So the charitable part is still happening!

From the article regarding the Cancelation of the Original Race and posted comments - ?Seiz said she had decided not to hold race on July 23 because of conflicting business interests with local competitor Mountain Valley Guides.?

?when Kris came first talking about holding the race. She was asked if she had talked to Mountain Guides and she said ?no? ?

?SKAT is trying to do an imaginative piece of marketing by sponsoring a kayak race, and charitable though it was meant to be, it's naive to characterize it as The SKAT Good Guys versus the money-grubbing, tour-running Mountain Valley people.?

Interesting ? SKAT owner sets up the race, does not seem to have informed her competitor to be aware of the arrangements, then CHOOSES to cancel it herself due to ?conflict? ? Seems like great publicity ? either painting her as charitable or a victim.

Sorry, most of the question marks should be quotation marks

To me, this is far less about fault in this particular instance than it is about how the Village suffers when businesses don't realize that cooperation with each other can bring in the tide of more business for all.

Sadly, it's a recurring theme. When will we stop thinking small and start growing?

I've had it.

Here ya go Melissa: I presented THE IDEA to the Village Board, along with Thom Johnson from the Bannerman Castle Trust. Trustee Kane asked me to notify MVG to see if their were any conflicts. I called Bill Garrison, and never heard back, so I assumed there were no conflicts.

I organized 7 volunteers from SKAT, 11 from Bannerman's, 3 boats from the Cornwall Yacht Club, Sea Tow, 5 donated marine radios, 2 timers and all of the race forms, insurance, etc.

MVG then sent me a letter asking me to reserve parking spots for 3 trailers and 8 clients. I refused. They asked me to send the race out of the boat launch area. I refused. Then I realized that the race COULD NOT happen if they were still sending out their tour that morning. So I threw in the towel.

Who are you, Melissa Vellone, and why are you attacking me? I AM charitable, and I am certainly NOT a victim! I organized the Village Ball Drop, I donate a Wounded Warriors Veterans Kayaking Tour every year, and I have served on the Board of the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, The Foundation Board of St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital and the Master Plan Committee. I resent your accusation that my motivation was a marketing ploy. How dare you. What have YOU done for our community?

Kris, she's quoting me, though perhaps she agrees with what I wrote earlier.

I didn't say it was a "marketing ploy," I said it was "an imaginative piece of marketing," You're a good enough businessperson to understand that everything you do that has a public face is good for business, whether it's serving on a board or sponsoring a charity event. I have no problem with that.

Kris,

Because this says it all as far as I am concerned - To quote you
"MVG then sent me a letter asking me to reserve parking spots for 3 trailers and 8 clients. I refused. They asked me to send the race out of the boat launch area. I refused."

That is the exact opposite of working together. Every time you do something you make sure to make a big deal out of it yourself, any time something does not go your way, you make sure other people know. There is a difference between charity and an attention hound.

The cancelation of the original race was NOT their "fault", it was an outcome of the fact that the two businesses would not work together and compromise. I do not think they should be painted as the "bad guys"

Also -

There are massive issues in this community, and most of them stem from this small, inner circle of people who scratch each other's backs at the expense (literal expense $$) of everyone else.

MVG is trying to run a business, the same way you are. Everything I have read, not only from reports, but also from your own comments, you have tried to undermine the competition at every point. I believe that other businesses, besides those accepted by the good 'ol boys club, should be allowed to flourish also.

Please refer to the following YouTube link for the work session discussion of the event :

http://www.youtube.com/user/ArgenioAndrew#p/u/15/iN0nvkDTslg

Kris - You stated at the May 9 work session one of your concerns was that MVG ALREADY had a tour scheduled.

Trustee Kane stated that he did not feel it was right to exclude the other business or individual people from use of the area.

What were you expecting? You decided to do this and the other business was supposed to rearrange a tour/BBQ that they already had planned?

I am NOT looking to attack, just to clarify any information put into the media that could be misconstrued by the public.

We need to actually work together on the community, and winnowing each other out in the name of charity is NOT the way to do it.

Melissa,

Because THIS says it all as far as I am concerned: To quote you: "There are massive issues in this community, and most of them stem from this small, inner circle of people who scratch each other's backs at the expense (literal expense $$) of everyone else."

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MELISSA? Obviously it's not kayaking! Why are you making this political? Is that your M.O.?

I have been in business for 5 years and have struggled every year. Have you ever tried to make a small business profitable in this community?

I am not discussing my business with you. You have no skin in this game. What have you contributed? What have you done? Who are you anyway? Somebody's mouthpiece?

Right Melissa: this community has SUCH opportunity for massive financial exploitation. Are you that paranoid? Or do you have nothing better to do with your time until the next election? Stop being so divisive.