MPI and Event Industry Organizations Formed a Coalition to Stop Harassment – the only problem they are just selling seminar’s and charging for “fundraising” parties, not actually taking action on reported harassment of their own membership. If the is a definition for a scam, this is the most dehumanizing and immoral of them I have seen.

I will not tell you about their actions, I will just share the communication between MPI and their hospitality coalition, - a coalition using this issue as a selling tool to their corporate and association membership – and potential new members – in seminars, memberships and education certifications [all for a tax deductible price, a corporate expense account item]

Sent: Friday, April 27, 2018 9:06 AM

From: Plaintiff

To: Defendants - – MPI South responded, Ft Lauderdale convention and Visitors Bureau & MPI National did not

Subject: [EXT] Fw: Confirm "no comment" response from email sent to your office Feb 4 email, same issue

Just to confirm, a letter was sent to you on Feb 5th of similar nature, and no response has been received as of today

Please let me know if you would like me to resend the email that was sent to you. Otherwise we will assume you have no comment on any follow up publication we do.

Thank you

[Previous email provided detail information & proof of harassment to both the State of Florida and key members of MPI (South Florida and National). State of Florida has followed up to our satisfaction, and we thank them for their professionalism and courage – The State of Florida responded, and they did the right thing, that was within their power to do.

Also note – this is not a complaint over sexual misconduct – it is a complaint against organizations that claims to be taking action to help victims – or prevent victims - and profiting from that action without showing real good faith follow up on this issue. It is like a hurricane relief organization – they did not cause the hurricane, but they are profiting from the victims on that hurricane. That is the relationship of this report

Below is MPI’s response

April 27, 2018

MPI South Florida has no comment on this matter.

In regards to your CMP question – that is handled through the Events Industry Council (EIC) not through Meetings Professionals International or the MPI South Florida Chapter.

Fallon Gechter

President MPISFL 2017-2018

From: Plaintiff

Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2018, 10:30 AM

To: Events Industry Council (EIC)

Cc MPI

EIC - Please see MPI response directing this matter to your office and respond to it as the correct party.

For record email to Mayor was second attempt, an opportunity for a second chance to respond should not be expected.

Again thank you to MPI for the professional response [unfortunetly this good faith did not continue], we hope other parties follow this example, not follow Mayor unprofessional no response example [side note, we latter found out the Mayor of Boca Raton had not responded, because she had been arrested misuse of public office and perjury – fortunately we also included the State Government, not just Boca Raton local government – The State Government did follow up, with action, not just words - and we again thank them – but the Ft Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau did not– not even their LGBT market target department]

Though I just read the mayor was arrested? This may explain a lot and not just why mayor never responded - it is an overall issue of Boca Raton community and general Florida government and hospitality standards.

I hope the responses I get prove otherwise.

May 21st – Meeting Planner International HQ issue Press Release “MPI and Event Industry Organizations Form Coalition to Stop Harassment.” Many individuals listed in press release received above email, but never responded – not even that they were setting up an organization to address this – they just ignored the email totally.

Subject: MPI And Leading Events Industry Organizations Form Coalition To Stop Sexual Harassment

From: Plaintiff

Sent: Friday, May 25, 2018, 2:29 PM

To: MPI

XXXXXX XXXXXXXX, I guess MPI South leadership did not get your email and press release - perhaps you should send it to them again; or perhaps I should find some other way to get everyone's attention about organizations like MPI cynically doing a great job talking the talk - but besides a lot of press releases, parties, meetings and conventions [all charging corporate and association members money to attend]- not much walking that talk. Like I said before, morals of a stereotypical "used car salesman" is the best explanation.

On Friday, May 25, 2018 8:40 AM

Sent again to Ft Lauderdale CVB, MPI, ASAE and all the other Hospitality community

"I, and so many of Harvey Weinstein's survivors, had given up hope that our rapist would be held accountable by law. Twenty years ago, I swore that I would right this wrong. Today we are one step closer to justice," said actress Rose McGowan, one of the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of assault.

