Dear ERAPPA Members,
I hope you all have been doing well and are staying safe during this uncertain time.
It is hard to believe we are coming up on a year of this altered reality caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year we were cautiously optimistic that we could safely resume our usual face-to-face offerings in 2021. Since then, the Board has been working closely with the 2021 Host Committee Chairs and Conference Planner about the potential success of our fall annual conference. While there does appear to be hope on the horizon as vaccines become available and states announce updated reopening plans, many institutions still have bans on non-essential travel and travel/professional development budgets are among the first to be put on hold as we continue to navigate through this unprecedented time. As such, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel our 2021 Annual Meeting. To give DVAPPA an opportunity to hold a successful conference and not wait the usual 9-year cycle, we have rescheduled DVAPPA’s hosting to 2024. This also allows for the next three consecutive years to continue their momentum and maintain contracts that are already in place.
The ERAPPA Board is working through the logistics of the many things affected by this decision, including elections and budgetary implications. To maintain our vision to be a key resource for professional development, we plan to continue to offer virtual ways to remain engaged.
I encourage you all to remain involved and stay connected with all ERAPPA and APPA have to offer their members – local Chapter engagement, ERAPPA Committees, APPA’s online Community, free webinars offered by both APPA and ERAPPA. We have also started a tradition of monthly virtual ERAPPA Happy Hours the second Friday of each month at 5 pm EST that are hosted by Beth Clark!
Listed below is the new permanent rotation for Chapters to host the ERAPPA Annual Meeting:
2022 – NYAPPA – Turning Stone Resort, New York
2020+3 – AAPPA – Saint John, New Brunswick
2024 – DVAPPA – Valley Forge Resort, Pennsylvania
2025 – NJAPPA
2026 – SNEAPPA
2027 – OAPPA
2028 – MD/DC APPA
2029 – NNECERAPPA
2030 – KAPPA
Shortly, the 2021 Host Committee will be reaching out to those who have committed to a sponsorship for the annual conference. I want to express a huge thank you to the entire 2021 Host Committee and Conference Planner for all their hard work to date and through this tumultuous time.
I deeply missed being able to see everyone last fall. While I am saddened by this decision, I know it is the right one for the well-being of our members. Thank you all for being a part of our ERAPPA community. Do not be afraid to reach out or lean on each other for support and insight and I hope to see you on a virtual ERAPPA Happy Hour soon!
Stay safe and be well.
Jessica Abbott
ERAPPA President
president@erappa.org
jabbott1@wolcottps.org