From: ISGLMP Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 16:50:04 EST Subject: ISGLMP MONTHLY E-MAIL, vol. 1, no. 12b (December 15, 1997) 175 Fifth Avenue #217 ISGLMP MONTHLY E-MAIL, vol. 1, no. 12b (December 15, 1997) 175 Fifth Avenue #2172, New York, N.Y. U.S.A. 10010-7703 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------- HAPPY HOLIDAYS 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 - 515 strong! INDEX A. How You Can Help by Jim Luce B. Atlanta IAEM Conference Great Success C. Outreach Education Committee Forms In Atlanta D. Upcoming Events: PCMA & MPI E. Members Dialogue F. ISGLMP In The News: PCMA’s “Convene” Magazine G. Editor’s Note: American Airlines not Perfect? by Jim Luce H. NGLTF Seeks ISGLMP Assistance by Betsy Gressler I. Public Relations Committee Forming by Jeff Tendean J. “In Memoriam” Website Page Gets Editor K. Madison CVB Gains Seal of Approval L. Suppliers Note: Website To Offer “Give-Away Box” M. Constitutional Draft Finished N. ISGLMP Charter Membership Application Form ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- A. How You Can Help by Jim Luce Seasons Greetings! So many of you have asked how you can help recently that I have decided you’re not all “just being polite...” And, after careful consideration, I realize that there are lots of way in which you can really help ISGLMP. To attract members, we need members. ISGLMP’s value is that it is a large network. Thus, the more of your friends you can get to join, the larger the network and the greater the value. Secondly, we want to “approve” as many companies as possible with our new “Seal of Approval.” Just like with membership, the more “approved” destinations, properties, etc. we have, the more others will be interested in becoming approved. Thus, please take a moment to get the company or companies you are intimately familiar with to apply for our Seal. As you know, a company need only meet one of five criteria to be deemed “gay-friendly.” And, through you, your own company will be approved on a complimentary basis (in the spring, minus connections, it will cost a company $475...) Thirdly, we need you to check out our website more than once - and always supply us with feedback. What could be better? How do we make it better? A website’s value is often measured by the number of hits it receives - to date, not each member has even seen it once! Go check it out! Lastly, start to network with the ISGLMP members in your community - especially those of you in Washington, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Dallas. And try to attend as many industry conferences as you can - always helping with our program and reception. There’s lots of things you can do to help - just doing one of them would be really great. Thanks for asking! - Jim Luce P.S. Special thanks to the Anchorage CVB for sending my three year old son a Christmas card from Santa at the North Pole! As always, the Anchorage CVB goes above and beyond the call of duty! Wow! B. ATLANTA IAEM CONFERENCE GREAT SUCCESS Our program in Atlanta was a wonderful success, with a breakfast meeting of fourteen members, including Joan Eisenstodt (D.C.) (JEisen@aol.com), David McAuley (Atlanta) (dmcauley@acvb.com), Donald Potter (Palm Beach) (duckguy976@aol.com), Vince Grandinetti (Philadelphia) (vinceg@pcvb.org), Bob Dallmeyer (L.A.) (rdall@compuserve.com), Rob Hampton (Columbus) (Reh@columbuscvb.org), Pam Schwartz (San Diego) (pschwartz@pgi.com), Richard Yaeger (N.Y.), and Jerry White (St. Louis) (jwhite@iacc.iacconline.com). The evening reception was particularly wonderful, and was hosted in a suite of the Atlanta Marriott marquis by the New Orleans Marriott, James Hennessey (Atlanta), Sales Manager (james.hennessey@marriott.com). The Marriott staff hosting our reception was particularly lively and we enjoyed a Mardi Gras theme. Approximately forty members and friends joined with us, including staff of the Madison CVB, which has recently been approved by ISGLMP as “gay-friendly.” ISGLMP’s Board particularly wanted to thank IAEM’s president Steven Hacker of Dallas, a member of ISGLMP’s Advisory Board, for inviting us. In addition, special thanks to James Hennessey of the New Orleans Marriott, as well as the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board for hosting our Breakfast Session. C. OUTREACH EDUCATION COMMITTEE FORMS IN ATLANTA One of the most important issues raised and decided was the creation of the Outreach Education Committee to work towards submitting Calls for Papers at upcoming industry meetings such as MPI, ASAE, IGLTA, PCMA, etc. Joan Eisenberg agreed to pull the committee together but not chair it; rumors of a Los Angeles chair have circulated... The committee will pursue doing a session with IAEM, but noted that Nashville (Opryland; their next annual; December 1998) is almost closed for sessions. The thinking was to probably wait until Reno for the summer meeting (June 1998) -- a better time to do a session because it's more education-directed and thus a better time and place to do something innovative. D. UPCOMING EVENTS - NEXT WEEK IN ATLANTA! PCMA: Kansas City, January 7 - 10 Those members planning on attending to date include: Tamar Hosansky (thosansky@mail.aip.com) Rick Osmanski (RickO@rtnda.org) Lee