September 17, 2020
We hope that you and the members of your families and communities are safe and well.
Cognizant of the critical issues facing the nation and music administrators and their institutions, NASM has been deeply involved in reviewing current realities and viable options pertaining to the conduct of the 2020 NASM Annual Meeting. Throughout this period of fact-finding and consideration, NASM has maintained its commitment to providing to its members and constituents clear, cogent, and accurate information as it becomes available, and ensuring as it can within its means the safety and well-being of its members and constituents.
After careful and thorough consideration of and attention to issues before the Association, the NASM Board of Directors voted to cancel all on-site aspects of the 2020 Annual Meeting, including the in-person meetings of the Commissions on Accreditation, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Regions; all pre-meeting workshops; and all professional development sessions, which were scheduled to take place November 15–24, 2020 at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. The NASM Annual Meeting is an opportunity for individuals to connect, communicate, and broaden understandings and awareness of salient issues. It is also a time to come together in community. Therefore, the need to entertain a decision to cancel this meeting was approached with great depth of care. Annual Meeting session topics slated for consideration in 2020 which remain relevant will be considered for inclusion in 2021 Annual Meeting programming.
Each Annual Meeting serves as a venue which enables the Association to conduct in person its business and provide to music administrators information which can assist them to address local and national realities. Although the 2020 Annual Meeting will not be held in person, the Association will conduct through electronic means the business meetings of the membership, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Regions, and Commissions on Accreditation for the purpose of carrying out their respective responsibilities and duties. These meetings will be conducted in November 2020 during the timeframes in which they were originally scheduled. NASM also is engaged in implementing pertinent virtual professional development activities. Information regarding these opportunities may be found within the NASM website under Professional Development Opportunities embedded within the Informed Decision-Making: The Importance of Distillation and Synthesis section of the Leadership: Navigating Difficult Situations and Conditions webpage.
NASM has worked directly with our good colleagues at the Westin Kierland Resort during these last months to consider and address the provisions of the 2020 Annual Meeting contract. NASM is appreciative of their efforts and the outcome of discussions.
Though we sincerely regret being unable to meet in person in Scottsdale, Arizona for the 2020 Annual Meeting, we hold every hope and intention of being together again in Orlando, Florida for the 97th NASM Annual Meeting, which will be held November 19–23, 2021 at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.
As always, the staff of NASM welcomes any inquiries and stands ready to provide assistance to individuals and institutions. Thank you for the kind patience each of you has offered as NASM has worked to reach this difficult decision.
Thank you.
Kind regards.