Dear ALA Members,

We are saddened to announce the cancelation of the 2021 ALA Conference, which was set to occur Sept. 26-28 in Lake Tahoe, Calif. As most are aware, the Caldor Fire, which began Aug. 14 in an area southwest of Lake Tahoe, continues to intensify and threaten the surrounding communities.

Evacuation orders are being issued throughout the area and, currently, the fire is only 25% contained. California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the counties surrounding the fire, and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority stated visitors should postpone travel plans to the area until further notice. The ALA Board of Governors Executive Committee and ALA staff have determined that, due to the uncertainty of this situation and in the interest of the safety of everyone involved, the only option is to cancel this year’s event.

If you are registered for conference, you will receive a separate email detailing your options to recoup or roll over all registration fees.

If you have already booked your room in the ALA room block at The Resort at Squaw Creek, your reservation will automatically be canceled. If your email address is on file with the hotel, you will receive a message from the hotel confirming the cancelation. If you do not receive an email or are unsure of the status of your reservation, please contact the hotel directly.

Most airlines are currently allowing passengers to cancel their reservations at no cost and use the value of their unused ticket towards a future trip. We encourage all members who have already booked tickets to check directly with their airline as soon as possible, as there may be restrictions to this policy.

While we are all disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to reconnect in person this year, the 2021 ALA Conference Committee is working diligently to plan and announce a virtual alternative to this year’s conference. Please stay tuned, as details on this event will be released shortly.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact ALA Conference Director Katie Grandel at Katie@ALALighting.com.

Sincerely, 

Eric Jacobson
ALA President and CEO

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Brandon Levin, Chair
ALA Board of Governors
President, Justice Design Group

Terry Fraser, Chair
ALA Conference Committee
SVP, Designers Fountain

We are thankful for the firefighters and volunteers who are working diligently to contain the fire. At the time of this letter, the fire has destroyed 622 homes and poses a risk to more than 30,000 structures in the area. If you would like to support those affected by the Caldor Fire, below are some of the organizations offering relief:

• The American Red Cross
• California Wildfire Relief Fund
• El Dorado Community Foundation