They nominally do economic development. I was happy to freely provide ideas but I did expect it to be a networking opportunity and a means to build my professional reputation and local contacts and thereby enhance my income.

That has not happened.

I quit going to meetings because I was tired of their abusive treatment of me and now they cyber stalk me and continue to steal my ideas, give me zero credit, etc so some local cretin and his awful bosses can pretend they are worth the money that the city pays them.

I am getting nothing out of this at all. They can't even be bothered to tell people where they get their ideas so my reputation would be enhanced.

I continue to be dirt poor. I have done everything in my power to play by the rules as I understand them and the result remains the same both online and off: People think I'm wonderful. They think I have great ideas. They also think I should do everything out of the goodness of my heart instead of for pay and everyone turns a deaf ear to the fact that I am dirt poor, going hungry and desperately need more earned income.

I have a real problem here, your platitudes not withstanding.