ASSET PURPOSE STATEMENT

Who We Are

ASSET (A Seattle Special Events Team) is a free, inclusive and diverse advocacy group championing the Seattle events industry. Events are a critical representation of Seattle’s neighborhoods, ethnic cultures, culinary landscape, unique celebrations, philanthropic events, and passion for art, music, wellness, and sport. Collectively, events are an integral part of our region’s creative industry that contributes positively to its economy.

Purpose

ASSET’s purpose is to serve as a unified voice to local government and provide support for Seattle’s Event Community during times of opportunity or challenge. 

Origins

ASSET was founded in 1991 in response to a proposed policy change in permit fees by the City of Seattle Special Events Department. Leaders of signature events in Seattle brought together a coalition of event representatives to voice opinions and share input in development of the policy. The result was a collaborative effort that achieved a positive outcome. Nearly 30 years later ASSET continues to work closely with the City of Seattle to serve as a resource in developing policy and identifying unique needs and opportunities. 

Serving the Seattle Event Community

Typically meets every quarter unless otherwise needed. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, ASSET quickly convened through video conferences and offered free, weekly video presentations with featured speakers offering guidance and resources to navigate the crisis.

   

Guiding Principles 

1.     Preserve and perpetuate the cultural events, sports, entertainment and celebrations that contribute to Seattle’s vibrancy, national identity and economic impact.

2.     Serve as a valued resource to local government on issues and opportunities that impact our region and the events industry.

3.     Serve as a convener of people in the events industry to share ideas, offer support, and provide education to help event organizers solve problems. 

4.  Serves as a champion for all special event producers regardless of size, scope, culture or economics.

Leadership of ASSET

The Executive Committee of ASSET serves as a volunteer in a leadership capacity of the group to provide structure to meetings, recommend guidance in priority focus, and serve as a liaison or industry representative to the City of Seattle on behalf of the group. Typically, a minimum of two members serve as co-chairs. WFEA serves as the administrative organization in a volunteer capacity. 

ASSET offers the following benefits to its Seattle Events Community:

Diversity

ASSET is a diverse organization open to events of all sizes, scope, culture and economics. Events that exclude or restrict access based on discrimination will not be considered a part of ASSET.

Access to Washington Festivals & Events Association (WFEA)

ASSET will receive industry updates, access to networking and educational platforms through WFEA with options to attend WFEA Conferences.

Professional Networking

ASSET meets to discuss professions, enjoy camaraderie and enlarge the circle of business, community and government connections. ASSET represents a cross-section of the community’s cultural events, sports, entertainment and celebrations – people who make decisions, influence policy and contribute to our region’s cultural identity.

Leadership Development

ASSET freely shares ideas, resources and support to each other in an effort to build new industry leaders. 

Standards of Quality and Ethics 

As an industry, ASSET encourages its community to demonstrate professionalism and respect to their partners, suppliers, vendors and governmental representatives to abide by high standards in quality, ethics, cultural diversity and operations in the events they produce for participants and attendees.

City of Seattle Information Sharing through ASSET

Under the 2001 City of Seattle Resolution #30340 regarding “The Importance of Major Events and the Need for an Event Review Process”. Section 7 “Obtaining Information About Future Events” indicates many events held in Seattle do not involve City officials or staff in a bid process or in soliciting or attracting the event to the City. The City shall create the following mechanisms for the voluntary information sharing among organizations that might know of major future events. Section 7.1 “Information Sharing through ASSET” indicates that the City of Seattle’s Special Event Committee Chair will work closely with ASSET to identify in advance events that have the greatest potential for imposing security and other costs upon the City.