From: ISGLMP@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 18:29:02 -0400 (EDT) Subject: ISGLMP MONTHLY E-MAIL, vol. 1, no. 7 (July 1, 1997) ISGLMP MONTHLY E-MAIL, vol. 1, no. 7 (July 1, 1997) 175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2172, New York, N.Y. 10010-7703 TELEPHONE: 212-388-0588; FAX: 212-388-0681; E-MAIL: ISGLMP@AOL.COM The American Society of Gay & Lesbian Meeting Planners - 443 members INDEX A. Editorial: “International Meeting Professionals” We Are! by Jim Luce B. Convention Receptions - BRING A FRIEND! C. Successful Meetings: “ASGLMP Experiences Rapid Growth” D. Resolution To Affirm Disney As ‘Corporation Of The Year’ E. Dialogue F. AHMA Holding Conference On ‘Diversity’ by Matthew Mueller G. New Name Brings Logo Competition by David Riederman, CAE H. E-Mail Expertise Needed by Jeff Tendean I. ISGLMP Charter Membership Application Form ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ A. EDITORIAL: “INTERNATIONAL MEETING PROFESSIONALS” WE ARE! As Hong Kong changes from Britain to the People’s Republic, ASGLMP has changed, by vote of both our National Advisory Board and Corporate Board of Directors, to ISGLMP. July 1, 1997 marks the official name change. Although not in the same league, both changes will impact the world in ways which we don’t even realize at this moment in time. Twenty-five years ago another group was formed - Meeting Planners International. Today, we have a better industry as a direct result of the magnificent work done on behalf of all of us by MPI. Our hope is that twenty-five years hence, the world will be not be merely gay- tolerant, nor gay-friendly, but simply gay-indifferent. At that point our mission will have been accomplished, we can fold up our banner, and go on with our professional lives. Until that glorious day arrives, however, we must strive to educate both the general public and the meeting industry, internationally, about the presence of lesbians and gays within the meeting industry, to educate the international gay & lesbian community about the importance of the meeting industry, and to educate the public about specifically gay-friendly and gay-hostile suppliers, associations and destinations. - Jim Luce B. ISGLMP CONVENTION RECEPTIONS - BRING A FRIEND! ASAE: Our Welcoming Reception in Chicago will be on Monday, July 28, from 9 pm until Midnight. It is being very generously hosted and sponsored by the Regal Knickerbocker Hotel, at 163 East Walton Place. Senior Sales Manager Derek Stockman (312-867-7519) has been instrumental in arranging this fine reception. On-the-scene Advisory Board member R. Russ Ruston of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians is assisting with local logistics (MeetinMan@aol.com). Other local members involved with ISGLMP include Brian Hile, of Fairmont Hotels, and Andre Valk, of Hinton & Grusich; both may be reached at avalk@hinton-grusich.com. 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 Convention Bureau respectively. We would again like to express our deepest thanks to MPI, the Baltimore Convention Center and the Netherlands Convention Bureau. Ken Hemsley writes: “It is especially gratifying to realize that MPI recognizes and accepts the diversity within our industry. How gracious of this organization to share its space with us.” 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. C. SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS: “ASGLMP EXPERIENCES RAPID GROWTH” By Ron Donoho “Jim Luce never expected his idea to catch on so quickly. Yet since last December the organization he formed -- the American Society of Gay & Lesbian Meeting Planners (ASGLMP) -- has amassed more than 400 members. Now, major industry associations are taking notice.” “The group will meet for the first time on August 4 at the Baltimore Convention Center during Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Congress (MPI has officially sanctioned the event). ASGLMP Advisory Board members arranged for space at the center, and a party is being hosted by the Netherlands Convention Bureau.” “At presstime, Luce was also trying to arrange a get together in Chicago during the annual meeting of the American Society of Association Executives at the end of this month. ASGLMP has received confirmation to convene in Atlanta during the December 3-5 annual meeting of the International Association for Exposition Management. IAEM President Steven Hacker personally invited the group to come, and will arrange for free space and refreshments.” “You'd think Luce would be ecstatic about ASGLMP's achievements. "Actually, this is all getting to be a problem," he says. "It's so time consuming." ASGLMP is not yet a chartered association. There are no dues. Luce acts as head of the group on a part-time basis. His full-time job is as executive director of the New York-based American Academy of Psychoanalysis (AAP). While putting in more than 40 hours a week with the company that pays him a salary, Luce also spends close to 30 hours managing ASGLMP.” "I'm not getting paid for any of this extra work," he says. "We don't have an office or six secretaries working for us." When the AAP recently met in San Diego, Luce says he brought his laptop along and was deluged with e-mail regarding ASGLMP business.” “To date, the primary means of communication among ASGLMP members has been a widely read e-mail newsletter. In it, Luce is not afraid to take controversial stands. He has called for boycotts of destinations deemed gay unfriendly. The newsletter has also called for support of corporations that ran advertisements during the now famous Ellen episode, in which the TV show's lead Character announced she was lesbian. "We got about twenty letters from members after the Ellen show," says Luce. "It may be somewhat out of the realm of meeting planning, but it was what our members were talking about. They felt it was important." “Though Luce says ASGLMP will always be "an adjunct" to groups such as the 14,000-member MPI, industry observers wonder why such subgroups are necessary in the first place. "I don't understand the need for a special-interest group such as gay and lesbian meeting planners any more than the need for a group for Jewish meeting planners, or ones with dark hair, or ones who like chocolate, says Lindsey Lacovino. But independent planner Joan Eisenstodt, a self-professed "straight but not narrow" person, has joined ASGLMP. "We all like being with our own," she says, "and withthose who are empathetic to who we are and what we do. There are issues that cannot be discussed at mainstream events." If diversity and inclusively issues were really on the front burner adds Eisenstodt, then maybe groups like ASGLMP wouldn’t be necessary.” “Charter memberships in the group are still free. However, Luce says if membership keeps increasing, a fee might be established sometime in 1998. In the meantime, he's considering a small modification of the ASGLMP moniker: " American" may become "International"; and "Planners" may become "Professionals." D. RESOLUTION TO AFFIRM DISNEY AS ‘CORPORATION OF YEAR’ The ISGLMP National Advisory Board, at the request of our Corporate Board of Directors, is hereby officially polled, yea or nay, on the following proposed resolution: “Resolved, that The Walt Disney Corporation is hereby deemed by the Board of Directors of the International Society of Gay & Lesbian Meeting Professionals, as the ‘Corporation of the Year’ for 1997 for their gay-friendly environment, their corporate policy of offering health benefits to partners of gay employees, “Gay Days” offered at their theme parks, and the non-judgmental content of their TV and film programming.” “Be it further resolved that, having grown up with The Magical Kingdom, we affirm that -- contrary to the opinions of those with hate in their hearts -- Walt Disney is the epitome of traditional family values.” Any ISGLMP members wishing to weigh in on this matter, pro or con, are welcome to address their remarks to our “Dialogue” section. E. DIALOGUE NOTES: ISGLMP 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. “Your newsletters are getting better each time, I sincerely applaud ISGLMP...” - Jackey Irby, CapStar Hotels (Jirby624@aol.com) F. AHMA HOLDING CONFERENCE ON ‘DIVERSITY’ by Matthew Mueller Successful Meetings reported in June that the American Hotel & Motel Association (AHMA) gave a conference on “diversity” and nobody came. This is too bad. If anyone has any connections there, please let them know that ISGLMP would be more than happy to field representatives for another conference as we believe diversity is the key to a health meeting industry, and that understanding and embracing diversity is the most healthy perspective for an individual to have working within the industry. The article discussed the presence of African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Native Americans, but did not discuss diversity outside of ethnicity, such as sexual orientation. G. NEW NAME BRINGS LOGO COMPETITION by David Riederman, CAE ISGLMP needs a new logo and your input is vital! With our new name, The International Society of Gay & Lesbian Meeting Professionals, we need a new logo. The old logo, for ASGLMP, featured a lavender continental U.S. surrounded by 13 golden stars, with the initials superimposed in royal blue. In the spirit of visibility at industry meetings, the creator of the logo will receive a complimentary registration to the industry meeting of their choice. H. E-MAIL EXPERTISE NEEDED by Jeff Tendean Can any of you weigh in here? We transmit the Monthly E-Mail through AOL. Each paragraph flows from start to finish with no breaks. However, many non-AOL subscribers receive the newsletter al “chopped up.” What can ISGLMP do differently, or what advise can we give to our readers, to receive the newsletter as transmitted? Please respond to ISGLMP@aol.com. Thanks! I. ISGLMP CHARTER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM 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 ISGLMP? Other professional membership? If meeting planner, how many room/nights do you coordinate annually? Date: Note: Charter Membership, open until June 30, 1998, is complimentary. As of July 1, 1998 - the start of our corporate second year - annual dues will be invoices at $110 per annum.