George Hawthorne, chairman of the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce, sent out the following letter to Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees on the issues surrounding the Escambia County Tourist Development Commission and he calls a “tourism coup:”
September 12, 2011
Members of Board of Directors Jim Hizer, C.E.O. Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of CommerceRE: Tourism Department Dear Fellow Board Members,
I apologize for not being able to attend this most important Board Meeting, however, I am attending the National Sustainable Economic Development Leadership Academy in Denver until Thursday. However, I want to present my very clear statements and feelings upon the recent developments as to the tourism department. I am disappointed that this board and/or our C.E.O., Mr. Hizer was not a part of these discussions.
Also, I am very disappointed because it seems as if these meetings and this tourism “coup- planning†were occurring at the same exact time that minority tourism stakeholders were having discussions with the TDC, Commissioner Robinson and Ed Schroeder regarding implementing a “niche-market†multi-cultural tourism program.
Additionally, Ed Schroeder never reported any of these potential “tourism-defection†meetings or even the “discussions†to the PBACOC board members in the June, July or August meeting and as these are clearly “material issues†(to the Chamber) and as a member of this board, like each of you, should have been informed.
As a PBACOC Board member, GCAACC Chairman and very active minority “tourism- stakeholder,†I should have been informed of these discussions just as each of you and Jim Hizer should have been likewise informed. Clearly, OUR advertising agency should not have had such discussions as they are being paid by the PBACOC for Pensacola “tourism/brand†marketing and also having the discussions as have been reported..Clearly, the TDC has major “jurisdiction†over tourism and these “type†of discussions should have been held within the “sunshine.†Also, it appears that Dennis McKinnon has made a blatant violation of the FL “Sunshine†Law at the point that he has sent emails that included Nash Patel a fellow TDC member.
The law states that such “direct (or indirect) communications†are a clear violation as the subject of such communications is clearly a business matter that will have to be voted on by the TDC.Another key point of my discontent is that Dennis McKinnon, Ed Schroeder and Commissioner Robinson have all been “publicly†responsive to the need to include a multi-cultural tourism “niche†strategy to the overall tourism strategy of Pensacola/Escambia.
However, this entire “CVB-succession†discussion has been “private†behind closed doors and has not included any person that has any 1) experience with or; 2) knowledge of or; 3) development expertise, with the implementation of a “multi-cultural†tourism strategy. Also, this is contrary to the personal discussions I have had with Dennis and Ed and it more disturbing that I AM a Chamber Board Member.As far as Grover Robinson is concerned he has been very, very helpful and proactive to the development and implementation of this needed strategy and I appreciate his efforts. However, I am beginning to wonder if there is a sincere desire to include this type of initiative in the “new tourism-entity†strategy being contemplated by this “limited-group.â€
Clearly, “multi-cultural heritage marketing†is a winning “component†to successful tourism marketing strategies (just look to New Orleans, Mobile, Atlanta, Miami).
Let’s be clear, I am speaking of implementing multi-cultural tourism strategy that includes using Pensacola’s diverse heritage and local populations from the Spanish, African-American, Native American, Asian, Latino, Irish and other cultures. These “stakeholders†should have their influence represented in the current “cultural-mix†of the Pensacola/Escambia tourism marketing program.By including this “heritage and legacy†in marketing our “tourism assets†it provides diversity of “tourism attractions†that adds to our “beach tourism asset.†Additionally, such a diverse strategy provides economic development opportunity for underserved/under-utilized citizens and communities.
The final issue I have with this tourism marketing “coup†is that the “players†involved have traditionally had a “narrow†approach to multi-cultural inclusion (except for Nash Patel) and have no experience with the development of a multi-cultural tourism strategy or development of multi-cultural “tourism products†that can add to our tourism marketing “reach†and economic development in a “wider-community.â€More importantly, is the issue that this “tourism-defection†team is starting off wrong by having discussion in a “limited circle†about how to utilize public funding to market us to the “World.†And if the “World†we are trying to “sell ourselves†to is multi-cultural and we aren’t selling a multi-culturally accepted product we aren’t going to make the “sale†… and that is opportunity lost for us ALL.
Thank you all for your attention and I hope to have some clear answers to my issues raised in the ultimate disposition of this matter.
Sincerely,
George Hawthorne
Chairman
Then I got a follow-up email from Hawthorne:
Jim and Fellow Board Members,
I have been contacted by fellow Board Members and other officials regarding requests for further clarification of the previous letter sent by me on behalf of the GCAACOC regarding recent events. Attached is a letter of clarification that I would also like to be entered into the record at the Monday B.O.D. Meeting. More importantly, I want this communication to be made apart of the official record regarding this matter.
Clarification, which is longer than the original letter, states his organization is considering filing of “Sunshine Law†violation complaint with the State Attorney General :
September 12, 2011
Members of Board of Directors
Jim Hizer, C.E.O.
Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of CommerceRE: Tourism Department
Dear Fellow Board Members,I am presenting a set of facts that fully explains my position on this “tourism-coup†situation as I have been contacted by various fellow board members and other officials as to the basis for my concerns. Firstly, the GCAACOC has made great strides in working in a “strategic partnership†with the PBACOC to try to bring together all segments of our community.
