A4
OPINION
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Elected, public
leaders answer
to the public
O
ccasionally it is
prudent to remind
voters in Oregon of
a few, fundamental ele-
ments regarding our access
to government.
In Oregon, the presump-
tion is always govern-
ment is, and will always
will be, open to public scru-
tiny. This scrutiny promotes
our form of democracy and
also furnishes a degree of
transparency.
In short, all Oregonians
have a right to know what
their government is doing,
how it is spending taxpayer
money and what that money
is spent on. This isn’t a nifty
notion, or an aspiration. It
is a right. Like the right to
keep and bear arms. Like the
right of free speech. It isn’t a
debatable item.
In short, every single Ore-
gonian has the right to pre-
pare and deliver a public
records request to any gov-
ernment entity to seek spe-
cific records. Some records
are inaccessible and are
“exempt.” These exempt
records are that way for a
very specific reason with a
narrow scope.
The important question
for readers is what is a news-
paper’s role in such a par-
adigm. A newspaper — a
good one at least — acts as
a sort of de facto represen-
tative of the people. When
matters that are important to
the body politic as a whole
come to light, the newspaper
can act in the public inter-
est and file a public records
request. This action isn’t
about pursuing red herrings
or hounding hard-working
elected and public officials.
The process is designed to
help inform the public —
voters — so they can make
good decisions about policy.
That’s because elected
and appointed officials — at
least in our nation — don’t
get to do whatever they
want whenever they want.
Our system doesn’t work
that way. Every public and
elected official is beholden
to the voters. Every public
and elected official has but
one responsibility — to rep-
resent their constituents.
That means, in the end,
that public and elected lead-
ers are required to be open
with the public. Whether
they want to or not, they
must answer to the body pol-
itic. As a newspaper, our role
is ensuring that those elected
and appointed officials don’t
lose sight of that important
fact and to certify they are
being open and transparent.
Occasionally, that system
puts us at odds with people
who have the best interest of
the public at heart but don’t
see why certain elements of
their work should be open to
the public. We take no plea-
sure creating more work for
public or elected officials,
but we consider our role as a
watchdog to be vital for not
only the health of our little
piece of the republic but for
the well-being of our system
of government as a whole.
We take our job seriously,
and readers should rest
assured we will meet any
challenge to keep our read-
ers informed.
After all, that’s our job.
GUEST COMMENT
Why business networking is important
I
’ve counseled many busi-
ness clients who face the same
dilemma: not enough busi-
ness. They tell me about how
much money they’ve spent on
marketing, their detailed business
plan, the quality product or ser-
vice they offer and their excel-
lent customer service. They have
attractive signage and store fronts
and easy-to-find locations. Yet,
they do not have enough custom-
ers walking through the door.
My first question is to ask
about how they network with
other business professionals.
Often, I hear the same thing, “I
don’t have time for that.”
Really? They’ve made a hefty
financial investment, spend
60-plus hours per week running
their business, lose sleep (and
often money) and yet can’t (or
won’t) carve out two to four hours
per month to meet other business
professionals?
Let’s rethink this.
Apparently, they don’t realize
that by establishing mutually ben-
eficial relationships they stand to
receive valuable business refer-
rals, which could dramatically
improve their bottom line.
Business networking is an
integral part of running a prof-
itable business. The adage, “It’s
not what you know, but who
you know that counts,” is very
true. Even in this modern-day
era where social
media platforms,
websites and the
internet in gen-
eral provide
seemingly limit-
less ways to reach
Greg Smith people, nothing
replaces interact-
ing with fellow
business owners, professionals
and related business organizations
on a face-to-face level.
Here are three types of busi-
ness networking opportunities
among a plethora to consider:
1. Casual contact network-
ing: The best example of this
type of group is the local cham-
ber of commerce. Meetings often
provide opportunities for people
to mingle informally or listen to
guest speakers who present infor-
mation on a variety of pertinent
business topics, legislative issues,
community affairs or applicable
business programs. In addition
to paying membership fees, con-
sider volunteering, perhaps as a
chamber ambassador. The positive
business exposure received will
likely be worth the effort and time
spent. For this type of network-
ing to be most beneficial, business
owners need to attend meetings
and events regularly to strengthen
the relationships.
2. Community service clubs:
While not focused on business,
but rather on serving the commu-
nity, regular participation and vol-
unteering helps strengthen per-
sonal and business relationships.
Going into this with the mindset
of contributing rather than benefit-
ing may very well ultimately help
grow the business in ways perhaps
not considered.
3. Professional associations:
These types of associations gen-
erally are from a specific type of
industry, and their primary pur-
pose is to exchange information
and ideas.
Like any other positive rela-
tionship, there is give and take
involved. Helping others suc-
ceed by making appropriate busi-
ness referrals or assisting others
with experience and knowledge the
entrepreneur has gleaned is a vital
part of successful networking.
Many valuable networking
opportunities are low or no-cost
with the only contribution being
that of time.
Of course, time is one of the
most important assets we possess,
but the investment of time can reap
many benefits toward the success
and longevity of a business.
