To the Editor,
I am writing to publicly express both my deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent resignations of four members of Cottonwood Mansion Museum’s board of trustees: President Clayton Spears, Vice-President Debbie Van Dalen, Treasurer Jane Van Dalen, and Trustee Peter Jaycock. I’m not sure how many know of this development. I believe Haldimand residents should be aware of it and, hopefully, they share my concerns.
The mansion, as you know, is a gem of Haldimand County’s history. It has been lovingly and meticulously restored through countless hours of work by Haldimand volunteers whose commitment has never wavered. Over the past several years, many have been pleased to see Cottonwood begin to truly flourish. Cottonwood has a reputation as a historic destination in Haldimand, southern Ontario, and beyond.
Cottonwood’s success did not happen overnight. It has been 35 years in the making. And this success never would have happened without the dedication and hard work of volunteers like Clayton Spears, Debbie Van Dalen, Jane Van Dalen, Peter Jaycock, and so many others. Clayton, in particular, has been volunteering at Cottonwood Mansion Museum from the start. It also may interest the community to know that after the tireless work of Clayton and others last fall, Cottonwood was the recipient of a $96,000 Trillium Grant.
Clayton is a Haldimand leader and has been a pre-eminent volunteer for more than 50 years. He and his wife Helen were Cayuga Citizens of the Year in 2005 and Haldimand County Volunteers of the Year in 2007. Clayton also received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
I have known Clayton for more than 40 years and he has never resigned from anything. He is among the most recognizable, revered, and deeply admired people in Haldimand. He has also been involved in virtually every consequential Haldimand community happening – either leading it or as a supportive volunteer – for more than a half century.
When a person of Clayton’s calibre and stature resigns from his longtime volunteer role at Cottonwood, it behoves the people of Haldimand to ask and know why. What prompted Clayton to resign?
But there is more. Three other volunteer board members have also resigned, two of whom held executive positions. Again, I ask, what has gone on to prompt these resignations? The resignations amount to four members of a seven-person board.
I urge the remaining trustees to try to right this ship. Examine what has prompted your trustees – the entire executive, plus one trustee – to step away from Cottonwood. Recognize the breadth and depth of Cottonwood’s loss with the departure of these board members.
Personally, I believe the best course of action for the remaining board members is to address the problems that have prompted these resignations, correct the problems, and try to entice these civic-minded people to return to the Cottonwood board to continue the good work they have been doing for many years.
Further, I hope that if residents share my views, they will speak out personally to those at Cottonwood or write letters to the editor of this newspaper.
Jill Morison,
Life-long Haldimand resident,
Former Publisher and Owner of The Haldimand Press
