From: Asglmp@aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 12:18:07 -0400 (EDT) Subject: ASGLMP MONTHLY E-MAIL, vol. 1, no. 6 (June 1, 1997) ASGLMP MONTHLY E-MAIL, vol. 1, no. 6 (June 1, 1997) 175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2172, New York, N.Y. 10010-7703 TELEPHONE: 212-388-0588; FAX: 212-388-0681; E-MAIL: ASGLMP@AOL.COM The American Society of Gay & Lesbian Meeting Planners - 411 members INDEX A. Editorial: Responsibility, Opportunity B. Corporate Sponsor Poll Results C. Names Changes Under Discussion D. Convention Receptions - Update E. Dialogue F. WomenFest Needs Your Support G. Job Announcement H. Application ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------ A. EDITORIAL: RESPONSIBILITY, OPPORTUNITY by Jim Luce With growth of the Society so rapid, we are now faced with producing a ‘publication’ that appeals to our initial membership, while serving also both as an introduction to our newest members - and our potential members. The thread that ties this all together is a personal and professional need for bonding, coupled with the belief that we are a community that needs not only to be known by peers, but also known by ourselves. Through ‘strength in numbers,’ we not only foster our own self-respect, but we demand and achieve the same respect from our peers commiserate with our own commitment to the community and dedication to our profession. In a very short period of time we have become known not just as individuals, but as an entity. This is an honor as well as both an awesome responsibly and an awesome opportunity. With your increasing support, we will continue to raise acceptance - not only of lesbian and gays as equal members of the human family, but simultaneously the public’s acceptance of the professionalism of the meeting industry. B. CORPORATE SPONSOR POLL RESULTS by Jeff Tendean The results are in. Our Advisory Board has requested that the categories of potential sponsors be approached in the following order: 1) hotel chains, 2) airlines, 3) CVB’s, 4) convention centers, 5) car rental companies, 6) delivery services, 7) computer companies, 8) credit card companies, 9) long distance companies, 10) software companies, 11) on-line services, 12) banks, 13) office suppliers, 14) theater companies, 15) cellular phone companies, 16) copy centers, and 17) insurance/investment companies. A second poll will circulate shortly to the Advisory Board to rank specific companies within these given categories. Other categories suggested by our Advisory Board include Exhibit/Booth Contractors, Destination Management Companies, Attractions (such as Pier 39, Universal Studios, Walt Disney, etc.), Conference Center Chains, Audio Visual Companies, Speakers Bureaus, and Auto Manufactures. Matthew Mueller, Vice President of the Board of Directors, states: “We are very pleased with the results of our first Advisory Board Poll. More than half the Board filled out and returned a very lengthy survey and we really appreciate the cooperation and support.” As we reported last month, the Board of Directors has set the first year’s budget at $180,000, half of which is to be raised through corporate sponsorship and half from revenues generated by the directory, set for fall release. Long-term planning is to add another component to this mix: membership dues. However, both charter membership and associated membership should continue on a gratis basis through 1998. Editors' Note: Anyone with specific contacts to any of the companies within the above mentioned categories should contact Jim Luce directly at JimLuce@aol.com. C. NAMES CHANGES UNDER DISCUSSION by David Riederman, CAE I would like the Advisory Board to consider changing two parts of the Association's name as follows: 1, “American” to "International" - since this is the direction the Association will likely take, it makes good sense to do it NOW, rather than later. It is much more inclusive. We'll have to came up with a new Iogo, but I see it as a small sacrifice in the scheme of things. 2, “Planners” to "Professionals" - since we are a diverse society, it makes good sense to call us what we are - professionals. We stand a better chance of increasing our membership base. Editors’ Note to the Advisory Board: Please respond to these two specific ideas. The Board of Directors has discussed them with some enthusiasm. D. CONVENTION RECEPTIONS - UPDATE MPI: Welcoming Reception, Monday, August 4, 7 - 9 pm. Advisory Board members Kenneth Hemsley and Donna Jeanette have worked out space at the Baltimore Convention Center and hosting by the Netherlands Tourism Board respectively. We would like to express our deepest thanks to MPI, the Baltimore Convention Center and the Netherlands Tourism Board. Please mark your calendars for MPI and we’ll see you there! ASAE: The game plan is to possibly have our Welcoming Reception in Chicago