By Dale J. Venturini
President & CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
As the old adage goes, politics make strange bedfellows. And, that is no truer than when a hotly contested public issue is at hand, such as casino gambling. This election, Rhode Island voters will have the chance to vote for or against changing the state’s constitution to allow for a Harrah’s casino in the town of West Warwick.
The Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association has always opposed casino gambling in Rhode Island, as have many other associations and individuals. With Harrah’s seemingly unlimited resources and commitment to spend whatever it takes to convince the voters to support the ballot question, the Association cannot work alone to defeat Harrah’s. The only way to defeat the casino is to pool resources and work together with other like minded organizations and individuals.
Building a coalition to preserve or combat against a common cause may seem like a simple task, especially when a large group of people shares a same goal. However, keeping all the members of the coalition content and motivated can be as challenging, if not more, as defeating the enemy itself. Building a successful coalition is an exercise in patience, interpersonal communication, respect, resolve, and, most importantly, the ability to lay aside egos and differences for the greater good.
Recently the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association joined forces with other professional organizations, social groups, individuals, private corporations and elected officials to form Save Our State, a coalition to defeat the casino on the ballot. The first order of business when forming Save Our State was to define what the coalition stood for and to develop a mission statement.
Save Our State is a non-partisan coalition of various interested individuals, groups and companies, that stands united to oppose the proposal to amend our state constitution to allow Harrah’s Operating Company to establish a destination resort gambling casino in West Warwick. Save Our State welcomes all Rhode Islanders to join us in voicing opposition to amending the state’s constitution.
Save Our State stands united and is respectful of the opinions of all its members and will serve to protect Rhode Island, its constitution, and the taxpayers from a bad casino deal.
The Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association opposes a casino because of the devastating impact the casino will have on the state’s existing hospitality and tourism businesses and employees. Others oppose the ballot question because it is inappropriate to alter the state’s constitution for a private gambling company. There is a group of individuals and organizations who oppose the casino because of the impact on the quality of life and the impact on the neighboring towns’ infrastructure. And yet others are opposed to a casino because of its social impact or because they are opposed to gambling all together. Whatever the reason for opposing the casino, everyone agrees – we cannot let the Harrah’s win in November. If that happens, we all lose.
At the hub of any coalition is a common goal, but sometimes, the goal becomes muddled amidst fighting and disregard. Sharing a common cause does not necessarily mean that everyone shares the same attitudes or beliefs, and trying to ignore this basic fact will get in the way of creating a strong, unified alliance – if you allow it to happen. Not acknowledging individuals’ opinions for the sake of avoiding conflict is not only insensitive, but is also counterproductive, as it threatens to make your coalition’s message one-sided and ineffective. The success of any coalition depends on how well group members can place their focus on the common goal, and to do this, it is critical that members are respectful and mindful all people’s opinions and beliefs.
Being passionate about an issue can bring out the very best in people. It can also bring out the very worst. For the coalition to be successful, nonetheless, what must emerge is a passion to agree that the message must spoken with one voice.
President & CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
As the old adage goes, politics make strange bedfellows. And, that is no truer than when a hotly contested public issue is at hand, such as casino gambling. This election, Rhode Island voters will have the chance to vote for or against changing the state’s constitution to allow for a Harrah’s casino in the town of West Warwick.
The Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association has always opposed casino gambling in Rhode Island, as have many other associations and individuals. With Harrah’s seemingly unlimited resources and commitment to spend whatever it takes to convince the voters to support the ballot question, the Association cannot work alone to defeat Harrah’s. The only way to defeat the casino is to pool resources and work together with other like minded organizations and individuals.
Building a coalition to preserve or combat against a common cause may seem like a simple task, especially when a large group of people shares a same goal. However, keeping all the members of the coalition content and motivated can be as challenging, if not more, as defeating the enemy itself. Building a successful coalition is an exercise in patience, interpersonal communication, respect, resolve, and, most importantly, the ability to lay aside egos and differences for the greater good.
Recently the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association joined forces with other professional organizations, social groups, individuals, private corporations and elected officials to form Save Our State, a coalition to defeat the casino on the ballot. The first order of business when forming Save Our State was to define what the coalition stood for and to develop a mission statement.
Save Our State is a non-partisan coalition of various interested individuals, groups and companies, that stands united to oppose the proposal to amend our state constitution to allow Harrah’s Operating Company to establish a destination resort gambling casino in West Warwick. Save Our State welcomes all Rhode Islanders to join us in voicing opposition to amending the state’s constitution.
Save Our State stands united and is respectful of the opinions of all its members and will serve to protect Rhode Island, its constitution, and the taxpayers from a bad casino deal.
The Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association opposes a casino because of the devastating impact the casino will have on the state’s existing hospitality and tourism businesses and employees. Others oppose the ballot question because it is inappropriate to alter the state’s constitution for a private gambling company. There is a group of individuals and organizations who oppose the casino because of the impact on the quality of life and the impact on the neighboring towns’ infrastructure. And yet others are opposed to a casino because of its social impact or because they are opposed to gambling all together. Whatever the reason for opposing the casino, everyone agrees – we cannot let the Harrah’s win in November. If that happens, we all lose.
At the hub of any coalition is a common goal, but sometimes, the goal becomes muddled amidst fighting and disregard. Sharing a common cause does not necessarily mean that everyone shares the same attitudes or beliefs, and trying to ignore this basic fact will get in the way of creating a strong, unified alliance – if you allow it to happen. Not acknowledging individuals’ opinions for the sake of avoiding conflict is not only insensitive, but is also counterproductive, as it threatens to make your coalition’s message one-sided and ineffective. The success of any coalition depends on how well group members can place their focus on the common goal, and to do this, it is critical that members are respectful and mindful all people’s opinions and beliefs.
Being passionate about an issue can bring out the very best in people. It can also bring out the very worst. For the coalition to be successful, nonetheless, what must emerge is a passion to agree that the message must spoken with one voice.
