The annual convention of the Arkansas Broadcasters Association is the latest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Executive Director Luke Story announced this week that pandemic concerns led him to cancel 2020’s gathering, known as ARKCON. It was originally scheduled for the DoubleTree Hotel in Little Rock this month and then postponed to August.
"It’s definitely disappointing to have to cancel, but it was the right decision," Story told Arkansas Business.
Instead of a physical gathering, the association is holding a virtual media sales and management summit July 22 and 23, Story told association members in an email this week.
The event for members "will feature some of the best sales and management speakers in the country and be offered FREE to ABA members," the email said, promising details on how to tune in.
"It was important to us that we still offer an event to our members, an opportunity for them to be enriched at their leisure, enjoy some time with colleagues and possibly even have a toast together at the end of the day," Story told Arkansas Business. "We feel like we have done our very best to provide our members that opportunity."
The 2021 ARKCON event is set for July 21-23 next year at the DoubleTree.
