Attending the annual ESL meeting

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 Hi all, just shooting you a quick update on the ESL annual meeting. It appears as if ESL had some warning that I might be coming. When I arrived at 2pm, I was told the meeting was changed to 4pm.In an unprecendented move,when I returned at 4:05pm I was delayed in the lobby while the receptionist checked to see if the meeting was still happening.After making two mysterious calls she waved me through only to have me led to a room where the meeting was adjourned as I was approaching the room. I stood outside the door and witnessed one white member after another state as they passed me" The meetings over" , We are done here". I did however continue into the room to have a face to face discussion with the CEO who unfortunately held the party line and took no leadership whatsover and owned absolutely no responsibility in supporting Lonsberry. I also had an opportunity to debate the issue with Francine Patella, their PR person to no avail. It was clear they did not want me there and after a few minutes security guards called them both out of my presence with some fabricated story of needing them right away in another meeting. I don't know how they briefed the room prior to my arrival but, it was clear they executed a plan to have the shortest annual membership meeting in history. It lasted all of 10 minutes if that. One thing was clear. David the CEO said that I had the correct understanding that myself and other african american members who have accounts at ESL have no say over how the board and he as a leader chooses to spend our money even if that means we are paying for our own verbal abuse via their indirect support of Bob Lonsberry. It was helpful to me to at least have him speak that position and belief while he also said he didn't feel that it was ESL's role to take a position or tell WHAM where to use their advertising dollars. I reminded him that by allowing WHAM to continue using membership money on the Lonsberry show and remain silent that they in essence have already taken a position. They are just choosing not to own the position they have taken. He also said the WHAM fits with their company's values.These statements speak volumes about ESL'S committment to the African American community and it's members.It also speaks volumes to it's lack of committment to the social justice community in Rochester of many ethnicities and cultures who strive for a higher existence among all of us. These kinds of double standards in our business community are more harmful than not in moving us forward as a unified beloved community. So while on the one hand ESL boast of donating school supplies to city kids and supporting programs at the YWCA. They are also perfectly willing to support verbalized micro agressive attacks of racism, sexism and classism targeting these same groups of people when they are not a white majority. I was hoping that the reality that these were children being targeted by Lonsberry would prompt a different response and mean something. The plight of black children apparently doesn't mean much to company's like ESL. I am not discouraged. The ground of change is shifting beneath us and justice for all children will roll down like a mighty stream very soon.There will come a time where the color of your skin, your neighborhood or your economic class will not keep anyone from accessing the privilege of their full humanity. Stay in the struggle and continue to write letters, blogs,make phone calls and maintain your ministry of agitation. Myra Brown SPARC Spiritus Anti Racism Coalition 325-1180

<p>Tuesday, January 27, 2009</p> <p>Hi all, just shooting you a quick update on the ESL annual meeting.<br /> It appears as if ESL had some warning that I might be coming. When I arrived<br /> at 2pm, I was told the meeting was changed to 4pm.In an unprecendented<br /> move,when I returned at 4:05pm I was delayed in the lobby while the<br /> receptionist checked to see if the meeting was still happening.After making<br /> two mysterious calls she waved me through only to have me led to a room<br /> where the meeting was adjourned as I was approaching the room. I stood<br /> outside the door and witnessed one white member after another state as they<br /> passed me" The meetings over" , We are done here".<br /> I did however continue into the room to have a face to face discussion with<br /> the CEO who unfortunately held the party line and took no leadership<br /> whatsover and owned absolutely no responsibility in supporting Lonsberry.</p> <p>I also had an opportunity to debate the issue with Francine Patella, their<br /> PR person to no avail. It was clear they did not want me there and after a<br /> few minutes security guards called them both out of my presence with some<br /> fabricated story of needing them right away in another meeting.</p> <p>I don't know how they briefed the room prior to my arrival but, it was clear<br /> they executed a plan to have the shortest annual membership meeting in<br /> history. It lasted all of 10 minutes if that.</p> <p>One thing was clear. David the CEO said that I had the correct understanding<br /> that myself and other african american members who have accounts at ESL have<br /> no say over how the board and he as a leader chooses to spend our money even<br /> if that means we are paying for our own verbal abuse via their indirect<br /> support of Bob Lonsberry.</p> <p>It was helpful to me to at least have him speak that position and belief<br /> while he also said he didn't feel that it was ESL's role to take a position<br /> or tell WHAM where to use their advertising dollars.<br /> I reminded him that by allowing WHAM to continue using membership money on<br /> the Lonsberry show and remain silent that they in essence have already taken<br /> a position. They are just choosing not to own the position they have taken.<br /> He also said the WHAM fits with their company's values.These statements<br /> speak volumes about ESL'S committment to the African American community and<br /> it's members.It also speaks volumes to it's lack of committment to the<br /> social justice community in Rochester of many ethnicities and cultures who<br /> strive for a higher existence among all of us.</p> <p>These kinds of double standards in our business community are more harmful<br /> than not in moving us forward as a unified beloved community. So while on<br /> the one hand ESL boast of donating school supplies to city kids and<br /> supporting programs at the YWCA. They are also perfectly willing to support<br /> verbalized micro agressive attacks of racism, sexism and classism targeting<br /> these same groups of people when they are not a white majority.<br /> I was hoping that the reality that these were children being targeted by<br /> Lonsberry would prompt a different response and mean something. The plight<br /> of black children apparently doesn't mean much to company's like ESL. I am<br /> not discouraged. The ground of change is shifting beneath us and justice for<br /> all children will roll down like a mighty stream very soon.There will come a<br /> time where the color of your skin, your neighborhood or your economic class<br /> will not keep anyone from accessing the privilege of their full humanity.</p> <p>Stay in the struggle and continue to write letters, blogs,make phone calls<br /> and maintain your ministry of agitation.</p> <p>Myra Brown<br /> SPARC<br /> Spiritus Anti Racism Coalition<br /> 325-1180</p>