Leaderboard

I echo Mike O’s comments, Len and appreciate all the time and effort you and your team have put in. I’m sure the 2023 show will be worth the wait!

Len, a big thank you to you and the San Marcos Convention team for all the hard work you put into this. We are all disappointed that there won’t be a 2020 Convention, but it was the right thing to do. We can all look forward to great conventions in Las Vegas, Omaha and San Marcos in 2021-2023. Mike

The following is a joint announcement from the San Marcos 2020 Convention Leadership team and the IPMS USA Executive Board. We jointly appreciate all the feedback we received regarding this year‘s convention. We’ve taken your comments and concerns into careful consideration, while maintaining an ongoing dialogue and negotiation with the Embassy Suites convention center in San Marcos. These negotiations have been proceeding carefully due to the significant financial exposure that IPMS would be subject to if we simply decided to cancel the convention unilaterally. We are now prepared to announce that the 2020 National Convention is officially canceled. While this may disappoint many, including your authors, we believe it is the prudent, safe and sensible thing to do. On a more positive note, we have been successful in negotiating the use of the Embassy Suites San Marcos location for the 2023 convention. Therefore, the rotation for the next three years, circumstances permitting, will be Las Vegas in 2021, Omaha in 2022, and San Marcos in 2023. Tentative dates for the 2023 convention will be August 2nd through the 5th. We are currently finalizing details of the contract with Embassy Suites and expect a finalized version within a week. For those who have registered already for the convention, we will be processing your refunds. For those who have booked hotel reservations at one of the convention center hotels, it will be up to you to cancel those on your own. Vendors will be refunded their money for tables as well through our vendor coordinator, Craig Gregory. Chapters and individuals who have sponsored contest categories may also receive refunds for their sponsorships. Again, we want to thank you all for your patience and support during these trying times, and hope that you recognize we have made the best possible decision for all under the circumstances. For any questions please contact John Noack at: IPMSPresident@ipmsusa.org Or Len Pilhofer at: director.nats2020@gmail.com Respectfully submitted, Len Pilhofer, 2020 Convention Chairman John Noack IPMS USA President

Sad news. We in Las Vegas know first hand how much effort and hard work you and your team have put into this. Please convey our appreciation to your team for everything they put into this endeavor. Best Regards to all. Bob

Very sorry to hear this. Having worked on the 2012 Nationals, I know y'all have been working your tails off the last two years. It really sucks to see all your work get flushed, especially less than a month out. Hopefully, all the scientist working on a vaccine will get one ready, so we can put this disease behind us and meet next year in Las Vegas. Take care, and stay safe.

Tough call but the right call. Thanks for all of your hard work, looking forward to San Marcos 2023! joe

Ditto on all the hard work, been there & done that. Don't look at it as a cancellation; look at it as a very serious dry-run for 2023!

Uh-oh ... that's a dangerous step towards GSB!!!! (it's been mooted now, but still)

Len, thank you and the team for all your hard work. I know this had to be difficult, we appreciate the team's efforts Pat D

Just a bunch of weenies! Just because of a pandemic and people dying all around is no reason to cancel! A zombie apocalypse would never stop us! Civil War would stop us ! Well all put on hazmat suits and make it work!!!! Take to the streets and burn a few cars! Who’s with me? Oh wait. My wife says no. Oh darn. Good luck and stay safe. Dak

Thanks to you and the planning team, Len. Viva Las Vegas and see y'all in 2023 for "Come and Build It... Again!"

Gil, What I would like to see is what the current thinking is and what options are open to us from their standpoint. That is, what are the markers they are looking for to determine if it is a go or not. How many do they realistically expect to attend. How would they practise social distancing and the issue of masks -what is their thinking on this. If they cancel, how much does IPMS look to lose financially. How could the membership help out - sort of a self generated gofundme - to offset that. If they don't cancel how much do they stand to lose by people not showing up. How does the vendor situation stand. How about the banquet. What are their thoughts on judging. Is there any way to conduct an online nationals. I could go on, but basically (I know, Judge Judy hates that word) what are their thoughts on this. At least then we would have something to consider from the leadership standpoint. Staying silent when so many are frustrated and wondering is what leads to even more frustration and wondering. Tell me - us - where we stand right now and I can deal with that. I realize that may change, but it gives a frame of reference. I am not trying to bust anyone's cojones. I like many others just want some acknowledgement that we are all in this together and how can we help, other than by standing around silent with our thumbs...well, you get the idea. When I managed Tech Support for Blue Cross, the one thing I drilled into my staff was communicate, communicate, communicate. Soemone has a down PC - make sure you are kiiping them informed as to what is happening. The other thing I drilled into them was give the client options. You may not solve their problem right away but at least the client will know they are not forgotten. That's what I'm looking for, since you asked. Kevin

Again, I would like to hear something from the IPMS National leadership as well as the local Nats leadership. Why are they remaining absolutely silent? Totally irresponsible, especially our National leadership. No, I am not going - I cancelled - so I don't really have a horse in this race, but as a member of IPMS, I want to hear from our National leadership as to what their thinking is. Frankly, shame on them for their stonewalling.

It is unquestionable that masks reduce the spread of microorganisms that exist on the secretions of the upper respiratory system. This has been known since the early 20th century in studying the epidemiology of tuberculosis and streptococcus- related disease, amongst others. At the same time, surgeons such as myself, as well as any other person in the operating theater, were mandated to wear a mask to prevent the projection of microorganism- laden secretions into the patient’s wound. Why wouldn’t it be effective in reducing the spread of this virus? Of course masks will not stop the disease. That claim has never been made by responsible health care professionals.But in vivo experimental demonstrations have shown that the ejection of upper respiratory secretion droplets can be reduced with masks. The only way to stop it is with a vaccine or by letting everyone be exposed and either die or survive, thereby establishing “herd immunity.” As a physician, the latter is abhorrent to me. So until there is a vaccine, the best we can do is slow the pace of the spread so that hospital ICU’s will not be overwhelmed with many sick patients simultaneously. This the masks and social distancing can do. But what is really disappointing is that some of the same people who contribute to this Forum, enthusiastically welcoming new members and encouraging their modeling apparently have no compunction about refusing to do the least little thing to protect them if they were to encounter them at a Nationals by wearing a mask! Goodness people, these are, supposedly, our friends. Some of us have known each other for close to half a century. And most of us are high risk. Do you really mean you would not put on a mask, required or not, for another member’s protection on a personal point of honour? Let’s all just try to be good soldiers, arm ourselves and look out for the other guy in the foxhole with us until the war is won! Regards, Nick Filippone, M.D.

My mistake... Argument, back on! 😐🍿 ‼️