AMTF Social Responsiblity Subgroup

Our Assignment: 

Identify what “social responsibility” issues have a possible impact on the annual meeting, for example, issues related to discrimination, harassment, or labor practices. Determine  possible approaches to considering hotel relationships with their labor force before signing contracts and explore the feasibility of including  “out clauses” if labor practice, discrimination, or other issues arise.  Also examine if there are other considerations regarding the meeting that could be affected, such as calls for boycotts of meetings in specific states or cities because of local or state laws or policies.  Examine what steps SAA can take if a situation arises, with consideration for what information should be conveyed to the membership and in what fashion.

Expected Outcome:

Deliver to the task force a report defining what social responsibility issues SAA should consider in making a site selection and what steps SAA can and should take to avoid conflict with SAA principles, proposing policies about how and when SAA should communicate information to membership, and other relevant recommendations for the task force to consider.

Members:

Hillel Arnold, Lynda DeLoach, Jodi Koste, Alan Lefever, Rachel Vagts (Chair)

Current Activities:

• Review notes from AMTF meeting in February
• Collect resource materials from other related organizations on socially responsible meeting models
• Continue to investigate options for hotel contracts in the future

Next Steps:   

Membership survey:  Results of the membership survey should be available in March and will be sent to the AMTF.