Re: [72attendees] New mailing list to discuss IETF Food requirements

Actually, in the U.S., celiac, for example (and I believe diabetes) is
covered by the American Disabilities Act (section 504), since it
substantially limits the "major life activity" of eating.  So, while
IETF no longer receives government funding as far as I'm aware, it was
my understanding the organization in general follows the spirit of the
law. 

I also think it's important that folks are aware that at least for the
medical restrictions, we are talking about a "need" and not a "want".
Since cookies are considered a requirement per the IETF Tao, it's
important to consider that for some of us it's not that we "want"
gluten-free or sugar-free cookies, but if we were to eat cookies, we
would "need" gluten-free or sugar-free ones.  

My personal opinion is that when we stay at full service hotels, then we
should expect full service (i.e., we're at a Hilton and not a Hampton
Inn). And, per the law in the U.S. hotels are required to support the
ADA act:
http://www.ada.gov/hsurvey.htm

Regards,
Mary

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave CROCKER [mailto:dhc@dcrocker.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 1:43 PM
To: Barnes, Mary (RICH2:AR00)
Cc: 72attendees@ietf.org
Subject: Re: [72attendees] New mailing list to discuss IETF Food
requirements

Mary,

Given the diversity of IETF participation, we can be assured that there
are representatives for almost any point of view.  So, yes, I'm sure
that some folks have no empathy or sympathy for the plight of others
with culinary constraints. 
  But I think it is clear that that is not a dominant, or even
significant, constituency within the IETF.

Rather, I believe the issue is merely one of practicality.  Some needs
are easily accommodated.  Some are not.

Where more information is needed, the kind of discussion you are
planning could be quite helpful.

But there are practical limits.  Limited resources and priorities to
juggle.

That's why I ended by noting the considerable strategic benefit that
accrues from placing the IETF somewhere with rich local resources:  It
can offload the IETF machinery from some considerable burdens.

No matter how accommodating a hotel's staff might wish to be it, too,
has resource constraints.

d/

Mary Barnes wrote:
> I have no doubt that if everyone was impacted in such a way (i.e., no 
> suitable meal for over 12 hours during the day) that folks would 
> expect
...
> I do realize that for folks that don't have these limitations, the 
> whole idea that this requires ANY discussion seems quite trite and 
> whiny, but
...
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave CROCKER [mailto:dhc@dcrocker.net]
...
 > So, striking a reasonable balance between the two is the interesting
> challenge.
> 
> d/
> 
> ps. Having meetings placed in resource-rich venues, within walking 
> distance of those resources, is an important way to accommodate 
> diverse requirements...
> 

-- 

   Dave Crocker
   Brandenburg InternetWorking
   bbiw.net
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