FPRA_The Beach

[GoodWitch58]

Well, WaltonGOP, I think this may be a little "over the top". FPRA is a professional organization--Tiffany is a PR professional and a member of FPRA and happens to be the current secretary of the organiation; probably all the TDC employees are members of FPRA. I think this is not unusual and is perfectly acceptable.

What is the more important, and bigger, question is: Did the TDC provide funds toward the establishment of this new endeavor? and if they did, was that sanctioned by the Board of County Commissioners? If so, that would make it a TDC-sponsored project.

Let's look to where the authority lies...not nitpick and point fingers at an employee who is just doing her job, shall we?

Just MHO

 

[BeachSiO2]

Yes, she and others at the TDC are members of this professional organization as well as she is a board member (Secretary). I believe it is a benefit to the County for their employees to be members of professional organizationz like FPRA. That was my point is that FPRA is different than "the beach". I think we already know that the TDC is one of the umpteen members who were part of the group, but I was just saying it is not a WCTDC program that they control.

 

[DuneLaker]

Why would Walton County taxpayers want their TDC and their tax dollars going to a group they don't control? How much Walton County taxpayer dollars have been spent? If, heaven forbid, this keeps going 1, 5, 15 years, how much more will it cost Walton County taxpayers to sustain when some of the private money pulls out, leaves the area or goes bankrupt? Walton County and our superior beaches, resorts, restaurants, etc., should be in a position of strength and leadership, not a pawn. Need a little Sunshine here along the Emerald Coast and Miracle Strip.

 

[wrobert]

Well, WaltonGOP, I think this may be a little "over the top". FPRA is a professional organization--Tiffany is a PR professional and a member of FPRA and happens to be the current secretary of the organiation; probably all the TDC employees are members of FPRA. I think this is not unusual and is perfectly acceptable.

What is the more important, and bigger, question is: Did the TDC provide funds toward the establishment of this new endeavor? and if they did, was that sanctioned by the Board of County Commissioners? If so, that would make it a TDC-sponsored project.

Let's look to where the authority lies...not nitpick and point fingers at an employee who is just doing her job, shall we?

Just MHO

Well let us just follow this line of thought out then. Where do we draw the line? If we are going to allow this sort of tacit support for this organization then are we going to allow the same thing for every organization that an employee is a member of? If not then what criteria are we going to use to decide which organizations that the government agency is allowed to support and which ones it does not?

Those resource belong to the people, not to the government. If any support or use of the people's resources are subsidizing that organizations operation then the organization is receiving the support of the people. Yet overwhelmingly the people here have said that they do not want this.

 

[scooterbug44]

I'm on vacation - folks in my airport shuttle didn't know where Panama City/Destin was, but knew the "Redneck Riviera" and the Panhandle.

The fact that they are rebranding it "the beach" gave everyone a good laugh!

 

[Sea Sothebys]

It doesn't look like my schedule will allow me to attend this luncheon. I hope someone else attends, and reports back to us.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Well let us just follow this line of thought out then. Where do we draw the line? If we are going to allow this sort of tacit support for this organization then are we going to allow the same thing for every organization that an employee is a member of? If not then what criteria are we going to use to decide which organizations that the government agency is allowed to support and which ones it does not?

Those resource belong to the people, not to the government. If any support or use of the people's resources are subsidizing that organizations operation then the organization is receiving the support of the people. Yet overwhelmingly the people here have said that they do not want this.

I think the tacit support in this case is for the Florida Public Relations Association, not "The Beach." I don't see it any different than someone being part of Rotary, the Lions Club, the Association of Emergency Managers, Association of Floodplain Managers, the Florida Association of Counties, Florida League of Cities, etc.

Here's one for you. As someone running for school board would you advocate non-participation by local educators in regional, state or federal organizations that lead to the awareness of regional, state, or federal programs that could benefit the educational systems of Walton County? Or would limit their ability to hold leadership positions in those types of organizations. This is exactly what FPRA is for Public Relations professionals.

FPRA is acting as a forum for a better understanding of the public in what a different group is doing. No different than the Chamber of Commerce hosting someone to talk about a topic they are interested in.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Why would Walton County taxpayers want their TDC and their tax dollars going to a group they don't control? How much Walton County taxpayer dollars have been spent? If, heaven forbid, this keeps going 1, 5, 15 years, how much more will it cost Walton County taxpayers to sustain when some of the private money pulls out, leaves the area or goes bankrupt? Walton County and our superior beaches, resorts, restaurants, etc., should be in a position of strength and leadership, not a pawn. Need a little Sunshine here along the Emerald Coast and Miracle Strip.

Maybe they want to be able to have a voice in the matter, so that they could object to a marketing plan as stupid as The(TM) Beach.

 

[wrobert]

I think the tacit support in this case is for the Florida Public Relations Association, not "The Beach." I don't see it any different than someone being part of Rotary, the Lions Club, the Association of Emergency Managers, Association of Floodplain Managers, the Florida Association of Counties, Florida League of Cities, etc.

Here's one for you. As someone running for school board would you advocate non-participation by local educators in regional, state or federal organizations that lead to the awareness of regional, state, or federal programs that could benefit the educational systems of Walton County? Or would limit their ability to hold leadership positions in those types of organizations. This is exactly what FPRA is for Public Relations professionals.

FPRA is acting as a forum for a better understanding of the public in what a different group is doing. No different than the Chamber of Commerce hosting someone to talk about a topic they are interested in.

Touche' my friend. But I still think that the county needs to have a policy covering such things. There are quite a few nefarious groups one could be a part of that I certainly would not wish to support. And to answer your question, no. Participation in those groups is probably one of the most educational things anyone can do. I have learned more from interaction with others than at any training seminar or class that I have ever been. And you are correct, the FPRA is offering the opportunity for everyone to learn more about the campaign.

But hey, it gave me something to post about over the weekend to get me over the 1000 mark.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Touche' my friend. But I still think that the county needs to have a policy covering such things. There are quite a few nefarious groups one could be a part of that I certainly would not wish to support. And to answer your question, no. Participation in those groups is probably one of the most educational things anyone can do. I have learned more from interaction with others than at any training seminar or class that I have ever been. And you are correct, the FPRA is offering the opportunity for everyone to learn more about the campaign.

But hey, it gave me something to post about over the weekend to get me over the 1000 mark.

I agree about the nefarious ones. As far as the TDC, they typically update every group that an employee is participating in every year in their Strategic Plan and I am pretty sure they are updating it right now.

Now if I can get to 1000