Annual Assembly
Dear ITPA Members, Friends and Industry Partners:
We hope that you are all weathering the COVID-19 storm and will continue to do so, personally and professionally. Telecommunication professionals are critical to this time and servicing their clients, communities, and employees. ITPA is proud to support those efforts.
For 100 years, ITPA has brought telecommunications professionals together as a top supporter for the communities we work in and live in. The National Assembly is a wonderful moment for all of us to share our community success’s and stories of how we continue to give back, it’s a celebration of the year’s experiences and a moment to honor the folks that have dedicated their time. For many, a reunion of family and friends.
It is with great sadness that we must announce the cancellation of the 30th Annual ITPA Assembly Scheduled for May 29 – 31st, 2020, in Portland, Maine. This decision was not made lightly. The Board of Directors considered many factors, including the declaration of sates of emergency on both the national and state levels; the closure of the US Border; the various directives issued by the State of Maine, including an indefinite ban on gatherings of more than ten people and shelter-in-place order; and the decision to postpone the Summer Olympics.
In addition, the Board realizes that many business’s and agencies – including in our host city– are experiencing COVID- related staffing shortages and need to have all personnel available to maintain the high levels of service their communities and clients expect and deserve. Finally, they understand and respect that everyone has someone in their lives who is more susceptible than others, and protecting the vulnerable is a core value of the intention of this decision.
Although there will be no ITPA Assembly in 2020 in Maine for the foreseeable future, we remain committed to working through the expectations of the board and the members we serve. As the spread of disease slows and restrictions are lifted, we look forward to potentially scheduling a smaller-scale gathering or making other arrangements to continue the necessary business operations that would have been addressed at the assembley.
Those who have registered for the 2020 ITPA Assembly as an attendee or exhibitor/sponsor, or are scheduled to present at it, will receive and email with additional information as we move forward with this decision.
There is a lot of information explaining the policies for refunds regarding the bookings that have been made. We will try our best to work with the individuals who have already booked travel arrangements to make sure that the money already invested is not left unaddressed, but please make efforts to reach out on your own to help facilitate this process. Please feel free to call the ITPA National Office with any questions regarding the arrangements, and please understand that we are also working through uncharted territory as we all weather this storm.
We look forward to seeing you in the near future…more information to follow as it comes available!
Best regards,
Gregg Klatsky
1st Vice President ITPA
