Management company sent very religious Xmas card: What to do?

[politicat]

The management company with which we have a long standing relationship on one of our properties sent a very religious christmas card.

We are well aware that their clientele is by no means exclusively christian, nor are we non-christians a tiny minority - and since it is a management company that has to comply with Fair Housing statutes, we find this to be very much in bad taste.

Do we have any recourse?

[Aristus]

1. If you protest this, than you hate Christmas AND America AND

are helping the terrorists, you un-American, hateful, anti-Christian scumbag! :sarcasm:

[politicat]

5. Yeah, yeah, yeah... well of course I hate Xmas - I worked Xmas at Walmart

one year. That will make anyone hate Christmas. (Especially if you have to work in toys.)

And we knew I was an anti-christian scumbag. Hateful and unamerican are debatable.

[ForrestGump]

2. Repent! Repent!!!

I'd probably just let it drop, but you have a point -- it'd be a little different if some nice old aunt sent you such a card, but it sounds like one that's hardly appropriate as an institutional greeting (unless you're in the religion business, of course).

[Radio_Lady]

3. Perhaps a courteous little note on which you thank them for their card,

while mentioning that you and your family, as well as other families in properties they manage -- are celebrating separate HOLY DAYS at this season. However, you are certainly willing to share in the seasonal festivities which are appropriate to all people who have winter holiday celebrations.

Nothing flagrant or angry, mind you. Get the full name of the highest management officer and send it to his/her personal attention. I use "PERSONAL, please!" on the envelope so hopefully no underling will open it surreptitiously and throw it into the wastebasket.

Also, send a copy to someone "lower down" in the management company echelon with whom you actually work (so it won't be a surprise to that person, either, if he/she finds out about it).

People don't have the right to shove their religious zealotry down your throat in December! It's not even good for business! These people are insensitive and it would make me question who chose an ultra-religious theme for the card. Maybe next year, they will send out a dove of peace or something quintessentially neutral. That would be my hope!

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[auntAgonist]

4. People will disagree with me

but I say do whatever you want to do with the card. I don't think I'd look for recourse.


:sigh:
live and let live. (flame away)

[politicat]

6. the issue is that it is a business that has to be neutral by definition.

Housing management is required by federal law to not discriminate. That's where I'm concerned. If this group of managers is too christian, does that mean they'll refuse to rent to someone with the last name of Kumar? Or Mohammad? Or Cohen? Or even less insidious - rent to them, but enforce the community rules differently with non-christians.

I knew that the local management was a bunch of Faux worshippers, but they have the contract and there's not much I can do (it's a co-op type situation). Fortunately, there is a larger BoD I can take the issue to.

I'm utterly in favor of live and let live - but I'm not the one who is pushing my agenda on others.

[Metta]

7. Sounds to me as if your concerns are the beginnings a good conversation.

Your concerns are valid and ones which make sense to ask them about. Are they shirt and tie Christians or do they walk the walk? I myself would go to them first and see if it's necessary to go to the board.

[politicat]

10. NASCAR and Moonshine Christians, to be blunt.

Whoop it up Saturday night, repent Sunday morning. Blather about the sanctity of marriage while they're on their 4th or 5th. Complain about Social services while refusing to pay their employees a living wage. They don't walk the walk.

(I hate low-bid contracting.)

Talking to them is like talking to the TV - lots of talking points, no dialogue.

[HEyHEY]

8. Just ignore it

[Faygo Kid]

12. Yes, not the ditch to die in.

Let it go.

[benny05]

9. I'm confused about your business relationship with them

Are you their tenant, are they your tenant or do you employ them? If they sent out a Xmas card to your tenants without your knowledge, I think a conversation is in order.

If you are their tenant, certainly you could say something to them about being offended. It depends what you mean by long standing relationship. If it's a strong one, you have to consider the business aspect of it first and put it before the personal.

I get religious cards a lot at Xmas holidays. I don't send them out, but I've learned not to get offended either. However, if my employees did this under my unit's name and I didn't know it, I'd be pissed.

[politicat]

11. It's a co-op situation.

We're the homeowners, but the land is held in common and the common features are held in common. We contract out the management of the common features to a third party organization. That org is owned by a larger org with whom we have our contract. (The larger org did not send cards - it was the local management hired by the larger org.)

So technically, we're not tenants, but the situation is similar. Yes, employees did it in the name of the unit.

[Maat]

13. I would say something.

I would call and ask to talk to the pertinent management.

I would politely explain that some of us aren't Christian, and would appreciate a greeting that would be more broadly appealing.