To Don  (by: Kaden  -   6/22/2009)

Well, you should have said that in the first place !!! you are not to the point and there is no fluff like in the last post you did. Thats all we are asking for, the truth, just plain and to the point, thank you for your honestly,

Kaden  (by: Don E.  -   6/22/2009)

Let me clarify a bit for anyone who thinks I might be "fluffing" a bit, which...to be honest....I'd never really considered. As mentioned, I am but one vote on our Executive Committee. We will have a minimum of 6 board members who will have a say in "narrowing" the 32+ resumes received down to a handful or so. I can't make this much clearer than this: If I were the ONLY voice making the decision, your next chamber president will be a local resident from Highlands County. Howver, since there ARE other voices involved, there is still no guarantee on that. My gut feeling remains that the board WILL hire locally, but I'll know more after our meeting tomorrow afternoon. Sorry I can't get a whole lot less -- shall we say -- "fluffy" -- but that's all I can offer. I just wanted to assure everyone that we're moving in that direction, and...most importantly...that your voices ARE being heard, by me at the very least. Oh, and yes, I have indeed thought of running for office....and I look forward to earning your vote, Kaden, when that time comes. Talk to you soon --

Don Elwell  (by: Kaden  -   6/22/2009)

Sounds like a bunch of @@@@@ Elwell. we are asking you to hire local, and you are fluffing it !!!!!! ever thought of running for office??? you would fit right in

why search?  (by: intheknow.  -   6/21/2009)

I think the chamber should do the same thing the City of Sebring did and forget searching or placing a add. Just put some one you want in the position like they did with the new City admistr. Saves alot of time and you have someone to cover up anything in the past you dont want to come out.

  (by: Glen  -   6/21/2009)

Glad to hear that Mr. Elwell. It would really be ashame to hire someone who is not local. I can think of several people who are local that would do a great job. Why not let the people decide? Why cant we vote who we would like it to be?

Hiring thought process . . .  (by: Don E.  -   6/20/2009)

Good evening everyone, As a member of the Sebring Chamber board -- and the dude who posted the two local newspaper ads -- I can promise all that we are indeed looking strongly at our local candidates. For a interim position, which could hopefully become permanent (depending on the candidate, of course), we are quite aware of the importance in striking the balance between finding someone with the VERY valuable local knowledge/contacts needed as well as finding someone with the chamber / business experience necessary to come in and hit the ground running. We've received some impressive resumes from "locals" AND out-of-area candidates. Though I am but one vote on that board, I feel pretty confident that the interim position will be filled with a name that will not be new to the Sebring community. Meanwhile, I appreciate the input . . . . and the suggestions. We considered these things you've mentioned also.....and we ARE listening. Have a great night, and Happy Fathers' Day to all the dads out there.

At least try to stay in Fla.  (by: Rick T.  -   6/20/2009)

It has always been tough for me to try to understand how someone from up north, who has never lived in Fla., let alone Sebring, can come into town and tell us what is best for the local community. It's just my opinion but I hope emphasis is place on local talent and not just another Yankee coming south to tell us what we've been doing wrong all of these years. Sorry, in advance, if I offended anyone.

Hire the Best ...  (by: CutTheBull  -   6/20/2009)

..whether they're local or not. And pay fairly. It seems to me that anything less is discriminatory. Make your decision based on merit - qualifications, experience, education, ability and propensity to contribute. If some one non-local is chosen, HIghlands County should embrace that person and make a warm welcome from the community. We need diversity of thought to pull us out of the 20th century into the 21st. May the BEST woman or man win the position

Hey please wake up  (by: Ray Napper  -   6/19/2009)

I'm sorry but are you folks feeling all right over at the chamber? You are a local business based operation and these people are correct. You need to do a good search in your own town first. If you have to branch out into the county fine but you owe it to these people to do the right thing. AND please don't try to tell me there is not a qualified person who can do the job. There may be many who don't want to do it but we have plenty more who do. If you just can't find it in your hearts to do it. Mail out a vote survey to the members and see who they want you to hire. Not the person, just the area of the search. I'm sorry but it's not rocket engineering.

  (by: Rosemary  -   6/19/2009)

Why does the board feel it needs to search around the state ? What is wrong with hiring someone from here? Lets be for real here, it isnt the president we are looking for, it is some one who cares about this community, who will stand up for it and do what is best for Sebring. You know, somone who LIVES here. From the other posts, it looks like everyone agrees. And I agree with Glen and Sarah, chamber wants us to shop local, then they need to do the same and hire local

local  (by: Peter  -   6/19/2009)

I know three people who have applied for this position and they are all very qualified. The person should be local and live here and be known in the community and who has realationships with the businessess here. It would be ashamed if they decided to hire someone that is not local. In these times, we need to take care of ourselves and giving the job to someone not living here would be just wrong. That would be like everyone here going out of town to spend the little money we have and put it back into our community,.

Shop Local...  (by: citizen of Sebring, FL  -   6/19/2009)

HIRE LOCAL!!!

Local Only Need Apply  (by: Jenn from Sebring  -   6/19/2009)

To the Chamber and those in charge of hiring, please only consider locals for this position. Like glen and Sarah said, we need people who are already familiar with our community and all aspects of it. There are plenty of great people who live here full time right now who are looking for work and would be an asset to the Chamber. There should have been a stipulation that only locals need apply, they must live here already a certain amount of time before being considered for the job.

hire local  (by: glen and Sarah  -   6/19/2009)

please hire someone local who lives and knows our community. We have plenty of people here who need a job and who can do it. The chamber pushed for the community to shop local, then do the same thing, HIRE LOCAL