Actions stemming from the treatment f Black students at the Black College Reunion in 1999, the NAACP and several other organizations filled lawsuits on discrimination. The issues are too numerous to list here but included things like higher rates for Blacks, harsher check out and cancellation policies, and neon orange wristbands for the Black guests but not the white ones. The Dept of Justice brought a separate suit. see:http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2000/March/136ag.htm

In March 2000 there was an out of court settlement for $8 Million and a promise for Diversity training. The company now does not support the settlement and the NAACP has called for a renewed boycott, calling on "all Americans of good conscience to stop doing business with Adams Mark" We AME's are still doing business as usual with them. The First District held the Christian Ed Congress there and holds many other meetings there. The Christian Education Technology Congress in July 2002 is being held at the Adams Mark Hotel in Charlotte , NC. Should we supoort the boycott or continue to provide substantial business to folks that have a long record of discrimination and refuses to acknowledge it? The case goes back to court in Orlando in November, according to FOCUS, tha monthly magazine of the Joint Center for Politics and Economic Studies, Sept 2001

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Answers

I trust that a close and complete evaluation concerning the use of the Adams Mark Hotel was done prior to making a final selection. I suggest that the leadership of the Second District be contacted on this issue for further clarification.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Bob:

You make a compelling argument about the ambiguous position of the AMEC. Recall that the July 2001 Lay Biennial was also held in the Adam's Mark Hotel in downtown Jacksonville, FL. Is the publication FOCUS now available online? QED

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Yeah, What up y'all? Too many handkerchief heads or is it still popular to do BIG BUSINESS with our oppressors "for something"? Can we hear from representatives from these districts?

Thanks,

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001

Bro. Bill asked about FOCUS and if it is online. I am not sure if it is but the Joint Center is at WWW.JOINTCENTER.ORG. The magazine goes out to a mailing list of elected Black officials and perhaps to others. You can reach them at 202 789-3500 God Bless Bob McCain

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

Update on previous email on the Joint Center FOCUS is online at http://www.jointctr.org/focus.htm

You will find issues all the way back to 1997

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

At our Pacific Northwest Conference, Bishop Bryant announced that our A.M.E hotel in Denver was being built and it looked beautiful. I do not have any more details than that. But hopefully in the near future we can have our meetings in our A.M.E hotels. In terms of cancellation policy, with the terrorist attacks, hotels are being more sympathetic and allowing cancelations. Groups are canceling all over the country. So it is not unprecedented.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001

Dear Rev. Rogers,

Did I read your post correctly? Did you say that your Bishop Bryant announced at the Pacific Northwest Conference that an AME hotel was being built in Denver, Colorado. Forgive me for saying so but it sounds too good to be true. These are the things that I love to hear about my church. I also hope that one day I will hear this brillant man speak. I knew that there was something special about the AME denomination and that I made the right decision for joining. Praise God for the Rt. Rev. Bryant and the Pacific Northwest Conference!!!

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, October 26, 2001

Hi, Jazzman yes it is true that Bishop Bryant announced at our pacific northwest conference that the fifth district would have an AME owned hotel in Denver. By the way Denver is not in the Pacific Northwest Conference. You are right Bishop Bryant is an amazing Bishop. But Rev. Dr. Cecelia Bryant is also amazing. She has initiated some powerful programs for the fifth district. We are so blessed to have them both. I am happy to hear that you are excited. I was excited about the AME church before Annual Conference and now I am twirling with Jesus with joy. I am so proud to be an AME pastor. And to be in the Pacific Northwest Conference is a bonus. I definitely feel the movement of the Holy Spirit in our denomination. Jazzman I get private emails from AME's around the world and it seems every district is doing something special. We just have to keep focused on the positive and pray God will deal with the negative. I am sorry I do not have more info on the hotel. Perhaps someone in the Denver area will post. Also you might be interested in the fifth district development fund. Go to our web page for the "fantastically faithful fifth district" www.ame-church.org

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2001

An AME Hotel in Denver, CO? Sounds great. I too would like to get details about # or rooms, conference rooms, sq. ft, restaraunts on premise, etc. When I'm in Denver I would be interested in making reservations. QED

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2001