Due to circumstance bond our control the ABANA board has no choice but to cancelled the 2020 ABANA conference.

The situation with regards the continued COVID-19 pandemic continues to change, and can pose considerable health risks to those that encounter it.

We cannot, in good faith, risk the health of anyone involved by going ahead with the conference.

At present, there are New York State restrictions of gatherings over 50 people in place until mid May. If these restrictions were removed at that time, we cannot complete the logistical requirements of the conference within the remaining timeframe of 2-weeks.

If you have previously registered for the conference, we are currently formulating a process for refunds, please do not contact our registrar at this time, we will contact you.

Any conference goods purchased will be mailed to you. Although the ‘Slack-tub bourbon’ cannot be mailed across State lines, the empty ‘Slack-tub bourbon’ kegs will be sent to those that purchased them.

ABANA has incurred some hard costs in organizing this conference, and while ABANA is fiscally very solvent, most funds are restricted in their use. Our out-of-pocket expenses for the conference are above $30,000 dollars, of which $13,000 is non-recoverable. The remaining $17,000 paid out will seriously hamper ABANA’s cash flow and its ability to rapidly fund a future event.

We are asking that you consider making a donation to the ABANA general fund, in the sum of $20, $40 or other amount. This funding will offset the conference expenses already incurred and will help fund the next event. We are making a link on the ABANA.org Website, and thank you, we appreciate your help.

The board and the conference committee want to wish you and your loved ones good health as we move forward from here.

Please be safe, and we’ll see you at an ABANA event in the future.

The ABANA 2020 conference committee.