March 25, 2011

Dear NCHA Members,

It has come to my attention that there might be some inaccurate information going around regarding the decision process that went in to the dates and location for the 2011 NCHA Convention. In summary, the convention dates for 2011 are the SAME WEEKEND in 2011 as they were in 2010 ( Friday June 17 - Sunday June 19, 2011 and Friday June 18 - Sunday June 20, 2010).

Last year, the dates for the "Non-Pro" a very successful and highly respected NCHA-approved limited age event, were June 8 - 15, 2010, so that show was completed several days before the convention began.

This year, at no fault of the Non-Pro, that show's dates were shifted by the host facility as a part of an overall "calendar shift" to June 14 - 21, 2011, putting the show at the same time as the NCHA convention.

Following a lot of looking at options and trying to do the best thing for the most people, the Executive Committee voted to move the convention location in 2011 to Oklahoma City to accommodate as many members as possible...so folks could go to the convention and still show at the Non-Pro.

The alternatives for the Executive Committee were:

1. to not approve the Non-Pro, which sure didn't seem like a good option;
2. to have the convention June 17 - 19 in Nashville, which would force cutters to choose between the Non-Pro and the Convention, which the Executive Committee didn't feel was a good alternative;
3. to move the dates of the Convention, either a weekend earlier or a weekend later, which would have put the Convention on top of many existing weekend shows across the country (31 shows the prior weekend and 50 shows the weekend after, based on shows held in 2010), which they didn't feel was a good alternative; or
4. do what they did, and try and work with the producers of the Non-Pro on event scheduling to accommodate that show, and our members. The Executive Committee chose alternative #4.

Any statements other than those above would not be accurate. Thanks for the opportunity to provide some clarification on this subject. You can give NCHA Executive director Jeff Hooper (817/244-6188) or me (817/304-5636) a call if you have any questions or suggestions.

We'll hope to see you all at the Convention....AND at the Non-Pro.

Best Regards,
Chris Benedict
NCHA President