Sunday or Monday pm, July 27/28. We need volunteers to assist with working out space and hosting details. Advisory Board member R. Russ Ruston of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians has offered to assist with logistics. Please contact the National Office or Russ (MeetinMan@aol.com) if you have any ideas. IAEM: December 3-5 in Atlanta. No exact time set yet, but Advisory Board member Steven Hacker, CAE, President, International Association of Exposition Management has offered to provide space and refreshments to ASGLMP. Please mark your calendars for Atlanta! IGLTA: Advisory Board member and IGLTA Board member Vincent Grandinetti, CHSE, Director of Sales, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau is working with us to assure ASGLMP representation at the next International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association convention. Editors’ Note: what have we missed? Zap us a line! E. DIALOGUE Note: ASGLMP reserves the right to edit all submissions. All submissions will be considered for attribution unless a specific request is made for non-consideration of publication and/or anonymity. “To the Editors: I am disappointed that the personal stories have been deleted. I found these humorous, touching and insightful... on a par with any of the anecdotes in Readers Digest. Did someone feel they were inappropriate? Oy vey! Maybe these can be re-instated. Thanks for doing a hell of a job on this project.” - Ron Oleko, American College of Rheumatology, Atlanta “ASGLMP - I received a copy of your newsletter from Andre Valk of Hinton and Grusich - I am excited to know about your association... would you please send me membership/ subscription information. I am a member of MPI (NCCMPI). Thanks.” - David C. Lueck, Special Events Manager, The NAMES Project Foundation (David_Lueck@aidsquilt.org) “ASGLMP: I am a lesbian in the working world. I work at Emory University School of Medicine as a meeting planner. I am very interested in your organization; you don't find many, if any, professional organizations for gays and lesbians. Please send me any information you have available. I am out at work and my colleagues don't seem to have a problem with it.” - Regina Robuck “All - Thanks for the recommendation about the play Men on the Verge of A Hispanic Breakdown. I spent last week in NYC and went to see it on your suggestion and we LOVED it!” - name lost due to technical complications... “Hello. Thanks for the newsletter... this was a great idea you guys had... Please let me know what I may do to assist you with the ASAE reception in Chicago in July... am ready and willing to help... Also I applaud your efforts to establish a sense of responsibility and integrity in regards to the monthly publication... we are often prone to exaggerated sensitivity and the development of guidelines early in the game shows good professional commitment and intention. Again, let me know if there is any thing I may do to help! I am planning on doing PCMA in June and Baltimore in August so "holler" if you need!” - R. Russ Ruston, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians “Dear Mr. Luce: I read with interest that ASGLMP is interested in identifying gay-friendly suppliers. Our company, FlightTime, is an international air charter service providing meeting planners, incentive groups and corporations with charter air transportation all over the world. Not only are we America's largest and best-known air charter service, but we're also gay-owned (and very gay-friendly), members of IGTA, SITE and MPI. We're interested in earning the lavender seal of approval. Can you kindly advise what information and references are required to do so? Thanks for your help in this matter. We look forward to providing your membership with professional, high-quality air charter services. Best regards.” - Jane McBride, CEO, Flight Time International “I recently read about your organization in Successful Meetings and was hoping you could send me some membership information. One of the many hats I wear here at the U.S. Department of Commerce is that of a meeting planner. While the government has many regulations as to where a meeting can be held, a gay friendly establishment is not one of them, YET! However, it would still be nice from my prospective knowing that those that I do business with respect the Department's non-discrimination policy on the basis of sexual orientation.” - Bob Van Eimeren (BVanEim1@doc.gov) “Hello. I read about your new association in the March '97 issue of Meetings & Conventions magazine. I'm very interested in obtaining a copy of your directory in which qualified suppliers will have a lavender seal of approval. I handle meeting logistics for the Law School Admission Council, the organization that administers the Law School Admission Test and provides other services to law schools and