Uproar re: ELA Convention in Boca Raton by Kit Menkin Leasing News is receiving reports from readers that they were told not to attend the Equipment Leasing Association Conference at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton, Florida , by the hotel itself, and now they are informed ELA will not be returning their registration fee because they did not attend. “Situated on 356 acres in Boca Raton, the heart of Florida's Gold Coast, in south Palm Beach County. Easily accessible via air transportation: 28 miles south of Palm Beach Airport, 24 miles north of Fort Lauderdale International Airport, 45 miles north of Miami International Airport... “A staff of 2,200 employees representing 60 nations, is committed to providing personal and outstanding service..1041 deluxe guestrooms inclusive of 56 suites, 76 junior suites, 60 one-bedroom Boca Bungalows...” “ELA cannot speak for what the hotel might have said, but people arrived right up through Sunday evening, “ ELA president Michael Fleming told Leasing News. “ Sometimes ‘they told me not to come' is translated from ‘We are going to have bad weather beginning early Monday morning through noon'. In any event FYI, we had the general sessions, the name speakers spoke and applauded the attendees tenacity, and 75% of the breakouts were held. Great evening parties!!!” Leasing News reproduced on Wednesday the ELTnews report from ELA about the conference, with their headline: "Eventful Annual Convention Closes" "Tuesday night, intrepid ELA members closed the 44th Annual Convention with a raucous theme party. Generator-powered 'Margaritaville' featured plenty of excellent food and drink, caricaturists, exotic birds, a full band and a special appearance by 'Leased Zeppelin' (the musical stylings of three ELA staff members with GE's David Weiner). "The party was a perfect cap to an eventful convention. Despite many inconveniences, attendees remained upbeat (some even characterized it as one of the best ELA conventions they'd attended). Resort staff worked extremely hard to ensure that attendees were comfortable and that there was as little interruption to the program as possible. Tuesday's program did indeed go on with both a general session and more than a dozen breakout sessions." Mr. Fleming confirmed that the conference had gone on despite the weather outside. “It is true that driving in Boca on Monday and Tuesday was restricted but I am not sure where people wanted to go as nothing outside of the hotel was functioning and the airports were closed. Convention sessions were going on all day.” Suzanne Jackson Henry of Four Leaf Public Relations LLC told Leasing News, “The actual records are also in transit, but they estimate between 400 and 500 people arrived. They are still determining and will know much more later. Also, a piece will be coming shortly (late today or tomorrow) that describes the convention in more detail.” Readers reacted by telling Leasing News those who did not attend will not be getting “refunds,” adding there was more news if we were to dig further into it: “I am outraged that the ELA has the audacity to write that the convention was a success. I wonder what percentage of the people actually went? Firstly, the airports were closed and even if we wanted to, we couldn't get there. I have family living in the area and the electricity is still out and the lines to get gas are 7 hours long. I think it was a prudent decision for anyone who decided not to attend. “Apparently, the ELA has no intention of refunding the fee to all of the attendees who were rational and decided it wasn't a good idea to risk their lives to attend the convention! Who made the decision not to cancel the convention? Can you imagine if people were actually hurt or something happened? I know all of the people we spoke to that decided not to go feel the same way that I do. “thanks “ Mark Kitaeff, President ( a member of ELA, as all those who contacted us, we verified were members except for one.) -- “I wanted to write you regarding the ELA annual meeting in Boca Raton as it appears that the "press" coverage from the ELA, Leasing News and other sources is completely biased. Whether it is due to the fact that that ELA is concerned about its liabilities or due to ineptitude, it is very upsetting to me that a non-profit member organized entity would want to do the wrong thing for its members. I have questioned over the years how the organization handles certain issues, and the handling of this event makes it clear that much of the strategy is simply "stick your head in the sand and continue to believe the status quo will prevail". “Late last week, when all other ELA members and I were trying to decide whether to fly to Miami for the ELA annual event, the first source I would check is the government (NOAA) websites. The NOAA website language on Thursday and Friday basically stated that there was a 70% chance of a category 2 or higher strike around or north of Miami, and to stay away from the area. Meanwhile, national news was talking about evacuations of the keys and low lying areas in the east such as Naples. Although Boca is on the east side it was clear from the news that there would be hurricane force winds in the area. The ELA Website continued to state that the event was on and that the weather was not expected to be that bad so come on down. “On Friday I spoke to many other ELA members. We were all concerned that (a) it simply defied logic to fly into an area that was already declared an emergency area and that would surely see power, flight and other disruptions, and (b) no one wanted to be stuck there and not able to get out. Even more interesting was two board members I know who were in Florida for the board meetings said something to the effect of "I am getting the heck out of here on Saturday while I can." They urged me and other friends not to come! “Today I spoke to an associate who did go down to Florida. He said that it was a very unpleasant experience. He though there were about 150 people there. The power was from generators, and there was no hot water in the hotel and no TV. At 2:00 in the morning the night of the hurricane the window in the room next to him blew out! There were no flights home from Miami, so they drove 6 hours to Orlando to catch a flight home. The only way they made it out of the Boca area (since there was no gas in the area) is that they luckily had a full tank of gas in their rental car. “The handling of this event bothers me. I love going to ELA events in general, but what was the board and people running the event thinking!! “Please feel free to print this.” Christopher A. Enbom -- "What will be interesting is see how many of the 800 no-show's complain about no refund. That may be where the story is down the road. What ELA fails to mention it that the attendees had no where to go if they wanted. Many roads in Boca were blocked with downed trees, taxi's were having difficulty getting gas and most important the three airports servicing the area were closed until late Tuesday." (ELA member) --- “As one who tried to get there and was told by the hotel on Monday AM ‘do not come', I'm curious to find out how many were there. (ELA member) -- “Quiet a brew going on with Mike Fleming of the ELA. You have any news about the convention down in Boca.... Lot of us did not attend but are not getting our money back....??? “May be a scoop here for you....” (ELA member) -- “It's a tough situation for many, especially service providers. We want to maintain a happy, positive reputation and not be considered troublemakers. It's frustrating to have issues and not be able to vent publicly. I know there are many disgruntled members who are waiting for ELA to address their complaints. At some point ELA will have to address the issue publicly, and once that is done, those who are not pleased will probably be more vocal.” (ELA member) -- “I certainly can understand ELA's reasoning for not canceling the conference. If they had do so they would have had to get the word out last Thursday, Friday at the very latest. Most left over the weekend, as the conference started Sunday with golf. To effectively cancel the conference emails and calls would have needed to go out before attendees left for the weekend. Worst then going ahead with the conference would be to have attendees who were not alerted to the cancellation showing up expecting a conference only to find out it was canceled. “Their reasoning Friday was that Wilma was going to hit the West coast of Florida and Boca is on the East coast. What they did not consider is the size of the storm. They should be very grateful that of those deciding to attend none were hurt. What I really don't understand is the statement that "registered attendees who have delayed coming should consider coming for the balance of the program. Hotel rooms are plentiful," How are these people going to get there with the local airports closed! It is my understanding, that as of Friday, ELA was not offering any refunds for conference fees. I assume the hotel has at least a 24 hour, if not 48 hour cancellation policy, Midwest Express was waiving usual fees for schedule changing on flights to Miami, however last word was that the airports on the East coast of Florida would not be operating until tonight or tomorrow. CNN showed that many streets in Boca were blocked with downed trees and a semi blown over on I-95. The backside of the eye wall was far worst then anyone expected. If you got to Boca, getting to the hotel would be difficult and they might still not have electricity. I figure many of those attending were looking for the first available flights out. “I can fully understand the Associations scheduling conferences during off seasons at resorts in order to obtain more favorable room prices, but I believe they all should consider the safety of their membership first. It is one thing to schedule a conference where the location may still be shaking off winter, but to schedule conferences in Florida during hurricane season is not too bright, to not offer refunds is unconscionable. I recall another conference in downtown Chicago in early April, attendees had to be careful when leaving the building because very large ice cycles were melting and falling off the skyscrapers. It would have been on heck of a law suit had anyone been hit and injured or killed. “Hopefully, all the associations will take into consideration locations and potential weather or other dangerous conditions when scheduling future conferences. I am certain most members would rather pay a few dollars more for a hotel then to sit having to wonder if the should fly into a hurricane or something worse.” From a Friend of the Industry. (Name Withheld) (not an ELA member, but active in two other leasing associations)
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