Anybody that has been watching the News Feed on DMOpro over the past two days has been witness to just how fast a misstep can bring a hailstorm of public rancor onto a DMO Board.
The Evansville CVB Board has had its share of issues this year. The unusual firing of a well-respected CEO, their support of a destination development project that was soundly rejected in November, conflict of interest questions surrounding its Board Chair...and now, the issue of the Board's Annual Holiday Party.
The tab: Just over $3000. For 14 people. At a Biaggi's, no less.
The tab included 5 bottles of $250 a pop wine...plus lots of hard liquor and food. As one commenter to local online stories asked, did these people all have rides home? Because over $2000 in alcohol should have sent some to the emergency room.
But, once the bill was posted online a couple days ago, it didn't take long for the community (and local government) to react...and badly.
As of this writing in the waning hours of Wednesday, only one of the Board members is still on the Board...the others have resigned under withering community pressure or have been removed by their appointers. And, the one that still stands was the one that didn't attend the party.
Which is a good thing...because somebody has to hire the CVB's new CEO, as that lengthy search process begins to come to a close.
With full disclosure that the Evansville CVB has been, over the years, a client...this house cleaning was way over due. But...it never would have happened if one of them hadn't thought he was all that and ordered $250 a bottle wine.
Pardon me...but that's just stoopid. Not just for a CVB...but for anyone in a business situation anywhere. The difference between a $75 bottle and a $250 bottle of wine is imperceptible to all but the most discerning connoissuers. Thus, a $250 bottle is just showing off, Joe.
And, in doing so, whoever ordered these bottles has doomed their organization to draconian retribution...and has put the rest of this industry under heightened scrutiny.
It's another example of how, today, everybody's watching. And, if you think something like this will go unnoticed and unpunished...you probably shouldn't be on a Board.
Just a thought.
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