   The issue has been bandied about on industry listservs and
has longtime member—and former chair of MPI’s Task Force on
Diversity—Joan Eisenstodt of Eisenstodt Associates, Washington,
D.C., disappointed and angry over what she considers to be MPI’s
failure to deal sensitively with issues of inclusion.
Eisenstodt believes the association’s leadership has violated
its own “Principles of Professionalism,” particularly the
section “Respecting Diversity,” which calls for MPI to “embrace
and foster an inclusive business climate of respect for all
peoples, regardless of national origin, race, religion, sex,
marital status, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental
impairment.”  In a statement responding to the PEC/Passover
issue, MPI Spokesperson Lee Lancaster said, “As we further
develop our cross-industry partnerships, MPI must coordinate
events, programs, and services around some already established
parameters--holidays, in some instances. In this case, our
partnership with IMEX necessitates that we coordina