PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Brian Swope, CPRC
It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of the Executive Committee’s decision to cancel FRSA’s 98th Annual Convention and the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Expo, originally scheduled to take place July 15-17, 2020 in Kissimmee, FL. As you know, we have been closely monitoring the worldwide situation with COVID-19 and, after a careful review of the facts and current guidelines, we do not feel the industry can safely gather this July. I appreciate the thoughts, feedback, survey comments and personal stories that you have shared with us over the past few weeks. Please know that we did not make this decision lightly and were guided by the voices of our exhibitors and attendees. At the end of the day, health and safety must be our priority. The FRSA leadership is well aware that the Convention and Expo is, for many, the only opportunity all year long to have face-to-face contact with many contractors, so we’re expanding our reach to offer those who support us with additional free exposure. We also recognize that our contractors are still working and that the need for industry products and services is great. We want to make it as easy as possible for Florida contractors and exhibitors to connect. We have asked exhibitors and sponsors to consider donating or rolling over their payments to the 2021 year. In the coming months, FRSA will be promoting exhibitor products and services through Florida Roofing magazine, the FRSA website and an all-new Expo Guide available in print and digital format at no expense to those who choose to donate or rollover their funds to 2021. We greatly appreciate the support the industry is showing FRSA. Although a face-to-face meeting will not be held for the Convention and Expo, we are making plans to convert many of the other events that take place during the same time to digital and online formats. The Silent Auction is the annual fundraiser for the FRSA Educational and Research Foundation and will now convert to an online auction beginning on July 10. You’ll be able to bid on the same great items, only now you’ll be able to do it electronically and receive instant notifications when items are posted or when bids on that item you’ve had your eye on increase. Through this online platform, we’ll also host the annual Affiliate Competition. All the seminars originally scheduled for the Convention – 17 hours, will now be hosted online. There are eight code-specific seminars that include changes to the Florida Building Code, which will be implemented on December 31, 2020. Many of them deal with changes due to ASCE 7-16. The new version of the FRSA-TRI Tile Installation Manual has also been updated to the 6th Edition. You’ll want to make sure you register for these important industry courses. Plans
are to launch the seminars in July. More information will be available soon. Be sure to look for an email from FRSA. Although we’ve been presented some very challenging circumstances, our industry has always weathered through. We may do things differently and communicate from a distance, but we are resilient and we will get through this challenging time FRSA President together and the industry Brian Swope, CPRC will gather again. In the Vice President, meantime, mark your calTampa Roofing Co., Inc. endars for our 99th Annual Convention and Expo, July 21-23, 2021 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. God Bless!
Brian Swope, CPRC
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www.thespring.org Help The Spring by donating items on its Amazon wish list. Visit https://a.co/3kZT7UN to view the wish list and to donate. www.floridaroof.com | FLORIDA ROOFING
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