The National Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association (NLBMDA) has cancelled its spring meeting and legislative conference. The organization made the decision to cancel the event, scheduled to take place March 23-25 in Washington, D.C., after dialogue with key stakeholders and legal counsel and evaluation of concerns surrounding the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a statement on the organization’s webpage.
The rapid spread of COVID-19 resulted in “mounting concern over health and safety,” according to the NLBMDA’s statement. Additionally, recommendations against non-essential gatherings in Washington, D.C. and increased travel advisories and governmental health warnings made the scheduled NLBMDA event unfeasible.
“The Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference is a critical event that provides valuable opportunity for attendees to learn, network and discuss federal legislative and regulatory issues facing the lumber and building material industry, and to meet directly with members of Congress,” NLBMDA president and CEO Jonathan Paine said in a statement released to registered attendees. “NLBMDA remains committed to advancing the legislative and regulatory priorities of the organization and will call on all members, more so than ever, to contact their legislatures in the coming weeks and to schedule meetings during the upcoming recesses back in your home districts.”
Paine said the NLBMDA will share more information regarding registration fees and sponsorships of the scheduled event in the coming weeks.