"We were young women who were assaulted by Weinstein and later terrorized by his vast network of complicity. I stand with my fellow survivors. May this give hope to all victims and survivors everywhere that are telling their truths," she said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

By far Women - and not just young women - have been the greatest victims of sexual misconduct - rape by far is the worst, but the core of any sexual misconduct is power (I am sure the LBGT reps know this all too well) - power over others through demeaning them in the most intimate ways - and two wrongs do not make a right. I think the is a word for that - maybe your LBGT CVB team can help - it is hypocrisy

This will be my last email to you all on subject, assuming you have not already blocked me (part of the complicity game playbook - along with no response at all or no comment). But I better not see a statement, press release, or a TV / newspaper interview ..... from either organization showing support on the outside for this type of justice while back at home at the ranch it is the same old thing, same old network of complicity - it is just these smaller events are not "sexy" enough to make CNN - but if the South Florida CVB or MPI get too overt in this network of complicity game- well maybe a local channel will use this (and others, as we learned with Bill Cosby case, the are always others) makes it's HBO version of Jo Paterno on the Hospitality / Meeting industry leaders of South Florida

Bottom Line - what am I asking - if your decision is to shut up to this and ignore, then you better follow that same strategy going forward for all such events that involve an issue of sexual misconduct - take off your #metoo pins and go sit in the corner and keep your month shut, you have lost your moral credibility to be part of the dialog.

Oh - almost forgot - guest safety falls somewhere in this conversation .... but I was in your industry for two decades and I and everyone else knows you all have the reputation of a stereotypical "used car salesman" on that subject - old news. No offense, it is just a fact - that is why their are web sites like Yelp and Yellow pages now (besides Rip Off report) - you should go look at those sites yourself.

May 31st the following Hospitality association send below Press release; ASAE, AWE, EIC, IAEE, IMEX, JMIC, MPI, PCMA and SITE –all the organizations we have been trying to get some response from, besides a no comment – not my problem.

“Events Industry Leaders Set Out to Stop Sexual Harassment”

MPI, PCMA and SITE, have formed a coalition to eliminate sexual harassment within the events industry and the workplace. After separately trying to solve this problem, each group determined addressing sexual harassment prevention requires policies that reach beyond their organizations. With the formation of the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements, the coalition believes it is #StrongerTogether and that it is critical to act now to create positive change and end sexual harassment, once and for all. Specifically, the coalition will identify tools and develop new resources to assist in educating the events industry about sexual harassment.

The individuals who have come forward to serve on the coalition’s task force are as follows:

Susan Robertson, CAE, Executive Vice President, ASAE
Bob Skelton, Chief Administration Officer, ASAE
Kiki J. Fox, President & Co-Founder, AWE
Carrie Abernathy, CMP, CEM, CSEP, Past-President & Co-Founder, AWE
Johnnie White, MBA, CAE, CMP, Treasurer, AWE
Julie Sullivan, CMP, CEM, CTA, Vice President, AWE
Nicole Unger, CMP, Secretary, AWE
Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, CEO, EIC
Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE, COO, IAEE
Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX
Rod Cameron, Executive Director, JMIC
Amanda Armstrong, Chair, MPI
Nicole Edmund, Vice President, Community, MPI
Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President & CEO, PCMA

Subject: Fw: Fwd: MPI And Leading Events Industry Organizations Form Coalition To Stop Sexual Harassment

From: Defendant

To: All representatives (or surrogates) listed above in press release

Sent: Monday, June 18, 2018, 10:01 AM

If you have received this more than once, I apologize – I am using Yahoo email, and even as Marissa Mayer pointed out when she left Yahoo – it is a terrible platform - and if I have missed the person I really should be addressing this too, I assume you have, or should have, forward my very first email to the correct person (that complicity of silence thing).

I am not looking to burn anyone on this list – but if you are going to issue press releases and set up web sites on this subject, at least have the courtesy – not just professional courtesy – just plain, good old fashion manners – codified actions of respect for your fellow human = regardless if it is touching someone inappropriately, or just ignoring a request after you have taken accolades for responding to such requests [and to offer course, for a fee – to address such issues and offering them to your corporate accounts and association membership] – it is the same, the only difference is degrees. It is why we have Capital Murder vs Man manslaughter or Depraved Indifference laws – and hopefully why your organization set up your collation, not just cynical opportunism (perfect storm of PR – [I think you used that similar line in a press release] , not really one of addressing this problem)

I use to belong to ASAE and MPI - you have some good people in both organization, but unfortunate history shows good people do not always chose good leaders. I am hoping you are going to prove me wrong today – good people can choose good leaders.

