national

AACA Annual Convention Changes!

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2022 AACA Annual Convention Moved to Gettysburg
AACA Annual Convention, February 10-12
Wyndham Gettysburg, 95 Presidential Circle, Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 339-0020 Dial 0 and ask for the AACA rate
 
The Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia Hotel has been a great partner during the past several decades in supporting our Annual Convention. The management and staff have worked with us well and we looked forward to being able to put on our traditional convention this February. However, multiple recent issues and mandates within the city of Philadelphia instituted on January 3rd have severely impacted the possibility of holding our event in that city. After several serious discussions by the AACA Board of Directors, it was decided that even at this late date, it was best to find an alternate location. If you made reservations at the Sheraton in Philadelphia, you will need to cancel them – the phone numbers for the Sheraton are 215-448-2000 or (800) 325-3535.
 
As such, we are moving the convention to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the same dates. We will be based at the Wyndham Hotel and Courtyard Marriott, where we have held several successful events in the past. Our plan is to host the very best convention possible despite the challenges of the move and using a smaller hotel. We will still have seminars, trade show vendors, First Lady’s breakfast, AACA merchandise, Region Presidents’ Dinner, membership meeting and, of course, our Saturday-night awards gala.
 
The hotels have given us a great rate of $118 plus tax and there is NO parking fee at either hotel. The Wyndham is where most of the activities will take place. BWI (Baltimore) airport is about 1½ hours away and MDT (Harrisburg) airport is about 1 hour. Philadelphia is 2½ hours from Gettysburg. 
 
The phone number for the Wyndham is (717) 339-0020 Dial 0 and ask for the AACA rate. The hotel is located at 95 Presidential Circle, Gettysburg PA 17325. The phone number for the Courtyard is (717) 334-5600 and ask for AACA rate. The Courtyard is at 115 Presidential Circle and is located just a few steps next door to the Wyndham.
 
We have been and are still in the process of calling all those already registered with us and the hotel in Philadelphia. We are also calling all the national award winners. A revised registration form is now available to all NEW participants – click here to download it. For those already registered and now planning to attend in Gettysburg, we will simply move your registration to the new venue. (Reminder: you will need to make your own hotel reservations though.) For activities that we offered in Philadelphia but are not able to offer in Gettysburg, refunds will be made onsite at the convention.
 
We sincerely hope that this change does not cause undue hardships for members to attend. For those who wish to come for the day only, you can register now or on the day of onsite. However, we would prefer to know sooner than later for planning purposes.
 
Again, we deeply regret having to take this action, but we did it in the best interest of our membership. It is not easy on the club or its members but as we have proved in the past, we will make lemonade out of lemons.
 
REMINDER: You must be a paid 2022 AACA member in order to register for the Annual Convention. If you need to pay your dues, please call AACA National HQ at 717-534-1910 and we will renew you over the phone with a credit card.

Update from National AACA

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AACA UPDATE: EVENT CANCELLATIONS & NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS SHUTDOWN

AACA and its affiliates will continue to monitor issues related to the coronavirus, as well as abiding by CDC and other governmental agency recommendations. Our members are our utmost concern, and we will work diligently to keep you informed of changes to scheduled events as they arise. As such, we have two new developments that we would like to notify you of…

The AACA Western Spring Nationals and Founders Tour in April have been canceled. The Phoenix Region will process refunds as soon as possible. AACA, this region, and their volunteers put a lot of effort into this dual event and are deeply disappointed in having to make this decision. As in all our affected events this year, if there is a possibility of finding a safe and suitable new date the club and regions will explore those in the future.

In addition, we are also sad to announce that the AACA Central Spring Nationals in Auburn in May has also been canceled and will not be rescheduled. AACA always enjoys putting on this great event for our members and, along with RM Auctions, deeply regret this turn of events. Registration checks will be returned as soon as possible, and judges’ reimbursement will take place shortly.

As you may or may not be aware, the National AACA staff is working under difficult circumstances at present. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has ordered a statewide shutdown of all non-life sustaining businesses in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, therefore our national headquarters and library are in fact closed. The majority of the staff are doing their best to work from home, so please be patient with our response times to your calls, emails and mailed requests.

We are hopeful that our normal schedule can return beginning in June, but all of that remains to be seen. As stated, your health and that of our nation is the most important factor in all our determinations. We wish you all the best in this very trying time for all of us.