Message from Kerry Crabb, NSH Convention Chairman


The NSH Symposium/Convention will be held as scheduled September 22 - 27 in
Charlotte, NC.

We acknowledge this is not the best time to be conducting a meeting.  There is
much sadness over what has happened in our country.  Safety is on everyone's
mind.  Travel is a concern for all and will be difficult in the coming days and
weeks as new concerns arise and safety restrictions are instituted.

We have had many inquiries about the possibility of postponing or cancelling the
meeting.  Unfortunately, this is not an option for NSH unless the federal
government requires meetings of this type be cancelled.  There are many legal
contract and financial obligations associated with meetings of our size.  There
are only a few things in contracts that allow a meeting to be cancelled without
a huge financial responsibility on the cancelling party.  Accepted cancellation
reasons are Acts of God (weather), Fire, Domestic Violence (riots) and War.  For
NSH to cancel without becoming legally liable for ALL financial loss by the
hotels and convention center the federal government would have to declare war
and ask the public to cancel their meetings.  The possibility of postponing the
meeting does not work for us either.  The availability of facilities (hotels and
convention center) are not likely because they book meeting consecutively.  NSH
also has meetings scheduled through the year 2009 already.  The logistics of
postponing would create a nightmare for NSH.  Rescheduling speakers, vendors and
reregistering attendees would be so disruptive it would equate to cancelling and
require starting the planning process all over again.

Considering the circumstances in the United States today, we anticipate that
some of those scheduled to come to the S/C will not be able to attend.  There
will be many though who will attend.  Whether they fly, drive or take the train
they plan on being there.  For them, we will have the meeting as scheduled.  For
those who may not be able to attend or choose not to attend, we will miss you
greatly and hope to see you at a future NSH S/C.