To Protect Everyone’s Health, Safety and Well-Being We, Unfortunately, Must Postpone Our 27th Annual Summit Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

To Protect Everyone’s Health, Safety and Well-Being We, Unfortunately, Must Postpone Our 27^th Annual Summit Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

March 5, 2020

ACA Connects Summit Attendees:

Two days ago, I wrote saying that based upon official guidance and information available to us regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) we were proceeding with our ACA Connects 27^th Annual Washington, D.C., Summit, March 17-19.  Many of you applauded our decision to move forward, which we greatly appreciated.  But I also said we would continue monitoring the situation and let you know right away of any changes in our plans.

Since my message to you on March 3, we have spent two non-stop days reviewing developments in the spread of the virus and the reaction of Washington on Capitol Hill and the FCC, and receiving counsel from our members, attendees, board, staff and experts.  And we have concluded that – despite our best efforts to proceed – now is simply not the time to hold our Summit. 

 As a result, in the best interests of our Summit attendees, speakers, Capitol Hill and FCC personnel, and our staff, we are postponing #Summit2020.  We will announce new dates and times as soon as possible, considering, most importantly, dates that will be safe for all to travel to and attend our Summit and taking into account the dates offered to us by our hotel partners at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

This is not a decision we made lightly, because we love being with you at the Summit each year!  But the last 48 hours have clearly and rapidly shown the spread of the virus was getting worse, our members and attendees were becoming increasingly concerned about travel, and Washington was preparing for swift action to prevent transmission of COVID-19 in lawmakers’ and regulators’ offices.  Federal officials have already begun reducing access to their offices and preventing their employees from participating in large group functions.  Our job at #Summit2020 is to ensure your connections and conversations in Washington are of the highest value.  Once it became clear the spread of the virus was getting worse and that decisions within our industry, attendees’ companies, and the federal government would impact our ability to deliver on that commitment to you, we felt it was best to postpone.

Please be patient with us as we work through the details of unwinding the Summit and then starting where we left off with new dates as soon as we can announce them.  We will be glad to work with you regarding questions of refunds, although we would greatly appreciate your commitment to join us at our rescheduled Summit.

The bottom line, as I said to you on March 3, is that YOU, our Summit Attendees, come FIRST, and every action we take will be in your best interests.

We’re very sorry for the inconvenience our decision to postpone the Summit may have for you, but we hope you understand.  We hope postponing now will allow you sufficient time to adjust your travel plans and commitments without too much trouble until we can reschedule.  If you have any questions, please contact us immediately.  Contact Stacey Leech ([email protected]), John Higginbotham ([email protected]), Rob Shema ([email protected]) or me ([email protected]), or call our office at 412-922-8300 at any time.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you, and we look forward to seeing you soon at our refreshed and rescheduled #Summit2020!  Please let me know if I can help you in any way.

Matthew M. Polka

President & CEO

ACA Connects