According to minutes of the Board of Directors of the Amador County Association of Realtors, at the February 2008 meeting the directors, under the leadership of President Al Bozzo, from Coldwell Banker - Sutter Creek Associates (of all places), voted to "voice support for the Gold Rush Golf Ranch Resort." When the letter to the editor appeared in the April 3 edition of this paper, no one was more surprised than the members who make up the association. These members were not consulted about this director's decision nor were they allowed to voice their opinions, nor were they allowed to vote on this decision.

Apparently the directors of the Amador County Association of Realtors have taken upon themselves the right to declare that all their meetings are to be held in closed session (citing Robert's Rules of Order). Members are not allowed to attend. I tried to attend the last meeting and was firmly informed that I was not welcome - the meetings are closed! If I had business I could state it and then leave. At a time when transparency in operations is the norm, a body of directors which feels it can transact business and make decisions and public statements affecting the livelihood of those who voted them into office, without even consulting these members, should perhaps be replaced.

The Amador County Chamber of Commerce recently made a like announcement. I understand the ACAR was approached by the Gold Rush folks and asked to join the bandwagon and also support the proposed development. It's a sorrowful state when a group of directors speaks contrary to the opinion of many of its members and also turns a cold shoulder to the very strong voice coming out of the town of Sutter Creek against the Gold Rush development.

So Chris Seyboldt, thank you for bringing up the "simple greed" of the ACAR. I hope you now understand that the endorsement of Gold Rush was that of the directors only. Their names are available from the Association office at 223.3874 if you want to know who they are, but I think most are pretty embarrassed they were hoodwinked into this endorsement. The rest of the membership doesn't fit your description.