I am going to roll back my statement – you prove to me you are practicing what you all have been patting yourselves on the back, very publicly on the internet – and I will not be that boy in the story that points out to the people that the kings of the meeting industry are telling naked bs. I want justice – and you have set up an organization claiming you can help me get justice – if you lied to me, I will settle for retribution – I rather make you a hero than a cynical coward, - but If you are coward, I will not have a problem calling you out. We only tolerate cowards if they keep their month shut, you are not – abusing one of the few privileges of [a] coward

PS – or perhaps I am misinformed – women have reached the level of hypocrisy in your industry you only apply benefits to women, like voting only applied to men at one time. If that is the position, wow – women have truly achieved equality with men in the work force and exceeded it - now that would be an interesting new twist to the story - even more worth telling [I just guess Male Heterosexual, Male Homosexual and Transgenders that chose to be identified as male are SOL in your new program – considering it appears to be a scam, perhaps they should count themselves lucky.

As of posting of this report – not response. If I get a response, I will post it

=======================================================

Please note that the person documenting this on the rip off report is a friend of the person who sent these emails. I am a friend of his, he is disabled with arthritis , and has become very ill – he is recovering, but he wants justice on this matter so he asked me to write this report for him – it is done with his approval – he dictated it to me.

The people who got his emails, the ones listed above - you have his direct email address, the emails he sent to you – but do not write to him back– so now leave him alone - you ignored him for a long time, he is now too ill to respond you had your chance – it is gone.

Respond on this rip off report – show some courage and respond on this site publicly or just go away. Anything else, will just be a different form of harassment that will be again documented on this web site

Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on Meeting Professionals International & Hospitality Coalition

7 Updates & Rebuttals

John

Atlanta,
Georgia,
United States

unintentionally posted

#2Author of original report

Sat, July 14, 2018

It was unintentionally posted and I hereby retract the post

Georgia,
United States

Another report / evidence of negligence, depraved indifference

#3Author of original report

Sat, July 07, 2018

Another report/evidence of negligence, depraved indifference (as in incompetence that has result in harm to another person – and as a professional you should have anticipated said factors / events) or just plain old fashion bad faith (lying and / or not admitting the truth to avoid consequences) by Meeting Planners International.

See rip off report: #1450537 Complaint Review: Meeting Professionals International for mitigation of this report

Supplemental – Rhetorical question to MPI – does the “P” stand for Professional or Planner? On the internet I have see it used both ways.

I have been out of sales & marketing / pr for a long time, but my current job of Risk Mitigation I do have some legal experience. You would be better off just going with Planner. When you identify yourself as a Professional, you carry an extra burden of proof when dealing with the legal basic principle of “reasonable man.”

I know that is like admitting you are a moron and thus did not know better, but the alternative is admitting you are actually pretty smart, you were just negligent or knowing committed a civil or criminal offense - or showing gross bad faith (see above definition), that could be used as mitigation evidence in some other similar charge.

Just my 2 cents

Georgia,
United States

Post Brief / back up evidence to already submitted statements

#4Author of original report

Fri, June 22, 2018

Post Brief / back up evidence to already submitted statements

I broke my own rule, sorry like I said before, this has been a personally (health wise) hard week for me.

I said I made more than a reasonable effort to not only to work with give Ms. Hawkins, but spare organizations like MPI, PCMI, IEAA, ASEA………. From just adding to the already negative foot print – below are samples

On June 21, 2018, at 7:53 AM, To IAEE

You do know

1 i had dropped my complaint on th rip off report

2. This mpi. Hr. Lady is just provoking me to reopen it

3. The more updates to a web page puts it higher on google search

I do not want to continue, I want to end it now - said it publicly. But I am a man of my word and will as said below start up again

Maybe you can talk some sense into mpi.

Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2018, 7:05 AM

To: "pastpresident@mpisfl org" <[email protected]> (and member of Ft Lauderdale CVB)

CC:

She would have been better off doing what you did, nothing

You did all read I closed my rip off report and dropping this?

What is it with you mpi guys you love pain or something?

