Previous Page
Comments August: CMP Series
HAVINGRECENTLYTAKEN theCMPexam, I foundthe articleon the revisions totheAmericansWith DisabilitiesAct intheAugust issueof Convene (“All Inclusive”) very inter- esting!The statistics regarding Boomerswere especially enlightening. Thank you for the timely news. PamelaKenworthy AssociateManager – Legal National Exchange Carrier Association
I just finishedreading [JenniferN. Dienst’s] article inConvene about the ADAupdates as they relate tothe hospitality industry.Thankyoufor being sothorough! I’ve copiedit and sent it toour internalmanagement. I do have a question regarding
AVrequirements.Has theADA passed anything pertaining to laws forAV?Also, do you knowthe aver- age size/weight of service animals? On a personal note, my
brother was paralyzed when he was 16. He’s 53 now, a paraplegic with the most winning, positive attitude you can imagine; when you see him, you don’t see the wheelchair. I remember when he went to college at the University of Notre Dame, the school made certain that anything that wasn’t accessible was made so—they rolled out the red carpet for him and he loved it there. It is so encouraging to me that
our society respects our people enough to pass laws to help out people like Bill. In the hospitality industry, we can affect multiples of people in one day—people who might be quietly wishing they could travel more, partici- pate more, do what everyone else does more. JeanMackay Vinson Public Relations Coordinator The Founders Inn and Spa
JenniferDienst followed upwith SarahGalbraith Laucks,CMP, director of events and education
8 pcma convene September 2011
for theAbilities Expo,who offered this response toVinson’s questions: TheADAdoesnot specifically address audiovisual equipment;how- ever, there is a clause thatmeeting planners andfacilitieswillwant to keepinmind:36.202Activities item a)notes that“Apublic accommoda- tionshallnot subject anindividualor classof individuals ...toadenialof theopportunityof the individualor class toparticipate inorbenefit from the goods, services, facilities,privi- leges, advantages,or accommoda- tionsof aplaceofpublic accommo- dation.”(Emphasis added.) Essentially, youwant tomake sure thatAVequipment is accessible topeoplewithdisabilities,withinrea- sonable accommodation. As for service animals,most are
dogs and they are usuallymedium to large in size.Think retrievers, poodles, labradoodles, and labradors.These dogs can generally weigh up to around 100 pounds. Staff should be prepared for all sizes. Small dogsworkwell as serv- ice dogs for peoplewith various mental health disabilities and also as seizure-alert dogs. Smallmonkeys are also used as service animals— theADAdoes not cover themat this time, but ... froma customer service perspective this is a case where youmay prefer to be lenient as it relates to the requirements of the law.Also, because the service dog industry has discovered that rescue animals canmake the best service animals, service dogs now come in all shapes, sizes, and breeds.
July: Behind the Scenes
IREALLYENJOYEDMICHELLE Russell’sBehind the Scenes column (“DoingWell byDoingGood”). I lovewhatTourismToronto didwith reference to PlanCanada’s “Gifts of Hope.” I’ve chosen “stuff” from there in the past and have sort of for- gotten about it—thiswill bring it to the forefront again.
continued on page 102
convene PCMA ® PUBLISHER Deborah Sexton, (312) 423-7210
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Sherrif Karamat,CAE, (312) 423-7247
CONVENE EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Michelle Russell, mrussell@pcma.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christopher Durso, cdurso@pcma.org SENIOR EDITOR Barbara Palmer, bpalmer@pcma.org SENIOR EDITOR Hunter R. Slaton, hslaton@pcma.org ART DIRECTION Mitch Shostak, Roger Greiner Shostak Studios Inc., (212) 979-7981 CONTRIBUTING EDITORSMaureen Littlejohn; Jennifer N. Dienst
CONVENE ADVERTISING
DIRECTOR, PARTNER RELATIONS & ADVERTISING Mona Simon, (312) 423-7244, msimon@pcma.org
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Wendy Krizmanic (AK, CT, DC, DE, ID,MA,MD,ME, NH, NJ, NY, NV,OR, PA, RI, VT,WA) phone: (312) 636-9254; e-mail: wkrizmanic@pcma.org
Mary Lynn Novelli, CMP (AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, KY, LA,MS, NC,OH, SC, TN, VA,WV,Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central and South America, Carribbean) Dallas, TX; phone: (312) 423-7212; fax: (469) 574-5590; e-mail: mnovelli@pcma.org
Albert Pereira (AZ, CA, HI, NM,OK, TX, UT, Canada) 345 Kingston Road, Suite 203, Pickering, Ontario, Canada L1V 1A1; phone: (312) 423-7277; fax: (905) 509-6810; e-mail: apereira@pcma.org
Mary Lou Sarmiento (IA, IL, IN, KS,MI,MN,MO,MT, ND, NE, SD,WI,WY, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand) 1033W. Taylor Street, Suite 1E, Chicago, IL 60607; phone: (312) 636-0636; fax: (312) 896-7397; e-mail: msarmiento@pcma.org
Ken Torres (Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central and South America, Caribbean) P.O. Box 9128,Miramar Beach, FL 32550; phone: (850) 837-5177; fax: (850) 837-5277; e-mail: ktorres@pcma.org
MANAGER, PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION Keisha Reed, (312) 423-7246 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR KathleenMulvihill, (312) 423-7236
PCMA OFFICERS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Susan R. Katz, True Value Company
CHAIR-ELECT Kent E. Allaway, CEM, CMP, Produce Marketing Association
SECRETARY-TREASURER Johnnie C.White, CMP, Cardiovascular Research Foundation
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Kati S. Quigley, CMP,Microsoft Corporation
PCMA DIRECTORS Willie L. Benjamin II, International Reading Association
Hunter Clemens, CMP, Association Management Group/Meetings Management Laurie Fitzgerald, CMP, Allstate Insurance Company Ben Goedegebuure, Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre James S. Goodman, CMP, American Dental Association Richard B. Green, Marriott International Mary Pat Heftman, National Restaurant Association Christine Klein, CMP Raymond J. Kopcinski, CMP,Million Dollar Round Table Carrie Freeman Parsons, Freeman William F. Reed, CMP, Experient Inc. James E. Rooney, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Randall Tanaka, Hawaii Convention Center ChristopherWehking, CMP, American Society of Anesthesiologists DonWelsh, Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau
David L.Williams, CMP, International Association for Energy Economics
The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of PCMA.
Convene is amember of
Convene is printed on recycled paper
Convene is amember of