUN AS THIS TOWN HAS BEEN. THEY WANT A MASON OR SPRINGBORO, OR BETTER YET, TOTALLY OUT OF OHIO AS THEIR PLACE TO RESIDE. THERE IS A SEVERE LACK OF PROFESSIONAL, UPSCALE JOBS AND PAY IN THIS TOWN. YOU SIMPLY DON'T OFFER WHAT THEY NEED NOR WANT HERE. NO CONNECTION TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAS BEEN MADE BY CITY LEADERS. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PLACE ALL YOUR INTEREST IN YOUR LITTLE INNER CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE AND IGNORE THE GENERAL POPULACE.

While he doesn’t believe there is a leadership vacuum in the city, Councilman Dan Picard said there is a lack of young people involved in the community.

“I don’t know if that’s a product of our times because those younger people have kids and they’re so involved with them and they’re not involved or it’s the lack of interest,” he said.

AND, DANNY, IT COULD BE THAT THEY SEE HOW YOU AND OTHERS ARE RUNNING THE CITY. THEY SEE THAT YOUR LITTLE ECON. DEV DEPT HAS BEEN DRAGGING IT'S FEET (UNTIL NOW) ON DECENT JOB CREATION FOR DECADES. THEY SEE HOW THE LOW INCOME GHETTO BUILDING PLAN HAS HELPED TAKE THE CITY INTO THE POOR ZONE. THEY SEE CRIME INCREASING BECAUSE OF IT. THEY SEE CASHIER AND GAS STATION ATTENDANT JOBS INSTEAD OF HIGHER PAYING ONES. THEY SEE A FUTURE SOMEWHERE ELSE.......AND THE CITY LEADERSHIP, PAST AND PRESENT, SHOULD TAKE THE BRUNT OF THE BLAME FOR THAT. JMO

right on the money, Squeem

right on, Spider for the RTF front man plug - I'll see you there - bought my tix the day I heard he was coming - just Chick and his piano. should be stellar.

much thanks to 409 - I knew one of you guys would come through. I worked with Kay too and she was such a breath of fresh air. Her letter to the editor laid it out for all to hear. her words are a good starting point for any discussion about improving Middletown civic engagement.

I can tell so many stories as a young Armco employee who tried to help and had to walk away in disgust. Kay's resignation letter - whose sentiment is very close to the quoted interview 409 so ably provided - really resonated with me at the time - and still does.

My experience has been that there are still a handful of people with long histories in this town, between ages 60 and 80, who want you to volunteer and help out but don't want to grant you and real say or power. 

Is it any wonder we have an 87 year head of the Chamber?

to follow up on Kay's turf battles and Neil's chamber topic, I'll add an example that includes both.

I'm a graduate of the chamber's Leadership program. a few years ago, the chamber reached out to us and stroked our egos by inviting us to gather and discuss improvements to the program.

upon arrival, I noticed the consultant contracted by the chamber had a full contingent of representatives sprinkled among the alumni around the conference room.

for many of us who served on local non-profit boards, there was consensus on a few topics for the improving the program, such as:

 -  provide time and resources for presenting non-profit management methods and tools. non-profits are a unique animal in the business world and there are important distinctions that need to be emphasized.

 -  provide material & discussion then practice techniques for organizing a competent meeting. i.e., offer some instruction on Roberts Rules of Order.  raise your hand if you've suffered and incompetently held board meeting.

these ideas were completely dismissed by those hired to facilitate the meeting. it was as if we were there to rubber-stamp ideas they had arrived at long before the meeting was convened. I was fascinated to see them steer the discussion away from the consensus and back to their previously held positions.

Leadership Middletown should be providing an ever increasing pool of candidates for serving on our local boards. the appointment of the 1960s-era Armco executive, Dick Slagle (who is a wonderful guy)  is a testament to the chamber's failure to improve the program.

there's nothing more frustrating than offering participation then feeling manipulated in return.

No room for hardline, direct, in your face questions that puts them on the spot. Phony people, playing childish games, producing poorly run programs, managed by ego strewn people. VET, that says it all!!!