Meeting Professionals International unprofessional behavior, duplicitous in claim of addressing sexual harassment
2017: Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) stated in a press release, “Since November 2017, MPI has proactively taken steps to demonstrate that it will not tolerate harassment in its global community and to educate members on how to prevent, report and respond to harassment"
2018 Spring: a report was submitted of sexual harassment to members of South Florida’s Meeting industries leaders that incurred in the South Florida Hospitality/Meeting Coalition (meeting planners and vendors that service the meeting industry located in South Florida)
2018: Repeated emails were sent and were ignored, until Diane M. Hawkins, SPHR, SCP, Vice President People, Performance and Administrative Services Meeting Planners International, Dallas/Fort Worth Area responded on June 20, 2018, at 7:53 PM,
Diane Hawkins wrote: “
“We are in receipt of what we consider to be your numerous defamatory and malicious emails sent to both MPI Global and MPI Southern Florida Chapter volunteers. We consider these to be unwarranted harassment and intimidation and therefore, these must cease immediately.
We will not acknowledge or respond to any further emails or any other forms of communication to anyone at MPI Global or MPI Southern Florida Chapter
Any such communication will be considered by us to be an unwarranted continuation of harassment and your intimidation and any such continuation will be dealt with accordingly.”
Just to be clear, the HR manager of MPI sent me an email threatening to take some action against me for harassment, for reporting to MPI leadership in South Florida & HQ of harassment by members of their south Florida Hospitality/Meeting Coalition. This is after her boss, the MPI president, has gone on record as that as Nov 2017 MPI HQ has ” educate members on how to prevent, report and respond to harassment." So I guess the prevention training is basically to threaten the victims of harassment with harassment if they report it, so they can shut them up?
Ms. Diane Hawkins SPHR certification is from the Society for Human Resource Management. On their web site they display the following responsibilities
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Core Principle
As HR professionals, we are responsible for adding value to the organizations we serve and contributing to the ethical success of those organizations. We accept professional responsibility for our individual decisions and actions. We are also advocates for the profession by engaging in activities that enhance its credibility and value.
Intent
To build respect, credibility and strategic importance for the HR profession within our organizations, the business community, and the communities in which we work (I think the persons who sexually harassed me, those that harassed my wife to keep my mouth shut, and those members of South Florida event/hospitality collation who callously handled my reports of repeated harassment [i.e. emails and phone calls to my wife threatening her to make me not submit a public complaint] have a lot of respect for Ms. Hawkins with her SPHR certification – not too sure victims of harassment do; if I was an MPI employee, the message of what to expect if they were to report harassment in the Dallas office to the HR department is loud and clear).
To assist the organizations we serve in achieving their objectives and goals. (and I have stated MPI media campaign about dealing with any form of harassment is a scam, so in a way Ms. Hawkins is assisting).
To inform and educate current and future practitioners, the organizations we serve, and the general public about principles and practices that help the profession. (Were to begin?)
To positively influence workplace and recruitment practices.
To encourage professional decision-making and responsibility. (I guess this only includes others, not oneself if you have a SPHR certification)
To encourage social responsibility. (again, were to begin?)
June 23, 2018 5:59 PM
Ms. Hawkins
Subject: "Informal discovery request / follow up to charges made in MPI email subject Harassment"
[Reviewing our options]….now that direct negotiationshave failed; and legal warning has been issued regarding defamation, harassment and malice (among others civil charges).
If I am assuming incorrectly, please let me know so I can include that in our legal due diligence (and some additional specific / legal context would be appreciated). [Side Bar-no response to this statement, thus we take silence as agreement]
We understand you are under no obligation to provide this information – as long as your organization understands that not doing so will be recorded as bad faith action in resolving said issues.
1) The link to The MPI Principles of Professionalism on the below web page is giving a 404 type error,
Your organization stated “Since November 2017, MPI has proactively taken steps to demonstrate that it will not tolerate harassment in its global community and to educate members on how to prevent, report and respond to harassment”
We request you provide a sample of documentation (i.e. email or marketing document sent to certain MPI members, powerpoint presentation made to membership, information that was included in a press kit) that was used to communicate or educate members, specially your south Florida chapter.
