Recalling A Magical Day In Nashville
By Robyn Williams, CVE
or need to take a pause before speaking, but I am NEVER speechless... With the assistance of the IAVM Foundation, I was co-hosting a
reception that evening, with my supportive food service partner Ar- amark, to announce the launch of IAVM’s Diversity and Inclusive Leadership Committee. This was a new committee that came about as the result of a subcommittee of IAVM’s Leadership Diversity Committee. With a big lift from my partners Jimmy Earl and Michael Marion, we had made the case for the need for a committee to focus on developing opportunities to promote members of color, culturally diverse members, LGBTQIA members, women, and people with dis- abilities into leadership roles in IAVM. This was a big honkin’ deal, and we wanted to let people know about it! So, what does a venue manager do? Have a little party. Earlier that day I was talking to fellow foundation trustee Bill
“Sparky” Bavirsha about what a cool thing this could be and that we should start a “Dollars for Diversity” campaign to support the com- mittee’s work. He immediately said, “I’ll pledge a $1,000 right now!” Wow! How cool was that?
if not many people showed up. There hadn’t been a lot of publicity we were pretty much relying on word of mouth. I was grateful for the relatively small room. Then, the unbelievable started. People started coming. And coming. And coming. OMG! And coming. And coming. Do we have enough food? And, freaking, coming! We were crammed in the room like sardines and spilling out into the concourse. It was fabulous!
I started to say a few words about the committee, our work, why it was so important, etc., then mentioned the Dollars for Diversity idea and that $1,000. Well, Troy Thorn -in his very big commanding voice - immediately shouted that he too was pledging $1,000, and that’s when things got CRAZY! Person after person shouted “I’ll give $1,000” one after another.
OMG again! Then, Steve Peters yelled out that VenuWorks would match the
what else could I do? Cue the crying. I was so blown away that all these remarkable people had such
tremendous passion around the Diversity and Inclusive Leadership Committee and its upcoming work. I had not intended this to be a - thing I’ll never forget. I will also never forget all the members who stepped up to support
happen. Boy, are we going to make things happen. Want to get in on the fun? Come look for me at VenueConnect in Toronto. I’ll have a bigger room. Oh, and bring your check book. FM
Robyn Williams, CVE, is executive director for the Portland’5 Centers for the Arts and vice chair of the Diversity And Inclusive Leadership Committee.
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