S.A.M.B.A.'s speaker gets (deliberately?) misquoted.

[sheclown]

posted on myspringfield.org by FSU813 regarding last night's meeting:

http://myspringfield.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=2215#p2215

Good crowd last night. Almost 20 people.

Some mmental notes of Brent Staton's & Metro North's presentation for those who weren't there...


- Brent has been in the area a long. Been involved with Spar in one fashion or another for about 30 years, and with an incarnation of Samba for about 20 years.

- history is important in Springfield, and on Main Street. Being aware of the area's history is valuable. Tieing that in with business is a good idea.

- the business / community relationship is important. not all types of business work in the neighborhood, or are good for the neighborhood. the community has to support the local business and the business has to support the community. having good overall relationship with the community is key.

- networking and establishing relationships with other businesses in the neighborhood is very important. businesses supporting other businesses in the area is very important.

- money is available for small business borrowing, you just have to know where to look. however, in the absence of avaialble funds, people can often provide a substitute. An example was given about money for beautifing a sidewalk not being available, so the community did it instead, with great results.

- Metro North has learned how to make do with less.

- Ron, the Exec Dir of Metro North, mentioned how they found that the # of homeowners was important in revitalizing commerical areas & communities in general, and that renters didn't have the same impact.

- Brent emphasized that a business must know thier audience inside and out to best serve them.

- As a commerical corridor and community, long term planning is vital.

Now, I was at this meeting as well as 19 others.  Were the bold statements said?  Or even implied?  I had thought just the opposite point was made.  And it is an important point that Brent was trying to make.  To misrepresent his words and put them out to the community, as a SAMBA board member, doesn't seem kosher.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[Hypocrite]

posted on myspringfield.org by FSU813 regarding last night's meeting:

http://myspringfield.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=2215#p2215

Good crowd last night. Almost 20 people.

Some mmental notes of Brent Staton's & Metro North's presentation for those who weren't there...


- Brent has been in the area a long. Been involved with Spar in one fashion or another for about 30 years, and with an incarnation of Samba for about 20 years.

- history is important in Springfield, and on Main Street. Being aware of the area's history is valuable. Tieing that in with business is a good idea.

- the business / community relationship is important. not all types of business work in the neighborhood, or are good for the neighborhood. the community has to support the local business and the business has to support the community. having good overall relationship with the community is key.

- networking and establishing relationships with other businesses in the neighborhood is very important. businesses supporting other businesses in the area is very important.

- money is available for small business borrowing, you just have to know where to look. however, in the absence of avaialble funds, people can often provide a substitute. An example was given about money for beautifing a sidewalk not being available, so the community did it instead, with great results.

- Metro North has learned how to make do with less.

- Ron, the Exec Dir of Metro North, mentioned how they found that the # of homeowners was important in revitalizing commerical areas & communities in general, and that renters didn't have the same impact.

- Brent emphasized that a business must know thier audience inside and out to best serve them.

- As a commerical corridor and community, long term planning is vital.

Now, I was at this meeting as well as 19 others.  Were the bold statements said?  Or even implied?  I had thought just the opposite point was made.  And it is an important point that Brent was trying to make.  To misrepresent his words and put them out to the community, as a SAMBA board member, doesn't seem kosher.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

I have offered numerous times to offer my services as a court reporter and would make a word for word transcript of any SPAR, SAMBA, or Women's Club meeting if wanted.  Nobody seemed interested.

[sheclown]

I said before that I thought it was a GREAT idea.  Still do. 

[Hypocrite]

I said before that I thought it was a GREAT idea.  Still do. 

My apologies, I guess I didn't see that one.  Well, you are in a minority then. I think it would clear up a bunch of "he didn't say that, or he did say that".

[thelakelander]

^Good idea. If you're willing to volunteer your time like the rest participating in these groups do, go ahead and do it.  I can't imagine someone stopping you.

[Hypocrite]

^Good idea. If you're willing to volunteer your time like the rest participating in these groups do, go ahead and do it.  I can't imagine someone stopping you.

