Ah, David, thanks for this. @Adrian Segar posted a link and comments about it to the Facebook Event Integrity group for which I serve as one of the moderators for the founder, Elizabeth Glau, who asked me, when she knew she was dying at a too young age, to do facilitate interaction on topics that go beyond counting sodas after a break!
I hold the authors of the two featured books, as I do Adrian, in high and great esteem. I wondered too why "Together: The Healing Power of Human Connections" and all the writing on loneliness, by former Surgeon General (during both Obama Administrations), Vivek Murthy, was not noted by most in our industry when it was published pre-COVID.
Yes, and to all that you wrote and about which you wrote. You and I have been part of conversations about this for oh-so-long, a last remembered round table at a PCMA meeting, yes? It was also shown in an MPI Foundation study from years ago - about why people meet and why in person, a study, sadly that MPI seems to have misplaced and tho' I have notes from it (researched and produced when I served on the Foundation Board) I do not have the study.
What I hope you'll point me to if I read too quickly after Adrian posted his comments and the link was that for many being with many others in a physical v. a virtual space may not be possible and how to better facilitate other ways of gathering.
Examples: In the world of meetings and events, there are too few accommodations for disabled people to participate. Accommodations are seen as an "unnecessary expense"; to ensure inclusion up to the individuals. For many too there is a wide economic divide of living paycheck to paycheck or unemployment or social security check or gig to gig that prohibits travel and fees to participate in educational meetings. And tho' the industry has finally paid attention to neurodiversity, too many gatherings plan sufficiently. During COVID lockdown, I engage with diverse groups, sought out for learning, like the Cornell web events, and connected with some speakers and remain connected 6 years later having never met the people physically.
Laughing - I can hear some reading this who know me thinking this may be "downer" talk. It is not. It is looking for solutions for those who are otherwise isolated, as I've become due to illness, who long to "be with" others in ways possible. I'm fortunate to have the ability to connect virtually with others and find the interactions delightful and fulfilling, sparking ideas. Before reading Adrian's post, I was part of a Travel Unity Alliance gathering, held monthly, that since becoming part of TU has become a wonderful new network all about inclusion.
How do we expand the ideas and ideals of the books and your thoughts into greater use to include all who otherwise are likely left out?
Thanks. Years ago, in Atlanta, when MPI met, Andrew Young spoke to us and said the Last Supper must've had a planner. It was a wonderful comment to make to tie in historical issues.
Alas, accessibility was of little consideration outwardly, even given disabilities of people who were among those you've featured or related to (FDR) one. We are outcasts - oddities. We are not considered when designing events. A conversation this afternoon for an event for the 250th was because someone finally realized that it was NOT being created for access and accommodation.
You must know of Judy Heumann (z"l) and her work. And if for some reason you don't, a small and quickly read paperback is "Being Heumann" - start there. Then my offer stands to send you books on ableism to begin to help you rethink gatherings. You can do what others have shrugged off. That seems more "you" and Adrian, than just pushing us and it aside.
I am experimenting with a new site called gatheringarchitecture.com. Am happy to create a section that goes to the heart of what you are trying to get the industry to embrace. May need some more specific solutions if you want to suggest.
Thanks, David, for responding. The infrastructure of any and all gatherings - not necessarily personal ones - should be inclusive of people with disabilities. It has not been despite the long ago passage of the ADA and that's just the law not the issues of accommodation and accessibility. You may consider following a few colleagues on LinkedIn: Samantha Evans, Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad, LaKeisha (Kesha) Moore, DES. These are standard issues for meetings not 'special interests'. If you are unfamiliar with Travel Unity, learn more about what they are doing with destinations world wide. This is all part of who you are and what you've done - to create meetings that are for all, yes? Glad to provide more input. You can create spaces - including virtual ones - that are accessible. The law requires some of it for digital. The rest is what PCMA, MPI, ASAE say they are doing and haven't.
FYI: When the ADA passed, I was one of three MPI delegates to the then CLC, now the EIC. At one Board meeting, Cricket Park, then a meeting planner for AHEAD, spoke to us about what the ADA meant to the meetings and hospitality industry. She wrote a book for AHEAD; a white paper for PCMA. I've been at this for that long. And now with acquired disabilities (which everyone will get) my awareness is EVEN greater at how we have excluded people. Follow me more on LI and see those I follow. I offered to Adrian and will to you, gifts of books about ableism. Message to me your mailing address and I'll see that you get them. You can be the ONE who makes a difference.
