2010 NLS Rescheduled for March 10-12
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM ACCT PRESIDENT AND CEO J. NOAH BROWN
To Register for the March NLS, please see "How to Register" below.
The entire ACCT Board of Directors and staff are sorry for the inconvenience, aggravation, and expense the Blizzard of 2010, also known as "Snowmageddon" and "The 100 Year Storm," caused all of us. It is truly unprecedented in Washington, D.C. history to shut down the federal government for three days and still counting. ACCT has never before in its history cancelled a Summit.
For those few who braved the weather and safely made it to Washington only to experience the cancellation on Sunday we are especially sorry. We know that some of you may question why it took until Sunday to cancel and reschedule the NLS.
All the local airports closed early on Friday, Feb. 5, at 2 PM in anticipation of a significant weekend winter storm. The majority of the ACCT Board had already arrived and was able to conduct pre-NLS Board business notwithstanding the snow. We were all laboring under the assumption that the airports would reopen on Sunday, the day the vast majority of attendees arrive in anticipation of the Monday morning opening session. This was not an unreasonable assumption, as the snow had stopped and the sun was shining brilliantly on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday and the airports had been removing snow for a day and a half.
Unfortunately, the airports did not open on Sunday and the federal government also announced on Sunday afternoon that it would close on Monday. Given the timing of these events, ACCT had no choice but to announce a cancellation on Sunday. At that time, we immediately began looking into and then planning to hold NLS events in early March. These arrangements are not easy and are still ongoing, as no hotel books contingency plans for a postponed conference the size of the NLS in advance. Nonetheless we have had terrific cooperation from the Marriott Wardman Park staff and management in arranging for a postponed NLS.
Please know that the ACCT Board and staff are doing everything in our power to make the best of a terrible situation. We ask for the patience of each and every member as we piece through all of the damage this storm has caused all of us, especially with a second storm currently raging outside with white-out blizzard conditions. We especially ask for your patience as ACCT creates a fair plan to minimize to the extent possible all of the damage this storm has caused. This is an extraordinary undertaking, and ACCT is working diligently and tirelessly.
That said, ACCT plans to reschedule the NLS for March 10-12, 2010 as it is more important than ever to complete the advocacy work which takes place at the NLS for our colleges and students. WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT WORK TO BE DESTROYED BY A BLIZZARD, NO MATTER HOW BIG.
Your attendance and advocacy in March are needed more than ever as it remains essential that we focus the U.S. Congress on the financial needs of our nation's community colleges and the Students.
If you were unable to attend the February NLS date due to scheduling conflicts, the March program is a golden opportunity to speak with your Members of Congress and participate in NLS events.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE MARCH NLS
- REGISTER FOR THE NLS EVENT: Call (301) 694-5243 or e-mail acct@experient-inc.com and state your interest in registering for the March 10-12, 2010 National Legislative Summit. If you call, the person on the phone will take your information and register you. If you e-mail, please provide your full contact information; you will be contacted shortly by a representative who will take your information and register you for the NLS.
- RESERVE YOUR HOTEL ROOM: Make sure to register for the NLS before securing your hotel room. Once you have been registered for the NLS, you will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration. This e-mail will include a link to the hotel, which you should use to reserve your hotel room for the NLS.
Let's work together to turn a terrible development in our favor. Despite this hurdle, the NLS remains a vital means to securing federal-level support for community colleges. Your voice must be heard.
Sincerely,
J. Noah Brown
President and CEO