From: JimLuce@aol.com Date: Fri, 28 Nov 1997 11:00:34 -0500 (EST) Subject: ISGLMP MONTHLY E-MAIL, vol. 1, no. 12a (December 1, 1997) ISGLMP MONTHLY E-MAIL, vol. 1, no. 12a (December 1, 1997) 175 Fifth Avenue #2172, New York, N.Y. U.S.A. 10010-7703 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE BOARD OF ISGLMP! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- 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 - 509 strong! INDEX A. Membership has its Advantages by Jim Luce B. Criteria & Objectives of “Gay-Friendly” Seal by Jeff Tendean C. Upcoming Events: IAEM Next Week, Then PCMA D. Members Dialogue E. More Help Needed with Website Networking F. First Australian Joins ISGLMP G. “In Memoriam” Website Page Gets Editor: "Lest We Forget..." by Alex Lichtenstein H. Members in the Spotlight I. ISGLMP Charter Membership Application & Questionnaire ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- A. MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS ADVANTAGES by Jim Luce The Board of Directors have approved continuing to offer gratis screening to of any ISGLMP member's companies through June 30, 1998. 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 application 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. B. CRITERIA & OBJECTIVES OF “GAY-FRIENDLY” SEAL ISGLMP’s announcement of its Board-sanctioned five-point criteria to be approved as a “gay-friendly” corporation seems to have caught the attention of professionals throughout the industry. Reactions have ranged from the criteria being overly lax to overly stringent. The fact that a company needs meet only one of the criteria for inclusion struck some as folly. Others, however, have viewed this as ISGLMP’s attempt to impact the industry without alienating it. ISGLMP hopes that at least 50% of the industry will qualify by the year 2000; no estimate is available as to current levels of compliance with ISGLMP’s “gay-friendly” criteria. To date, interviews concerning the ‘Five Triangles of Gay-Friendliness’ have been done or scheduled with Successful Meetings Magazine and EventWeb Radio. Below is an in-depth look at the five criteria: 1. Community as a Targeted Market The lesbian & gay community represents approximately ten percent of the world’s population; specifically, it often represents a more affluent, better educated market segment that cares about inclusion and is known for its brand loyalty. Meeting planers frequently inquire as to which are the gay-friendly suppliers. 2. Equal Opportunity Statement A U.S. company cannot, by law, discriminate by sex, race or religion. Increasingly, more and more cities and states have passed laws that include sexual orientation; many companies in less progressive locals have taken the initiative themselves. Assistance in drafting such a statement is available from the DC-based Human Rights Campaign (see ISGLMP website for contact info). 3. Domestic Partnership Healthcare Benefits Human beings in the full-time employ of a corporation have a basic right to health insurance for themselves and their families. Lesbian & gay families include same sex partners, which traditionally have been discriminated by health insurance policies. Increasingly, however, this is changing; ISGLMP hopes to play a part in such continued change. 4. Sanctioned Lesbian & Gay Groups or Individuals Officially recognized and supported L&G community groups or individuals are vital to diversity in the workplace. Such support may be directed towards an entire group of employees in a large corporation, or simply be the support of an individual in regard to her or his membership in a professional community organization. 5. Significant Community Contributions More and more companies are including philanthropy as a goal of their corporate stewardship. Our hope is that lesbian and gay organizations, as well as AIDS-related services providers, are included in the contributions (including gifts-in-kind). Ideally, we believe, ten percent of corporate philanthropy should be directed towards this purpose. It should be noted that companies that illustrate both strong outreach and significant contribution to the lesbian & gay community and have fewer than ten employees are exempted from both EOE and employee group criteria; companies so small as to not offer any health insurance coverage are likewise exempted from the DP health insurance criteria. As previously mentioned, to be rated, a company needs to provide documentation to ISGLMP to be kept on file and a $475 processing fee (free to companies with ISGLMP members). All ratings will be listed at our new web-site (http://www.ISG LMP.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. Hotels eligible for the Seal of Approval include the Regal Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago. C. UPCOMING EVENTS - NEXT WEEK IN ATLANTA! IAEM - Breakfast Study Group 12/3/97 am ISGLMP’s next public forum will be a breakfast study group at the International Association for Exposition Management (IAEM) 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. Grandinetti, additionally, serves on the board of ILGTA. IAEM - Reception 12/3/97 pm Marriott Atlanta has tentatively suggested hosting our reception (30-40 people) for the evening of Wednesday, December 3, however, due to travel and vacation schedules this has not yet been confirmed. We regret the inconvenience this may cause. IAEM has graciously volunteered to serve as back-up host in the event that Marriott does not work out. Please monitor your e-mail boxes for a last minute invitation. We will announce if and where the party will be at our Wednesday morning meeting (see above). IAEM - Cultural Diversity Committee - 12/2/97 am The Chair of IAEM's Cultural Diversity Committee, Pam Schwartz of Epic Enterprises/PGI -- an ISGLMP member -- would like to have us join them for the Cultural Diversity Committee meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 10:00 am - 11:30 am in the Marietta Room at the Hyatt. The committee is attempting to put together a roundtable of a few of the organizations which may be working on similar activities that we are to see if we can join forces. Please let her know as soon as possible if you are able to attend. It is in ISGLMP’s best interests that we have representation at this meeting. Thanks She may be reached at pschwartz@pgi.com (Tel.: 619-294-2999; Fax: 619-294-6699). 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 15. Members?! 