A tradition that has endured for more than 30 years is at risk because of legal bills related to the firing of executive director Douglas Smith.
The Hyack board recently passed a motion that all travel for Northwest Hosting Hospitality and parades be suspended until Hyack deals with its ongoing issues, including an internal power struggle between Smith supporters and those who wanted him out.
“There's been a few unexpected legal bills that have come forward, and this is all part and parcel of what we have to contend with, so this is why some people say, we don't have any money. We should curtail that, and we go, OK, fine, but if it's a non-costing to us on our budget then why shouldn't we go forward,” Hyack president Gavin Palmer said, referring to a suggestion from a Hyack member that they fundraise for trips to two upcoming parades in Washington this fall. Each trip to send the float and an ambassador and their spouse would cost Hyack about $1,000, Palmer estimated.
“Right now, we have a number of people who are prepared (to donate),” Palmer said.
Palmer supports traveling to the U.S. because having U.S. representation helps "guarantee" that the Hyack parade is an international parade, he said.
Putting the brakes on traveling to the U.S. for the upcoming parade is just one issue in the recent Hyack saga, which began in the summer when Smith was fired and then re-hired. Smith returned to work for a month but left his post last week.
Since his departure, at least one sponsor – Uptown Property Group – has pulled support from Hyack.
