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August 12, 2004
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August 12, 2004 |
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EDITORIAL Silence from the Glen director If Glen Helen plans for its future, and no one is there to hear it, will its future be planned well? The Board of Overseers of the Glen Helen Ecology Institute is beginning to discuss a strategic plan to define a vision for the future of the Glen. But the community does not appear likely to learn about this discussion or details of the planning effort from the one person who logically should be answering the public’s questions — the Glen’s executive director, Bob Whyte. Dr. Whyte does not seem interested in discussing the strategic plan publicly. Last month, for instance, during an interview with the News for a story on Glen Helen, he declined to discuss details of the Glen’s strategic planning, only saying “we’re tossing around ideas.” This week, when contacted with another request for information on the planning process, he again declined, and in an e-mail message directed “any matters relating to Glen Helen” to David Hergesheimer, chairman of the Glen Helen Ecology Institute board. Dr. Whyte should change this stance and let the community better understand the strategic planning process and how it may lead to changes at the Glen. As the Glen’s executive director, Dr. Whyte should be the point-person for information on the Glen, not the chairman of the Glen board. Dr. Whyte, after all, is in charge of the daily operations of the 1,000-acre nature preserve and can provide invaluable insight into the Glen’s needs and successes. Dr. Whyte has a difficult job. He’s running a cash-strapped organization, with numerous maintenance and capital improvement needs. He’s clearly passionate about the Glen. Mr. Hergesheimer described the Glen director as “young, energetic,” a person with a lot of ideas. Dr. Whyte, from time to time, has explained for the community the Glen’s challenges, a fact that makes his current silence puzzling. Mr. Hergesheimer said this week that the Glen Helen board is in the early stages of the strategic planning process and is reviewing information, prepared by Dr. Whyte, on the Glen’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. He said the planning process could be completed by Thanksgiving or early December. Mr. Hergesheimer described this effort as a five-year plan that could include financial planning and a review of the Glen’s programs, land and the Ecology Institute itself. While the community should not be making everyday decisions on the Glen’s management, the community should have a role in any long-range planning effort at the Glen. But Mr. Hergesheimer said that he did not know what role the public could play in the current effort, though he did imply that board members represent the public and they talk to people about the Glen. Glen Helen may be a private organization, but the nature preserve is also a community asset, and the public should have a role in shaping the Glen’s future in ways not limited to just making financial contributions. Plus, giving the community a stake in planning at the Glen could actually help increase donations. David Hergesheimer said that he hopes the strategic planning exercise puts the Glen on a more stable financial footing. It would be nice to know what Bob Whyte hopes the process will accomplish. |
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