Wednesday marked the birthday of one of the major figures of the American wine industry — Julio Gallo. With his brother Ernest, he started making wine after Prohibition ended in humble surroundings — a rented California warehouse, with equipment bought on credit. Over the years, the brothers’ hard work saw their winery become the largest in the U.S., and their creative marketing techniques helped shape the nation’s drinking tastes. Now, Americans buy $18.5 billion of wine annually. California vintners produce about 90 percent of the domestic wine sold in the U.S. Overall, Americans consume an average of 2-1/2 gallons of wine annually. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.
Discuss and more on today’s Open Lines!
WIZS says the new Chamber of Commerce Director is another telephone company executive.
WHY can’t these chamber look outside the box? So far, things havebn’t been working very well for this area–SOSO–I give up.
Because this is clearly a buddy system.
Yes Betterworld–you are right –and where has it gotten us over the years? Here we are–and it is so sad.
Who got the job?
Mr. Mojo:
John Barnes who is or was with Century Link.
Betterworld, you confuse me. On another thread you berate someone for saying that CEO’s are stupid. On this thread you argee that CEO’s are stupid. Note I am using CEO to include leadership position inside and outside of the corporate world. Remember the suggested new slogan, “Welcome to Vance County, Where Nepotism Rules”. Whose lineage is this James Barnes?
The gentleman has regional economic development experience! duh
I believe Mr. Barnes and Bill Edwards both worked at Carolina Telephone/ Embarq in the same time frame–if that is the lineage –?!?
Henderson residents were passed over for this I would bet. Shame on the Chamber.
I don’t find it confusing Out in Left Field. There is a huge difference between the kind of educated CEOs that can bring in major corporations from elsewhere, and the not so cosmopolitan buddy system people that may qualify as “CEOs” by title only.
I’ve been told there were 3 candidates for the Chamber job that made it through the phone interview and had an in person interview: Eddie E, Eddie F (both qualified candidates that have been active in this community for years) and Mr. Barnes who was obviously hand picked by Bill Edwards to be his successor. I’ve heard several people talking about EE this weekend and how perfect he would have been for this position. I agree with Prudence… SHAME ON THE CHAMBER! Isn’t the whole purpose of the Chamber to promote shopping Henderson first? Apparently, they don’t practice what they preach. It’s no wonder good people are leaving the area. The few opportunities that we do have here are given to out of towners who cannot be as passionate about the area as someone who has lived here their whole life and is raising a family here. I didn’t see where this Mr. Barnes has done anything since 2009. Was he retired? If so, how much effort is he really going to put into this and for how long…2 years, 5 years….then what?
Well said “Henderson Resident”–If enough of the membership of the Chamber disagrees with the choice, it seems to me they could withhold their yearly dues. So far, the Chamber is NOT working for them and/or citizens of Henderson– and their dues PAY for the Director’s salary.
Any takers on a revolt??? Stand up and show your support for Henderson–afterall–the chamber is made up of faces you see at church, country club, etc.
I’ll weigh in as a chamber member. I’m not going to complain until I meet Mr Barnes and see what he has to offer. I don’t know him, but reading his profile shows he has been involved with the types of things the chamber does. You can see his profile here: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-barnes/1a/799/bb
It is my understanding the board of directors voted for Mr. Barnes, so it was not a decision by Mr. Edwards alone.
He is moving to Henderson, a requirement for the job.
My thoughts: Mr. Barnes has lots of corporate experience, I’m not sure how well that will translate to helping the small businesses, especially small businesses he’s never heard of not being from here.
As I said above, my understanding is he was voted on. I read that in the paper’s article. I’m quite disappointed both as a a chamber member, and as a chamber member specifically listed as media, we weren’t notified of applicants during the resume period, nor notified of the voting and still not yet notified of the new president.
A press release from the chamber about the new president, his qualifications and experience, and his plan of action should have been sent out if not only to the media, but to all members.
