The American Water Works Association has cancelled it's Annual Convention and Exposition (ACE) that was to be held in Orlando in June.
AWWA President Jim Williams and CEO David LaFrance issued a letter to all AWWA members, show attendees and exhibitors. Read the full letter from the press release below.
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
After several weeks of careful consideration and with great sadness, today we are announcing the cancellation of the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE20) June 14-17 in Orlando.
Protecting public health is AWWA’s first core principle. With the coronavirus pandemic still unfolding, leading health authorities are asking people to avoid travel and to practice social distancing. It’s uncertain when these guidelines might change. With the conference less than 10 weeks away, it is hard to imagine a scenario in which we could move forward with full confidence.
Please find details on refunds, hotel and airline cancellations, exhibit and sponsor questions, and other information on the ACE Website.
Although the cancellation may feel inevitable, we wish it was not the case. Many of you put a great deal of volunteer time, creativity and passion into making ACE20 an outstanding event. Others have prepared brilliant presentations to be shared in the professional program. Still others have developed innovative technologies and services that should be seen on the exhibit floor. Please know that AWWA is grateful for your efforts and is exploring new pathways to share your contributions.
One of the hallmarks of ACE is the tradition of sharing knowledge and best practices that advance our sector’s critical work. The face-to-face conversations that occur following professional sessions, the chance encounters on the exhibit floor, the moments of fellowship at social events – these irreplaceable personal interactions lead to real-world solutions.
Still, AWWA remains laser-focused on its mission to provide solutions to effectively manage water. We are evaluating exciting options to allow members to share their knowledge in new and innovative ways. We will be sending details on that in the weeks ahead. And we are already looking forward to ACE21 in San Diego. As the ACE20 theme suggests, the future is bright.
In closing, we want to thank you all again for your tremendous spirit of self-sacrifice throughout this pandemic. There is not a finer collection of people than water professionals. The quiet, heroic work you are accomplishing on behalf of your communities is literally saving lives.Sincerely,
Jim Williams
AWWA President
David LaFrance
AWWA CEO