I personally have made it my primary objective to help “bridge the divisive factions within our community†because, I know that Escambia/Pensacola can be a much more productive and attractive business destination if we “work together for the common good†of our community.
I have personally led the efforts within the GCAACOC to make our Board and constituents understand that we are all better off by working together with the PBACOC. I have even persuaded our Board to change our mission to form the “Multi-Cultural Business and Tourism Coalition†to align our efforts to be more in-sync with the PBACOC’s strategic mission and focus the GCAACOC’s effort’s on economic development in the small business and tourism sectors … and this was announced with full “transparency†at a spring PBACOC Board Meeting by me personally.
I have been “transparent†and consistent with these changes and have worked very closely and openly with many of you fellow board members … and I have greatly appreciated and sincerely thank you for your support in “building bridges.†However, the recent actions as reported have disappointed me, my board and my constituents as to the lack of transparency and non-inclusion by a few select individuals … who at the same time “claim†to support the efforts of myself and the GCAACOC.
Specifically, this entire “tourism coup†as reported has clear violations of the FL “Sunshine†Law requirements and these emails released are “smoking gun†evidence of “Sunshine†violations. Dennis McKinnon clearly may need a lawyer. The nature of Grover Robinson’s business relationship with Dennis McKinnon makes it plausible that they have discussed these issues. The involvement of Chamber staff and “paid†consultants involvement in this “affair†is most troubling and clear conflicts of interest.
Specifically, the TDC is a public board as designated under Florida Statutes (subject to the “Sunshine Law) that has direct “jurisdiction†over tourism policy and allocation of public dollars and the law states these specific type of discussions should have been within the “Sunshine.â€
Also, it appears that Dennis McKinnon has made a clear violation of the FL “Sunshine†Law at the point that he has sent emails (direct communications) that included Nash Patel a fellow TDC member and who knows the “private†discussions Dennis and Grover had on these matters.
Additionally, emails and telephonic communications that Ellis Bullock and Ed Schroeder sent may even be considered indirect communications between TDC members if he had relayed information from Mr. McKinnon to Mr. Patel and maybe subjecting the PBACOC to legal exposure. Fortunately for Nash Patel he did not respond. For the record, Mr. Patel has also consistently supported “multi-cultural†tourism inclusion publicly and privately.
The “Sunshine†Law states that such “direct or indirect communications†are clear violations of the Sunshine Law, as the subject of such communications is clearly a business matter that will have to be voted on by the TDC.
I believe these were “duplicitous†actions on behalf of Ed, Denis, Ellis and Grover because I attend most of the TDC meetings and know for a fact that this idea was originally “floated†by Grover and Dennis in late spring when the first round of BP moneys were allocated and around the same exact time we were in discussions relating to developing a multi-cultural tourism program to add “diversification of multi-cultural tourism attractions†to the tourism marketing “platform.â€
These are facts that I am sure of because I was involved with the TDC, Ed, Grover and Dennis in leading these “multi-cultural tourism†discussions. At no time was there any mention of these “alternative†CVB plans and Ed and I specifically discussed the point that any allocations of money could reduce the Chamber’s and VIC’s tourism advertising dollars.
This multi-cultural tourism development strategy was discussed as a strategy to add a bigger marketing “message†than just our beaches because the “beach†tourism strategy is vulnerable to disasters such as the oil spill and hurricanes. I even presented a detailed implementation strategy to Ed, Dennis and Grover to develop the “Cultural Heritage Tourism Program.†This was in early June the same time these other meetings were being organized and conducted.
Let me be very clear, I am speaking of implementing a “multi-cultural†tourism strategy that includes using Pensacola’s diverse heritage and local populations from the Spanish, African-American, Native American, Asian, Latino, Irish and other European cultures. All of these “stakeholders†should have their heritage and contributions represented in the current “cultural-mix†of the Pensacola/Escambia tourism marketing program.
It is very clear to me that this is not only a “fight†for TDC “public†dollars but also “positioning†and “posturing†for control of the potential millions of dollars to be received from the BP fine money coming to Escambia/Pensacola.
Clearly, the GCAACOC and its constituent “partners†of the “Multi-Cultural Business and Tourism Coalition†fully intend to be “at the table†when the ultimate disposition of this “tourism entity†debate is concluded and to engage any legal means available to ensure this “inclusion†… for the good of ALL of Escambia/Pensacola communities.
As far as I am concerned, there are some key decisions that need to be decided by the entire PBACOC Board and I respectfully request that the following questions be discussed and voted on at the 9/12/11 Board Meeting:
1. Do we retain Ed Schroeder?
2. Do we retain EWB?
3. Do we fight to retain jurisdiction over “tourism†and file a “Sunshine Law†violation complaint with the State Attorney General and request a full investigation?For the record the GCAACOC is considering the filing of “Sunshine Law†violation complaint with the State Attorney General and requesting a full investigation and I will be having these discussions with my legal counsel and Board as to our direction on these matters.
Thank you all for your attention and I hope this has provided transparency, clarity and some clear answers as to my issues raised and real concerns Also, I am clearly stating my position and requests as to the ultimate disposition of this matter.
Sincerely,
George Hawthorne
Chairman