You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or have “inside” information to see that the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce is imploding upon itself.

Just the fact that a totally separate business organization – the Greater Fountain Hills Business Alliance – formed about two years ago tells a person much.

Of course, many cities and towns have multiple business associations – there are always independent types who feel the need to start their own group in response to something the other is doing (or not doing).

But the Alliance is still in existence two years later and continues to grow – perhaps indicating there is more disenfranchisement with the Chamber than some Chamber folks want to admit (the ol’ head in the sand denial thing is sometimes tough to overcome).

And then there has been this year…

Despite a recovering economy, I’d say 2013 has not been a banner year for the long-time business advocacy group:

*Mark McDermott left his position as executive director of the Chamber’s Visitors Bureau effective Oct. 31 and resigned as a board member.

*Other board members have walked away from the group as well in recent months.

*Francesca Carozza of Sierra Madre Consulting chose not to renew a services agreement with the Visitors Bureau, effective July 1. She assisted McDermott in providing operational services, marketing and creative strategy, advertising, public relations, vendor relations, and online and social media support.

*McDermott’s departure and expertise in tourism marketing resulted in the Chamber notifying the Town of Fountain Hills that it was cancelling a contract to promote tourism effective Dec. 31.

*Chamber President/CEO Frank Ferrara announced Nov. 4 that he plans to retire at the end of 2014 (and I’m not revealing any secrets by saying that some Chamber supporters were hoping Mr. Ferrara would step down at the end of 2013).

*And now this week, yet another front-page story, announcing the resignation of Teresa Russo-Cox and her husband, Terry, as chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the Chamber board.

Hmmmm…….

I don’t pretend to know the inner workings of the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce. And, quite frankly, I don’t want to know. I do know there are many people involved with the Chamber in some capacity who are good people and want nothing but the very best for this town and its business community.

However, in my humble opinion the above facts all add up to a rather dysfunctional state of affairs that does not bode well for the Chamber’s near-term future.

And that, of course, doesn’t really help the Chamber members too much right now.

I’d say the organization’s credibility and effectiveness are more than a bit strained at present.

The solution?

Well, that’s the big rub, isn’t it?

That’s for the Chamber board and staff to figure out and implement. I have a feeling they are aware of the situation.

Meanwhile, Chamber members will have to wait and see what happens – if they’re willing to wait…