I hope Mr. Barnes does us well and look forward to his ideas and actions on how to help our area.
If I am correct, both Mr. Edwards and Mr. Barnes were “retired” when hired by the Chamber–.
This area needs an enthusiastic leader for the Chamber and I don’t think they hired one–in my opinion. I did know Mr. Edwards alone didn’t select Mr. Barnes. But I don’t think we have a whole lot of time to see what he can do to turn things around.
Mr. Edwards may not have hired him alone but I’m sure he had a very heavy hand in the process! Think about it….do you really think he wants a young, enthusiastic leader to come in and surpass what he has done for the community? Or is it better for him to have a like-minded person who will come in and do just enough to maintain his legacy? I’m glad you commented on the lack of notification to HiH because I was wondering why there hasn’t been a thread specific to the Chamber announcement yet. I’m betting that it’s because they were expecting there to be some degree of public discontent with their decision. The Dispatch actually had a comment section just below the original article online that was taken down almost immediately following several negative comments. The fact that they don’t want us to have a voice (unless we agree wholeheartedly) is clearly one of the biggest problems with public perception in this community.
I want to be clear, Henderson Resident, are you saying that the local paper removed comments about this on their online article? They were valid comments on the topic, and not just unrelated spam? I had not heard of the paper doing that before. But looking back at their article, I do see that comments have been disabled on that particular story, while they are enabled on other articles, including their editorial regarding Mr. Barnes. I do not remember if comments were originally enabled on the story, but you’re saying they were enabled, comments were made, and now they are removed, and I can now see they are disabled altogether? Do you know of other instances of this happening?
If a new young guy, or an old guy, or woman, or child, I don’t care, came in and did ‘better’ than Mr. Edwards, I would be happy, and also not think one bit less of Bill. I think he and staff have done a great job promoting Dataforge. HiH though.. not so much.
The comments section was originally enabled when I saw the article at work and there were a couple of comments questioning whether the best decision was made for our community. By the time I got home from work and sat down to add my 2 cents, they had been removed and the comments disabled. They were valid comments relating directly to the article and were neither ugly or offensive. I don’t know of another instance of this happening but I can think of no other reason besides not wanting to know what people really think….same reason you didn’t receive a press release about it.
HR, I don’t think Bill Edwards would give a hoot about his legacy, but would want someone to come in and continue the work he has done, esp. in the area of economic development. I believe his efforts were instrumental in Semprius coming here, during the time when we did not have a director in that area. It would seem John Barnes would bring that same level of knowledge and connectons to the table to continue helping with our areas’ economic development. It does sound like ( from someone’s post above, true or not?) there were very good candidates for the job. I’m just glad we have people of such caliber applying.
I have met Mr. Barnes on several occasions and he is an excllent person to know and work with.
It makes you wonder what other comments on other articles have been removed as well
Mr. Hart, Thank You for the profile link about Mr. Barnes. Now here are the other two links so the citizens can be made aware of our local applicants:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/eddie-ellington/44/872/6a
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/eddie-ferguson/21/b06/45b
Shop Henderson!! No need to look any further when we have qualified residents here. Being a local resident and Chamber of Commerce member I’m very disappointed! An unfortunate decision for all of us!
If I remember right, Embarq was been a big sponsor of many chamber events.
Bet all of the folks groaning about the Chamber here, even those “claiming” to be a member, never attend a event and probably don’t have a clue who the Chamber is or its function. They probably think it is the EDC. And some folks are blinded by a sense of entitlement and facts and logic only get in the way of what they want.
I sure have seen one of the candidates at “Meet in the Street” numerous times also at ribbon cuttings. Also involved in serving Henderson. I believe if these people made it to the last 3 of the applicants that they know the function of the Chamber. Good point, so here is the mission statement of the Chamber so all will know:
MISSION STATEMENT
The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of the business community in matters that affect the ability of local businesses to prosper and grow, and the ability of Henderson and Vance County to attract new business.