Date: Fri, 16 Dec 1994 07:32:08 -0500 From: AEHRC@aol.com of The Mullican Report for December 1994 follows: ASAE CAE Event Draws Fire in SFO While the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in San Francisco this past August has been hailed as one of the best ever for ASAE, one of the events drew fire from gay and lesbian association executives. The Certified Association Executive (CAE) Reunion Breakfast, hosted by Ritz-Carlton Hotels, featured a presentation by noted sports psychologist Dr. Jack Llewellyn, in which he incorporated negative stereotypes of gays. When advised of this incident, AEHRC approached ASAE and The Ritz-Carlton organization, seeking an apology and assurances that such incidents would not happen again. The incident was brought to the attention of AEHRC by Jay Schiavo, CAE, Director of Membership and Marketing for the National Court Reporters Association. In his letter of complaint to Shirley Nycum, ASAE Manager, Certification & Programs, Schiavo said: "I was offended by the homophobic overtones in the keynote presentation during the CAE Reunion Breakfast at the ASAE Convention in San Francisco. (Continued on page four) Marriott Hotels Withdraws Pamphlet Which Contained Offensive Language The Director of Public Relations for the California Region of Marriott Hotels, Catherine Boire, has issued an apology to gay and lesbian meeting planners because of a sentence in the California Marriott brochure. The brochure, issued in May, has been withdrawn, destroyed and reprinted without the offending sentence. When asked by AEHRC to furnish a copy of the brochure, Ms. Boire declined to do so on the advice of legal counsel, citing also that all copies had been destroyed. Marriott has a long history of non-discrimination and Boire affirmed this policy by noting that the incident should not be interpreted as any form of bias. For a copy of the revised California Marriott brochure, call: 714-979-2333, ext. 672. GWSAE Adopts Diversity Statement The Greater Washington (DC) Society of Association Executives (GWSAE) Board of Directors has adopted the following diversity policy: "In principle and in practice, GWSAE values and seeks a diverse and inclusive membership. There shall be full participation in this organization by all people regardless of race, gender, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability. GWSAE will commit time and resources to develop and implement a plan to include under-represented groups and to expand access to leadership opportunities." Rosener Urges Execs to Embrace Diversity Judith Rosener, a professor at the University of California urges association executives to embrace cultural diversity as a new definition for success. The author of "Workforce America!" was one of two General Session speakers August 29th at the ASAE Convention. Rosener noted that all effec- (Continued on page two) tive leaders value diversity and that doing so can be viewed as a new definition for success. On the subject of diversity, Professor Rosener admitted that many organizations "...don't want to hear about it. And the reason why they don't want to hear about it, is because they think it's a can of worms". Continuing, Rosener noted that any person who loves to fish can tell you that "...a can of worms can be a very valuable asset." Embracing cultural diversity, instead of resenting it is inexorably entwined and leads to a more effective professional organization. IACVB Issues Benchmark Diversity Study for Industry A recent study conducted by the Foundation of the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (IACVB) has revealed that 63 percent of IACVB members have diversity outreach plans in place. According to IACVB Chair Bobbie Patterson of Boise, ID, "IACVB is taking the lead as the first association in the hospitality industry to survey its members in this important area and become a resource for diversity information and ideas for the industry." Foundation Chair Gary Grimer of Portland, OR, noted, "It is vital that all industry associations establish benchmarks to measure their progress in diversity and inclusiveness and that's what this initial study does." The organization is expected to develop a model diversity and inclusiveness policy for member bureaus. Further, IACVB will include diversity and inclusive-ness topics at future educational meetings. ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) Stalls After Senate Hearings The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994 (ENDA), introduced in Congress in June, has stalled after a one-day hearing on the merits of the bill before a Senate Committee Chaired by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA). According to reports reaching AEHRC, there are no immediate plans to put the measure through "mark-up", meaning that the measure will likely not be considered any further during this session of the Congress. At last count, there were 32 co-sponsors of the bill in the Senate and 138 in the House. Portland/Oregon Visitors Association Mounts Successful Campaign Against Rights Initiative The Portland/Oregon Visitors Association (POVA) successfully opposed Measure 13, an initiative which would prohibit the enactment of legislation to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination. Oregon voters rejected the initiative by a 53-47 margin, coming just two years after a similar initiative was defeated. POVA actively campaigned against the measure, citing an estimated loss of more than $15 million in hospitality revenues because of the cancellation of at least eight conventions had the measure been approved. According to Deborah Wakefield, a POVA spokesperson, "We didn't want to be in the position of seeming to be an unwelcome, inhospitable state...." Such initiatives have been overturned or ruled unconstitutional by the courts. One such decision, affecting Cincinnati, OH, is being appealed with the support of unsuccessful Supreme Court Justice nominee Robert Bork and former Attorney General Ed Meese. Idaho turned thumbs down on a similar initiative. Bobbie Patterson of the Boise, ID Convention and Visitors Bureau noted, "Idaho is a state that does not need nor support any kind of hate legislation." Voters in Alachua County, Fl (Gainesville), adopted a measure which prevents governmental bodies from enacting legislation which would prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians. AIDS Issues in the Workplace Revealed A sensitive, moving article on the subject of AIDS issues in the workplace appeared in the (please turn the page) page two September 1994 issue of the regional publication, The Association Executive. Written by the Executive Vice President of the Building Owners and Managers Association International, Mark Hurwitz, Ph.D., CAE, the story chronicles his own experience with the loss of his brother to AIDS and the need for a greater knowledge and understanding of all of the issues which surround the disease and its impact on employers and employees. "I get the opportunity to talk with many association executives around my Washington, DC, home base, as well as throughout the U.S. and abroad. And I'm amazed at the level of naïveté that still exists about HIV infection and AIDS." For a copy of the article send a self addressed, stamped envelope to: AEHRC, Post Office Box 60001, Chicago, IL 60660. AEHRC Memorializes Victims of AIDS AEHRC will periodically publish the names of those in the association management industry who have succumbed to AIDS. To have someone included in future listings, please send AEHRC the name of the individual, their age at the time of their passing, and their last employing organization. AEHRC extends its deepest sympathy to the families and friends of our peers who have departed this life because of AIDS. May this listing serve to further inspire everyone to strive to overcome the fear, ignorance and discrimination associated with this epidemic. William A. Bailey, 34, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. Robert B. Burnett, 57, Windham Hotel, Washington, DC. Donald B. Hopkins, 46, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Washington, DC. Larry Alan Miller, 47, Miller Machesney & Associates, Inc. Jeffrey D. Mullican, 34, Associated General Contractors of America, Boston, MA. Thomas G. Murphy, 38, Washington (DC) Convention and Visitors Association. Stephen C. Smith, 37, Human Rights Campaign Fund, Washington, DC. Kenneth E. Sullivan, 57, National Rifle Association, Reston, VA. Russell R. Sweet, 28, Henley Park Hotel, Washington, DC. A Letter From Jeff.... (From time to time, The Mullican Report will include excerpts from correspondence between AEHRC and Jeff Mullican, in whose memory this newsletter is named. Here is the first such letter.) Lauderdale by the Sea, FL, February 7, 1987 - "Well, it happened....I got 'terminated' by AGC on January 12 because of what they considered an 'increasingly deteriorating relationship.' They specifically mentioned the concern about the on-again/off-again nature of my illness and how that effects my ability to perform my duties. It was obvious AIDS discrimination but a lawsuit would take 2.5 to 5 years...so I elected to negotiate a settlement with them. "Ironically I was told of the Board decision on my first day back to work after being sick for 5 weeks. I had come to the decision that I simply couldn't go on with the emotional and physical costs associated with working for AGC - I didn't have any time or energy left over for me. So this is for the better. "I'm not sure what I will do now - I don't feel physically up to looking for another executive level position and I don't want to waste my energy on a low paying demanding part-time job. Hopefully, I can do a little communications