Letters to the Editor
Board should know procedures
Editor:
So, the Socorro Electric Cooperative’s board of trustees is closing in on hiring a new attorney. Few items on their agenda of necessary actions are less important than this. Whatever their disenchantment with the present attorney, it cannot come as a surprise to anyone that the last thing these trustees need is another buffer between them and the people they purport to represent.
If the co-op is to have an attorney that represents the company in the conduct of business in the best interests of its members, the general manager should be able to find and hire legal counsel for that purpose. The trustees hired their present attorney to represent their own interests in opposition to the members. Let there be no doubt about that. Most likely that is what they seek again. If only to improve on the conspiratorial and connivance abilities of their replacement for Dennis Francish, who “let them down,” one could conclude.
What is glaringly obvious is that the co-op needs a competent accountant who can see through the schemes operated by trustees and management staff in the recent past. A certified public accountant who is not beholden to the board or its managers is obligated to report truthfully about weaknesses, transgressions, or fraud. That would be in contrast to the present cozy relationship with Cook, Bake, Toss, and Juggle of Texas. An accountant not complicit with aiding and abetting anyone at the co-op would be refreshing and cost efficient — as never before.
It’s apparent that when the co-op can’t find customers to return funds to them, and those customers are presently operating, there’s a major deficiency. They can’t find the Baptist Church? Nor the Mormon church? Nor Doctor Bonner Oates? Nor City Councilor Gordie Hicks? Nor …. the list goes on. It’s disingenuous to claim the need for the public to assist them in these quests. How many people do they have keeping the books; collecting accounts?
If the board needs someone to conduct its meetings because they lack a fundamental command of parliamentary procedure, they should not be on the board. That is a basic need, which any high school student council member or FFA student can meet. After attending several board meetings, it was obvious some trustees could not phrase two consecutive sentences without seeking approval from Francish. Such board trustees should step down and allow capable persons to serve as trustees. To hire an attorney to conduct the business of the co-op is redundant and overly expensive to the members.
Herbert Myers, Socorro
Anonymous threat impacts students
Editor:
I am a teacher. This morning I went to San Antonio. I travel to a variety of schools. it is an “Art on the Cart” form of teaching.
Today was different. The lead teacher at San Antonio showed me pictures of a suspect who may have threatened the safety of our school. He said that we would have a “lock down.” I am familiar with these drills but for this beautiful little school in San Antonio, this was their first “lock down.” He said that it would effect my lesson plan, so I altered my presentation in order to work with the problems.
At 9 a.m. the bells went off, and we moved into the corner of the room and sat down on the floor. The students were able to talk and play games quietly. I rarely have the time to notice my students because I see numerous children in one week.
I sat by them, reflecting on how my students were responding to this “state of emergency,” and I was impressed by their listening skills. At the ages of 9 and 10, the students swiftly pushed their chairs in under their desks and systematically walked to the “lock down” corner.
Evidently, they were sensitive to the potential threat. I quietly admired their courage and their sense of the necessary need for our safety as a community.
And, I was saddened that their day had to be interrupted by an anonymous threat. As I watched, I noticed two of my students who sat quietly, aware of the issues at hand. I sensed their fear and their fear became my sadness. That their day had been disrupted upset me — it saddened me.
And if I could address this person who is so “angry” as to threaten the safety of the Socorro community, I would ask she or he to take time to notice the children in this community, their beauty and their innocence.
And after having had that time, I would ask this person to play with a dog, go for a walk, talk to a child. I would ask this person to volunteer time, to notice their gifts and to re-kindle a form of exchange with the people. I would ask this person to get involved in the community as a form of renewal. It is one thing to complain about our society and clearly the American society is in a state of struggle, but it is more hopeful to take responsibility and to affect change.
Estelle Roberge, Art Teacher
Quick notification appreciated
Editor:
On behalf of the parents of Socorro schools, I would like to thank Dr. Cheryl Wilson for her quick notification to parents about the threat made against the schools. Also, I would like to thank her for making it the parent’s choice to send their kids to school on 11-11-11.
Thank you very much.
Colette Wills, Socorro