I received an e-mail message today, alerting me to a public forum titled Taxpayers and the Education Corridor. No, it’s not being sponsored by any of the public agencies involved with the Education Corridor.
I believe that the event is being sponsored by the Pachyderm Club. Here is the message I received, for your information:
North Idaho Education Forum Presents
A public discussion regarding Taxpayers and the “Education Corridor”
Tuesday, May 13th
6-7 pm Social Hour
7-9 pm Dinner & Program
$18.00 per person
Coeur d’Alene Inn
****RSVP Required****
Betty Henderson
664-7312
Dan, I believe a sub-committee of the Pachyderm Club is organizing the event but it will not be a partisan gathering. I was told they are inviting people from various viewpoints to be on the panel, I will be one of them, and are hoping to promote an open discussion about all options and issues associated with this big decision. The frustration seems to be that the NIC and CdA officials are not bringing the public into the discussion on the Ed. Corridor, so this group of citizens is stepping up to hold a public forum on the subject. Kudos to them! I hope many people can come and be part of the conversation.
Comment by mary — April 27, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
If the Pachyderm Club is genuinely interested in providing that information which the City and NIC are intent on suppressing until after the point-of-no-return has been passed, then the forum should be free to anyone who wants to attend. At $18 per head, it sounds more like a fund-raiser than a forum.
Comment by Bill — April 28, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
Bill, I hope the local media covers this event. I will not pay to receive information. That said, I’m glad somebody is doing something to get the issues out.
Comment by doubleseetripleeye — April 28, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
$18? that’s not a public discussion!
Comment by reagan — April 28, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
Maybe “Stakeholder Scholarships” will be available.
Comment by doubleseetripleeye — April 28, 2008 @ 9:52 pm
reagan,
I agree. An open, no-cost forum with knowledgeable panelists with varying perspectives on the issue would be far more beneficial to the extended community in all north Idaho. I wonder if “invitations” went out to everyone in the five northern counties or just to selected recipients in Kootenai County?
2C3I,
Every taxpayer is a stakeholder. We’re already paying.
Comment by Bill — April 29, 2008 @ 7:26 am
the pachyderm club must not consider me a ‘stakeholder’, i did not get an invitation. and aren’t these some of the same people who are accusing school and elected officials of not being “open”? there is something wrong with that picture.
Comment by reagan — April 29, 2008 @ 8:48 am
reagan,
There’s nothing on the Pachyderm Club’s website calendar of events for May 13.
Wrong (as in illegal), no. Stupid (as in stupid), yes. This would have been a good opportunity for a private organization to significantly contribute to the region’s knowledge base about Sandi’s latest trophy project intended primarily to market downtown Coeur d’Alene. Instead, the organization comes off as somewhat elitist by soaking people $18 for a rubber chicken dinner. As I said before, the appearance is more that of a political fund raiser than a genuine effort to enlighten the communities that will be affected. Why, I wonder, weren’t the forum’s panelists listed in the invitation? Or maybe they were and Dan just didn’t include all the information.
Comment by Bill — April 29, 2008 @ 10:39 am