27 March 2010
Chamber Nightmare!
Is the Dover Chamber of Commerce in Complete Disarray?
The picture on the left shows the Chairman of Dover Chamber of Commerce, our very own tip top forumite blogger, Barry Williams, talking to Doverforum's Colette Boland at the hugely optimistic Business Support Manager Launch a few months back.....referred to in the earlier copy below.
But now it has emerged this morning Saturday 27 March, that the Chairman himself did NOT know about Business Support Manager Roger Walkden's high profile sacking. In fact he read it for the first time on this Forum. A rather peculiar situation you might think.
"This is something of a sore point I openly admit" said Barry Williams earlier today.
It is beginning to look now as if the Chamber has splintered into factions with Cameron Macsween and Alan Shirley taking control of the decision making process in maverick vein....and with the likely prospect that there would be an earth shattering fallout from such a decision, especially when it envolves the popular Roger Walkden, surely a full board consultation would have been more appropriate. Whatever happens now this has been a bad blow for the image of the Dover Chamber of Commerce especially after such an optimistic launch, a PR disaster in effect, and on top of that its clear that the left hand of the organisation doesnt know what the right hand is doing.
Previously.....
Roger Walkden Sacked
The picture on the left was taken just a few short months ago on the evening that Roger Walkden was launched to the public as Dover's all new Business Support Manager. The launch event took place at the Town Council offices. It was an enthusiastic occasion with much positivity in the air, heralding what we all thought was a great new future for a downtrodden Dover. The enthusiasm came not only from Roger himself, who is always enthusiastic for Dover, but from the newly revamped (at the time) Dover Chamber of Commerce. Now its all gone sour, as we are stunned tonight(thurs 25) at the news that our fellow forumite Roger has been unceremoniously sacked by the Chamber.
"Dover once again loses a hardworking Champion"
said Roger sadly.
There is a thread running on this announcement in the Members Club Forum so please read more there. If you are not a member but would like to comment, please leave your message in the box below. All welcome. Members can also leave a message below too.
What now for Dover? Once again we are in a mess of staggering self inflicted proportions. The Launch Night as mentioned was full of grand ideas and solid hope, with promises of extra income to pay for all these initiatives..the DTC, the DDC, and the DHB were all mentioned as contributors or possible contributors. Did that funding ever come through to the Chamber? If people want to read about the original night please see Copy 48 and 49 on Page 4 of All Recent Features. Copy 48 shows pictures and words about the Launch. Copy 49 shows The Chamber of Commerce President Cameron Macsween's speech in full. This will give the full background. PB.