[Advice on easiest way to send information and legal observations & confirmations]
Thank you for your attention
July 7th – as of posting of this complaint, no response from MPI or other Event Industry Organizations that have formed the “so called” Coalition to Stop Harassment. # StrongerToGether” is appropriate, you can hear those wagons circling, just not for sexual harassment.
When Ms. Hawkins stated that she would deal with me “accordingly” that seems to be to find herself a corner, sit down and kept her mouth shut going forward. Not very noble or brave, but it is smart. If she stays that way, I won’t escalate this to the Society for Human Resource Management – I will just keep this where it belongs, Meeting Professionals International.
MPI and Event Industry Organizations Formed a Coalition to Stop Harassment – the only problem they are just selling seminar’s and charging for “fundraising” parties, not actually taking action on reported harassment of their own membership. If the is a definition for a scam, this is the most dehumanizing and immoral of them I have seen.
I will not tell you about their actions, I will just share the communication between MPI and their hospitality coalition, - a coalition using this issue as a selling tool to their corporate and association membership – and potential new members – in seminars, memberships and education certifications [all for a tax deductible price, a corporate expense account item]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2018 9:06 AM
From: Plaintiff
To: Defendants - – MPI South responded, Ft Lauderdale convention and Visitors Bureau & MPI National did not
Subject: [EXT] Fw: Confirm "no comment" response from email sent to your office Feb 4 email, same issue
Just to confirm, a letter was sent to you on Feb 5th of similar nature, and no response has been received as of today
Please let me know if you would like me to resend the email that was sent to you. Otherwise we will assume you have no comment on any follow up publication we do.
Thank you
[Previous email provided detail information & proof of harassment to both the State of Florida and key members of MPI (South Florida and National). State of Florida has followed up to our satisfaction, and we thank them for their professionalism and courage – The State of Florida responded, and they did the right thing, that was within their power to do.
Also note – this is not a complaint over sexual misconduct – it is a complaint against organizations that claims to be taking action to help victims – or prevent victims - and profiting from that action without showing real good faith follow up on this issue. It is like a hurricane relief organization – they did not cause the hurricane, but they are profiting from the victims on that hurricane. That is the relationship of this report
Below is MPI’s response
April 27, 2018
MPI South Florida has no comment on this matter.
In regards to your CMP question – that is handled through the Events Industry Council (EIC) not through Meetings Professionals International or the MPI South Florida Chapter.
Fallon Gechter
President MPISFL 2017-2018
From: Plaintiff
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2018, 10:30 AM
To: Events Industry Council (EIC)
Cc MPI
EIC - Please see MPI response directing this matter to your office and respond to it as the correct party.
For record email to Mayor was second attempt, an opportunity for a second chance to respond should not be expected.
Again thank you to MPI for the professional response [unfortunetly this good faith did not continue], we hope other parties follow this example, not follow Mayor unprofessional no response example [side note, we latter found out the Mayor of Boca Raton had not responded, because she had been arrested misuse of public office and perjury – fortunately we also included the State Government, not just Boca Raton local government – The State Government did follow up, with action, not just words - and we again thank them – but the Ft Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau did not– not even their LGBT market target department]
Though I just read the mayor was arrested? This may explain a lot and not just why mayor never responded - it is an overall issue of Boca Raton community and general Florida government and hospitality standards.
I hope the responses I get prove otherwise.
May 21st – Meeting Planner International HQ issue Press Release “MPI and Event Industry Organizations Form Coalition to Stop Harassment.” Many individuals listed in press release received above email, but never responded – not even that they were setting up an organization to address this – they just ignored the email totally.
Subject: MPI And Leading Events Industry Organizations Form Coalition To Stop Sexual Harassment
From: Plaintiff
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2018, 2:29 PM
To: MPI
XXXXXX XXXXXXXX, I guess MPI South leadership did not get your email and press release - perhaps you should send it to them again; or perhaps I should find some other way to get everyone's attention about organizations like MPI cynically doing a great job talking the talk - but besides a lot of press releases, parties, meetings and conventions [all charging corporate and association members money to attend]- not much walking that talk. Like I said before, morals of a stereotypical "used car salesman" is the best explanation.