Pomerance, CMP (Lpomerance@compuserve.com) Russ Ruston (MeetinMan@aol.com) Andre Valk (avalk@hinton-grusich.com) If you are planning on making an appearance in Kansas City, please let us know! MPI-PEC: Orlando, January 25 - 27, 1998 Mark Israel, CMP (israelm@mindspring.com) inquires: Will there be a meeting at the MPI PEC in Orlando next month? Lee Pomerance, CMP will also be there (Lpomerance@compuserve.com). Members?! IACVB/Destination Showcase: Washington, DC, Feb. 26, 1998 ACME: Washington, DC, Washington, DC, Feb. 26 - 27, 1998 MPI-PEC/Europe: Copenhagen, April 19 - 21, 1998 IAEM Summer Mtg.: Reno, June, 1998 ISGLMP-sponsored educational event? MPI Annual Mtg.: San Diego, July 12 - 14, 1998 ASAE Annual Mtg.: Nashville, August 16 - 18, 1998 IAEM Annual Mtg.: Nashville (Opryland), December, 1998 PCMA Annual Mtg.: Orlando, January 11 - 13, 1999 E. MEMBERS DIALOGUE Note: ISGLMP reserves the right to edit all submissions. ‘OVER THE RAINBOW’ WEBSITE PR INITIATIVE “We received the invitation to your meeting in Atlanta. Although we couldn’t make it, we do want to suggest that in the future you consider posting your notice to the Announcements section of the Community area on our website. Take a look: http://www.overtherainbow.com.” Any questions, just ask.” - David Murray, Editor, Over The Rainbow HOW TO COORDINATE INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS? “Sorry that I couldn't be in Atlanta. I was working in Asia & attending the SITE conference in Singapore. I didn't have time to organize a meeting for ISGLMP, but there were several that were there and others that were interested. Do we want to try and have a system to be sure that we can cover all major conferences like this one? I go to most of the incentive ones and some of the MPI ones.” - Jim Skiba, CMP (jimskiba@sirius.com) ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR JOB SEARCH “Thank you for allowing me to join the ISGLMP. My company's name is Trim Your Meeting and Events, a sole proprietorship company. I am in need of assistance... I would like to know if any of your members are looking for a full-time meeting planner or travel director. I am willing to relocate upon short notice. I have ten years of destination planning and six years of meeting planning. Any assistance is greatly appreciated! I look forward to being involved with ISGLMP.” - Joseph Vella (I9to5@aol.com; http://www.kvine.com/tyme) F. ISGLMP IN THE NEWS: PCMA’S “CONVENE” MAGAZINE “The Many Textures of Diversity” by Ciritta Park, CAE Diversity. A decade ago, it was the latest buzzword in human resources. Today, it promises to be the dominant social issue of the 21st century... The International Society of Gay and Lesbian Meeting Planners (ISGLMP) began in 1995 when founder Jim Luce asked the question: how do you take your partner on a fam trip? “I really didn’t have a professional group I could get an answer from,” Luce said. “A few faxes later, ISGLMP was born.” Luce, the executive director of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, continued, “The meetings profession is relatively gay-friendly, so its not an entirely uphill battle. Still, who you are shouldn’t be a factor in your career.” Members of ISGLMP have reported through their on-line newsletter that before ISGLMP was founded, they never really said anything about being homosexual. Now they feel they can identify themselves and feel better about not being in the closet on the job. “People feel accepted,” Luce said. “They bring pictures of their families and keep them on their desks. It certainly makes for healthier employees.” Promotion to gay and lesbian groups needs to more than window dressing. “Your convention and visitors bureaus can’t just do a gay guide and stop there,” Luce said. We don’t want to be courted only for our dollars. We’re looking to support airlines, hotels, and cities that treat their gay and lesbian employees with equality. That means inclusive insurance, family leaves and bereavement policies.” It is ISGLMP’s goal that sexual orientation is ultimately, a “non-event.” “Thanks to out efforts, ISGLMP will someday no longer exist,” Luce said. But until we make it an issue, it won’t be an issue to overcome.” - Criteria Parks, CMP, Convene Magazine (PCMA), December 1997, p. 82 G. EDITOR’S NOTE: AMERICAN AIR NOT PERFECT? by Jim Luce Recently it was brought to my attention that I had misspoke when I projected that American Airlines would receive a “perfect” rating from ISGLMP. One of our members was recently approached by an employee of American Airlines who was upset that we had “put American on a pedestal” because of their help to our community with so much with advertising, donations, etc. American has been a big sponsor of our community for years; however, as an employee, he told us that they had been pushing American for Domestic Partnership Benefits for some time and the company continually puts them off and has not taken action. Well, no one is perfect, including me or American Airlines. And not to worry, no company will receive ISGLMP’s “Seal of Approval” without full documentation on the five criteria (although a company may qualify with just one met criteria). We salute American for the hard work they have done on our behalf and hope