Strike up the band? Chesapeake Energy rained on the funding parade in Wellsburg, WV. Chesapeake, a multinational corporation, has a well-greased public relations department. From billboards and newspaper advertisements sporting photos of pristine waterfalls to contributions to local civic organizations, Chesapeake typically spends large sums to buy goodwill and encourage cooperation, especially in areas where their drilling rigs are active such as in Brooke County, WV. According to the Intelligencer (July 14), Wellsburg Middle School (Brooke Co.) was to have been the recipient of $30,000 in grant money from Chesapeake to subsidize the purchase of band instruments. But that changed after Wellsburg voted to ban fracking in that community and within one mile of the municipality. The beneficent Chesapeake revealed a vengeful streak. Now the funding is heading toward Follansbee Middle School, also in Brooke County.
“….(I)t is imperative that we focus our philanthropy where we and our operations are supported by the community and its leaders,” Chesapeake spokesperson (Stacy)Brodak said. “Unfortunately, with the imposition of a ban on our activity for a mile outside the city of Wellsburg, we are not now able to consider the current request for philanthropic gifts in this area. We are hopeful we can work together to eliminate the impediments and opposition to resource development in the area and can once again develop a mutually beneficial partnership with this community.”
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
“The beneficent Chesapeake revealed a vengeful streak.”
“Vengeful”? Nonsense.
Business spending decisions, PR spending among them, are evaluated according to their efectiveness.
Yes. But are they using children as bargaining chips? (not my words)
http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/557073/School-Loses-Chance-at-Grant-Due-to-Ban.html?nav=510
”…using children as bargaining chips?”
Band instruments aren’t children. When a legislative body declines to fund this or that school program, are they “using children”?
The emotional biases exhibited by anti-gas industry “activists” is apparent here.
They’re my words and I stand by them. Chesapeake is using this as an opportunity to send a message to the entire state that says “If you want your kids to have money for educational programs, you have to let us drill.” If that’s not using children as bargaining chips, I don’t know what is.
” … I don’t know what is.”
Exactly.
Speaking of apparent emotional biases…….perhaps everyone should be reminded that Mr.Blakeslee gladly handed over 700 acres of his property to the gas drillers.
“Mr. Blakeslee (leased his land) to the gas drillers”… ,as did over two thousand other landowners in Monroe County.
Compare this number with the 100 from everywhere who showed up in Charleston from all over to “demand” a moratorium on fracking!
Getting 100 people to Charleston on a work day, without corporate sponsorship, is a good turnout for any rally.
Where do you get the number two thousand? I’m not criticizing it, but wondering if it is available online.
Number 2000 available by counting the leases of record in the Monroe County Courthouse.