Houston Show

snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net wrote in news:17638-431DB0DD-1252@storefull-

From what was posted last night or this morning on another list (electric quilt) Houston has not been canceled as of yet....

Jan

Nancy - I was told yesterday that the evacuees would be there for at least a month, and possibly up to two months. There has been no official word yet from IQF or the City of Houston. There was quite a bit of discussion regarding the show, yesterday in my LQS. Most think the show will be rescheduled/cancelled and are very supportive of that decision, although it would mean a huge loss of revenue to quilt shops, vendors and the city, as well as financial strain to people such as yourself who had advanced ticketing and reservations.

I will certainly post the minute I hear anything definite. I feel for people in your situation.

Tina, in Houston

The website says the show will go on.

Their information is that the convention center will only be used for the month of September. They are planning on having the show as usual. She said new information will be posted as she gets it and that a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.

marcella

Karey has posted her current situation here. I would suggest checking it often. It's a fluid situation that could change.

Howdy! From the source:

THE WORD FROM HOUSTON IS: THE SHOWS WILL GO ON!

As you may have read or heard, Houston's Mayor has opened the George Brown Convention Center for emergency housing for evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. Many people are contacting us to see how this will affect either the International Quilt Market or International Quilt Festival, both of which are scheduled to be held in the GBCC next month. They are understandably worried because of having to purchase non-refundable airfares, cancel hotel rooms, or ship goods for their booths, for example.

We understand the Mayor's action-it is hard to face the utter human misery of these fellow Americans who have lost everything of their past and much of their future and not want to do everything you can to help them. We started the Quilters Comfort America project (click here) specifically to bring help and comfort to these unfortunate people. At the same time, however, we also have a responsibility to the thousands of people and businesses who come to Houston every year for our two back-to-back shows.

At this time, we have been told by the Mayor's office that the evacuee housing at the GBCC will only be through the month of September. If the city sticks to that deadline, then Market and Festival will be fine. The cleanup and turn-around from emergency housing back to a smoothly functioning convention center will certainly be tight, but it's entirely possible to accomplish. Houston is a can-do city, and this will just be another example of a can-do challenge.

We will post more when we know more. This is a holiday weekend, and I do not anticipate having more information until some time on Wednesday, Sept. 7, after the specially called City Council meeting and after the meeting many hotels and businesses have requested with the Mayor to discuss both the economic consequences of this kindhearted but unexpected action and alternate venues for evacuee housing that already exist in the Houston area.

International Quilt Market and Quilt Festival with our 50,000+ participants and exhibitors bring more than $20 million to the city of Houston. Losses like these from fall conventions could damage Houston's economy at the very time when it needs to expand to absorb the many evacuees who will choose to stay in our area and who will need jobs and housing. We believe the city will realize this and take the appropriate action to help the evacuees and still maintain the city's healthy economy.

To repeat: for now, the word from Houston is: the shows WILL go on.

Karey Patterson Bresenhan Director, International Quilt Market and International Quilt Festival

Ragmop/Sandy

I'm glad to see this. I'm not glad only for myself and for those like me who enjoy the show, but I'm also glad for the evacuees. It can't be pleasant living in a convention center with no privacy -- getting them into better living quarters must be what they're hoping for, too. Besides, as the web site clearly states, this is no time for Houston to lose a major source of revenue, when the budget must be straining already.