Wilma,
You are right, SHCA and UCHS have big internal political work to do
right now after the tough public decision that split their memberships.
Been there, done that. Let them go about that business then, if you're a
member.
If you're not a current member, now is a sweet time to join such a
group! New volunteers and returning dropouts are welcomed eagerly into
the Association's inner circle, because half the previous leaders were
just taken out by a mortar hit. Newbies can have a major impact in
moments like these.
You may be right, for all I know, about the "leaders of community
associations" backing the Campus Inn. So why don't we find out? How many
officers, as of February 2009, have self-serving Penn connections? Let's
take a poll.
First, you decide on a list of community organizations you're going to
include in your study. Then you decide on a range of job titles you're
going to include. Then you decide on which Penn interactions will count
as "self-serving" and which won't. Then you start measuring.
I'd suggest you distinguish "officers" from "directors" and count only
officers. That's not because directors can't be backstage Richelieus
manipulating the front guys; it's strictly a matter of work time. A
typical Association may have 5 officers and 20 directors. So if you want
a good sample of Associations in this neighborhood, it'll cost you too
much to track down and call all their directors.
If you want to organize this task, Wilma, I'll volunteer to do 20% of
the phonework.
-- Tony West
I won't begin to speak for Karen, but MY take on what she wrote is that
quite a few (not all), of the alleged Campus Inn supporters have been
positing themselves as leaders of community associations and institutions,
to which many of us belong or have belonged.
All the while they have been using their credibility as community activists
and representatives for self-serving purposes with, as you put it, the
economic engine of Penn, while spinning another agenda to the community they
purported to represent to keep others working and engaged.
The most egregious is my opinion is the organizations who claim to want to
preserve the historical integrity of the neighborhood, while their friends
neighbors and members vehemently oppose this project.
It also must be hurtful that so many of the neighbors immediately around
this project have put many hours, years and dollars working in these
community groups who ultimately failed to advocate their interest.
Granted, there will proponents and opponents on any issue that concerns the
community.
Disqualifying people from supporting it doesn't quite ring true for me.
Rather, a sense of betrayal is felt by those who believed these community
leaders actually stood for what they said they did.
-Wilma
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