As part of our ongoing series in which we are publishing letters from former and current chamber members, the below comes from one whose issues mirror those of other members. This one does not like President Bob Burdon's management style, is concerned about the turnover of staff, and questions whether the organization serves the members or the interests of its president, who they claim, has stacked the board with his allies. They also have concerns about coming out publicly against Burdon. There has been a minor amount of editing to shorten the original letter below and to mask the identity of the writer because as he puts it, "I could go on although I think you have an idea of what the chamber actually does for the bulk of its members in my view. It's a pretty popular thing to say right now, in this case it's over due time for a change. He [Burdon] has a terrible reputation for vengeance ...."
CP's invitation to Burdon to respond still stands of course, but so far we have heard nothing other than a threatening letter suggesting that CP publishing such allegations might be a serious violation of journalistic ethics. Hmm. And now, read on:
"Recently, in my opinion, Burdon has been on the wrong side of a number of political issues, not to mention your recent blog. When I didn't renew, I received a call from the then Membership Director indicating I didn't use everything the chamber had to offer, this was the only inbound call I received the entire year I was a member, to make my business more viable through the chamber. I recall vividly that she was rude basically talking down to me.
About four years ago as the result of another networking group here in town I was convinced to re-new my membership. I didn't do it because [of] Burdon but as a result of this network of small business owners in Annapolis, I continue to enjoy a wonderful working relationship with these folks and many like them.
There was always what seemed to be constant turn over in the office...[that] all of a sudden, with out explanation, were gone. Only later to find out they were forced to leave. About 2 ½ years ago the well respected and liked Membership Director abruptly left, to this day she hasn't talked openly about why, although she is in a much better place. A number of us were, still are for that matter, up in arms. Email was flying in all directions including to Burdon and the board who chose to reply to very few. The Board Chairman at the time, Fred Sussman, took the brunt of all the heat and met with [some members] ...on an individual basis. Promised nothing, since he couldn't, however did deliver a few things, which since have reverted back to worse than before.
[As for the membership director]......Burdon's official response most certainly will be that the last Membership Director resigned, when the fact is he was informed not to come to work the next day over the phone. And, if he would resign he would receive severance and the chamber wouldn't fight unemployment. This has caused additional frustration among small business owners.
The recent dues increase was 20%, his excuse was that it takes that much to support the membership. I don't know of a single event where the chamber doesn't have the venue, food and refreshments comped except one. The chamber lost a ton of money over the speakers' thing they had in Baltimore a few months ago. It was too far, too expensive to the members and it showed the drawing power of Burdon.
To this day I have yet to have a face to face or telephone conversation with Burdon. At the meetings he does attend, he stands there like a cigar store Indian, no disrespect to the Indian, making next to no effort to interface with any of the members. Former Chairman Sussman indicated Burdon "isn't a warm and fuzzy guy". That being the case, in my opinion, he continues in absolutely the wrong business. However, he has consolidated his power; the board is made up of nothing but the BIG businesses around the county, including Baltimore, that have nothing in common with the over whelming majority of the membership. None of the other chambers in Anne Arundel County will have anything to do with him."
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