With the signing of the new immigration law in Arizona last April, the ICA leadership conducted a thorough review of the law, political developments in Arizona, and our possible options and penalties in an effort to formulate the Association's response. Given our commitment to hold the 2012 conference in Phoenix, the change in circumstances suggested by this legislation challenges a number of premises that ICA has long held central.
The law seems to target certain populations in a discriminatory way, and to run counter to the philosophy and goals of ICA regarding multicultural sensitivity, equal rights, and nondiscrimination. During May and June, the ICA executive director and president conducted a series of discussions with the hotel in Phoenix, Starwood (who manages the hotel), the City of Phoenix, and the Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau as part of the association's fact-finding process. They also explored options in other locations and obtained bids from hotels/cities in case the board decided to relocate. The results of their actions were presented to the Board in Singapore.
The Board's subsequent debate centered on two main options: either maintaining our commitment to hold the conference in Phoenix, and exploring options to make a strong protest statement through the conference; or, moving the conference from Phoenix.
Because the status of the law remains unclear and is currently under injunction and judicial review, and because several lawsuits-one of them brought by the city of Phoenix-are challenging the law, the board focused primarily on the option of remaining with the Phoenix commitment. Central to this focus were the financial ramifications that would ensue should ICA renege on its commitment, including significant damages for which the Association would be liable. The money to pay these damages is available in the reserve account, but it was deemed imprudent to opt for these payments-especially in light of ICA's having no policy to guide such decisions.
The Board also discussed possible forms of protest and the fact that there may be members who would not want to protest, so that any action must be voluntary. Additionally, the Board considered how ICA should addresses changing political circumstances after a conference site is selected and how it addresses locations with "problematic" circumstances. It did not escape notice that ICA does not have a process to decide on political action.
Ultimately, the Board voted to support the commitment to convene in Phoenix in 2012 while making available possible protest action for ICA members. It also elected to form a new task force for political engagement, which will explore the possibility of establishing a standard for political engagement that will be enacted across individual protests or local issues as they unfold.
In sum, the Board voted to keep the conference in Phoenix for 2012, but will also continue to monitor the developments over the next 2 years. Executive director Michael Haley will also work with the conference chair to program parts of the conference to address the issues as they exist at the time of the conference.