On June 21, 2018, at 7:42 AM - nashe scott@hilton. com

This is why I got out of the hotel convention sales. You guys have to act like mpi Is god when we all know they are idiots.

I had closed this report, now the hr. Lady @ mpi is giving, pushing me to reopen my rip off report. You do know the more updates to a web page puts it higher on the search results on google?

Maybe a non-meeting planner can explain to these morons how to manage these events

decrease your exposure, not increase the pr damage.

(side Bar - this was an unfair statement I made and regret, there are some - most - very good and smart people in MPI - I was frustrated and said something I should not - even I am guilty of such things, they key is I take accountability for my actions - or non actions)

On June 21, 2018, at 8:22 AM, To several key ASAE contacts

Can I assume asae shares this [stand with mpi and this ] Hr. Lady's position?

What a waste - I am now going to not just further doc[ument] mpi and asae, on hypocrisy but create a lasting record of this lady's neg[ative] job performance as a [HR] Professional.

Someone should help this lady make sure she gets her next response right.

On June 21, 2018, at 8:34 AM, To PCMI contacts

Same request

Either help the next move of this lady is the right one - and no response is not one of them

Or I am going to either get a statement from pcma. Or include you silently agree with her position

Youth is not an excuse for stupidity, but at 60 most people to me are young, just not this stupid

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: Fwd: Your Email - Harassment

Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2018, 8:26 AM

To: "Laila ea@thesosi. com" <[email protected]>

CC:

Maybe you can help - I have sent out a lot of emails today, would you all prefer i just have gone public in the internet?

==========================================================

A lot more were sent – and because meeting planners are usually swamped by sales people, emails are hard to find (well, without paying for them, but what type of IT geek would I be if I had to pay for emails)

Again, what a waste……. It is hard thing to become this old, and realize that as stupid as I am, a lot of our leaders are even more stupid (at least in Hospitality) – plus a lot more morally vacant.

For future leaders of MPI that are not….. like the current crew and sincerely want to make the world a better place - MPI will eventually bury this with Press Releases & Web updates - jam up the google search algorithms, same with PCMA, ASAE and other “professional” organizations. So you will not be burden by the sins of your forebears, I just hope you learn the right lessons from their actions (or do what I did, just get out while you can - I can say from experience the is just too much temptation and opportunity in the hospitality industry - things you do not come across in others like IT - that attracts such individuals) – Like the other entertainment industry, Movies

Speaking of movies, my final line – a quote from a Mel Gibson movie Edge of Darkness

“Now I are done.

Again, I do not enjoy the role of public prosecution of liars, scammer, harassers, or sexual predators …. in fact, I only do it if it impacts myself or my family – it is too exhausting as a part time job

We all make mistakes, it is accepting accountability and taking action that rights the wrong that defines justice, as a person being a basic good human being vs just a jerk. We all make oversights, human errors, bad luck, respond to impulse control inappropriately (I myself is not a saint), had a bad day and did not do something they should have….. but someone knowingly committing a wrong- where they are sorry, not for the act, but getting called out on and only taking action to avoid accountability….. well if you can not complete this sentence yourself, the point is lost on you – go write some self congratulatory press releases or something.

; and like a prosecutor I am willing to cut deals, not go to court (like the court of public exposure) –but the defendant has to work with me – and if they don’t, then I have no choice and proceed to the maximum extent with the tools afforded me.

Georgia,
United States

Meeting Planning International responded, not like they claim they would in their PR statements, but with threats and insults

#5Author of original report

Thu, June 21, 2018

Meeting Planning International responded, not like they claim they would in their PR statements, but with threats and insults

An official from the Meeting Planning International finally did respond, interesting it was not one of the individuals we originally contacted. Person that contacted us was: Diane M. Hawkins, SPHR, SCP

Vice President People, Performance and Administrative Services Meeting Planners International

Dallas/Fort Worth Area On June 20, 2018, at 7:53 PM, Diane Hawkins <[email protected]> wrote: “We are in receipt of what we consider to be your numerous defamatory and malicious emails sent to both MPI Global and MPI Southern Florida Chapter volunteers. We consider these to be unwarranted harassment and intimidation and therefore, these must cease immediately.

