Due to the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, applicants for Venue Excellence Award (VEA) and Education & Service Award, as well as their respective peer review committees, cannot give the attention needed to the application and selection process at this time. IAVM has recently made some difficult budgetary revisions due to the pandemic, which also affect provision of awards. Additionally, the health and safety of our members is our highest priority, and we are discovering that many venues’ travel and professional development budgets have been cut. These changes, and the fluid movement of federal/state/local governments regarding phases of re-opening, led IAVM to feel that the best course of action this year is to simply wait on the selection and presentation of both awards.
Any Venue Excellence Award/Education & Service Award applications that were received for 2020 will automatically be presented for 2021. Should you have any updates or additions to your application currently on file, you will have time to present edits with communication from IAVM staff regarding steps.
We know many of you have been faced with similar difficult decisions, and we appreciate your understanding.
