Social Club Executive Involved in Another Controversy

While Canada Day was a resounding success in Renews another controversy occurred with Basil and Elaine Reddy and Bill Birmingham right at the centre of it. This time the victims are the children of the community. At a meeting to plan Canada Day activities, the mayor said she wanted a dunk tank to raise money for the recreation association. It was suggested that a Ferryland organization had one and Charlie Dunne might be able to provide information on it, but Elaine Reddy said that the Capt. Wm Jackman Social Club would provide the new one they had. All ten people at the meeting heard the exchange and it was recorded in the minutes of the meeting. An email from the club to the mayor the following day confirmed the dunk tank was available but that the club would not operate it.

On Canada Day however the club did operate the tank and then kept all the money raised for their own club. They accepted, without comment, the thank you from the mayor over the public address system for the donation of the tank to the recreation association. They allowed the mayor to recruit young kids to be “victims” in the dunk tank letting them believe the money raised was for their recreation equipment. The mayor herself took a couple of dunkings for what she believed was the kids’ project and hundreds of kids lined up with their loonies to have fun and raise money for playground equipment. Bill Birmingham and Basil Reddy happily took the kids dollars and at the end of the day Elaine and Basil Reddy, and Bill Birmingham left taking the money with them. The following day, Friday, they ignored e-mails from council concerning the money and on Saturday night announced to the Seniors’ club that they had raised $322.00 most of it from the dunk tank for the benefit of the Capt. Wm. Jackman Club.

This is appalling behavior in our small community, when our seniors club refuses to meet commitments to other organizations, raises funds under false pretences and sets seniors in the community against our youth. They have seriously hurt our community by creating a negative image of seniors in the minds of our young people and establishing the seniors club as a group not to be trusted. Their actions bring shame on the Captain William Jackman Club, a wonderful organization that has been serving our community with decency and respect for over 30 years.


A couple of other noteworthy points: The recreation association was created as an arm of council to address recreation needs in the town and Elaine Reddy is a sitting member of council. So in addition to everything else she is a council member undermining council initiatives. She also agreed to video events of the day using “Harvesting Our History” equipment. The video was to be used to support an application for additional funds next year. The Jackman club did video part of the afternoon events; however, they did not show up to do the evening portion. Not videoed were: the crowds gathered on the ball field for the evening events, the fireworks display, the visit of our Member of Parliament and his message to the gathered crowd, the socializing around the community bonfire and the entertainment provided by talented local musicians and singers. Fifty percent of the day’s events went unrecorded thereby eliminating the opportunity to make a strong presentation for additional funds next year; yet another failure by Elaine Reddy to take seriously her role as an elected council member by promising then failing to deliver a service as promised.

Last Minute News:

Yesterday I emailed the Jackman Club vice-president Bill Birmingham giving him an opportunity to tell his side of the story. He replied refusing to answer any questions. Later last evening he showed up at the mayor’s house saying the Jackman Club wanted to make a donation to the recreation association but did not have an address to forward the cheque. He was told the association was an arm of council and the cheque could be sent to council – but surely Elaine, an elected councilor, knew that! While I am delighted that the recreation association will receive some of the money from the dunk tank operation, what appears to be a grand gesture by the Jackman club is really a feeble attempt at damage control before this story went to print. Thanks for the promised donation folks but at this moment the recreation association does not have the money and we now know what you are like about keeping your word.

Note   It is now March 3rd 2011 and the money collected has NOT been passed over to the recreation committee or to Council on their behalf.