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 For 2016 Alliance council member Jachino has been designated to
chair the Chamber Membership Council. Frank Adubato will chair the
Events Council. Sal Pollice is chair of Tourism, and Greg Basford
will chair the Legislative Affairs Council.
Each chair will schedule and lead meetings and work with the
specialty councils to implement goals, in addition to attending
Alliance Council meetings, and public events. Many will also serve
as volunteers for individual events throughout the year.
O’Donohue explained that there are the four councils and a
prescribed seven-member board, so there will always be a couple of
members who work at large, moving into projects as needed. Right now
there are only six members on the LCA Council, but the group is
hoping to fill the seventh seat in the near future.
One final question: Is the Alliance working in the black? It was
well-known that the Art and Wine festival lost money in 2015.
According to the annual report released at the Alliance dinner in
January, so did the Ag Scholarship Breakfast. But, O’Donohue said,
on the whole, the LCA finished the year in the black.
 Another hard question was why did the LCA choose to organize in such
a manner so as not to be forced to comply with the Open Meetings
Act?
O’Donohue noted that the Chamber has always acted under a similar
policy. It was noted that at prior times it was problematic to those
outside the Chamber trying to look in.
He went on to say that while Tourism was not forced to conduct
meetings under the open meetings act, that council chose to do so
anyway.
Concerning the ability to meet in privacy, O'Donohue said that as a
new organization, new people, learning to work together for the
first time, it seemed important. “We needed to have frank
discussions that we just don’t have in open meetings, as you (the
media) well know.”
Even though they don’t have the open door policy, O’Donohue said
that the council is willing to talk about the organization and
answer questions. Basford also noted that in the Alliance’s attempt
to become more transparent, it was the LCA who had reached out to
LDN and asked for the Friday afternoon meeting. It was also
O’Donohue who had said at the point of that invitation, that no
subject would be off limits.
Though the organization and it's groups are dedicated to driving the
Alliance forward and making the Chamber and Tourism Bureau stronger
and more productive for Logan County.
Alliance member Keith Snyder wanted to draw attention to the
sacrifice that the council members are making to be part of the
Alliance.
“There are no agenda’s with this board; there are no egos with this
board,” Snyder said.
He began with Jean Bruner Jachino, who is employed by Hampton Inns
in Lincoln and Springfield. He noted she has a full-time career
working in marketing and public relations, and she lives in
Springfield. Yet, she is dedicated to seeing Lincoln and Logan
County prosper, and because of that she chooses to give her time to
the Alliance. “She invests hours, and hours, and hours, every week.”
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Frank Adubato and Sal Pollice are both business owners in Lincoln, working to
grow their businesses. They also have young families with children. Both their
families and their businesses demand their attention. Snyder said, “They could
spend time on their business; they could spend time with their kids, but they
are here.
“Greg (Basford) who runs an outstanding business that has expanded multiple
times, is very successful. Greg could probably run his business anywhere. But
Greg cares about this community, and he invests hours and hours and hours each
week.
“Tom was a phenomenal city councilman. But he gave up his city council seat,
gave up his "political power" so he could help form this organization.
“The people who are here, do (this) because they love this community, and that
is the right reason to do stuff like this; and people who don’t understand that,
I’m sorry, but it is just the fact.” Snyder concluded.
Adubato said that another thing was the people who are complaining don’t seem to
be willing to do anything other than complain. He compared them to the Monday
morning quarterback who knows what should have been done after the game is over.
He said, “If you want to make a change, get in the system and help us out, we
would love your help.”
Basford said the council was ready to listen to ideas and suggestions. “If you
really care, take a stand and try to help.”
O’Donohue reinforced this saying, ideas aren’t much good if the one presenting
them isn’t willing to invest in the ideas personally. “Give us your workable
idea, but then help us to make your idea work,” he said.
So, what lies ahead for the Alliance?
According to the LCA council members, they will continue to pursue goals and
objectives of value to the present and future of Logan County.
[Nila Smith] Logan
County Alliance speaks publicly to debunk myths and assumptions
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