Blogfinger

Paul Goldfinger © Summer 2016. Bishop Janes Tabernacle, site of  the Labor Day meeting 2017.

Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net

Lately the OGCMA has been more vocal in explaining their activities, so we will take advantage of the curtain’s being parted a bit and report on these insights.  The Annual Labor Day meeting was cancelled in 2016 due to bad weather.

This Labor Day the meeting will be held at 9:00 am in the Bishop Janes Tabernacle.   In 2015, the North End situation received top billing. (see link below)

Usually each department head gives a report about the past year.

At the end, the public may go to the microphone to briefly discuss some issues.  Sometimes, the speakers get a bit unpleasant as they find something to criticize.  This is a peculiar tradition because the CMA is a private organization, and this is not a stockholder meeting.  But usually such comments are met with good natured replies by the CMA officials.

Curiously, today, the COO, Rev. John DiGiamberadino, had something to say in his “Reflection” email regarding the annual meeting:

“Our season in review annual meeting is Labor Day.  It is a time to share with and thank our constituents for their support and prayers.”

So, we don’t see an invitation to provide criticisms or complaints.  In fact, his welcome is towards “our constituents” but he doesn’t define that word.

In 2015 on Labor Day, there was a great deal of emphasis regarding the North End Revelopment Plan, but the information was sketchy.   Here is our link to that meeting:

2015 Labor Day meeting about the North End BF coverage.

In 2014, Peter Herr, the Finance Chairman, made an interesting comment at that Labor Day meeting  (link below:)

“The Together Fund is essentially ‘done’  at this time.”  

Despite the sometimes precarious finances of the CMA, he mischievously noted that “Atlantic City was ‘going down’ after nearly 40 years, but the CMA has lasted for over 140 years.  (applause!)”

At that meeting they also announced cutbacks in Saturday night programming from 17 to 12, and it was acknowledged by Dr. Whilden that the group was concerned about increased “secularism” in our society.

Now, in 2017, Rev. D. said, regarding Saturday night programming, “This year we intentionally provided Saturday Night Programs that reached all age groups. ….A special thanks to all that attended and were blessed by our Saturday Night Family entertainment.” 

So now we know exactly why the Saturday programming has been changed.

2014 Labor Day meeting BF coverage.

SUSANNAH McCORKLE: