Following the Hardesters Shopping Center Spring Fling last May – which featured a surprise endorsement by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger – plans were initiated, with the permission of California”s Small Business Advocate, Marty Keller, to put together a marketing program to help spread news about Governor Schwarzenegger”s Second Small Business & Entrepreneurship Conference. Students all over Lake County were to get community service credit toward graduation for their participation in a special “buzz” campaign. Something similar was done back in 2007 by 110 Middletown High School and Middle School students to help promote “Middletown Days.” In 2006, a campaign with just 30 students helped bring Adam Housley of the Fox News Channel to speak at the Middletown Days Parade and get the town mentioned on the Fox News Channel.
Unfortunately, tactics by Greenview Restaurant Manager Mike Zuech and HVLA HR Manager Julie Vonada have destroyed that opportunity for the students through the bizarre termination of the employee who spearheaded the program – me. To make matters worse, they have put the upcoming visit by Scott Ullman of The Foundation Center in question. Ullman travels the Western United States on behalf of The Foundation Center, the premiere philianthropic library system in the United States, teaching nonprofits about the grant-funding process. Lake County has around 300 nonprofits. They need to know what Scott knows.
Although The Foundation Center is more than 50 years old, it was not until 2008 that anyone there bothered to pay attention to Lake County. But, in March of 2008, Scott came to Lake County and conducted a seminar at the Greenview Restaurant. Mike Zuech was on vacation in Cancun at the time. Nevertheless, Debra Sommerfield of the Lake County Marketing Association came to the event on behalf of Lake County Administrator Kelly Cox. She was so impressed with the event she requested the same information at that seminar be used at the seminar the Lake County Small Business Network was planning at the Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa in April of that year. But, on the day of the seminar I was not allowed the time to deliver the materials.
Ullman returned to Lake County on April 15 of 2009 and taught grant-writing. This time, he was hosted by the Hidden Valley Community Church. That second visit almost did not happen, once again due to problems with my employer. Initially, I was not allowed the time off to coordinate the event, which I had been planning for three months. My employer only needed two weeks advance notice for time off and I gave three.
Thanks to the actions of Mike Zuech and Julie Vonada, there does not seem to be any way to salvage the student program to help Governor Schwarzenegger. However, Scott Ullman”s visit may still be salvaged. If folks like Lake County Chamber of Commerce CEO Melissa Fulton, MKF Facilitator Sandra West, Marketer Sandy Hamilton, Reverend Walt Trumbo of the Hidden Valley Community Church and Debra Sommerfield of the Lake County Marketing Association work together, I think this event can continue on an annual basis to benefit the county”s nonprofit community.
Lamar Morgan
Hidden Valley Lake
