Alaska Federal Credit Union
March 7, 2009 8:53 AM | Alaskan Photo Tours
Realizing success in a city that dies: out with the old.
During a recent visit to the southwestern city of the once thriving Tucumcari, New Mexico, located in Quay County in "Historic Route 66," I wondered how companies survive in him during this shaky economy, especially since the city was spraying for failure for over a decade. The universe answered my question by presenting aware of this sample of how business was doing, while a businessman was not increased.
Once called "Six Shooter Siding" was founded in 1901 Tucumcari as a field of railway construction. The 2000 census was 11 people are short of information to a population of 6000, but the account has declined since then. The city is 7.5 miles square. Companies in Tucumcari that exude a level of success are few and few windows which was not banned or sealed. The most important are banks such as Wells Fargo and everyone Federal Credit Union. (Yes, that's the actual name of the credit union). Separated, with its clean, almost architectural modern Mesalands Community College looks as if the aliens had to be dropped a late night without the knowledge of local people. [But I could only logically equate this event with Roswell, New Mexico, far to the south.]
In the main street of "Tucumcari city," the business front that said, "success" was Pajarito Interiors, owned and operated by Ruth Nelson, an interior decorator who (according to local news articles) earned his degree from the University of Hawaii and moved to New Mexico for several years in Oregon. Pajarito Interiors' Santa Fe style adobe facade was cleaned, fresh paint and cracked plaster walls. He had obviously been recently redesigned and updated compared to the buildings, up, down and across Street sitting in the sad shape, windows boarded the attacks of vandalism, and having been abandoned long. A gaunt body, with some feathers unidentifiable birds and medium-sized prey-de-lay, spread out a window of the screen where the raptor had flown accidentally failed in its flight. There remained, in memory of his long suffering, because the time was a mystery. The building adjacent to Pajarito Interiors, connected by a shared wall was Sands-Dosey Pharmacy. He had burned a year ago. Partially scorched walls remained half black stand that resembles a bombed structure in a recent war, nobody had ever heard. Its long history destroyed in what must be a matter of hours.
Ruth Nelson store is packed with high-end home furnishings and decorative items. The interior walls have a neutral tone that complements all other colors are unique tables apparently one-of-a-kind, sofas, chairs and art objects. Lamps soft light ceiling partitions special exhibition furniture like a table of high fashion with a pair of plush-upholstered chairs to match. In Tucumcari, with an estimated 80% of its population living on public assistance, was a mystery as to who immediately of the villagers could afford such exquisite items.
In an interview, Ruth Nelson, said he moved to Tucumcari when she found a man she thought he might spend the rest of his life, to be Donald Schutte, a lawyer and former judge now State District. (After having been originally appointed by the governor, Schutte had lost elections last November with his opponent to win about 2 votes 1.) Articles of local news, Schutte Nelson and expressed plans to greatly improve the heart of Tucumcari, and who have filled key roles in the Home " Street "initiative with its mission to" bring back Tucumcari. "Nelson said his business was doing well, but there was a time when she was realizing $ 7,000 to $ 10,000 in sales a week. That number sounded suspiciously exaggerated as more research to find out the secret of how a business woman could be so successful in what appears to be a dying town. The answer was a surprise.
In July 2006, Ruth bought a furniture business to the household of the Stanley Jennings. Stanley was 81 years and thought it a good time to consider retiring. A war veteran and retired military, Stanley was born in 1925 in his family home ranch house in Quay, New Mexico, about 17 miles south of Tucumcari. He grew up there. Stan (as his friends call him) said like a child just a shirt, quickly washed her mother every night when I came home from school. She iron in the morning, just before leaving to attend a one room school house that was located on a ranch next to a couple of miles away. Walking or riding to get there. As a teenager, Stan was a soft "pull" Sands-Dorsey in the pharmacy whose business was abandoned bombed building location, noted above. He served in the Army Air Corps as fighter pilot P-51 in Alaska, and was once president of the state of New Mexico Young Democrats, after being formed to run for a higher office in the future. He attended pharmacy school in Albuquerque, but quit when he got a C in a class of believing that disqualified him for graduation. Not understanding that it was a grade point average (GPA) of a C or less than they have been disqualified. Suddenly, Stan's father died too young, and left the mother of Stan tackle Operating from a herd that was on the small side, such as cattle ranches go. The ranch was charged with a general tax debt as well. Stan accepted responsibility, support his mother, wife and son.
