It's official: Louise DeSpain retiring

[fsu813]

"It has been my honor and privilege to work with all the great people of Springfield for the past ten years. Our work has made this a much better community, and the many people who want to move here bears out that truth.

It has also been my great honor and privilege to work with our public servants and all the dedicated staff who have helped Springfield in so many ways that I could not begin to mention them all. Dr. Gaffney (our city councilman), Mayor John Peyton, and Sheriff John Rutherford have given their own time, money, and the time and commitment of countless others. Without those priceless partnerships, we could not be where we are today, and we are certainly a long way from where we were ten years ago.

I will be stepping down as the Executive Director of SPAR at the end of March. Springfield is full of young, talented, enthusiastic, and idealistic people who are anxious to step up and contribute to their community. They can take revitalization to levels that I have only dreamed of.

My sincere thanks to everyone who loves this beautiful Historic District; it deserves all the love it can be given. The Sprigfield Community and you will always hold a special place in my heart. Thanks to each and every one!

Louise DeSpain"

[reednavy]

What she did was good for the overall future of the district, but she apparently a number of times was too nosey and what not.

Now, if only we can get a mayor to do good for the city's future.

[Springfielder]

So FSU813....what was it that you said in the thread where it where someone asked about the rumor? Oh yeah, "rumors & speculation. great." So much for that, huh?

As for Ms. DeSpain making it public that she's retired from that position, I wish her well.

[fsu813]

So FSU813....what was it that you said in the thread where it where someone asked about the rumor? Oh yeah, "rumors & speculation. great." So much for that, huh?

As for Ms. DeSpain making it public that she's retired from that position, I wish her well.

b/c you know something doesn't mean you have to talk about it. thought i was appropriate to hold off discussion until she released an offical statement.

[Springfielder]

So why did you jump in with the "rumors & speculation. great." as if the rumor wasn't true, if it was a matter of you just not wanting to talk about it, then why try to discredit what was clearly true? And why not discuss it, what was the need for secrecy? Everything else is discussed.

[reednavy]

Oh God, who cares? She retired, it now sounds like another cat fight getting started.

[fsu813]

"Any truth to this rumor? I've heard it from several Springfield neighbors, that she's submitted a letter of resignation. If this is true, then IMO, there shouldn't be anyone placed into that position and it should be disolved. There's no need for that position.

I've also heard rumor that sights are now being set upon the Womens club, and that there's an effort being set in place to 'take that over.' Haven't we (Springfield) had enough battles? Isn't it time to stop this 'in-house' fighting and work towards an amicable solution?"



that was the orginal post. as you can see in the bold, the majority of it was not directly related to a resignation.

[reednavy]

Tom?  Meet Jerry.

Hows your own stray cat thing going with bos?

I'm trying to get the troll kicked off here, because it is apprent that the admin on here isn't doing a damn thing about it.

[Springfielder]

As for that original post on the other thread, by livein32206

Any truth to this rumor? I've heard it from several Springfield neighbors, that she's submitted a letter of resignation. If this is true, then IMO, there shouldn't be anyone placed into that position and it should be disolved. There's no need for that position.

I've also heard rumor that sights are now being set upon the Womens club, and that there's an effort being set in place to 'take that over.' Haven't we (Springfield) had enough battles? Isn't it time to stop this 'in-house' fighting and work towards an amicable solution?

It would seem that they heard some talk and were asking others if they knew anything about it and/or if it were true. They also went on to ask about another rumor (or part of the same one) that they wanted to know about. So....what's your point?

[CS Foltz]

OK.............Aunt Euabell is leaving...........my question is what is next for SPAR? Will they still continue or will they shut the doors and if so, what organization will step up to the line taking into account SPAR's downfall and missinformational direction? Is there another organization willing to set the tone, take the lead and provide direction?

[Springfielder]

SPAR isn't going to shut down, that I can say with a great degree of certainty. Hopefully things will move towards a more amicable working relationship with the neighborhood.

[Livein32206]

As for that original post on the other thread, by livein32206

Any truth to this rumor? I've heard it from several Springfield neighbors, that she's submitted a letter of resignation. If this is true, then IMO, there shouldn't be anyone placed into that position and it should be disolved. There's no need for that position.

I've also heard rumor that sights are now being set upon the Womens club, and that there's an effort being set in place to 'take that over.' Haven't we (Springfield) had enough battles? Isn't it time to stop this 'in-house' fighting and work towards an amicable solution?

It would seem that they heard some talk and were asking others if they knew anything about it and/or if it were true. They also went on to ask about another rumor (or part of the same one) that they wanted to know about. So....what's your point?

That's exactly what I was doing and it would appear that what I had heard was in fact true. Of course, and to no surprise, certain folks wanted to try and discredit me for asking what I felt was a very important piece of information that was spreading throughout the neighborhood. The snippy remarks that followed my original post, were just that, now that the rumor has been proven to be true.

On that, I am appreciative of the positive and good things that Louise DeSpain has done for the neighborhood. Nobody can deny that she wasn't instrumental in helping to make positive changes and fighting for improvements. I do feel that it's indeed time, to pass that torch. I wish her well and thank her for the good she's accomplished for the neighborhood.

[grimss]

RAP went through a similar situation when Bonnie Grissett retired after umpteen years.  Bonnie (like Louise for SPAR) had become the face of RAP and, although she did a tremendous amount of good for our neighborhood, there was definitely a minority who felt she epitomized everything they didn't like about the organization. The organizational transition to the new E.D., Carmen Godwin, has been a major one, but in the end, it has made RAP (IMHO) a stronger, more effective and "friendlier" entity.

I suspect SPAR will go through similar growing pains. Louise has an encyclopedic knowledge of everything that's going on in Springfield, and filling her shoes won't be easy (or cheap, since SPAR probably won't be fortunate to find someone to work for free, as she did). However, with luck and a good amount of work by its board, SPAR should emerge from this in a better place.

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

i only hope whoever's next isn't as abrasive and implicitly racist--people keep saying louise did a lot ov good for the neighbourhood, but having lived here my entire life all i've seen is the interests ov the wealthy served at the expense ov people who'd lived in springfield for decades before i was born.

[nvrenuf]

Implicitly racist - please provide examples when making such statements. It helps to add validity.