I don't mind at all, I will say that I do have a very busy schedule and that I won't be able to come to all, so I don't want people thinking I pick and choose any meeting over another.  It will simply be pure availability.  If there is one specifically that someone would want covered, if I could get as much notice in advance as possible, I can try to get my schedule open for that.  I do work nights doing closed captioning at Comcast and that is what pays the bills, so that has to come first.  I would certify all transcripts, so there would be nothing left out and nothing added that wasn't said.  I could start a thread of meeting transcripts as well, so people could check from time to time for anything new.

This would be an official transcript, not a blog.  No opinions will be involved.

[cindi]

^Good idea. If you're willing to volunteer your time like the rest participating in these groups do, go ahead and do it.  I can't imagine someone stopping you.

I don't mind at all, I will say that I do have a very busy schedule and that I won't be able to come to all, so I don't want people thinking I pick and choose any meeting over another.  It will simply be pure availability.  If there is one specifically that someone would want covered, if I could get as much notice in advance as possible, I can try to get my schedule open for that.  I do work nights doing closed captioning at Comcast and that is what pays the bills, so that has to come first.  I would certify all transcripts, so there would be nothing left out and nothing added that wasn't said.  I could start a thread of meeting transcripts as well, so people could check from time to time for anything new.

This would be an official transcript, not a blog.  No opinions will be involved.

seriously, now what fun would there be in that.  please, do not pollute these threads with facts.

[Lunican]

not all types of business work in the neighborhood, or are good for the neighborhood.

I was at the meeting and do not remember him saying this. I do believe he was making the opposite point. He mentioned several times to get out and support your local businesses even if they aren't your favorite.

[fsu813]

Gloria,

PMing me directly or contacting the speaker would seem like the most appropriate avenue if you felt I misunderstood something. Or addressing the question to me.

Instead, in your judegment, suggesting that I am purposely lying about something was more appropriate.

I spoke to one other in attedance and Mr. Staton directly to see if I may have misunderstood something. However, they both confirmed that Mr. Staton said that not all businesses are a good fit for the neighborhood, and the rest of summary as well. I don't feel there is anything contraversial about that statement, as I assume he was referring to the overlay, but I suppose you have your own point of view.

In the future, I suggest contacting me if you feel I may have misunderstood something, privately or publically. Or contacting the speaker. Or being in the room for the entire presentation. Or all of the above.


Thanks.

[sheclown]

not all types of business work in the neighborhood, or are good for the neighborhood.

I was at the meeting and do not remember him saying this. I do believe he was making the opposite point. He mentioned several times to get out and support your local businesses even if they aren't your favorite.

Bill, I'll do as I please.

[strider]

 FSU813, I spoke with Mr. Staton  just the other day and he re-enforced the idea that all business are important.  We both agreed that it was too bad a couple of pawn shops had closed in the last couple of years as they helped to generate walking traffic on Main Street, something that is pretty much lacking right now.  And pawn shops are indeed "blacklisted" by the overlay.

By the way, Sheclown (note the use of the screen name, Bill) had to leave for a time, but I was there when she wasn’t and several others have either posted here or PM’d us about this issue and are wondering where that statement came from themselves.  

Mr. Stanton may have said something that you construed to mean your comment and let's face it, there are a couple of businesses that I can think of that would truly be bad for the neighborhood, like a steel mill or a blast furnace, but for the most part, the vast majority of businesses, whether “everyone” likes them, or not, should be welcomed and supported in some fashion. And, please notice, originally you said "not good for the neighborhood" and the last time you said "not a good fit for the neighborhood", a bit of a different thing and the latter is something actually determined by the perspective owners of the new business and eventually, the market itself.

[sheclown]

^after all, I am free, bonkers, and 21.  

[thelakelander]

Unfortunately, I could not make it the other night but I have spoken with Brent on numerous occasions, while involved with SAMBA, about the corridor.  From personal conversation, I do know that he is a proponent of the most controversial business planned for the area........the car wash at 4th & Main. 

[thelakelander]

Btw, I do believe that "all" businesses are not a good fit for the corridor.  Places like adult bookstores, strip clubs and brothels are definitely bad fits.  Fortunately, the zoning code does not allow these types of uses under any circumstances.

[sheclown]

^ I don't think anyone thought these types were being referenced, Lake.

An important point he made was that the community had to get together and stand united for anything of substance to be accomplished.