2009 Conference Statement
Please be aware that, after extensive discussions, the CUA Executive Committee has decided not to hold a 2009 Annual Conference. This decision was not an easy one to make but the Committee feel that it was made in the best interest of the CUA and its members.
There were a number of reasons why this decision was made with the main problems being around the current financial climate that everyone finds themselves in. Companies are reducing spend in non critical areas and feedback from members indicated that there would be a reduced attendance at the Conference, if it was held this year, added to this, any Conference Venue also required a large ‘up front’ deposit with no guarantee that our Conference numbers would cover this outlay. Taking all of this information into consideration, the Committee felt that they did not wish to expose the CUA to potential excessive costs/losses, which could not be covered, from our current bank deposits, which would have severe consequences on the membership base.
The Committee still wish to have some form of membership meeting this year, hopefully around the month of November, which is when we would normally have held the Conference and we are currently in discussion with Accero as to how we can work together to provide various day meetings to ensure that members are kept up to date with the software developments and that the ‘spirit’ of the CUA Conferences lives on. It is envisaged that those meetings would be on a regional basis and the attendance fee would be free or at a relatively small charge. The actual, dates, locations and programmes are still to be decided upon and more information will be available once our discussions with Accero have been finalized.
The Committee are hopeful that this is only a temporary arrangement and that normal service will be resumed in 2010 with a CUA Annual Conference that will be bigger and better than any previous.
George Castlehow
CUA Chairman