Stan left to pursue ambitions outside Tucumcari: new drivers, booming airline industry is necessary, pharmacies were few hands, and politics at the state level continued to sign, but he kept busy on the home front. He was elected to the County Assessor's Office Dock of several terms, continued as a 4th generation rancher and founded a business in Tucumcari that lasted for more than 30 years. Tucumcari became home. She had married him, her only son was born there. Janie, his wife, a schoolteacher who had taught for 26 years in Tucumcari, died there shortly before his 50th wedding anniversary. Although now remarried, Stan has reserved a burial site next to "Janie's resting place." He was an active member and services performed in the Kiwanis Club and currently holds the post of chaplain at the local Masonic Lodge. Bottomline: Stan is a senior member of the history Tucumcari. A dedicated community leader who has done everything expected of, above and beyond many of his friends and colleagues who have died in recent years. Since the sale of your business at the age of 81, what has happened to Stan in their golden years, within this small community that is loved and served all his life?
Now a year-round cheerful man with a peculiar smile, and friendly disposition, Stan is the owner and operator of Fort Bascom Trading Post, where he is a seller of resources used and ends. At first glance, one might describe it as a curio store to the southwest and away with some interesting "parts" scattered here and there. A private 45 rpm disc "juke box" rumored to have belonged to movie star Grear Garson, a nickel slot machine at Bally's, and Orchestria coin operated playing a melody for a quarter. There are the many Model As in various states of disrepair (rebuild), and a couple look pretty complete. The business is located in an old building whose interior is illuminated by parallel rows of glaring fluorescent lights that are burned (even blink) all days from large picture windows of the building were addressed permanently after being triggered by the Vandals.
Who buys this stuff? Nobody. "Bad economy," Stan explains: "I could do with sales, at this time." Since that is used to provide financing (credit) customers, many people still owe money from previous business, and most of them are not paying. Stan has to file a claim (wage garnish) against them, but they can only do if you have the extra $ 40 it costs to do so. Why not to pay "People are hurtin 'here. They have been hurtin 'for as long as I can remember, and can not afford to pay a lot for nothing. "Most of Stan customers may not qualify for a card credit, they have no control most accounts, and "live paycheck to paycheck, if you are lucky to get a paycheck," he adds.
In 2006, Stan was approached by Ruth Nelson he wanted to buy their home furnishings business and transform it into its own studio designer and interior design business. The agreement was reached Nelson and live-in male partner district (then Judge Donald Schutte) Stan bought the building, without jerks. Schutte apparently gave the building to Nelson as it is unique is the owner of record in the spring of County Tax Office. Nelson produced and presented a contract with Stan specifying the conditions under which they would buy your business and the inventory (valued at approximately $ 118,000 that Stan was off it for about $ 63,000). Nelson was buying only new merchandise Stan and Stan realized that preserves the elements used to sell merchandise such as used. Nelson went to pay the inventory in time … or at least that's what Stan believes that one of the established contracts. You see, Nelson introduced a series of versions of the contract with Stan for several days. Confident and in good faith, Stan signed each version Nelson's contract presented to him, but Stan was never given a copy of the final. Stan Nelson repeatedly asked for a copy, but the requests were ignored.
In 2007, Stan spent 30 full days in the hospital fighting and overcoming one case of pneumonia from which most people his age would dead. While Stan was still recovering at home, Nelson wrote a letter to Stan charging breach of contract, alleging that he had seen a (free, courtesy) phone list (not an ad) for your business in a phone book, and that Nelson had told a customer (rumor) that staff had Stan offered to order new items for them. For Nelson, these two events Stan justified charging breach of a non-compete clause that would been part of its conditions of sale. This alleged violation, which explains why she had the right to (suddenly), stop making payments to Stan for the inventory. Stan was not offered an opportunity to discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, Stan is slowly recovering from his illness and gradually returning to work. Stan continued to fight to make payments on the original business loan he had obtained to buy the inventory that Nelson had bought, but now refused to pay. Nelson was selling this inventory for profit pure and was realizing great success in a faltering economy. This may explain how there were times when Nelson was able to sell $ 7,000 to $ 10,000 in merchandise every week … for a while.
Now comes the problem. Stan's family lawyer (and CPA) refused to get involved with a lawsuit against Nelson, not unlike the five other attorneys across the state of New Mexico, which, likewise, cited "conflicts of interest." Apparently, living in Nelson male companionship (Schutte), former district judge and lawyer in New Mexico also has a seat at the Bar of New Mexico Board of Review, a position that could be politically dangerous for a lawyer to play with the opposition.
