Article Number : 659 |
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| Date | 11/7/2005 9:58:36 PM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=659 |
| Abstract | Chicago—First it was SARS, now Hurricane Wilma. For the second time in three years, events beyond the control of the National Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD), wreaked havoc with its Annual Meeting, this time canceling the event for the first time in 34 years... |
| Article | Chicago—First it was SARS, now Hurricane Wilma. For the second time in three years, events beyond the control of the National Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD), wreaked havoc with its Annual Meeting, this time canceling the event for the first time in 34 years. With Hurricane Wilma bearing down on southern Florida—where the three-day event was being held—and scheduled to hit the region during the time the organization was planning to meet, its executive committee decided it was in the best interest of everyone involved to cancel the conference. Scott Hendricks, NAFCD’s president, noted, “The safety and well being of our members and attendees comes first—above everything else.” Maurice Desmarais, the association’s acting executive director, said it was a difficult decision to make because no one really knew the timing of the hurricane hitting Florida once it stalled over Mexico. “We had our executive committee, two lawyers, and the hotel on the phone, and “CNN” on the TV trying to figure out what the best course of action would be. Then we started to get a number of cancellations ahead of time, so we felt it best to call the whole thing off.” Unlike in 2003 during the SARS outbreak when the group had ample time to move its meeting up a month as well as relocate it from Toronto to Chicago, Hurricane Wilma left no choice. “With the holidays coming up it would be too difficult to reschedule,” Desmarais explained. “We’re cursed,” he joked, noting the organization’s annual meeting was also impacted in 2001 by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. While it did go off without a hitch, attendance was less than expected being that the conference, which was in San Diego, was held less than three weeks after the attacks. With this year’s meeting canceled, Hendricks said NAFCD “will build on the momentum the event was generating” and start planning for the 2006 convention, scheduled for Oct. 19 to 21 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, Calif. During the conference, the organization will launch its Distributor Marketplace, a trade-show designed for manufacturers to better reach their wholesale customers (FCNews, Sept. 19/26). “As the premier networking forum and educational resource for distributors and suppliers of floor covering materials, NAFCD’s 2006 Annual Meeting will showcase everything flooring professionals need to expand their opportunities,” he explained. “The event will feature an outstanding line-up of world-class speakers who will focus on a wide range of business-related subjects, a full slate of informative and interactive breakout sessions, and several networking and social events that will prepare members for the future.” Keeping Up-To-Date Desmarais added between now and then, the organization will send out a “massive amount” of information to keep members and those who were scheduled to attend this year up-to-date on the various initiatives, studies and programs in which NAFCD is involved. For example, results of the 2005 Profitability Study, NAFCD Performance Index & Benchmarking Guide, were to be released and discussed at this year’s convention. Instead, the information will be released in the near future. “The Profitability Study provides NAFCD members the best industry-specific data available to direct the budgeting and financial planning process,” noted Dr. Albert Bates, founder and chairman of the Profit Planning Group, who was to present the results during the 2005 meeting. “What was revealed this year is that high-profit distributors make more money because they control gross margin and expenses.” For those who were going to attend this year’s event, Hendricks said NAFCD’s executive committee decided to take the following course of action: “The committee believes the fair and equitable response to this grave situation is to pay the expenses already incurred for the meeting by the association and then to reimburse any remaining registration fees to attendees on a prorated basis. Any funds not requested for reimbursement will be applied toward the 2006 Educational Program budget.” The organization has posted detailed information for those seeking registration fee reimbursements on its Web site at www.nafcd.org. For additional information, call NAFCD at 312/321-6836. —Matthew Spieler |