On Friday, May 25, 2018 8:40 AM
Sent again to Ft Lauderdale CVB, MPI, ASAE and all the other Hospitality community
"I, and so many of Harvey Weinstein's survivors, had given up hope that our rapist would be held accountable by law. Twenty years ago, I swore that I would right this wrong. Today we are one step closer to justice," said actress Rose McGowan, one of the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of assault.
"We were young women who were assaulted by Weinstein and later terrorized by his vast network of complicity. I stand with my fellow survivors. May this give hope to all victims and survivors everywhere that are telling their truths," she said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
By far Women - and not just young women - have been the greatest victims of sexual misconduct - rape by far is the worst, but the core of any sexual misconduct is power (I am sure the LBGT reps know this all too well) - power over others through demeaning them in the most intimate ways - and two wrongs do not make a right. I think the is a word for that - maybe your LBGT CVB team can help - it is hypocrisy
This will be my last email to you all on subject, assuming you have not already blocked me (part of the complicity game playbook - along with no response at all or no comment). But I better not see a statement, press release, or a TV / newspaper interview ..... from either organization showing support on the outside for this type of justice while back at home at the ranch it is the same old thing, same old network of complicity - it is just these smaller events are not "sexy" enough to make CNN - but if the South Florida CVB or MPI get too overt in this network of complicity game- well maybe a local channel will use this (and others, as we learned with Bill Cosby case, the are always others) makes it's HBO version of Jo Paterno on the Hospitality / Meeting industry leaders of South Florida
Bottom Line - what am I asking - if your decision is to shut up to this and ignore, then you better follow that same strategy going forward for all such events that involve an issue of sexual misconduct - take off your #metoo pins and go sit in the corner and keep your month shut, you have lost your moral credibility to be part of the dialog.
Oh - almost forgot - guest safety falls somewhere in this conversation .... but I was in your industry for two decades and I and everyone else knows you all have the reputation of a stereotypical "used car salesman" on that subject - old news. No offense, it is just a fact - that is why their are web sites like Yelp and Yellow pages now (besides Rip Off report) - you should go look at those sites yourself.
May 31st the following Hospitality association send below Press release; ASAE, AWE, EIC, IAEE, IMEX, JMIC, MPI, PCMA and SITE –all the organizations we have been trying to get some response from, besides a no comment – not my problem.
“Events Industry Leaders Set Out to Stop Sexual Harassment”
MPI, PCMA and SITE, have formed a coalition to eliminate sexual harassment within the events industry and the workplace. After separately trying to solve this problem, each group determined addressing sexual harassment prevention requires policies that reach beyond their organizations. With the formation of the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements, the coalition believes it is #StrongerTogether and that it is critical to act now to create positive change and end sexual harassment, once and for all. Specifically, the coalition will identify tools and develop new resources to assist in educating the events industry about sexual harassment.
The individuals who have come forward to serve on the coalition’s task force are as follows:
Susan Robertson, CAE, Executive Vice President, ASAE
Subject: Fw: Fwd: MPI And Leading Events Industry Organizations Form Coalition To Stop Sexual Harassment
From: Defendant
To: All representatives (or surrogates) listed above in press release
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2018, 10:01 AM
If you have received this more than once, I apologize – I am using Yahoo email, and even as Marissa Mayer pointed out when she left Yahoo – it is a terrible platform - and if I have missed the person I really should be addressing this too, I assume you have, or should have, forward my very first email to the correct person (that complicity of silence thing).
I am not looking to burn anyone on this list – but if you are going to issue press releases and set up web sites on this subject, at least have the courtesy – not just professional courtesy – just plain, good old fashion manners – codified actions of respect for your fellow human = regardless if it is touching someone inappropriately, or just ignoring a request after you have taken accolades for responding to such requests [and to offer course, for a fee – to address such issues and offering them to your corporate accounts and association membership] – it is the same, the only difference is degrees. It is why we have Capital Murder vs Man manslaughter or Depraved Indifference laws – and hopefully why your organization set up your collation, not just cynical opportunism (perfect storm of PR – [I think you used that similar line in a press release] , not really one of addressing this problem)
I use to belong to ASAE and MPI - you have some good people in both organization, but unfortunate history shows good people do not always chose good leaders. I am hoping you are going to prove me wrong today – good people can choose good leaders.
