MCC Golf Tournament - puh-leez!

I was going to lay off MCC for blowing $180,000+++ on Walt Packard's President Emeritus package, but today's full-page ad in the Northwest Herald (Page 9A) re-kindled my anger.

It was bad enough, in my opinion, to fail to disclose that Mr. Packard wasn't "just" stepping out of the picture on short notice to care for his ailing wife. That was a caring, compassionate step. Many probably felt, as I did, that sacrificing his job to care for his wife was a noble and honorable decision.

Only, it turns out, he didn't "sacrifice" his job. Thanks for a FOIA request by the Northwest Herald, we now know that Mr. Packard gets his salary AND his health insurance AND his retirement contribution for the full year of his absence. My guess is that adds up to $250,000.

And now MCC advertises its June 5th "Out-of-This World Experience" at a Lake Geneva golf club. And you'll love this...

"Your support (of the golf tournament) helps turn the dream of a college education into a reality. It's Our Promise."

Well, I've got news for the MCC Trustees and Officers. $250,000 would have gone a long way to turn some dreams into a college education for some students.

Probably the worst aspect of the next year's payments to Mr. Packard is the secrecy that MCC sought by not releasing that information up-front. Had it announced Mr. Packard's departure AND his compensation package, MCC would have felt a little heat from the public and it would have blown over.

Now we have reason to be suspect of many expenditures of the College and to start paying close attention to all the decisions of the Trustees and Officers. Call the College and find out when the Trustees meet. Start attending their meetings and speaking up and speaking out. Let them know that they are accountable for their decisions!

And no more secrets! Promise?