SC&RA Annual Conference cancelled

Safety is the number one priority of the crane, rigging and specialized transportation sector. In light of the national COVID-19 crisis, the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association Board of Directors voted on March 17 to cancel the 2020 Annual Conference scheduled for April 14-18 in Amelia Island, Florida,USA.

“Based upon the developments of the past few weeks, and looking beyond the business and logistic issues, our top priority is protecting the health and safety of our members and staff,” said Joel Dandrea, chief executive officer, SC&RA.

The Association has been working to assure reservation and registration fees are refunded in the most efficient manner.

SC&RA said attendees, exhibitors and sponsors can expect the following:

• Attendees: Your reservation with the OMNI Amelia Island will be canceled automatically; there is no need to contact the hotel or us. You will receive an email folio of any refunds within the next 2-3 weeks. Your conference registration fee will be refunded to you in full.
• Exhibitors: Your exhibit fee will be refunded to your company in full.
• Sponsors: Your sponsorship fees will be refunded.
• Fundraisers: Fete En Blanc and Booze & Bites Tour tickets will be refunded. If you purchased a ticket for the Fête En Blanc fundraiser you have the option of transferring your ticket purchase to a 100 percent tax deductible donation to the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Foundation (SC&RF). Please contact Jackie Roskos at [email protected] with your decision to provide a donation or request a refund.

“If you donated to the SC&RF upon registration, your donation is appreciated,” the Association said.

Over the next few weeks, Dandrea said SC&RA staff will be determining ways to virtually conduct and execute committee meetings, award recognition, Board of Director and Governing Committee elections, and the Job of the Year competitions. Some of these may happen over the same dates originally scheduled for the Annual Conference or in the months following.

“Most importantly, I encourage you to be safe and practice social distancing now through the next few weeks,” said Dandrea. “Our motto is ‘Our Members Lift & Move the World’ and I have no doubt that if we do our part, we can impact the spread of this virus and be stronger, physically, emotionally and financially.

SC&RA will keep its members updated by email, social media and its website. SC&RA publishing partner KHL Group, publisher of American Cranes and Transport and International Cranes & Specialized Transport, will endeavor to assist SC&RA in the dissemination of news and information about the conference and the impact of COVID-19 on the industry.