I am going to roll back my statement – you prove to me you are practicing what you all have been patting yourselves on the back, very publicly on the internet – and I will not be that boy in the story that points out to the people that the kings of the meeting industry are telling naked bs. I want justice – and you have set up an organization claiming you can help me get justice – if you lied to me, I will settle for retribution – I rather make you a hero than a cynical coward, - but If you are coward, I will not have a problem calling you out. We only tolerate cowards if they keep their month shut, you are not – abusing one of the few privileges of [a] coward
PS – or perhaps I am misinformed – women have reached the level of hypocrisy in your industry you only apply benefits to women, like voting only applied to men at one time. If that is the position, wow – women have truly achieved equality with men in the work force and exceeded it - now that would be an interesting new twist to the story - even more worth telling [I just guess Male Heterosexual, Male Homosexual and Transgenders that chose to be identified as male are SOL in your new program – considering it appears to be a scam, perhaps they should count themselves lucky.
As of posting of this report – not response. If I get a response, I will post it
Please note that the person documenting this on the rip off report is a friend of the person who sent these emails. I am a friend of his, he is disabled with arthritis , and has become very ill – he is recovering, but he wants justice on this matter so he asked me to write this report for him – it is done with his approval – he dictated it to me.
The people who got his emails, the ones listed above - you have his direct email address, the emails he sent to you – but do not write to him back– so now leave him alone - you ignored him for a long time, he is now too ill to respond you had your chance – it is gone.
Respond on this rip off report – show some courage and respond on this site publicly or just go away. Anything else, will just be a different form of harassment that will be again documented on this web site
Meeting Professionals International Reviews
Meeting Professionals International unprofessional behavior, duplicitous in claim of addressing sexual harassment
2017: Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) stated in a press release, “Since November 2017, MPI has proactively taken steps to demonstrate that it will not tolerate harassment in its global community and to educate members on how to prevent, report and respond to harassment"
2018 Spring: a report was submitted of sexual harassment to members of South Florida’s Meeting industries leaders that incurred in the South Florida Hospitality/Meeting Coalition (meeting planners and vendors that service the meeting industry located in South Florida)
2018: Repeated emails were sent and were ignored, until Diane M. Hawkins, SPHR, SCP, Vice President People, Performance and Administrative Services Meeting Planners International, Dallas/Fort Worth Area responded on June 20, 2018, at 7:53 PM,
Diane Hawkins wrote: “
“We are in receipt of what we consider to be your numerous defamatory and malicious emails sent to both MPI Global and MPI Southern Florida Chapter volunteers. We consider these to be unwarranted harassment and intimidation and therefore, these must cease immediately.
We will not acknowledge or respond to any further emails or any other forms of communication to anyone at MPI Global or MPI Southern Florida Chapter
Any such communication will be considered by us to be an unwarranted continuation of harassment and your intimidation and any such continuation will be dealt with accordingly.”
Just to be clear, the HR manager of MPI sent me an email threatening to take some action against me for harassment, for reporting to MPI leadership in South Florida & HQ of harassment by members of their south Florida Hospitality/Meeting Coalition. This is after her boss, the MPI president, has gone on record as that as Nov 2017 MPI HQ has ” educate members on how to prevent, report and respond to harassment." So I guess the prevention training is basically to threaten the victims of harassment with harassment if they report it, so they can shut them up?
Ms. Diane Hawkins SPHR certification is from the Society for Human Resource Management. On their web site they display the following responsibilities
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Core Principle
As HR professionals, we are responsible for adding value to the organizations we serve and contributing to the ethical success of those organizations. We accept professional responsibility for our individual decisions and actions. We are also advocates for the profession by engaging in activities that enhance its credibility and value.
Intent
To build respect, credibility and strategic importance for the HR profession within our organizations, the business community, and the communities in which we work (I think the persons who sexually harassed me, those that harassed my wife to keep my mouth shut, and those members of South Florida event/hospitality collation who callously handled my reports of repeated harassment [i.e. emails and phone calls to my wife threatening her to make me not submit a public complaint] have a lot of respect for Ms. Hawkins with her SPHR certification – not too sure victims of harassment do; if I was an MPI employee, the message of what to expect if they were to report harassment in the Dallas office to the HR department is loud and clear).