Ah, David, thanks for this. @Adrian Segar posted a link and comments about it to the Facebook Event Integrity group for which I serve as one of the moderators for the founder, Elizabeth Glau, who asked me, when she knew she was dying at a too young age, to do facilitate interaction on topics that go beyond counting sodas after a break!
I hold the authors of the two featured books, as I do Adrian, in high and great esteem. I wondered too why "Together: The Healing Power of Human Connections" and all the writing on loneliness, by former Surgeon General (during both Obama Administrations), Vivek Murthy, was not noted by most in our industry when it was published pre-COVID.
Yes, and to all that you wrote and about which you wrote. You and I have been part of conversations about this for oh-so-long, a last remembered round table at a PCMA meeting, yes? It was also shown in an MPI Foundation study from years ago - about why people meet and why in person, a study, sadly that MPI seems to have misplaced and tho' I have notes from it (researched and produced when I served on the Foundation Board) I do not have the study.
What I hope you'll point me to if I read too quickly after Adrian posted his comments and the link was that for many being with many others in a physical v. a virtual space may not be possible and how to better facilitate other ways of gathering.
Examples: In the world of meetings and events, there are too few accommodations for disabled people to participate. Accommodations are seen as an "unnecessary expense"; to ensure inclusion up to the individuals. For many too there is a wide economic divide of living paycheck to paycheck or unemployment or social security check or gig to gig that prohibits travel and fees to participate in educational meetings. And tho' the industry has finally paid attention to neurodiversity, too many gatherings plan sufficiently. During COVID lockdown, I engage with diverse groups, sought out for learning, like the Cornell web events, and connected with some speakers and remain connected 6 years later having never met the people physically.
Laughing - I can hear some reading this who know me thinking this may be "downer" talk. It is not. It is looking for solutions for those who are otherwise isolated, as I've become due to illness, who long to "be with" others in ways possible. I'm fortunate to have the ability to connect virtually with others and find the interactions delightful and fulfilling, sparking ideas. Before reading Adrian's post, I was part of a Travel Unity Alliance gathering, held monthly, that since becoming part of TU has become a wonderful new network all about inclusion.
How do we expand the ideas and ideals of the books and your thoughts into greater use to include all who otherwise are likely left out?
Will get to know them. Check this out. Been talking to some wonderful historical figures and having them help design events today. https://gatheringarchitecture.com/perspectives
Thanks. Years ago, in Atlanta, when MPI met, Andrew Young spoke to us and said the Last Supper must've had a planner. It was a wonderful comment to make to tie in historical issues.
Alas, accessibility was of little consideration outwardly, even given disabilities of people who were among those you've featured or related to (FDR) one. We are outcasts - oddities. We are not considered when designing events. A conversation this afternoon for an event for the 250th was because someone finally realized that it was NOT being created for access and accommodation.
You must know of Judy Heumann (z"l) and her work. And if for some reason you don't, a small and quickly read paperback is "Being Heumann" - start there. Then my offer stands to send you books on ableism to begin to help you rethink gatherings. You can do what others have shrugged off. That seems more "you" and Adrian, than just pushing us and it aside.
I am experimenting with a new site called gatheringarchitecture.com. Am happy to create a section that goes to the heart of what you are trying to get the industry to embrace. May need some more specific solutions if you want to suggest.
Thanks, David, for responding. The infrastructure of any and all gatherings - not necessarily personal ones - should be inclusive of people with disabilities. It has not been despite the long ago passage of the ADA and that's just the law not the issues of accommodation and accessibility. You may consider following a few colleagues on LinkedIn: Samantha Evans, Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad, LaKeisha (Kesha) Moore, DES. These are standard issues for meetings not 'special interests'. If you are unfamiliar with Travel Unity, learn more about what they are doing with destinations world wide. This is all part of who you are and what you've done - to create meetings that are for all, yes? Glad to provide more input. You can create spaces - including virtual ones - that are accessible. The law requires some of it for digital. The rest is what PCMA, MPI, ASAE say they are doing and haven't.
FYI: When the ADA passed, I was one of three MPI delegates to the then CLC, now the EIC. At one Board meeting, Cricket Park, then a meeting planner for AHEAD, spoke to us about what the ADA meant to the meetings and hospitality industry. She wrote a book for AHEAD; a white paper for PCMA. I've been at this for that long. And now with acquired disabilities (which everyone will get) my awareness is EVEN greater at how we have excluded people. Follow me more on LI and see those I follow. I offered to Adrian and will to you, gifts of books about ableism. Message to me your mailing address and I'll see that you get them. You can be the ONE who makes a difference.