MPI’s Passover faux pas; they’re not alone
An article we ran online last week, MPI PEC-Europe: Passover Problem in 2008?, caused a lot of chatter on the two meetings industry listservs. Most, if not all, who talked about it were shocked and appalled that MPI would schedule its Europe conference over Passover, but believe it or not, it seems to be fairly common to have events scheduled over holidays of one sort or another. Not saying it’s right, just that it happens.
As the stuff hit the fan last week, I found out about two other events for meeting professionals coming up in the next year that fall over religious holidays. It wasn’t meant as a slap in the face in either case. It was more a matter of those dates being the only ones they could get during the time window and price point they needed. Both organizers were worried about how to handle it, given that they really couldn’t change the dates. This isn’t an excuse, but it is the reality some planners have to deal with.
Call me crazy, but I think a little transparency and thoughtfulness goes a long to mitigate the fallout from a scheduling snafu. If the organizers explained the situation, apologized, promised to do better in the future, and asked what they could do to accommodate those who would like to attend but still want to celebrate their holiday (it could be as serious as a religious holiday or just something like the Superbowl), attendees would likely be at least a little more forgiving.
That’s what the organizer of my hometown’s annual fall festival just did when she inadvertently scheduled this year’s Grotonfest over Yom Kippur. She wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper apologizing, explaining, and promising to do better in the future.
To prevent future faux pas, planners can check with the numerous holiday calendars out there, including Earth Calendar and the International Holiday Calendar. I know that sometimes you just can’t help but do it when faced with unmovable dates and inflexible rate needs, but there’s no excuse for just not knowing your dates fall over a holiday.
Related Topics: In my opinion, Meetings and conventions
July 7th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
I am responding to all those who have commented on the MPI - Passover issue, and also to others who have expressed an interest or opinion in this situation. If I have accidentally omitted anyone or if any of you know someone that I have omitted, particularly MPI members and MeCos, please let them know and request they accept my apology for this oversight.
First, please allow me to set the record straight. This is the third time MPI has scheduled a major event that has conflicted with Passover. The first time was in the mid to late seventies at an MPI annual meeting in Dallas. Several attendees, not all members of the Jewish faith, then decided to sit together at the evening banquet and turn it into a Seder. Although there were rolls on the table and matzo was not available, we were able to get a kosher bottle of wine. Proof of this activity is in the attached photograph (bottom row left to right first person (?), Coleman Finkel, Victor Chen [a/k/a Victor Chenowitz] and Pat ?; top row left to right first and second persons ?, Harvey Paul Davidson, Jim Rubenstein (with the Haggadah - the story of Passover), Howard Feiertag and Bob ?). Some of the participants can be seen wearing their MPI name badges.
Since the first time happened about a quarter of a century ago, the people responsible for the second error in judgment may be forgiven for their respective lapses in memory as they were most likely not involved at the first meeting and were unaware that it happened, or possibly were not even born then or know what a meeting professional does. However, as it did happen a second time recently, there should be no excuse why it happened a third time. I realize that we are an international association and a majority of us live and conduct business in a secular society in the United States. That said, it is difficult, though not impossible or within reason to be aware and respect aspects of everyone’s beliefs. There are times, however, and I submit that Passover is one of these times, along with other major holidays, religious or otherwise, that we need to respect the recognized and diversified needs of our MPI members and our respective organizations. After all, as many members have said, we are the leaders in our profession and this is the policy the majority of us follow, teach and implement in our own organizations.
Once again we can accept the apologies of our new leadership team and volunteers who may not have been aware of the past two faux pas; however, while I am not advocating the adage of three strikes and you’re out for any individuals, after three major mistakes it’s now time to go beyond apologies. Unfortunately, since we cannot undo what has been done and we do not have the benefit of our judicial system to impose a fine or other penalty, as a sign of good faith (pun not intended), I submit that MPI, as a reminder to “never again,” make a charitable donation as a form of community service to a worthwhile organization or organizations that respect and honor religious and other forms of diversity. In fairness, nominations can be made and voted on by the membership who can then select one or more groups to be a recipient and I further submit that board of directors vote on the amount of the donation or donations to be made.
Harvey Paul Davidson CHME, CMP Emeritus, CM
Chairman
Ad Hoc Committee
www.adhoccommittee.org
September 24th, 2007 at 5:56 am
As a graduate student of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, planning a conference in Asia as part of an assignment for the MICE module, I can fully appreciate the problem that MPI has in scheduling a date. The situation is just as complicated in Asia where there are a myriad of religions and festivals which each nationality and race celebrate.
To plan an event in Singapore in 2008, one has to avoid Vesak Day for the Buddhists which falls on May 19, Hari Raya Puasa for the Malays which falls on Oct 13, and Hari Raya Haji which falls on 8 December as well as the month-long Ramadan (fasting period) which falls in September-October. Then there is the Deepavali (New Year for the Indians) for the Hindus which falls on 28 October and for the Christians, Good Friday and Christmas Day.
To make the problem worse, the days for the Malay, Indian and Chinese New Year, and Ramadan are not fixed and are decided by the lunar calendar, unlike international holidays such as Good Friday and Christmas Day. If the event is held in Bangkok, one has to avoid the Songkran Festival, the New Year for the Thais, which falls on April 13-16.
Imagine the situation, if you are also expecting delegates from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea and China, each with his or her own set of religious holidays for his country. I would think, however, from the practical point of view, first and foremost the availability of the venue has to be consider. Then one has to weigh such things as the target markets the conference is reaching out to and made a final decision based on the delegates that the conference is catering to.
Ignorance, of course, is no excuse and possibly the worst excuse to offer.I appreciate Sue’s point that there should be a very visible and upfront effort to explain and apologise for it in public if it cannot be helped.
October 10th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
I am a fellow classmate of Lily at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and I can’t agree more that the situtaion is as complicated in this part of the world.
Asia is a region with vast number of different nationalities, each having its own varied distinct culture and beliefs. In Singapore where I am from, we have the Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurusians loving in harmony together. As Lily ahs correctly stated, in Singapore to hold and event we need to be extra careful not to clash with the major celebrations like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya (fasting month), Deepavali (Indian Nw Year) and Christmas amongst others.
It gets more complicated in China and India as there is a significantly larger population living in many cities and states that speak their own dialect, have their own culture and beliefs and also their own days of importance.
Having a MICE event that caters to everyone is definately impossible task. The target audience is utmost important and we should ensure that the date is suitable. Having a close look at the Earth Calandar and International Holiday Calendar and after you have determined the core group of delegates is ideal.
Event organisers should try to plan social events catering to the group of delagates that will be coming to the event at the expense of celebrating a festival at home. For example: Holding a Deepavali night to celebrate for our Indian counterparts’ New Year will kill three birds with one stone. Our Indian delegates will be more postive about attending the event, they will be delighted to be able to still celebrateand other delegates to better understand the Indian culture.
I too appreciate Sue’s point that there should be a very visible upfront effort to explain and apologose for it in public. Some arrangement need to be made for the affected delegates to be able to celebrate their festival in some way in the event destination.
More importantly, the incidence of the clash must not happen again in the following year. There is really no excuse if it happens twice in a row.
Richard Tan
UNLV
Leave a Comment
Advertisement
Subscribe to Face2Face
To receive a daily e-mail digest of face2face posts:
Contact Sue
Recent Posts
Calendar
Categories
Archives
Your Account