{"id":1006,"date":"2019-04-02T11:50:52","date_gmt":"2019-04-02T18:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imho.kileozier.com\/?p=1006"},"modified":"2019-04-02T11:51:00","modified_gmt":"2019-04-02T18:51:00","slug":"a-bold-and-timely-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imho.kileozier.com\/?p=1006","title":{"rendered":"A Bold and Timely Move"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Not Animatronics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTreating one\u2019s colleagues with respect is a basic best practice in life and business. The themed entertainment industry is a unique business community: highly collaborative, highly creative and bringing together many different cultures and ways of doing business. It is also a field in which many people remain for the whole of their professional careers. To help ensure that TEA events are friendly, safe, and welcoming for all participants, at all times, these guidelines help identify unacceptable behavior and indicate steps that may be taken to help ensure a safe and positive experience for all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEA Events – Appropriate Conduct Guidelines<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a bold and timely act of international leadership, the TEA<\/strong> (Themed Entertainment Association)<\/a> has published a set of Appropriate Conduct Guidelines<\/strong> for all TEA Events, worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this writer\u2019s experience, we have not seen a policy as broad, specific, clear and articulate inserted into the actual ticket-purchasing process as caveat for participation in all events, meetings, conferences or special occasions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been barely a year since our Summit Stage was host to a hard-hitting presentation and discussion on the #MeToo initiative and the insidious presence of subtextual and overt sexual harassment in our professional contexts\u2026indeed, throughout our lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That presentation opened a frank discussion and awareness of the virtually invisible energy that can pervade various gatherings; unrecognized by those who aren\u2019t the direct target of abuse or discomfort – while completely undermining the experience of those targeted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The backstory of this newly created edict includes a committed, vocal group of members choosing to create their own protected \u201csafe table\u201d at our annual Thea Awards Event<\/a> on April 14 of this year – a night to which many fondly, wryly refer as \u201cThe Theme Park Prom.\u201d As this move to create a safe space within our space came to light; the concept and conversation were ultimately embraced by TEA Leadership and, in short order (especially for a non-profit bureaucracy!), this code was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The TEA has listened to and handily heard from myriad factions within their membership and moved with alacrity to create and establish these guidelines\u2026guidelines-with-teeth, one might say. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond identifying general guidelines, the document makes room for the singular incident that may cause discomfort. It provides for immediate courses of action and immediate, on-site consequences for violation of the precepts of this code. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sections include;<\/p>\n\n\n\n