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. MORE NEW WEBSITE FEEDBACK “Congratulations on the website; it looks wonderful.” - Lavaria F. Wilson, Convention Services Manager, Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association. (KMH@Baltimore.org) “I saw your web page and it is great. You are doing a great job and I wish you much success!” - Dave Pallone, Motivational & Diversity Speaker palloned@aol.com "Your site is very user friendly and not too time consuming - heavy graphics which take minutes to download, bore me to tears - or worse, make me leave the site altogether." - Jo Terrans, Independent Meeting Planners, Sydney, Australia (terrans@rainbow.net.au) E. MORE HELP NEEDED WITH WEBSITE NETWORKING Please log on to our new website (w ww.ISGLMP.org) see what’s there, send us suggestions for improvement - then tell your friends about us! Many of you have already and we’ve incorporated your suggestions at the site. 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. We hope to unveil the site to the press and our friends in the industry 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! F. FIRST AUSTRALIAN JOINS ISGLMP Jo Terrans, ISGLMP’s first charter member from ‘down under,’ discovered our organization channel surfing with Australia’s Yahoo!. In her own words, Jo says, “Basically, I was in a bout of surfing for something specific: justification for using a meeting planner or PCO - Professional Conference Organiser - as we're known here. I didn't find it, which means I can't be lazy and actually have a write my proposal in full! Having looked under 'conferences,' which obviously has a different slant in the Americas, I went searching under "meeting industry" ... and the rest is history.” Jo continues, “On a business scale, I'm self-employed and work on contract for larger conference organisers whilst building up my own business, mainly by word of mouth. I have over 10 years experience in conference and incentive planning, but am up against some substantial companies with excellent capital. Sydney, being the gate- way to Australia, is a popular destination for inbound conferences, whilst Australian-based businesses having a conference often look for something in SE Asia, New Zealand, Micronesia etc. Associations tend to have 3 - 4 meetings within Australia then one offshore. Of course, with Sydney hosting the 2000 Summer Olympics, it's all go.” Currently Jo also works concurrently on advertising sales and distribution review/marketing for the Sydney Star Observer, the premier G&L newspaper in Sydney with a circulation 27,384, and a readership over 75,000 (website http://sso.rainbow.com.au). Jo states, “From these associations, I can assist with gay and lesbian run/sympathetic businesses in Sydney and some resorts in other States. So if members have enquiries, just email me on!” Jo can be reached by e-mail at terrans@rainbow.net.au. Welcome to ISGLMP! G. “IN MEMORIAM” PAGE OF WEBSITE GETS EDITOR "LEST WE FORGET..." by Alex Lichtenstein As we approach the season of good tidings and cheer, I am touched by my friends and "family" through ever greater expressions of love and laughter. With each expression, comes new things and events to remember. With each expression, I am reminded of how lucky I am to be alive, to have people to love, and who love me in return. I am reminded of many things this time of year that are good in my life. How fortunate I am to be in a profession that accepts who I am; how happy I am in my career; how fortunate I am to be healthy; how many people I care about and who care about me--those in my life now and the vast number that are no longer here. I am reminded of people who were the deepest friends and of those who only brushed the fringes of friendship--so many, now gone. Gone because of the ravages of a disease that has hit our community with a vengence. As time has passed, many of the memories have faded--they are not gone, just not as vivid as they once were. One thing, however, that cannot be passed from memory or daily life is the vast destruction HIV and AIDS has cast upon us. The reality that many more friends in my life soon will be only memories and photographs on my walls is beyond frightening--friends who are in their 20s and 30s, younger than I am, but only by very little. I have on many cold quiet evenings been warmed by the thoughts and pictures of friends who have passed from this earth. The joy and laughter that we shared brightens my thoughts and at the same time breaks my heart for the loss. We, as a community, should be proud for leading this great country in the search for a cure for HIV and AIDS. We have come a long way, but not quite far enough. With love, hope, caring, and not letting go of the memories, we will someday win the battle against this horrible disease, but for now the battle must continue unrelentlessly. The ISGLMP advisory board has thoughtfully included in the web-site a section entitled "In Memoriam." The site is dedicated to individuals within our profession who have been taken by this disease. It is the hope of the organization that this segment will become an "electronic quilt" in memory of those who have helped to lay the foundation of making our profession one that is respected and appreciated in industry. With your help, we will be able to accomplish this. If there is someone from your past that you believe should be included on the page, please forward to me the name and a brief description of the person along with the year of their birth and death. Let us all reach into our memories for those who no longer can speak for themselves or others before them. Help us make this segment of the ISGLMP web-site something that is worthy of their memory.... and, lest we forget.... My electronic address is: Alex.Lichtenstein@occ.treas.gov. H. MEMBERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Golden Gate International Speakers Bureau has launched a new website at http://www.ggisb.com. Congrats to ISGLMP member, Laura Fenamore, President, GGISB! (LFenamore@aol.com) I. 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? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTIONNAIRE 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 complimentary. Charter Members may apply to have their qualifying corporation approved with the ISGLMP "Seal of Approval" on a complimentary basis. As of July 1, 1998 annual dues will be invoiced at U.S. $110 per annum and all gay-friendly approval will require a $475 processing fee.