Editor:

Re: Patti MacAhonic's forced resignation from her position as executive director of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce.

Utter disbelief was my first reaction. Her employer, the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce, instead of encouraging citizens to participate in community activities (women included) has made Patti choose to resign in order to exercise her right to participate in the May provincial election and prepare for the many tasks that she would need to perform in readiness (requesting a leave of absence would be needed) should she win the nomination.

I love the dictionary-for instance, we all like to believe in democracy (explained as equality of rights, opportunity and treatment). By the way, that reminds me of this humour: Q: What is the definition of apathy? A: I don't know and I don't care.

It is my opinion that we should laud people that come forward to give their time, effort and finances, not promote indifference because others put up roadblocks to discourage them. A very serious blockade, indeed when your way of earning a living is removed.

"The Chamber is a non-sectarian and apolitical organization working on behalf of its members first and has no affiliation with any political party." Back to the dictionary-"sectarian is explained as narrow-minded." It follows that non-sectarian would be broad-minded, to my way of thinking. Correct?

I also like the word apolitical which has the opposite meaning of political. So, if this decision to axe Patti was not political, I do like the word "nefarious." It sounds so mysterious but I may be misusing the word on this occasion.

We don't get to vote for Chamber members, so the only reaction I can imagine is shop out of town-take away Chamber support. Of course we could let our ballots do the talking, given the opportunity.

Dawn Ward Chilliwack