We will not acknowledge or respond to any further emails or any other forms of communication to anyone at MPI Global or MPI Southern Florida Chapter

Any such communication will be considered by us to be an unwarranted continuation of harassment and your intimidation and any such continuation will be dealt with accordingly.” ======= As far as my official, legal response to all of the above, excluding the part regarding Malice, - in the interest of time, please see already referenced Rip Off Report: #1412602. Complaint Review: University of Alabama Compliance Office - Birmingham Alabama. The section that begins with To: Teresa DuPree Bragg, CPA, CHC, CRMA University Compliance Officer University of Alabama at Birmingham Replace UAB Compliance office with MPI HR office Replace Teresa DuPree Bragg, CPA, CHC, CRMA with Diane M. Hawkins, SPHR, SCP

As far as Malice, Ms. Hawkins has not made enough of a prima facie case for me to construct a response/defense. In my response I requested her to clarify he charge with some legal relevant specifics I could respond to. In this report I said I was done unless provoked, I consider this a provocation – and feel legally bound to respond to what I think are false charges. Below emails are my off the cuff response, please forgive the sloppy nature of the emails, I was having an arthritis flair up, in some pain and on pain meds (and typing my emails on my kindle in bed.) I gave her until 5 pm.. Unless MPI again reopens this case, I am again closing this again with this update and moving on to my next case My next case will be filing a complaint with Human Resource Certification Institute challenging Ms. Diane M. Hawkins worthiness of her SPHR. Base on what response I get – if I feel good faith is not shown, I will file a Rip Off Report and cross reference it to this report. As with all these complaints, they take research to insure they are fair and reasonable, so even if I get a very strong and fast bad faith response, it will probably take me a month before I file a Rip Off Report. Note – some editing below was done for clarity, but context or meaning was not altered. If Defendant disputes this, we offer them to reply to this Rip Off Report with their version. Subject: Re: Your Email - Harassment

From Plaintive (I am the Plaintive in that I file the charge, MPI is responding to my charges, that makes them the defendant.

Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2018, 6:32 AM

To: "sthorpe@mpiweb org" <[email protected]>,Diane Hawkins <[email protected]>

CC:

Just so I make sure I spell your name and title right [please see below], and this is rich - you are a certified hr person for mpi.

Someone reported harassment to mpi, in spring 2018 - Back in November 2017 [MPI] claim[ed] in multi press releases [issued by MPI Corp that it had stated a program ] [to advised ] all mpi members how to handle such [harassment] reports professionally.

Going by my experience the steps of [MPI harassment reporting] program [is]

1. Say no comment

2. Blame another hospitality [organization]

3. Then ignore the person who made the complaint for a few months after repeated request for a real response [following available escalation protocols that defendant was able to identify via research on the web]

4. If the reporter [of being harassed] does not just goes away – MPI policy appears to escalate to [MPI HR Office]. [HR representative] will show zero tolerance for any reports and send an email accusing [reporter of harassment] of [harassing] MPI [members] or other hospitality member [also referred to by defended as “coalition”] –Charges will include intimidation and Malice – but no specifics will be supplied to respond [not an actionable legal response, more just general name calling]. [MPI HR will [also state victim report [has been determined] unwarranted [without explanation on how or why decision was made].

And what was my intimidation threat – [the only one I can identify is to] expose the truth by documenting your actions? Tell the truth and share this truth? [legal reminder, cased of deformation, the truth is the ultimate defense, plaintive feels it has met it’s burden of proof, defendant clearly has not.]

[Ms Hawkins ] did you even read the complaint?

[Ms Hawkins ] the sexual assault was so bad the Rip off reported felt uncomfortable to post it all and we mutually agreed not too - why don't you [read ] the report yourself and point out the parts [you claim] were unwarranted - not the guy grabbing my face repeatedly and force kissing me or when he pulled his pants down and pressed his bare bottom against me - or him and other hospitality associates calling and writing to my wife threatening her to shut me up and not report their abuse/harassment.

Do me a favor and go back to step 3 - so I can add your official mpi. Response to my internet post. Diane M. Hawkins, SPHR, SCP

Vice President People, Performance and Administrative Services

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

On June 20, 2018, at 11:23 PM, :

Back up to other email i just sent you

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: Re: Your Email - Harassment

From: Plaintive

Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2018, 9:59 PM

To: Diane Hawkins <[email protected]>

CC:

I see you tried to recall your message it did not work. Give you a choice, apologize, say you are sorry for your message and verbally take it back and I will forget it.