Stan met with the Prosecutor Sixth in Albuquerque, specialist in elder abuse law, who requested a $ 2,000 retainer he had borrowed from family members. To begin, counsel requested a copy of the contract Nelson three times that ignored the requests. The lawyer wrote a letter of demand for payment to Ruth Nelson and Don Schutte. Schutte replied that he had nothing to do with the contract between Stanley Jennings and Ruth Nelson and that Nelson would probably respond through its own legal counsel. (Note Nelson lived with Schutte lawyer and former district judge able to advise on matters relating to business ethics, best practices, and take appropriate legal action.) Nelson did not respond a la carte.
Stan's attorney said it would start a lawsuit against Nelson (Nelson and lawyer-judge-pro-bono legal advisor-boyfriend for his role) if Stan provides a checkpoint $ 10,000 … you only pay for the "discovery" and the presentation of original documentation. A subsequent trial or further legal action be in an additional expense to Stan. What is Stan already in the business loan for inventory, and the original loans attorney's fees, the old man looking at 100,000 dollars of debt at age 83. This level of debt that I never experienced in his life. The lawyer expressed concern that Stan may not be able to weather Physically statements, investigations, interrogation, investigation, trial or trials to come. [In the event that Stan died, he would not be alive for pay for services rendered by counsel, which probably explains why such a large retainer, in advance.]
So now this cornerstone elders of the community is caught in a hopeless situation. Why? Counsel indicates Stan options and possible options of the results:
1). If Stan starts a lawsuit against Nelson (along with her boyfriend, lawyer-judge-pro-bono-legal-counsel), and gains, can be ruled Stan Nelson must pay legal fees, court tangible and intangible damages that could total more than $ 100,000. Could (or would be Nelson) pays for this? No, it would be demonstrated inability to pay, and could be very easy for her to do. Game over. Stan loses … and he would have to pay court costs and legal … and would have to continue paying for the loan business for inventory.
2). If Stan starts a fight, chances are, Nelson (and her boyfriend, lawyer-judge-pro-bono-legal-counsel) Stan demanding the strategy of extending said the legal process, which last-minute financial and / or life outside the old Stan. Game over. Stan loses his debts being transferred to his estate or his elderly widow loses … together with their children and grandchildren (who may have had some kind of inheritance before proceeding to trial).
3). If Nelson Stan Counterclaim and win, Stan would probably be required to pay court costs Nelson, material and moral damages and legal costs to her boyfriend now exorbitantly expensive lawyer-judge-no pro-bono lawyers, legal and suddenly have become the most expensive lawyer in the land. Stan loses everything, because the lawyer-boyfriend-legal-attorney judge probably apply a lien on all assets Stan.
New Mexico Attorney General Gary King, calls for a firm stand in protecting the elderly against abuse, both physical and financially. However, a representative of the New Mexico Adult Protective Services Division stated that the situation of Stan is not really a case of abuse Financial Elder and that his case should be handled by law through the legal system. If you review the options the law offers (mentioned above) is quite easy see that there is little or no hope or possibility of Stan to prevail in this situation.
retirement of Stan "Plan" was simple. He wanted spend their last days restoration of Ford Model A, the type he admired when he was young, but never could afford. Stan has more than one shirt now, but your eyes tear when he thinks about when he had saved enough money to buy two new shirts to have both. He gets up every morning, showers and shaves, check your blood sugar, takes insulin and other prescription drugs. He eats a small breakfast and fed one group of cats before "go to work" at Fort Bascom Trading Post as a seller of used and completed courses in an effort to make ends meet. For him, the weight of the world seems much heavier than they were 30, 40, 50 or 60 years ago. And he realizes that he lacks strength. Stan seemed to be heading in the same doomed path as the stomach, where it burns pharmacy had once worked as a young man, only his suffering is lasting a little longer. Stan is quickly becoming the hawk sun-dried fought for his life in the shop window until he could no longer fight, when no one either noticed or cared or tried to help them survive.
This is one of those short stories about the unknown oppressed appeared on television's 60 Minutes, 20/20, 48 hours or Nightline. How can an elderly person, almost disappeared, and the man almost forgotten to draw worldwide attention to the citations and respected programs? Who can help, and who cares about guys like this anyway? If you're reading this article and have the answer, please let me know before Stan has its place beside his wife Janie, who died nearly 20 years ago.
J Jones has been a freelance researcher/writer since 1991.
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