that they will continue to strive to treat all customers and employees as true equals. That is the goal of ISGLMP’s “Seal of Approval.” H. NGLTF SEEKS ISGLMP ASSISTANCE by Betsy Gressler I work at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) and am on the conference management team for our annual Creating Change conference which draws 2,000 people over a five day period. We also do a variety of smaller meetings throughout the year. I have been on the ISGLMP mailing list for a while and have been enjoying hearing about what's going on. Have you given any thought to how ISGLMP may be able to lend assistance to g/l groups who need assistance with meeting planning? I'm thinking about anything from assistance in negotiating hotel contracts down to on site execution. We aren't professional meeting planners, but we're professional organizers who plan an annual conference. We do our best and I think we do a pretty good job, but we sure would be open to assistance from professionals! In case your unfamiliar with us, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has worked to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level since its inception in 1973. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. You can find our website at http://www.ngltf.org. Please let me know who I should speak with or how you think we can connect. Thank you for your time! - Betsy Gressler, NGLTF (bgressler@ngltf.org; http://www.ngltf.org) Editors’ Note: Members - does this sound like a Task Force?! - JL I. PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE FORMING by Jeff Tendean ISGLMP’s second committee to form, following in the footsteps of our newly-formed Outreach Education Committee, is our Public Relations Committee. This committee will assist in publicizing ISGLMP’s panels, receptions, websites, awards and directory of gay-friendly companies. The next push will occur around the opening of our web in January. Jim Luce has agreed to serve as interim chair of the committee and may be contacted c/o ISGLMP@aol.com. Members wishing to join the Outreach Education Committee please contact Joan Eisenstodt at jeisen@aol.com. As they say, “a good time will be had by all!” Please volunteer to help Jim and Joan - two people who should not be asked to do any more! :-) J. “IN MEMORIAM” WEBSITE PAGE GETS EDITOR Alex Lichtenstein, one of our loyal Washington, D.C.-based members, has agreed to edit the “In Memorium” page of our website. This page is designed to become the electronic “quilt” of the hospitality industry and Alex would appreciate any feedback and suggestions you have. You may view the first attempts of page-building at http://www.isglmp.org. Alex may be reached at alex.lichtenstein @occ.treas.gov. Thanks, Alex, for you help! K. MADISON CVB GAINS SEAL OF APPROVAL The Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau has applied and been approved as a “gay friendly” corporation, making it one of the first companies awarded ISGLMP’s Seal of Approval. 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). The Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau qualifies by stating in it’s Employee Manual, “Factors not relevant to the Bureau in measuring its applicants or its employees include age, race, religion, creed, sex, color, handicap, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry and/or any characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.” Several GMCVB reps joined us at IAEM in Atlanta and ISGLMP Member Elizabeth Glinski is the Sales Manager for the GMCVB. They may be reached at gmcvb@visitmadison.com. L. SUPPLIERS NOTE: WEBSITE TO OFFER “GIVE-AWAY BOX” As a tool to promote our new website, ISGLMP wishes to create a “Give-Away Box” filled with supplier-supplied goodies which will be awarded to the 100th e-mail response to a particular supplier. The give-away will be available to ISGLMP members only, however complimentary Charter Membership is available through June 30. Any supplier wishing to supply a give-away item should contact Jim Luce directly at ISGLMP@aol.com. The “Give-Away Box” will be used to promote our new website starting in January, when we send out press releases to the industry and community media. M. ISGLMP CONSTITUTIONAL DRAFT FINISHED The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that our Constitution has been drafted with the pro bono assistance of Delbridge Narron, Esq., of Kramer, Levin in New York. It is available to ISGLMP Advisory Board Members by request and will be posted on our website after full approval in January 1998. The Constitution is an integral step in the legal process leading towards charter status as a not-for-profit New York State corporation, as well as our 501(c)3 tax-exempt status as same by the Internal Revenue Service. Anyone outside of the Advisory Board with expertise in these issues willing to volunteer ideas and suggestions is more than welcome to contact Jim Luce, Board President, personally at JimLuce@aol.com. N. CHARTER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION & QUESTIONNAIRE Name: Title: Company: Address: Tel.: 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/fax 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 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.