REPORTING FROM PORTLAND, ORE. — Tick, tick, tick. The window on the screen flashed, counting down from a 60-second time regulation. The imposing numerals set the tone for impassioned opinions that landed on both sides of the International Association of Venue Managers’ proposed bylaw changes. The votes will address two separate issues: whether or not allied members defined as vendors who serve the industry, are able to vote, and whether or not allied members who have previously served as venue managers for a minimum of seven years may serve as IAVM officers.
It’s a model that some said has worked before. Trevor Dohnt, Melbourne (Australia) Cricket Club, and a member of the Venue Management Association, IAVM’s partner in Australia, took the stage to speak about VMA’s addition of members to leadership positions many years ago.
“We recognized many years ago that we’re all in this industry together,” said Dohnt, who added that industry professionals move in and out of venue management throughout their careers. For nearly a decade, service members have been able to vote and serve on senior committees, with Dohnt adding, “there’s been no takeover.”
The clock proved restricting immediately. Lionel Dubay, University of Florida-Gainesville, a 41-and-a-half-year member of IAVM and a past president, was the first to stand up and speak, only to see his microphone turned off as the seconds ticked to zero. Friend and peer Denny Magruder, Westbanco Arena, Wheeling, W.Va., stood up third, only to say, “I happen to agree with Lionel, and I want to give him the rest of my time to finish his comments.”
After the timed start, a string of professional and respectful comments came to light.
Even those in opposition of the changes stressed the importance of allied members, both on a professional and a personal level.
“There’s not one member that doesn’t appreciate our allied members,” said Dubay.”They’ve served on our committees and supported us financially but, more than that, we’ve built friendships.”
Cliff Wallace, a longtime IAVM member and also a past president, currently managing director of NWS Venue Management, Hong Kong, said that the contributions of allied members remain intensely important to the association, “not the least the enormously valuable relationships, business and personal, from our allied members.”
“We must continue to solicit that support and continue to provide a platform to sell us their products and services,” he added.
Allied members stressed the importance of partnership and inclusion.
Martin Thorson of Sodexo has been an allied partner for his entire career of more than two decades.
“I would say that’s the word to focus on: We are partners,” said Thorson. He added that he’s 100 percent in favor of the vote, but that allied members would have to look deep within themselves to undertake the huge commitment of serving on the board.
Paciolan’s Jane Kleinberger spoke with tears in her eyes. Though not usually a shy person, Kleinberger admitted that she was nervous to speak in favor of the new bylaws in fear that other members might hold it against her, leading to a financial and economic impact on her organization.
“If as allieds, we’re not trusted to have an opinion and care deeply about facility management, then you should oppose the vote,” said Kleinberger. “There’s a time and place for change.”
“Know that we love you dearly,” she added. “If you want to grow and be vibrant, please give [the allied member bylaws] some consideration.”
It wasn’t just allied members supporting the vote in its entirety. Carol Wallace of San Diego Convention Center, another past president of IAVM, made the point, “We are a venue management industry, not just an association of venue managers.” She supports the vote because allies are important members who help move the goals of IAVM forward.
Several members were split down the middle now that the vote has been separated into two issues — with individual votes on whether or not allied members should be able to vote, and whether or not allied members with appropriate venue management experience should be able to serve on the board.
Portland’5 Centers for the Arts’ Robyn Williams said she supported the allied vote, but not the issue of allied members in senior leadership positions.
David Ross, IAVM president 2005-06 and former director of the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., for 25 years, said that both allied and professional members all have the best interests of the organization at heart. He said that if allied members didn’t wear a different badge, you wouldn’t know them from the professional members.
He stated that he was for the allied members being able to vote, but believes that the International Association of Venue Managers should be run by venue managers.
Dubay defined the difference between allied members and professional members.
“What’s the difference?” he asked. “It’s in our name. We’re an association of venue managers and over decades and years we’ve tried very hard to build our organization as a professional organization.”
He related his fear that should IAVM move in the proposed direction, the organization could become more of a trade association as opposed to a professional association.
Some members proposed new ideas to give allied members a more active and influential role in the organization. Dubay suggested that if people move back and forth between companies in the allied and venue management industries, they should have the ability to serve in leadership roles within IAVM only when they are actively working as a venue manager.
Wallace applied the same principal to his travel plans.
“When I go back to Hong Kong, I want the pilot of that airplane to be a current pilot, not someone who was a pilot seven years ago — no matter how long they worked as a pilot,” he said. However, he added that there are allied members who are qualified in and actively running and managing venues day-to-day, and the organization could create a pathway for them to become professional members, at which point they would be able to serve on the board.
Wallace said he believes that “those of us who are living, breathing and running our buildings on a day-to-day basis should be running this association with the continued input of our allied members.”
No further revisions to the bylaw proposals are planned. Professional members will have the opportunity to vote for a full 30 days beginning Aug. 1 via electronic ballot.
Contacted for this story: Trevor Dohnt, +61 (0) 3 9657 8944; Lionel Dubay, (352) 392-5500; Jane Kleinberger, (949) 823-1636; Denny Magruder, (304) 233-7000; Martin Thorson, (267) 640-8784; Carol Wallace, (619) 525-5101; Cliff Wallace, +8 52 2582 7800; Robyn Williams, (503) 248-4335