Harvey Will Not Disrupt Convention; Support Recovery Today and in November

The hurricane and subsequent flooding that wreaked havoc on Houston did not directly affect the places we’ll be during the Marketing & Distribution Convention.

The Hyatt Regency Houston stayed dry and filled with guests throughout the storm. Our remote destinations—the offshore drilling rig in Galveston harbor, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Space Center Houston and Rice Village—were briefly shut down but have reopened and are welcoming guests.

We’ve been in communication with Association members based in Houston, convention contacts, and personal acquaintances in the city. The message has been consistent: Come. We’re back in business today and we’ll be ready in November.

If we’d been given a choice, we may not have scripted this series of events, but we see this convention as an opportunity to support Houston’s comeback effort.

The city’s priorities will have shifted in November from the urgent issues facing them today to a rebuilding effort. By being there, by dining in their restaurants and visiting their attractions, we support that.

In the meantime, we have a recommendation from Terry Flanary, who is based in Houston and serves on the Association’s board of directors.

He has seen the direct impact of a fundraising campaign led by J.J. Watt, a defensive end for the Houston Texans. As of Wednesday, the athlete’s foundation had raised more than $20 million for the Harvey relief effort. Watts and his teammates have committed both money and labor to the city’s recovery.  Donate at jjwattfoundation.com.

And, to see who’s already registered for the Marketing & Distribution Convention, go to FarmEquip.org.