Do not or double down and I will handle you like the lady that tried the same thing at uab - You can reference it on the Rip off report. In fact call her and asked if she felt what she did ended up helping or hurting.

I think enough people have been hurt by their own stupidity, but if you insist on joining them then I will get geared up and restart the thread on the internet and accommodate you. But did you really think this email thread and restarting this public campaign is in MPI or your best interest?

The fact that you tried to recall your email indicates you know you screwed up. I suggest you take my offer - but at 5 pm i need your email of apology or i help you share your feelings on mpi zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Your call

Georgia,
United States

Meeting Planning International responded, not like they claim they would in their PR statements, but with threats and insults

#6Author of original report

Thu, June 21, 2018

Meeting Planning International responded, not like they claim they would in their PR statements, but with threats and insults

An official from the Meeting Planning International finally did respond, interesting it was not one of the individuals we originally contacted. Person that contacted us was:

Diane M. Hawkins, SPHR, SCP

Vice President People, Performance and Administrative Services

Meeting Planners International

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

On June 20, 2018, at 7:53 PM, Diane Hawkins <[email protected]> wrote:

“We are in receipt of what we consider to be your numerous defamatory and malicious emails sent to both MPI Global and MPI Southern Florida Chapter volunteers. We consider these to be unwarranted harassment and intimidation and therefore, these must cease immediately.

We will not acknowledge or respond to any further emails or any other forms of communication to anyone at MPI Global or MPI Southern Florida Chapter

Any such communication will be considered by us to be an unwarranted continuation of harassment and your intimidation and any such continuation will be dealt with accordingly.”

=======

As far as my official, legal response to all of the above, excluding the part regarding Malice, - in the interest of time, please see already referenced Rip Off Report: #1412602. Complaint Review: University of Alabama Compliance Office - Birmingham Alabama. The section that begins with

To:

Teresa DuPree Bragg, CPA, CHC, CRMA

University Compliance Officer

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Replace UAB Compliance office with MPI HR office

Replace Teresa DuPree Bragg, CPA, CHC, CRMA with Diane M. Hawkins, SPHR, SCP

As far as Malice, Ms. Hawkins has not made enough of a prima facie case for me to construct a response/defense. In my response I requested her to clarify he charge with some legal relevant specifics I could respond to.

In this report I said I was done unless provoked, I consider this a provocation – and feel legally bound to respond to what I think are false and unfounded charges.

Below emails are my off the cuff response, please forgive the sloppy nature of the emails, I was having an arthritis flair up, in some pain and on paid meds (and typing my emails on my kindle in bed.) I gave her until 5 pm, but she has had enough time to follow up and I am done dealing with MPI. Unless MPI again reopens this case, I am again closing this again with this update and moving on to my next case. They have the option of posting their response in this report themselves.

My next case will be filing a complaint with Human Resource Certification Institute challenging Ms. Diane M. Hawkins worthiness of her SPHR. Base on what response I get – if I feel good faith is not shown, I will file a Rip Off Report and cross reference it to this report. As with all these complaints, they take research to insure they are fair and reasonable, so even if I get a very strong and fast bad faith response, it will probably take me a month before I file a Rip Off Report.

Note – some editing below was done for clarity, but context or meaning was not altered. If Defendant disputes this, we offer them to reply to this Rip Off Report with their version.

Subject: Re: Your Email - Harassment

From Plaintive (I am the Plaintive in that I file the charge, MPI is responding to my charges, that makes them the defendant. ]

Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2018, 6:32 AM

To: "sthorpe@mpiweb org" <[email protected]>,Diane Hawkins <[email protected]>

CC:

Just so I make sure I spell your name and title right, and this is rich - you are a certified [human resource ] person for mpi.

Someone [Defendent] reported harassment to [MPI] , in spring 2018 - Back in November 2017 [MPI] claim[ed] in multi press releases [issued by MPI Corp, stated a program was] roll out supposedly [advising ] all mpi members how to handle such [harassment] reports professionally.

