Dear Chamber Members:

Enclosed you will find a ballot on a proposed change to our by-laws, this letter, and a letter in support of a "yes" vote. As the President of the Chamber, as a Chamber member, and as a private citizen, l strongly recommend a "NO" vote for the proposal. The Chamber Board, in special session this morning, also voted unanimously to recommend a "NO" vote.

The proposed change on its face seems innocuous enough. One may ask why any member should not be allowed to peruse our books during business hours. First, the facts. Under state law we are only required to supply the membership a copy of our tax return. This is done at the annual meeting when we publicly release our year-end balance sheet and 12 month income statement. But your Chamber has gone beyond this. After the Board makes its monthly review, the YTD balance sheet and income statements ARE available for review by any member in good standing. These statements include detailed breakdown of income and expenses by category and also list assets and liabilities by category.

This proposed amendment goes far beyond this. The change is a carte blanche to allow ANY member COMPLETE access to ALL financial records. As with any business there is sensitive information in these records that needs to stay with the Board and go no further. The amount, the date, and the record of the dues each one of you pays is not released to the full membership. Likewise the amount, date, and donor's name of any donation is not released to the full membership unless the donor has no objection. The change could also prove to be an administrative nightmare. Your Chamber staff is presently very busy with their present duties; being at the beck and call to gather all financial records at the whim of any member is asking too much. In essence our books would be subject to a full audit by any member during our business hours. Any of you who have gone through a CPA or an IRS audit can attest as to the disruption in your business in just getting the information together not less being available to answer any questions.

In discussing this proposed change with other area Chambers it is apparent that we already supply our members with far more financial information concerning our activities than most any other private organization. We do this not because we are required to (we're not) but because we are proud of the efforts of your Chamber and its staff. What better way to show the members that the dues being paid are going to the right things than by showing the actual financials. Implicit in this proposal is the idea that the Board or staff has something to hide, either now or in the past. We don't, we haven't, and we won't.

On an annual basis the membership elects a Board of Directors to exercise management and control over the activities of the administrative staff. Janet and Dave are answerable to the membership through the Board, and the Board of Directors and I feel that it should be kept that way.

As always, feel free to contact me at the Bank, 674-4500 or at my home, 674-6069 or any other Board member should you have any questions or concerns.

For all the above reasons, l urge you to vote NO.

Sincerely,