Eric Jacobson, President & CEO of the American Lighting Association (ALA), has released a statement today the industry organization’s membership that the previously scheduled 2020 Conference – which was to be held September 13-15 at the Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida – will be cancelled.
The decision was made by the ALA Board of Governors and the ALA staff after assessing the health risks and travel precautions regarding COVID-19 as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the realization that individual states might be under different governmental restrictions at any given time, and taking into account the complications that might affect travel into/out of the U.S. for Canadian members. The ALA recently surveyed its membership to get a collective sense of members’ levels of comfort in attending an on-site gathering at this time due to the continuing health concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience resulting from this decision; however, your health and safety is our number-one concern,” Jacobson states. “Our decision is entirely focused on ensuring the safety of our members. Thank you to everyone who contacted us and/or participated in the survey with pertinent information to assist the Board of Governors in making this important decision. The member support we have received is a testament to the strength of both the industry and our organization, and we look forward to working together to develop a great 2021 Conference.”
In lieu of the 2020 Conference, potential virtual meeting options are being reviewed and more details will be forthcoming. Any ALA members who have already registered for the Conference are encouraged to contact Liz Ware at Liz@ALALighting.com to inquire about reservation status and any potential pre-paid deposits.
