Given the rapidly changing developments surrounding the Coronavirus, I am writing to inform you that the KAPPA Board has decided to cancel our spring meeting scheduled for April 8 & 9 at the Nittany Lion Inn. Given the latest advice of the CDC and Governor Tom Wolfe’s emergency declaration, we feel this is the best decision we can make for all concerned. Canceling the meeting is especially disappointing since we did not have a fall KAPPA conference while we hosted ERAPPA 2019. Our fall conference is still on, so I hope to see you all for that meeting November 4 & 5 in Cranberry, Pa.

For our all our members, we will be processing full refunds of the registration fee minus a $30 administration fee. For our valued business partners, we hope that you will extend your sponsorships and booth registrations to the fall. If you are not interested in doing that, KAPPA will offer to refund your sponsorship and booth fees minus a $30 administrative fee. All hotel reservations will automatically be canceled for you please do not contact the Nittany Lion Inn directly. Please contact Direct Travel at: 315.234.1421 or email Yvonne Shaw at yshaw@dt.com. I regret the need to charge the administrative fee, but KAPPA has already incurred significant expenses in relation to this meeting and the administrative fee will go towards covering those costs.

I want to express my thanks and appreciation for your patience and continued support as we worked through this process. Each of us is experiencing firsts as a result of the Coronavirus in what are unprecedented times for all of us. In the summer, we will be in touch with information about the fall conference. Those selected to present at the spring meeting will have first rights of refusal to present in the fall.

Please be patient and kind with those around you; look after your family, friends, and coworkers; and, I wish you all good health.

With warmest regards,

Phillip Melnick
KAPPA President