Going by my experience the steps of [MPI harassment reporting] program are

1. Say no comment

2. Blame another hospitality [organization]

3. Then ignore the person who made the complaint for a few months after repeated request [to multiple offical representives] for a real response

4. If the reporter [of harassment] does not just goes away - escalate to [MPI HR Office]. [HR representative ] will show zero tolerance and send an email accusing [reporter of harassment - Defendent], [not the person accused of harressment] of [harassing] MPI [members] or other hospitality member [also referred to by defended as “coalition”] –Charges ... include intimidation and Malice – but no specifics will be supplied to respond with a defense [not an actionable legal response, more just general name calling]. [MPI HR will [also state victim report [has been determined] unwarranted [without explanation on how or why decision was made].

And what was my intimidation threat – [the only one I can identify is to] expose the truth by documenting your actions? Tell the truth and share this truth? [legal reminder, cased of deformation, the truth is the ultimate defense, plaintive feels it has met it’s burden of proof, defendant has not even attempted to meet it's burden of proof.]

[Ms Hawkins ] did you even read the complaint?

[Ms Hawkins ] the sexual assault was so bad the Rip off .... felt uncomfortable to post [all details of it ] it and we mutually agreed not too [but these details were supplied directly to MPI in our complaint] - why don't you … ….. point out the parts [you claim are unwarranted [to be classified as not harassment/sexual misconduct] - ….. guy grabbing my face repeatedly and force[ably] kissing me [on the face] or when he pulled his pants down and pressed his bare bottom against me - or him and [Boca Raton hospitality] associates calling and writing to my wife [at work] threatening her to shut me up [about reporting my harassment] - ……..

Do me a favor and go back to step 3 - so I can add your official mpi. Response to my internet post.

Diane M. Hawkins, SPHR, SCP

Vice President People, Performance and Administrative Services

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

On June 20, 2018, at 11:23 PM, Mike <[email protected]> wrote:

Back up to other email i just sent you

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: Re: Your Email - Harassment

From: Mike <[email protected]>

Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2018, 9:59 PM

To: Diane Hawkins <[email protected]>

CC:

I see you tried to recall your message it did not work. Give you a choice, apologize, say you are sorry for your message and verbally take it back and I will forget it.

Do not or double down and I will handle you like the lady that tried the same thing at [UAB] - You can reference it on the Rip off report. In fact call her and asked if she felt what she did ended up helping or hurting.

I think enough people have been hurt by their own stupidity, but if you insist on joining them then I will get geared up and restart the thread on the internet and accommodate you. But did you really think this email thread and restarting this public campaign is in MPI or your best interest?

The fact that you tried to recall your email indicates you know you screwed up. I suggest you take my offer - but at 5 pm i need your email of apology or i help you share your feelings on mpi zero tolerance for sexual harassment [.[victims reporting it]

Your call

--------------------

[again, defendant has had sufficient time to at least acknowledge this correspondence. Also, President of MPI corp & South Florida, representatives of ASAE & PCMI were also advised and asked to intervein - help to quickly resolve off line, as of 7:30 am this morning and have not responded or acknowledge said request at time of posting [4 pm].

Plaintive feels Defendants has have had more than sufficient time to respond - considering this action was perpetrated by Defendant themselves. allocution is a privilege for a lesser reaction by defendant, not an expectation - a plea bargain and avoiding court [this case, the court of public opinion] it is not a right of the defendant and is at the discretion of the plaintive.

Thank you for your time

Georgia,
United States

I am closing this report as unresolved - Just adding three other rip off reports that provide additional context if someone else wants to pick this up

#7Author of original report

Wed, June 20, 2018

I am closing this report as unresolved - Just adding three other rip off reports that provide additional context if someone else wants to pick this up, but I am done (unless provoked again)

