IS BOYS/GIRLS CLUB MESS ABOUT TO RESURFACE AGAIN?
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2015) — Since the major blow-up at the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club in the spring that saw key members fired and the executive director booted, the Club under new director Chris Jacoby has managed to stay out of the headlines. The situation, however, still percolates — some say “boils” — below the surface. Are new headlines in the offing? This depends if certain “interested parties” decide to go public … or not.
Meanwhile, THE PLANET shares some letters we’ve received on what appears to be a still-flammable situation at the Club. This is from a board member:
‘Lots of Hidden Stuff Happening’
Let me be clear. I’m writing not as a [board] member but on my own. I don’t represent any other member in these views or speak for anyone else although I know there are others who agree [with my positions]. You were right when you point to a “board within the board.”
There are the Ins and Outs. The Ins have made controversial moves but we have consistently been outvoted and outmaneuvered or left out entirely. The Ins do not allow debate and try to muzzle opposition. It began with [the dismissal of] Peter Bell. It unraveled after that.
There have been rumors and whispering and that’s just the point[.] Secrecy isn’t good. The Ins have made many decisions without full participation of the board. Lots of hidden stuff happening. I would like to “go public” but I will wait. Something might “pop” soon.
******** ooo ********
‘There are So Many Secrets’
This is the tip of the ice berg. Chris Keegan ran Camp Russell. Chris Keegan oversaw so many programs. I am [closely familiar] with a program at the club that is new the past year and was very successful before joining the club. This program serves many kids and families but I am getting nothing but flack. I find that unbelievable. Chris Keegan however helped us day in and day out to integrate into the club. Remaining anonymous at this time is important… but please… Ask the questions. Press the issues. There are so many secrets.. The public only knows what they hear. And I promise there is so much more they have not heard. You seem to be the only reporter not afraid to open the door and ask the real questions.
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‘Why Has Soldier On Pulled All Support from The Boys and Girls Club?’
Some more background for you on the Club. Tina Wixsom is incredibly competent and capable and will a do a good job for the Club (as she always has), but so would have other people that they forced out before her. One of the reasons she had not been let go (and she was worried she would be) was because she’s a Barbarotta and if Mr. Hughes decided to release her of her duties, it would have brought more PR nightmares to the Club because of the family and their size and standing within the community. Other things to ask:
1. Why is [the Club] trying to eliminate the Recreational Therapy Program at Camp Russell? That program is an absolute beacon and should be promoted by the Club wherever possible. To eliminate it would be an absolute shame. It has benefited thousands of special needs children, regular campers and staff for over 30 years and has also brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money to the Club over the years.
2. Why has Soldier On pulled all support from the Boys & Girls Club?
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Since December 2013, the Club has had four executive directors (Bell, Harte, Hughes, and Jacoby) having to deal with a schismatic board. One gets the feeling the situation rests (if that is the proper word) on a precipice, teetering now in the direction of fragmentation if not disintegration. Pittsfield lost the CYC because of similar degeneration that turned a whole into smithereens. It can’t afford to lose the Club for similar reasons.
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“Leave me, O love which reaches to dust; / And thou, my mind, aspire to higher things; Grow rich in that which never taketh rust, / Whatever fades but fading pleasure brings.” — Sir Philip Sydney, “Leave Me, O Love,” (1598).
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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Council Meeting tonight 7 p m…be there!
OFF TOPIC
Just out of curiosity, who’s job is it to monitor the voting machines before and after the election?
It’s very sad to hear of more turmoil at the boys/girls club. The children in our community count on that organization for so much. Why can’t people just do the right thing.
The BB had a story the other day about a man (Michael Gresser) who was to be arraigned in court on charges that his dog attacked another dog that later died.
Gresser never appeared in court on that day.
And that was the end of the story by the BB. We are left hanging again, as usual.
What is the rest of the story? Has he been arrested? Or will this be added to all the other stories (shootings, deaths, etc.) that are never resolved.
Back to the Boys’ Club, my father was born in the late part of the 19th century. He lived to see 4 superintendents, Prentiss Jordan, Jim Keegan, Fred Fahey and Jim Mooney. Chuck G. and I have known 5, not including the last year, Keegan, Fahey< Mooney, Crosier and Bell. My granddaughter who just turned 7 has seen 4. Bet she sees 8 by the time she's 15.
I’m not sure how the missions of Soldier On and the Club align.
Spider, one would think a civil suit would be in order also.