consulting, speaking and writing to round out the social security disability payments. "Right now I am visiting my parents at their winter house and enjoying being away from Boston and all of the cold (climate & people). The sun and the ocean is a pleasant change so I am taking the opportunity to relax, unwind and figure out what I want to do now that I have so much free time. Too bad that I don't have any money or someone who could take off and do Europe and a host of other places. I find it a little unsettling....we work our tails off to make money and define our success but when you finally have the time to enjoy life something seems to pop up to prevent it. "AIDS has forced me to re-evaluate my goals, dreams, values - you name it and now I have to make some sense of it all. If I had any idea that all of this would happen just one year ago I'd tell you that you were crazy - now I wonder if I'll be alive one year from now. "Fondly, Jeff." page three (CAE Event -from page one) "I expect more from my professional association than to allow a presentation that reinforces negative stereotypes about gay people. "You may recall his [Dr. Llewellyn's] story about painting the locker room of the visiting sports team pink, and then mincing across the stage, imitating the newly-acquired effeminacy of the opposing team. And then there was some lame joke about hugging a naked man. "These references are cheap ways to get laughs from an audience he assumes is all straight, perhaps (How dare he!)," wrote Schiavo to Nycum. AEHRC approached ASAE and Ritz-Carlton, seeking an apology. ASAE President Bill Taylor, CAE, responded: "This is in response to your request for our viewpoint on the reference by Jack Llewellyn at the CAE Breakfast in San Francisco. "ASAE hires hundreds of speakers for educational programs each year and cannot control the actions or words of individual speakers. At the same time, we realize we cannot shirk our responsibilities either. To educate speakers about the growing diversity of the membership, we provide a set of guidelines that outlines what is expected of each speaker and offers tips in presentation 'dos and don'ts.' These guidelines will be further reviewed for emphasis on references to minorities and other groups. "We regret if Mr. Llewellyn's (sic) offended persons in the audience," said Taylor. JoAnn Kurth-Ahlers, National Sales Manager for Ritz-Carlton apologized in a telephone call to AEHRC, in which she said that the presentation was "...never intended to offend anyone." In press reports about the incident, Dr. Llewellyn, noted that he had been "very bothered .... initially" by the news that his presentation had offended anyone. He said that he has never received any complaints prior to this incident and that he "...never set out to offend anybody." AEHRC is pleased that those involved in the incident have recognized the need to be sensitive to issues which have been overlooked in the planning and execution of ASAE events. AZ Association Exec Falls Short in Race for Congress Susan Bitter Smith, CAE, Executive Director of the AZ Cable Television Associa tion and a member of the Board of ASAE, fell short of her goal to become the first association executive elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. AEHRC sought the can-didate's position on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994. In a telephone interview, Bitter Smith noted: "Unfortunately, we did not win the primary. We were defeated by a far right wing (I use the term loosely) - radical right candidate. "I certainly appreciate the work that you are doing and I appreciate you asking me my viewpoint (on ENDA). We hope we have a chance to go through this at some point in the future because we certainly need an association executive in the Congress that does support the issues you are working on." AEHRC's Affirming Association Program Expands to Include Industry Partners AEHRC's program to recognize associations which have taken stands against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is expanding to include hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, and meeting facilities. The revised program will accord either the Affirming Association or Affirming Partner designation as appropriate to the organization. To qualify for either designation, AEHRC asks that the chief staff officer of an organization provide AEHRC with the excerpt from their personnel policy which explicitly states that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited by the organization. AEHRC makes no charge for either designation. The Mullican Report © 1994 Association Executives Human Rights Caucus Post Office Box 60001 Chicago, IL 60660 -0001 Telephone: 312-743-6554 FAX: 312-338-4842 Internet: AEHRC@AOL.COM Your voluntary contributions are invited to help defray the expenses of The Mu llican Report and AEHRC.