To assist the organizations we serve in achieving their objectives and goals. (and I have stated MPI media campaign about dealing with any form of harassment is a scam, so in a way Ms. Hawkins is assisting).
To inform and educate current and future practitioners, the organizations we serve, and the general public about principles and practices that help the profession. (Were to begin?)
To positively influence workplace and recruitment practices.
To encourage professional decision-making and responsibility. (I guess this only includes others, not oneself if you have a SPHR certification)
To encourage social responsibility. (again, were to begin?)
June 23, 2018 5:59 PM
Ms. Hawkins
Subject: "Informal discovery request / follow up to charges made in MPI email subject Harassment"
[Reviewing our options]….now that direct negotiationshave failed; and legal warning has been issued regarding defamation, harassment and malice (among others civil charges).
If I am assuming incorrectly, please let me know so I can include that in our legal due diligence (and some additional specific / legal context would be appreciated). [Side Bar-no response to this statement, thus we take silence as agreement]
We understand you are under no obligation to provide this information – as long as your organization understands that not doing so will be recorded as bad faith action in resolving said issues.
1) The link to The MPI Principles of Professionalism on the below web page is giving a 404 type error,
https://www.mpiweb.org/blog/article/harassment-is-not-tolerated-at-mpi
We request you either redirect us to a site that works or send a PDF copy via email.
2) On web page/ press release below
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mpi-and-leading-events-industry-organizations-form-coalition-to-stop-sexual-harassment-300651415.html
Your organization stated “Since November 2017, MPI has proactively taken steps to demonstrate that it will not tolerate harassment in its global community and to educate members on how to prevent, report and respond to harassment”
We request you provide a sample of documentation (i.e. email or marketing document sent to certain MPI members, powerpoint presentation made to membership, information that was included in a press kit) that was used to communicate or educate members, specially your south Florida chapter.
[Advice on easiest way to send information and legal observations & confirmations]
Thank you for your attention
July 7th – as of posting of this complaint, no response from MPI or other Event Industry Organizations that have formed the “so called” Coalition to Stop Harassment. # StrongerToGether” is appropriate, you can hear those wagons circling, just not for sexual harassment.
When Ms. Hawkins stated that she would deal with me “accordingly” that seems to be to find herself a corner, sit down and kept her mouth shut going forward. Not very noble or brave, but it is smart. If she stays that way, I won’t escalate this to the Society for Human Resource Management – I will just keep this where it belongs, Meeting Professionals International.
MPI and Event Industry Organizations Formed a Coalition to Stop Harassment – the only problem they are just selling seminar’s and charging for “fundraising” parties, not actually taking action on reported harassment of their own membership. If the is a definition for a scam, this is the most dehumanizing and immoral of them I have seen.
I will not tell you about their actions, I will just share the communication between MPI and their hospitality coalition, - a coalition using this issue as a selling tool to their corporate and association membership – and potential new members – in seminars, memberships and education certifications [all for a tax deductible price, a corporate expense account item]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2018 9:06 AM
From: Plaintiff
To: Defendants - – MPI South responded, Ft Lauderdale convention and Visitors Bureau & MPI National did not
Subject: [EXT] Fw: Confirm "no comment" response from email sent to your office Feb 4 email, same issue
Just to confirm, a letter was sent to you on Feb 5th of similar nature, and no response has been received as of today
Please let me know if you would like me to resend the email that was sent to you. Otherwise we will assume you have no comment on any follow up publication we do.
Thank you
[Previous email provided detail information & proof of harassment to both the State of Florida and key members of MPI (South Florida and National). State of Florida has followed up to our satisfaction, and we thank them for their professionalism and courage – The State of Florida responded, and they did the right thing, that was within their power to do.
Also note – this is not a complaint over sexual misconduct – it is a complaint against organizations that claims to be taking action to help victims – or prevent victims - and profiting from that action without showing real good faith follow up on this issue. It is like a hurricane relief organization – they did not cause the hurricane, but they are profiting from the victims on that hurricane. That is the relationship of this report
Below is MPI’s response
April 27, 2018
MPI South Florida has no comment on this matter.