Who knows what the Club’s board is thinking? Before Hughes was hired, the Board knew about an inappropriate relationship between a full time staff member and a high school student. Nothing was done about the employee and she was even promoted by Hughes. Hughes sexually harassed two female employees. The women were deposed with several lawyers from the Board present. Nothing was done about it. Hughes was given carte blanche when renovating the cabin at Camp Russell. No permits were obtained and now the cabin is condemned and it is in danger of falling in the pond. When Hughes got rid of Dave Harte, many people wrote letters of support. The letters were never seen by most board members. The board did nothing to bring him back. When Hughes got rid of Chris Keegan, once again, the board did nothing. When a supervisor at camp completed a drug transaction in front of a full time camp employee, the board did nothing again.
Does this board care about the kids and their safety? What is their agenda?
That’s why they hired the Principal.
Pretty awesome that the new upgrade to camp Russell had nothing to do with kids. Where is all the chili and chowder fundraiser money? Supposed to help with camp upgrades and activitities for the children, but it only went to accommodate the dogs of Tina wixom so she could live in a free home to run family gatherings out of, Nothing to benefit the children or u grade the camp. Just gave Tina wixom and the barbarotta family what they’ve always wanted free rain of camp Russell. I mean the club gave a house to mrs. Wixom?? What a joke. Must of been a fun summer for the batbarotta and Pittsfield Suns players and coaches.
What a coward you are but luckily you are not smart enough to really conceal who you are. If you did your research or even had an intelligent though the cabin was not given to my family or my mother, she was ASKED to stay there so that the camp could have 24 hour supervision so that people did not vandalize. Which is what has been happening for years with the Bell family staying there. The fence was put up by my parents with THEIR OWN MONEY! Why don’t you actually take care of your son and worry about that rather than continuing to try and bash our family for absolutely NO REASON! My mother has done nothing but work hard for that place and those kids and she doesn’t deserve anyone speaking badly about her. Especially someone she was there for so much throughout her life!
the one constant in the whole boys club mess has been the board of directors. who holds them accountable? when will it be too late? it’s really a shame and obvious these people do not have the best interest of the club in mind.
So are we talking about the boys club or the good old boys club? Or both?
Fill the Void. Vote Kathy Lloyd! Like the new look Kathy..good luck!
Thanks DC!
When Tina wixom and others who received higher salaries thanks to the board and mr Hughes they said they would quit if those fired or “layed off” we’re to be brought back. Didn’t want to lose there new titles they were given. Seemed to me that mrs. Wixom and miss McMahon who were two of the four who said they would quit didn’t care about the children and cared more for there titles. One which was eliminated then re-created. 0 loyalty or care for what those people put into the club and the help they gave to thousands of children and families.
The Hancock Rd. situation is a joke, speeding, to narrow, some pick up trucks are to big. Having traversed the rd all my life it is as bad as it’s ever been. You guys have a serious situation out there and the new business traffic should be very interesting.
Be careful what you wish for, concerning the new road replacement,ugh!
The new Club director is running up against more board shenanigans.
The city council is finally raking Collingwood over the coals.To late, up you already gave him a raise?
Closer to election time…..
Mr. Collingwood is not coming off good at all. To me, it looked like Ms Carmel was taking a page from the mayor’s play book: copping a bit of an attitude when asked a question. If a question can’t be answered one can respond without the attitude.
That’s nothing new for Ms. Carmel. She often has an attitude problem with members of the CC. And they let her get away with it.
and now he has someone that will do half of his duties…
I thought Melissa Mazzeo was going to be confronted with the ethics issue tonight for her illegal theater ticket?
It came at the very end. Unfortunately I had to take a call and didn’t get to hear her explanation.
[THE WORDS OF THIS COMMENT ARE REDACTED. THE WRITER HAS FIERCELY CRITICIZED CLUB BOARD MEMBERS STEVE RAY, GEORGE HADDAD, AND DEB RENZI. WE WOULD REMIND THE WRITER AND ALL POSTERS TO KEEP WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF FAIR COMMENT. CONTEXT (FINE IN THIS CASE) MUST BE MATCHED BY THE SPECIFICS OF CONTENT (IN THIS CASE REQUIRING SUMMARY)] THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE THEN CONTINUES:
I can keep going on and on, but the whole group of B&G club board members are real Jacka$$’s. They deserve everything they have coming to them, its that karma thing.
source?
I think Shadow that you should maybe ease off on the criminal accusations and the character assasination. I’m not positive I always know where “the line” is, but I know you crossed over it.