Report: #1412602 University of Alabama Compliance Office Code of Conduct Violation Birmingham Alabama This has been shared with some of the above in this report. One of the main players at this University identifies themselves on Google and Linkedin as doing hospitality events for this university; they praise the defendant as a true professional and recommending them on Google and Facebook, knowing the full history of events. This person use to hold a position at the Atlanta Convention and Visitor's Bureau, and was a meeting planner at a major company in Atlanta some time ago - and if not now, use to be an MPI member. I know this person, and I am disappointed; but now realize this is part of the pathology of why scams like this work. I know that this person has been the subject of work place harassment herself, yet she decides to become the network of complicity in this one - why? Maybe because this time it was someone else and she though she could gain from it somehow. But to be blunt, it has been my experience that hypocrisy/duplicity in morality has no longe term percentage. But I am an IT geek, I tend to see things as 0 or 1, right or wrong. Report: #1383074 Crystal Bay Caterers Sam Lollipops Catering Concerning Health Inspection report - consistent violations and fines and fines going back to 2012 Boca Orator Florida Report on another type of complaint. Food safety is a lot easier of a charge to prove than other more personal infractions, what does that say about our society? But like the government and Al Capons on Tax evasion, some of us must employ the same tactics to achieve justice - or at least peace with closure.

Supplemental backup Report: #1383780 American Cancer Society Florida American Cancer Society American Cancer Society Fla may have subjected fundraiser guest unknowingly using a caterer with a record of unsanitary food preparation. Boca Orator Nationwide -------- My mother use to say, never write something you would be embarrassed if it was posted on your front lawn. I have gone a step future, I have posted my emails on the internet on the Rip Off Report. I guess everyone else is following my mothers advice, they are embarrassed - and they should be, thus no response - well, except a couple of ladies at UAB - they had moxie, I will give those two ladies that.

Georgia,
United States

Kiki J. Fox, president and co-founder of AWE is really full of it

#8Author of original report

Tue, June 19, 2018

May 21st Kiki J. Fox, president and co-founder of AWE said it a very splashy press release (love the graphics - must have taken a lot of time away from answering emails from victims asking for help. - guess one needs to know ones priorities)

“It's imperative that our organizations present a united front against sexual harassment in the industry. Together, we are declaring zero tolerance for behavior that harasses or discriminates," said Fox.

“MPI is committed to continuing to cultivate a safe, harassment-free environment for our members, staff and the broader MPI community. We must make every effort to prevent harassment of any kind within our global community and look forward to collaborating with the coalition on this very important initiative,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of Meeting Professionals International (MPI).

Since November 2017, MPI has proactively taken steps to demonstrate that it will not tolerate harassment in its global community and to educate members on how to prevent, report and respond to harassment"

------------------

I have a suggestion to the President Fox - why don't you add a new step to the above, include replying to emails that report abuse of your membership to the "global community"? When you get a report, actually follow up on it - or are you too busy doing PR and creating education events for a charge?

I think it has been clearly documented in this report that your zero tolerance is more like zero response. If I am wrong, then show the response to the above. Otherwise, would you please put a sock in it — false promises and general bs do not help the conversation or the cause, but just add cynicism.

The one thing worse than not doing something, is saying — promising — you are now doing something (as of Nov 2017?, really? - it is obvious South Florida missed your memo ). The evidence is above, I challenge you to prove me wrong — and I sincerely hope you do prove me wrong, I really do. We do not need another false prophet injected into the problem, we need serious people that act - not give hypocritical speaches, press and seminars on how others should handle the problem

As Scarlett Johansson said to James Franco: 'I Want My Pin Back' {"#metoo"}

Reports & Rebuttal

Complaint Review: Meeting Professionals International & Hospitality Coalition -

*Author of original report: Kiki J. Fox, president and co-founder of AWE is really full of it

*Author of original report: I am closing this report as unresolved - Just adding three other rip off reports that provide additional context if someone else wants to pick this up

*Author of original report: Meeting Planning International responded, not like they claim they would in their PR statements, but with threats and insults

*Author of original report: Meeting Planning International responded, not like they claim they would in their PR statements, but with threats and insults

*Author of original report: Post Brief / back up evidence to already submitted statements

*Author of original report: Another report / evidence of negligence, depraved indifference

*Author of original report: unintentionally posted

7 Updates & Rebuttals

unintentionally posted

Another report / evidence of negligence, depraved indifference

Post Brief / back up evidence to already submitted statements

Meeting Planning International responded, not like they claim they would in their PR statements, but with threats and insults

Meeting Planning International responded, not like they claim they would in their PR statements, but with threats and insults

I am closing this report as unresolved - Just adding three other rip off reports that provide additional context if someone else wants to pick this up

Kiki J. Fox, president and co-founder of AWE is really full of it

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