Sept. 3, 2005
Media coverage of conventions displaced
by Hurricane Katrina includes mention of ASA Annual
Meeting
Chicago Tribune,
September 1
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fi-convention2sep02,1,71702.story
(Registration required)
The American Society
of Anesthesiologists, based in Park
Ridge, was planning to hold its 2005 annual
meeting, a celebration of its centennial, at the Morial Center on
Oct. 22-26. The event was expected to draw 285 exhibitors
and 16,000 attendees.
"We were planning a wonderful celebration in a historic city, which happens to
be the hometown of our incoming president," said…a spokeswoman.
Now the group is scrambling to find an alternative site, with the realization
that on this short time frame it may have to scale back plans or consider cancellation.
Still, event planners acknowledge that their troubles pale compared with the
tragedy playing out in New Orleans.
USA Today, September
1
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2005-09-01-katrina-econ-fallout-usat_x.htm
The
American Society of Anesthesiologists was set to celebrate
its centennial in New Orleans next month — a
celebration 12 years in the making that included
a black-tie gala for 1,500 people. But on Wednesday,
the group canceled.
It was particularly disappointing
for Orin Guidry, a New
Orleans resident who is the
society's incoming president.
Wednesday, he had other
things on his mind. "Frankly any disappointment about
the meeting pales in comparison to the suffering
of many of the victims of this storm. ... Concern
about when I take over the office (of president)
is the furthest thing from my mind," he wrote in
an e-mail from his brother's home in Lafayette, La. (Note: Dr. Guidry was misquoted slightly:
he actually said “…concern about where I take over the office…”)
Associated Press, September 2
http://www.ap.org
With Louisiana conventions
unlikely, other cities stepping in
For the
[American Society of Anesthesiologists], planning to
bring 16,000 to the convention center in October, Hurricane
Katrina's destruction means a conference planned for
12 years will have to be rearranged in less than two
months. Considering that big meetings require airline
tickets, hotel rooms and speakers _ not just a big
room to meet in _ some conventions planned for New
Orleans this fall and winter may have to be scrapped
or broken into smaller pieces, said [ASA]'s spokeswoman…