law school candidates. Our Board, committees, subcommittees and work groups have 50 meetings total per year. One group that meets a couple of times per year is the Gay and Lesbian Work Group, which discusses issues critical to gay, lesbian, and bisexual law school applicants, candidates, and students. We would indeed like to place that meeting at a gay-friendly hotel, so I would put your directory to good use.” - Carol McHale “Jim, Jeff, et el - Thanks for everything you guys are doing!” - Sheri Scavo, Meeting Planner, Association of Legal Administrators “ASGLMP: I am thrilled to be a Charter Member; please do list me in your directory. Any chance of a Washington, D.C. Chapter? Since this is a city full of planners, I would assume that your membership includes many D.C. metro people. Marc Goldman suggested in the last Monthly E-Mail that other professions be included in the membership. I agree with him and want him to know that Center Stage Productions falls under the areas of not only Business Meeting Production but Entertainment (we have a whole department dedicated), Speakers, Video Production and Fund Raising Events. (Just a little advertisement!) Thanks for listening and keep up the good work.” - Susan Gibbs, CMP Account Executive, Center Stage Productions (www.censtage.com) “To Whom It May Concern: I am currently taking a class on meeting planners. I am very interested in any information available on the American Society of Gay & Lesbian Meeting Planners. I hope to present a report on your association. Please advise how I might obtain information on the formation of your organization and how you will provide services to your prospective clients. Thanking you in advance.” - Patti Andrews (sgarton@bellatlantic.net) “Dear Jim & Jeff: I have an article idea: as you know, there are several associations (and for-profits, too, I imagine) that have gay/lesbian caucuses in their ranks. For example, the American Booksellers Association has a gay/lesbian aisle at their trade show and an awards ceremony (called the lammies) honoring authors/illustrators for their work in all lesbian genres. The American Library Association has taken a strong stand in the past about gay/lesbian issues in cities where it holds its conferences. In fact, it pulled out of Cincinnati for its winter conference once. The May 15 issue of the newsletter was good and I like the direction you are taking. Keep up the good work!” - David Riederman, CAE Editors’ Note: Readers - any volunteers for research and an article? Dear Jim: We have recently started a very special component to our service. We have assembled a small group of personalities who will speak on Gay and Lesbian issues. Some of the folks with whom we have worked are: Amanda Bearse, Harvey Fierstein, Mitchell Anderson, Mr. Blackwell, and Dan Butler - lots of fun. Looking forward to being of assistance wherever possible. - Mar c Goldman, Hollywood, CA (dba@primenet.com; www.primenet .com/-dba) F. WOMENFEST ‘97 NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT by Jacqueline Harrington Thanks so much for your interest in WomenFest '97. The event begins on Wednesday, September 3rd and runs thru the 9th. Last year 5,200 women attended, this year over 7,000 are expected. American Airlines has sponsored WomenFest from the beginning and is under attack from the Religious Right for doing so. Please fly American if you can. The newest WF brochure will be ready in June. Please send a SASE to: WomenFest, 201 Coppitt Road #106-A, Key West, FL 33040. For the American Airlines Starfile # for your WomenFest Discount and recommendations for guest houses, resorts and hotels, please contact me at JACQ5645@aol.com. G. JOB ANNOUNCEMENT by Jim Morgan We're a mid-sized independent meeting planning firm in Annapolis, MD. Currently we have two positions open: Conference Administrator: a conscientious, detail-oriented, energetic, organized individual able to work under pressures and multi-task. Must be computer literate and familiar with Internet communications. Bookkeeper: energetic bookkeeper with explicit knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting principles. Working knowledge of computers, electronic spreadsheets and word processing. Ability to multi-task, set and meet deadlines. Team player. Attention to detail. If you need more information, please contact Jim Morgan via e-mail: morgan@gomeeting.com, or telephone: 410-216-7029. H. ASGLMP APPLICATION FORM Individual Charter Membership (Meeting Planner) _____ Individual Charter Associate Membership (Non-Meeting Planner) _____ (check one) If meeting planner, how many room/nights do you coordinate annually? _____ Name: Title: Company: Address: Telephone: Fax: E-Mail: Do you wish to be listed publicly? Would you like to be considered for 1998 Advisory Board? Where did you hear about ASGLMP? Other professional membership? Date: