From: ISGLMP@aol.com Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 10:49:23 -0500 (EST) Subject: ISGLMP MONTHLY E-MAIL, vol. 1, no. 11b (November 15, 1997) ISGLMP MONTHLY E-MAIL, vol. 1, no. 11b (November 15, 1997) 175 Fifth Avenue #2172, New York, N.Y. U.S.A. 10010-7703 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----- Tel.: 212-388-0588; Fax: 212-388-0681 E-Mail: ISGLMP@aol.com Website: http://www.isglmp.org (beta version thru 12/31/97) Int’l Society of Gay & Lesbian Meeting Professionals - 507 strong! INDEX A. Directory Heralds Stronger ISGLMP Influence by Jim Luce B. “Gay-Friendly” Criteria Established by Jeff Tendean C. Upcoming Events: IAEM & PCMA D. Members Dialogue E. Manhattan Law Firm Provides ISGLMP Pro-bono Assistance F. Help Needed with Website Networking G. ISGLMP Charter Membership Application Form ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------- A. DIRECTORY HERALDS STRONGER INFLUENCE by Jim Luce Our Board has approved the system to screen companies wishing to be deemed “Gay-Friendly” by ISGLMP - with a straight-forward and objective criteria. This move puts ISGLMP at the forefront of the effort to make corporate America -- as well as the entire world -- more ‘user-friendly’ and accountable to the lesbian and gay community. In order to begin momentum with this project, we are offering to screen the company of any ISGLMP member gratis through June 30, 1997. To be considered, please contact us with which of the five criteria you believe your company qualifies for and the corresponding documentation (the criteria can be found in the article below). All approved companies will be awarded use of our Seal of Approval for use in advertising, will be listed in our Directory available on the internet (http:www.isglmp.org), and will be publicized in any press releases dealing with this project. In addition, this newsletter will update members periodically of newly approved destinations, properties, airlines, services, etc. Please note that I will be doing site selections for the American Academy of Psychoanalysis in Japan next week -- as well as recruiting for ISGLMP -- so the National Office will be close. Sorry for any inconvenience. See y'all in Atlanta! - Jim Luce B. “GAY-FRIENDLY” CRITERIA ESTABLISHED by Jeff Tendean The Board of Directors has approved the five criteria which will comprise ISGLMP’s 1-through-5 lavender triangle rating system. Each approved destination or supplier will earn the privilege of displaying ISGLMP’s Seal of Approval, a globe imposed over an inverted lavender triangle surrounded by thirteen golden stars (see our web homepage for full-color representation of the seal.) Each approved company will also receive a specific 1-through-5 rating. The criteria for ranking each corporation is as follows: 1) Outreach to lesbian & gay community as customers (incl. targeted advertising, guides, etc.); 2) Corporate Equal Opportunity Employment (EOE) statement specifically including “sexual orientation;” 3) Domestic Partnership (DP) health benefits; 4) Sanctioned and supported lesbian & gay employee group; and 5) Significant contributions to the lesbian & gay community (incl. AIDS service organizations). To be rated, a company needs to provide documentation to ISGLMP to be kept on file and a $475 processing fee. All ratings will be listed at our new web-site (http://www.isglmp.org). To date, several CVB’s are contenders for a high rating, including Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Montréal. Additionally, American Airlines and Disney are projected to earn perfect ratings. Disney was recipient of ISGLMP’s 1997 “Corporation of the Year” Award, announced during the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Conference in Chicago last spring. C. UPCOMING EVENTS IAEM: ISGLMP’s next public forum will be a breakfast study group at the International Association for Exposition Management Conference, in Atlanta, Dec. 3, 7:30 - 8:45 am. The topic will be “Introduction To ISGLMP: Why Is It Needed?” The moderators will tentatively include ISGLMP members Rob Hampton (Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau), Vincent Grandinetti, CHSE (Director of Sales, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau), Jerry White (Director of Member Services, International Association of Conference Centers), industry columnist Joan Eisenstodt (D.C.) and Jim Luce (American Academy of Psychoanalysis, N.Y.). Steven Hacker, CAE, serves as president of IAEM, which is located in Dallas. Hacker, as well as Hampton and Grandinetti, serve on ISGLMP’s International Advisory Board; Luce serves as president. Would any Atlanta supplier like to host a reception for ISGLMP (30-40 people) for the evening of Wednesday, December 3? Please contact the ISGLMP National Office! PCMA: January 7 - 10: this is around the corner and we have no definite plans as of yet. Several members, including Russ Ruston and Andre Valk, have suggested ideas and we hope to have a report by December 1. D. MEMBERS DIALOGUE Note: ISGLMP reserves the right to edit all submissions; these will be considered for attribution unless a specific request is made for non-consideration of publication. ISGLMP will no longer run anonymous submissions. NEW WEBSITE FEEDBACK “I’ve tried your website (and found only two problems) - everything I used was great - thanks!” - Beverly Ulbrich AT&T LEADS THE WAY WITH AFFIRMING ‘EOE’ STATEMENT “Congratulations on your site. Really great. You folks are really going to make a difference! I would like to see ISGLMP link to our web site (www.league-att.org). AT&T is also the gay-friendliest telephone company in this country. Additionally, AT&T has the nation's oldest non-discrimination policy regarding sexual orientation, which was added to the corporation's EOE statement in 1975 and then covered over one million employees. AT&T also strongly supports its Lesbian & Gay Employees Association, LEAGUE, which -- with over 1,000 members -- is the largest L/B/G/T employee organization in America. The company supports LEAGUE's annual Professional Development Conference, diversity training and marketing efforts to our community. Additionally, through its foundation and other programs, AT&T has supported AIDS programs across the country since the epidemic began.” - John Klenert, AT&T Lesbian & Gay Employee Association (Klenert_John_J@bns.attmail.com) G&L JEWISH HOSPITALITY STUDENT MENTORS NEEDED “Regarding Patti Shock's post about mentoring: I add that I am in search of gay and lesbian Jewish hospitality industry professionals in the Washington, DC metro area who would like to mentor G&L Jewish students through the George Washington University Hillel. As a G.W. Hillel Board member, I am most interested in ensuring that all the Hillel students are included. This is an opportunity to do a mitzvah [good deed] and to have some fun doing so. If any ISGLMP members in the D.C. area have Jewish friends in other professions, we'd welcome them too. Thanks.” - Joan Eisenstodt (jeisen@aol.com) E. NYC LAW FIRM PROVIDES ISGLMP PRO-BONO ASSISTANCE The prestigious law firm of Kramer, Levin has agreed to represent ISGLMP on a pro-bono basis effective immediately. The law firm will concentrate most on the immediate conclusion of ISGLMP’s incorporation and vetting of all subsequent materials for legal liability. ISGLMP’s Board of Directors expresses its sincerest thanks to attorney Delbridge Narron for his vital services to our organization. F. HELP NEEDED WITH WEBSITE NETWORKING Please log on to our new website (http://www.isglmp.org), see what’s there, send us suggestions for improvement - then surf the web looking for places that should know about us! So far we are listed on most search engines and are receiving 2-3 requests for information per day as a result of our exposure. Let’s increase the exposure! We hope to unveil the site to the press and our friends in the industry the first week in January. Let’s make sure we’re up to speed for this ‘grand opening.’ Any feedback you can offer will be much appreciated. Also - make sure that we’ve listed you - if you wish to be listed! And finally, please send a personal note to your friends telling them to hit our site and give us feedback. Thanks! G. CHARTER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION & QUESTIONNAIRE Name: Title: Company: Address: Telephone (Voice): Fax: E-Mail: Website: Do you wish to be listed publicly? Would you like to be considered for 1998-99 Advisory Board? Would your company like to be considered as “Gay-Friendly”? (please mail documentation on five criteria under separate cover) Where did you hear about ISGLMP? Other professional membership? If meeting planner, how many room/nights do you coordinate annually? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------- Does your company provide: 1) Outreach to lesbian & gay community as customers (incl. targeted advertising, guides, etc.); ___ yes ___ no 2) Corporate Equal Opportunity Employment (EOE) statement specifically including “sexual orientation;” ___ yes ___ no 3) Domestic Partnership (DP) health benefits; ___ yes ___ no 4) Sanctioned and supported lesbian & gay employee group; and ___ yes ___ no 5) Significant contributions to the lesbian & gay community (incl. AIDS service organizations). ___ yes ___ no ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------- Date: Note: Charter Membership, open until June 30, 1998, is comp- limentary. As of July 1, 1998 - the start of our corporate second year - annual dues will be invoiced at U.S. $110 per annum.