In regards to your CMP question – that is handled through the Events Industry Council (EIC) not through Meetings Professionals International or the MPI South Florida Chapter.
Fallon Gechter
President MPISFL 2017-2018
From: Plaintiff
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2018, 10:30 AM
To: Events Industry Council (EIC)
Cc MPI
EIC - Please see MPI response directing this matter to your office and respond to it as the correct party.
For record email to Mayor was second attempt, an opportunity for a second chance to respond should not be expected.
Again thank you to MPI for the professional response [unfortunetly this good faith did not continue], we hope other parties follow this example, not follow Mayor unprofessional no response example [side note, we latter found out the Mayor of Boca Raton had not responded, because she had been arrested misuse of public office and perjury – fortunately we also included the State Government, not just Boca Raton local government – The State Government did follow up, with action, not just words - and we again thank them – but the Ft Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau did not– not even their LGBT market target department]
Though I just read the mayor was arrested? This may explain a lot and not just why mayor never responded - it is an overall issue of Boca Raton community and general Florida government and hospitality standards.
I hope the responses I get prove otherwise.
May 21st – Meeting Planner International HQ issue Press Release “MPI and Event Industry Organizations Form Coalition to Stop Harassment.” Many individuals listed in press release received above email, but never responded – not even that they were setting up an organization to address this – they just ignored the email totally.
Subject: MPI And Leading Events Industry Organizations Form Coalition To Stop Sexual Harassment
From: Plaintiff
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2018, 2:29 PM
To: MPI
XXXXXX XXXXXXXX, I guess MPI South leadership did not get your email and press release - perhaps you should send it to them again; or perhaps I should find some other way to get everyone's attention about organizations like MPI cynically doing a great job talking the talk - but besides a lot of press releases, parties, meetings and conventions [all charging corporate and association members money to attend]- not much walking that talk. Like I said before, morals of a stereotypical "used car salesman" is the best explanation.
On Friday, May 25, 2018 8:40 AM
Sent again to Ft Lauderdale CVB, MPI, ASAE and all the other Hospitality community
"I, and so many of Harvey Weinstein's survivors, had given up hope that our rapist would be held accountable by law. Twenty years ago, I swore that I would right this wrong. Today we are one step closer to justice," said actress Rose McGowan, one of the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of assault.
"We were young women who were assaulted by Weinstein and later terrorized by his vast network of complicity. I stand with my fellow survivors. May this give hope to all victims and survivors everywhere that are telling their truths," she said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
By far Women - and not just young women - have been the greatest victims of sexual misconduct - rape by far is the worst, but the core of any sexual misconduct is power (I am sure the LBGT reps know this all too well) - power over others through demeaning them in the most intimate ways - and two wrongs do not make a right. I think the is a word for that - maybe your LBGT CVB team can help - it is hypocrisy
This will be my last email to you all on subject, assuming you have not already blocked me (part of the complicity game playbook - along with no response at all or no comment). But I better not see a statement, press release, or a TV / newspaper interview ..... from either organization showing support on the outside for this type of justice while back at home at the ranch it is the same old thing, same old network of complicity - it is just these smaller events are not "sexy" enough to make CNN - but if the South Florida CVB or MPI get too overt in this network of complicity game- well maybe a local channel will use this (and others, as we learned with Bill Cosby case, the are always others) makes it's HBO version of Jo Paterno on the Hospitality / Meeting industry leaders of South Florida
Bottom Line - what am I asking - if your decision is to shut up to this and ignore, then you better follow that same strategy going forward for all such events that involve an issue of sexual misconduct - take off your #metoo pins and go sit in the corner and keep your month shut, you have lost your moral credibility to be part of the dialog.
Oh - almost forgot - guest safety falls somewhere in this conversation .... but I was in your industry for two decades and I and everyone else knows you all have the reputation of a stereotypical "used car salesman" on that subject - old news. No offense, it is just a fact - that is why their are web sites like Yelp and Yellow pages now (besides Rip Off report) - you should go look at those sites yourself.
May 31st the following Hospitality association send below Press release; ASAE, AWE, EIC, IAEE, IMEX, JMIC, MPI, PCMA and SITE –all the organizations we have been trying to get some response from, besides a no comment – not my problem.
