Blog Entries tagged 'Social Responsibility'

To boycott or not: continuing the conversation

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Boycotts can work; they can also hurt the people in service jobs who will suffer if there is less or no business. If an organization, company, or individual determines to boycott a company, city, state, or other entity, it should be undertaken with care and consideration after research is done.

The boycotts that began the US civil rights era in the 1950s were tremendously effective. (The late) Rosa Parks, one of the people I most admire, effectively began the Montgomery, AL bus bo [...]

Did you hear the one about the poor hotels...

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

that were fighting the US Justice Department about renovating hotels to ensure they'll be accessible under the revised ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act?

When I read that story on a few industry web sites, I shook my head in wonder, sadness, and anger. How dare they say they can't do these renovations to ensure accommodation for all people when they can continue to put in fancy TVs and more and more amenities!

Then I read this story in the 9.6.08 Washin [...]

A room with a partial ocean view

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

I've always chuckled at that description. Early on in my industry career I learned what it meant: IF your window opens and you can get your body sorta out the window and twist it mightily, you will see a bit of the ocean.

Too often I've been in a room which may be comfortable but has a "view" of the .. dumpster, or the parking garage, or the top of another part of the building, or a window of an adjacent building. I used "view" in quotes because a [...]

Let the games begin!

JoanEisenstodt — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Many who read this will watch all or part of the Olympic coverage from Beijing. As industry professionals, we will no doubt want to know more about the logistics of moving people and keeping them safe. No doubt we will analyze what we see!

We will wonder how the environment will help or hinder athletes from around the world. And we will wonder how the people of China will manage during the games and when the games end.

We will watch in anticipation - for th [...]

It's generational

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

E.J. Dionne, a columnist in the Washington Post (and often a commentator on MSNBC's "Countdown" with Keith Olbermann [who I confess I think is the sexiest man alive] wrote in the Friday, 25 July Washington Post about how the "youth vote" may make a huge difference in this year's US elections.

As I read this, I was heartened that it was so, mainly because I want more people involved in the political process - that is what a democracy [...]

Will everyplace look alike?

JoanEisenstodt — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

This story and the accompanying photos in USAToday on line today made me so sad.

As I look around North America and then to other countries, I am saddened to see how alike they are becoming with any vestige of what once was.

I remember when Seattle, WA, tore down all the small businesses across from the Sheraton and put up a building and mall that could be in any city. It made me sad. Why both traveling when it all looks like a [...]

"Food, glorious food ...."

JoanEisenstodt — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

The song, from "Oliver" (the musical) came to mind when I read the series of vignettes in the Washington Post on 8 June about the food crisis world wide.

Most of those reading this are pretty lucky - probably reasonably well-fed and able, for now, to afford food for themselves and their families. And yet, in the United States, Canada and other developed countries, food prices are skyrocketing, somewhat because of the price of oil which means that transporting food [...]

When diverse people come together

JoanEisenstodt — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0100

with a mission of social responsibility, remarkable things happen.

Day 2 of the ASAE/Center Global Summit on Social Responsibility is done. We did so much good work today to move us to our conclusion on Friday. We took the work of Wednesday, using our dreams and our thoughts about SR in the association community for 2020 and got into how we'd do it.

My random thoughts are below, somewhat edited for this audience v. those who have participated in the Summit.&n [...]