Woodstock CT Café

From Rick Green’s Courant.com CTConfidential “What’s Really Happening”.

“To see what’s happening with local, independent, newsgathering, stop by the Woodstock CT Cafe or Urban Compass in Hartford, but don’t forget the always fresh Bristol Today.”

This article was first published by the Cafe on November 9th, 2006. In light of Kevin’s statement above we thought that this article would add some perspective to the new Academy Foundation.

I found it interesting that Ms. Musumeci (former BOT chairman) reminded the Academy Communities that Woodstock and Eastford approved a special bond in 1987 amounting to $14.5 million for renovation and expansion of the Academy (equivalent to about $27 million today). The renovations and the expansion were completed in 1992 according to her address. But apparently the renovation and expansion continues as the result of the excess cash created by the refinancing of those 19-year old bonds. Under other circumstances the decision to refinance might make good financial sense.

Normally private, non-profit institutions have development programs with a Director of Development whose job description is to drive fundraising through public relations under the guidance of some sort of long-term strategic plan. The Boards of Trustees usually play key roles in development of strategic plans. These same Trustees are usually key operatives of fundraising programs, working together with and under the guidance of the Director of Development and the administrative leaders. This is why influential people with records of success in business and government are invited to join these Boards. Such Trustees have well developed networks with other influential people who, because of their successes in the business world, have their own wealth as well as the influence and ability to solicit the wealth of other potential benefactors. The Trustees’ altruistic mission is to explain the importance of supporting worthwhile missions and institutions/charities by articulating their value to the community and to the world. In doing so, they persuade potential benefactors to donate money to the cause of the charitable or non-profit institution. I speak from experience having been involved in hundred-thousand to million dollar fundraising efforts by three different non-profit institutions. The keys to success were always the perceived value of the mission of the institution AND the effectiveness of the leadership, the development director, and the trustees in creating this perception. This is an age-old, well-practiced activity of private schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. Read the rest of this entry »

Woodstock’s Winners:

·        Woodstock Villager for providing improved and more accurate local news coverage under the leadership of editor Stephanie Jarvis and reporter Matt Sanderson.

·        The Woodstock PTO for rallying the electorate to vote NO and reject the repeal of the WBOE in the June 9^th referendum.

·        Allan Walker for his steady leadership as First Selectman of Woodstock.

·        Woodstock Municipal Employees for accepting a zero pay raise.

·        Anthony Walker and Scott Sincerbeaux for their uncontested election to the Board of Education and their acquisition of leadership of the BOE.

·        Lindsay Paul for her years of leadership of Woodstock education system and its improvements during those turbulent times.

·        Frank Baran for his leadership and improvement of Woodstock’s education system.

·        Kevin Ford for growing into a valuable and constructive member of WBOE in his first two years of service to the Town.

·        Kim Caren for quietly bringing new leadership and perspective to Woodstock Academy.

·        Woodstock’s pro-education electorate for the defeat of anti-education forces trying to undermine the Board of Education.

·        Dean Audet for his constructive support and contributions toward improvement of the Town Highway Facility.

·        Citizens of Woodstock for the defeat of irresponsible forces trying to block much needed and long awaited improvements in the salt storage and highway facility thus avoiding State takeover of the mandated improvements.

·        Richard Cass for years of contributions to the community and then persevering as a Democrat to win a six-year term on the Board of Finance.  

·        Community Partners for Woodstock’s Future (CPWF, a PAC) for helping to persuade Woodstock’s electorate (1) to reject the repeal of the BOE in the June 9^th referendum (vote NO), (2) to elect the more effective candidates for Town Boards in contested November 3^rd elections, and (3) to pass the December 8^th referendum bond proposal which funds the repair salt facility and long-needed improvements of the Highway Facility.  According to the Villager (January 1 issue), founding members of the CPWF published 14 Letters to the Editor in the Villager in attempt to persuade the electorate.

Woodstock’s Losers

·        The Biggest Losers are Dave Richardson, Craig Powers, Stephen Rosendahl, Preston Shultz and Avis Spalding – For repeatedly failing to persuade the Woodstock electorate that the sky is falling with repeated publication of mis-information and erroneous claims of misconduct by the Town leadership. The following list is the number of Letters to the Editor published in the Villager (according to the Villager, January 1 issue) by these people who also use the WoodstockUntruth.com as their soapbox:  
Richardson (7)
Powers (4)
Rosendahl (3)
Shultz (1)
Spalding (1)

·        The Woodstock Democratic Town Committee and Chairman Jim Kaeding for endorsing the actions of the above group and failing to provide adequate endorsements for their contested candidates.

·        Margaret Wholean for receiving only 441 votes in her candidacy for the BOF even though she was a former First Selectman. She also aligned herself with the above group.

·        Citizens for Prudent Spending (CPS) for allowing their PAC to be high jacked to serve the special interests of the above group.

·        Woodstock Academy Board of Trustees for pursuing their special interests at the expense of Woodstock residents while failing to develop a successful fund raising program.