Air
Highways Security Watch
Quotes from World
Media, Agencies and Associations, including the Meeting
Planners
MOMENT
OF CLARITY: "The fact that regimes like Russia,
China, Iran, Syria, and others are committing themselves,
at least nominally, to aiding the emerging coalition
against terror suggests that a fundamental shift might be
underway. It may well be that among states addicted to
the poison of terror, the horrific scale of the attacks
on New York and Washington have produced what alcoholics
call a "moment of clarity," a sudden realization of the
need to change old habits." Tom Nichols,
Professor
MEETING PLANNERS' “WORST -
CASE SCENARIO" : Since
many of our meetings are held overseas, we train our
planners to anticipate the worst case scenario and plan
accordingly. Today - we are facing what has to be the
ultimate worst case scenario. We never anticipated
anything like it. Sad to say, we are
unprepared.
When the attack took place on Sept
11, our advance party was already in Cairo, Egypt. with
most of our supplies - conference bags, badges,
certificates of participation in papyrus- participants'
names handpainted in hieroglyphics, silver cartouche for
speakers and other unique items from the Land of the
Pharaohs. The International Technology, Meetings and
Incentives Conference for meeting professionals was
scheduled to start on Sept 16 with a dinner and Light and
Sound Show at the Great Pyramids, meetings industry
sessions on a Nile cruise and close at the Mediterranean
Travel Fair in Cairo.
I was booked on an Egypt Air
flight 2 days later. My bags were packed, tickets and
passport in my purse.
Minutes after the first plane hit
the World Trade Center, my phone was ringing off the hook
and my computer started buzzing with dozens of email.
These multiplied rapidly minutes after the Pentagon, a
few miles from our office, was hit. Dumbfounded, I stared
simultaneously at cnn.com and the television -
desperately hoping one or the other would say this is a
hoax.
As I tried to gather my wits
around me - I sent out the first of several email to all
participants. "Please don't panic. I will keep you
updated.".
For over a year, we had been
anticipating a meeting at the Great Pyramids and on the
River Nile with great excitement. The destination that
was so intriguing because of its wonders, treasures and
exotic culture - now suddenly seemed so
dangerous.
Meanwhile I was trying to trace
the whereabouts of 2 colleagues who were scheduled to
meet with an American Express executive at the World
Trade Center that morning. Please, Lord, I prayed, let
them be safe.
I spent countless hours chasing
information sources. Both the Department of State and the
US Embassy in Cairo said there are no apparent signs that
US citizens are in imminent danger in Egypt. They are
neither evacuating US citizens nor issuing a travel
advisory to Egypt. The Minister of Tourism of Egypt
himself called to assure me that we will be safe and that
he will personally see that we are very well taken cared
of. Security had been increased 200% at the airport and
in all tourist attractions. Marshals are now in every
tour bus. Our DMC let me talk with the leader of another
American group who was having their annual meeting in
Cairo at the time of the attack. They are proceeding
normally, he said. The only difference he could see was
that there are guards everywhere and strangers were
stopping them in the streets saying, "Americans - we love
you. Don't be afraid".
"Please don't cancel, " our DMC
pleaded. "Egypt is safe. Your group will be treated
royally here. Everything is all set"
With all the security measures in
US airports, this seemed to be the safest time to
travel.
But the participants were shaken
and grieving. As the departure dates came closer, it
became painfully obvious that we will not be able to
achieve the objectives of the conference. It would be
difficult to focus on the agenda and enjoy the wonders of
this unique destination when you are jittery and can only
think of what's happening to your family back
home.
Some participants disagreed, "If
we cancel, we let the terrorists win".
Thank God for email - we quickly
reached a consensus: Re-schedule.
Time was of the essence. A couple
of professional colleagues and personal friends were
still unaccounted for. "6000 body bags ordered for New
York", the news launched a thousand butterflies in my
stomach. The computer buzzed - another urgent email. "I
am afraid that meeting was confirmed for 9:00 am Sept 11.
They had to be at the World Trade Center no later than
8:45 am. And guess what - Linda was supposed to be at a
meeting at the Pentagon 10:00 am Sept 11, too. I will
keep calling - and let you know."
We still do not know.
The Egypt meeting is now
re-scheduled to January 11-15, 2002, just before our
meeting in Paris, France. We gave free registration for
the Paris meeting to all those re-scheduling. We asked
Egypt Air to allow them to add Paris without additional
charge.
Through the tears, we are busy
revamping the agenda to address the new realities in our
suddenly changed world. How does this impact the meetings
industry? What can we do? A participant asked "If we
understand each other more, wouldn't we fear each other
less?"
The program is shaping up to be
richer, more substantive - than it had ever
been.
A speaker from Great Britain has
offered to "share with you my experiences of terrorism (
a couple of close calls) in London and how the British
people have learnt to live with the constant
threat".
We have issued a call for speakers
who can discuss the implications of this tragedy in our
industry and what we can do.
An economist member wrote "What we
can do - in the simplest terms, is make more money. It is
our patriotic duty to turbo-prop our businesses and spend
more money to help the world economy. I will bring a
venture capitalist and someone from the Small Business
Administration if that will help"
We will set up small partnering
sessions where we can explore the possibility of
partnering with colleagues around the world in setting up
trade missions, study tours, business conferences and
others. Now, more than ever, is the time to
internationalize. Another email said "We cannot retreat
to our homes and hide from the world. The world that sees
less of us belongs more to them".
Technology is taking center stage
in the war against terrorism. We must all be internet -
savvy - not just to help us in our jobs but also to watch
out for dangerous thought patterns that can threaten our
lives. We will enhance all the scheduled sessions on
technology including "Building Online
Communities".
We will revamp our Children's
event to a half-day children's camp for world
understanding and tolerance We have been hosting
disadvantaged children just before the start of our
annual conference for several years now. It has been one
of our small successes. At a recent lunch with our
partners in Costa Rica, Thailand and Morocco, they told
me how, months after the event, everytime the children
drive or walk by the hotel, they want to go in and see
the "kind Americans".
Little acts of kindness. These are
not hard to do.
We trust our powerful military
will take care of the evil adults. We will focus on the
children. We need volunteers to take this children's camp
for tolerance and understanding around the world quickly.
Help is needed in developing learning materials and
fundraising plans. Please see
www.cimpa.org/camps.htm
With 3 precious colleagues still
missing (MISSING?) , I am exhausted and emotionally
drained..
Worst case scenario. Could anyone
have imagined this? It is tempting to just sit here and
whine, "Why us? Why here?" - but that will not do any
good. So I keep planning... and keep on
going.....
This tragedy has affected us all.
But I am determined that it will not defeat
us.
Andrea Sigler,PhD
President, CIMPA
MEETING
PLANNERS
