The U.S. Eventing Association board of governors voted last week to postpone the 2020 USEA Annual Meeting and Convention that was scheduled to take place at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from Dec. 10-13. The intention is to hold the 2021 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in Albuquerque instead.
“The USEA board of governors decided, after much deliberation and a survey of the membership, that it would be in our members’ best interest to postpone the 2020 Annual Meeting and Convention,” said Jennifer Hardwick, senior director of membership services and meeting planner. “This decision was not made lightly, but based on all that is happening in our world and with the safety of our members a top priority, it was the best decision for us to postpone this year’s convention.”
The USEA staff and board of governors are exploring all possible options for hosting the 2020 meeting. The USEA by-laws state that the Annual Meeting of Members must be held each year at the conclusion of the competition season, either at the USEA office in Leesburg, Virginia, or elsewhere in the country. The board will be examining a number of possible solutions and select a course of action that will suit the greatest possible number of our members.
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One of the most anticipated parts of the meeting each year is the year-end awards ceremony, where the eventing community comes together to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of its members. While it will not take place in its traditional format this year, the USEA still intends to devise a special way to honor the year-end award winners at the conclusion of the 2020 competition season. At this time, the USEA has not made any decisions to adjust the way in which leaderboard points are tabulated for 2020.
“Our members’ safety is of the utmost importance, and I could not wholeheartedly say, ‘Come to Albuquerque and enjoy the sights!’ while this is looming over all our heads,” Hardwick stated. “However wonderful it would be to see each of you, we do not want to put anyone in harm’s way.”
