Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce Ousts, Replaces All 18 Directors

Members of the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, saying they seek a “more dynamic” effort to promote their seaside community, have ousted all 18 chamber directors and installed a new board.

Monday’s unusual vote represents the culmination of a two-year campaign to change the approach of the chamber, whose Old Guard had become too complacent, members of the new leadership declared.

“Essentially, the business community feels the need for a more dynamic public relations and promotion campaign for bringing visitors to Southern California here,” newly elected Vice President Charles M. Denny said Thursday.

“We are not trying to say that anyone did anything wrong,” said Donald B. Black, an attorney who has become president. “We want to turn over a new leaf. We do not want to concentrate on the past.”

Monday’s vote came after the resignation of former chamber President John Boyd and four of five members of the executive committee. Former General Manager Jim Lyon resigned March 11, Denny said. Boyd, a Laguna Beach attorney, did not return repeated telephone calls made Thursday to his office. Lyon could not be reached for comment.

The coup was led by an ad hoc organization called the Committee for Public Relations, launched in July of 1985 by Laguna Beach restaurateur Harry Moon. Black, who was a member of the former board of directors, also became chairman of the ad hoc organization.

Five months earlier, the organization conducted a survey of businesses and concluded that “they felt overwhelmingly the chamber could be more active and more visible in promoting and presenting programs” helpful to the business community, Black said.

Last October the organization presented the chamber with a petition calling for an “annual promotion plan for the city,” among other suggestions, Black said. Committee members said their petition was ignored.

After the resignations had taken place Monday during the Chamber of Commerce meeting, the committee presented its proposed list of new directors to the members on hand. The new slate was elected on a vote of 45 to 2, with two members abstaining, officials reported. The chamber has a membership of about 300, Black said, and 10% had to be present for a quorum.

The Committee for Public Relations voted to disband after the ousters “because we had no more reasons to remain together,” Black said.

The interim board, operating under amended bylaws, will serve until June 30 when a newly elected board will take over. It is now conducting a search for a new general manager.