Greg Smith is the Director of
the Eastern Oregon Small Busi-
ness Development Center, offer-
ing free and confidential business
advising. To schedule an appoint-
ment, call 541-962-1532 or email
eousbdc@gmail.com.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Grant County
youth second to
none
WHERE TO WRITE
GRANT COUNTY
• Grant County Courthouse — 201
S. Humbolt St., Suite 280, Canyon City
97820. Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax:
541-575-2248.
• Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon
City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0509.
Fax: 541-575-0515. Email: tocc1862@
centurylink.net.
• Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville
97825. Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541-
987-2187. Email:dville@ortelco.net
• John Day — 450 E. Main St, John
Day, 97845. Phone: 541-575-0028.
Fax: 541-575-1721. Email: cityjd@
centurytel.net.
• Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long
Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601.
Fax: 541-421-3075. Email: info@
cityoflongcreek.com.
• Monument — P.O. Box 426,
Monument 97864. Phone
and fax: 541-934-2025. Email:
cityofmonument@centurytel.net.
• Mt. Vernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt.
Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-932-4688.
Fax: 541-932-4222. Email: cmtv@
ortelco.net.
• Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie
City 97869. Phone: 541-820-3605. Fax:
820-3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.net.
• Seneca — P.O. Box 208, Seneca
97873. Phone and fax: 541-542-2161.
Email: senecaoregon@gmail.com.
SALEM
• Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State
Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378-
3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Website:
governor.state.or.us/governor.html.
• Oregon Legislature — State
Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503)
986-1180. Website: leg.state.or.us
(includes Oregon Constitution and
Oregon Revised Statutes).
• Oregon Legislative Information —
(For updates on bills, services, capitol
or messages for legislators) — 800-
332-2313.
• Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario – 900
Court St. NE, S-301, Salem 97301.
Phone: 503-986-1730. Website:
oregonlegislature.gov/Bentz. Email:
Sen.CliffBentz@oregonlegislature.gov.
• Rep. Lynn Findley, R-Vale – 900 Court
St. NE, H-475, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-
986-1460. Website: oregonlegislature.
gov/findley. Email: Rep.LynnFindley@
oregonlegislature.gov.
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
Published every
Wednesday by
To the Editor:
This past week it was my plea-
sure to attend the Grant County
Fair. Your town is to be com-
mended for putting on a first class
fair.
I was greeted warmly from the
first moment I entered the gates
to the last, and was treated with
the friendliness you only find in
rural small town America. I loved
watching the youth of your com-
munity have the opportunity to
shine, and shine they did!
For example, there was a gate
that needed to be latched every
time you walked through it, and
without fail it was either opened
or closed for me with a smile and
a kind word.
Every youth I encountered was
polite, and respectful. I attended
the 4-H/FFA livestock auction and
was very impressed with the gen-
Letter: Springer an
asset at Planning
Department
To the Editor:
Over the last three years, using
local contractor Mark Boss and
his assistant, Mike Wolfer, we
have built a small, energy-efficient
home, which is a delight to live in.
Construction was with insulated
concrete forms, which is not con-
ventional material (recycled Sty-
rofoam blocks).
That, along with our inexperi-
ence in building, required many
trips and calls to the Grant County
Planning Department for clar-
ification and consultation with
Shannon Springer, the assistant
director.
In all of our contacts with
Ms. Springer, we found her to be
pleasant, responsible and endowed
with incredible knowledge. With
my endless questions, only once
did she not provide an immedi-
ate response. On that occasion,
concerning an oddball issue, she
paused and then said, “Hmm. I
think I’ll need to research that
one.” Two days later, she called
with a clear cut answer.
It is not uncommon to hear
people complain about taxes and
regulations, but the Planning
Department is an essential service
that assures that structures built
in Grant County will be dura-
ble and safe. And when a govern-
ment agency is managed by a civil
servant as competent as Shannon
Springer, her salary is tax money
very well spent.
Vic Pike
John Day
L
ETTERS POLICY: Letters to the Editor is a forum for Blue Mountain Eagle readers to express themselves on local, state, national or world issues.
Brevity is good, but longer letters will be asked to be contained to 350 words. No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person. No thank-
you letters. Submissions to this page become property of the Eagle. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters for length and for content. Letters must
be original and signed by the writer. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include a telephone number so they can be reached for
questions. We must limit all contributors to one letter per person per month. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Send letters to editor@bmeagle.com, or Blue
Mountain Eagle, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845; or fax to 541-575-1244.
Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper
Publisher............ ......................................Chris Rush, crush@eomediagroup.com
Editor & General Manager ...............Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com
Reporter ...................................................Richard Hanners, rick@bmeagle.com
Community News .................................Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com
Sports ........................................................Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com
Marketing Rep .......................................Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com
Administrative Assistant ..................Makenna Adair, office@bmeagle.com
Office Assistant .....................................Alixandra Hand, office@bmeagle.com
MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
erosity of your community as well
as the personal contacts that each
exhibitor made when their animal
was purchased. We were the proud
buyers of several of your animals!
Thank you for an amazing week.
You have a fair to be proud of, and
your youth are second to none.
Vicki Anderson
Madras
Online: MyEagleNews.com
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