“Events Industry Leaders Set Out to Stop Sexual Harassment”
MPI, PCMA and SITE, have formed a coalition to eliminate sexual harassment within the events industry and the workplace. After separately trying to solve this problem, each group determined addressing sexual harassment prevention requires policies that reach beyond their organizations. With the formation of the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements, the coalition believes it is #StrongerTogether and that it is critical to act now to create positive change and end sexual harassment, once and for all. Specifically, the coalition will identify tools and develop new resources to assist in educating the events industry about sexual harassment.
The individuals who have come forward to serve on the coalition’s task force are as follows:
Susan Robertson, CAE, Executive Vice President, ASAE
Bob Skelton, Chief Administration Officer, ASAE
Kiki J. Fox, President & Co-Founder, AWE
Carrie Abernathy, CMP, CEM, CSEP, Past-President & Co-Founder, AWE
Johnnie White, MBA, CAE, CMP, Treasurer, AWE
Julie Sullivan, CMP, CEM, CTA, Vice President, AWE
Nicole Unger, CMP, Secretary, AWE
Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, CEO, EIC
Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE, COO, IAEE
Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX
Rod Cameron, Executive Director, JMIC
Amanda Armstrong, Chair, MPI
Nicole Edmund, Vice President, Community, MPI
Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President & CEO, PCMA
Subject: Fw: Fwd: MPI And Leading Events Industry Organizations Form Coalition To Stop Sexual Harassment
From: Defendant
To: All representatives (or surrogates) listed above in press release
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2018, 10:01 AM
If you have received this more than once, I apologize – I am using Yahoo email, and even as Marissa Mayer pointed out when she left Yahoo – it is a terrible platform - and if I have missed the person I really should be addressing this too, I assume you have, or should have, forward my very first email to the correct person (that complicity of silence thing).
I am not looking to burn anyone on this list – but if you are going to issue press releases and set up web sites on this subject, at least have the courtesy – not just professional courtesy – just plain, good old fashion manners – codified actions of respect for your fellow human = regardless if it is touching someone inappropriately, or just ignoring a request after you have taken accolades for responding to such requests [and to offer course, for a fee – to address such issues and offering them to your corporate accounts and association membership] – it is the same, the only difference is degrees. It is why we have Capital Murder vs Man manslaughter or Depraved Indifference laws – and hopefully why your organization set up your collation, not just cynical opportunism (perfect storm of PR – [I think you used that similar line in a press release] , not really one of addressing this problem)
I use to belong to ASAE and MPI - you have some good people in both organization, but unfortunate history shows good people do not always chose good leaders. I am hoping you are going to prove me wrong today – good people can choose good leaders.
I am going to roll back my statement – you prove to me you are practicing what you all have been patting yourselves on the back, very publicly on the internet – and I will not be that boy in the story that points out to the people that the kings of the meeting industry are telling naked bs. I want justice – and you have set up an organization claiming you can help me get justice – if you lied to me, I will settle for retribution – I rather make you a hero than a cynical coward, - but If you are coward, I will not have a problem calling you out. We only tolerate cowards if they keep their month shut, you are not – abusing one of the few privileges of [a] coward
PS – or perhaps I am misinformed – women have reached the level of hypocrisy in your industry you only apply benefits to women, like voting only applied to men at one time. If that is the position, wow – women have truly achieved equality with men in the work force and exceeded it - now that would be an interesting new twist to the story - even more worth telling [I just guess Male Heterosexual, Male Homosexual and Transgenders that chose to be identified as male are SOL in your new program – considering it appears to be a scam, perhaps they should count themselves lucky.
As of posting of this report – not response. If I get a response, I will post it
=======================================================
Please note that the person documenting this on the rip off report is a friend of the person who sent these emails. I am a friend of his, he is disabled with arthritis , and has become very ill – he is recovering, but he wants justice on this matter so he asked me to write this report for him – it is done with his approval – he dictated it to me.
The people who got his emails, the ones listed above - you have his direct email address, the emails he sent to you – but do not write to him back– so now leave him alone - you ignored him for a long time, he is now too ill to respond you had your chance – it is gone.
Respond on this rip off report – show some courage and respond on this site publicly or just go away. Anything else, will just be a different form of harassment that will be again documented on this web site