Fellow Modelers and Friends,

It is with great sadness that we inform you AMPS 2020 International Convention is CANCELLED. Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety and welfare of our convention participants (members, vendors, volunteers and attendees alike), the AMPS E-Board has unanimously decided that we must cancel our annual event.

With this said, we need to explain a bit of what has gone into this decision. AMPS Central Pennsylvania and the Show Committee has been busy planning and adjusting these plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As you know, our initial plan was to hold our convention in early May 2020 at Camp Hill, PA. The Governor of Pennsylvania’s response to COVID-19 forced us to postpone our event to late September 2020 and move it to Danbury, CT. We were very fortunate that Northeast Military Modelers Association offered the Society their time slot and hotel where they normally hold ArmorCon. However, the recent decision by the Governor of Connecticut to continue in Phase 2 reopening for an indefinite time severely limits the number of people who can attend indoor meetings and gatherings. The Governor of Connecticut also placed quarantine restrictions on people entering the state from approximately 20 states. This quarantine impacts the ability of potential convention attendees and vendors to participate in the event. Additionally, there are travel restrictions in-place which preclude many of our international visitors from attending the convention without undergoing quarantine.

Currently, the Crown Plaza – Danbury is uncertain when it will be able to reopen for business. The hotel has agreed to cancel our convention with no penalty to AMPS. Additionally, the hotel will cancel all individual reservations with no cancellation penalty if you booked a reservation using code AMP. You are responsible for canceling your reservations if you booked outside the AMP group.

We’ve published a convention refund policy on the AMPS website home page. Chris Graeter, Vendor Coordinator will be reaching out to each vendor and Glen Martin, Sponsorship Coordinator will be reaching out to each sponsor concerning refunds or carry over to AMPS 2021. Chuck Rothman, Web Master will be reaching out to those who pre-registered for the show concerning refund or carry over to AMPS 2021.

The AMPS E-Board decided to continue the AMPS 2020 show theme (Last Battles) to AMPS 2021. We would have two themes in 2021, with two separate awards. This will allow those who built entries for the AMPS 2020 show theme an opportunity to compete for that award next year.

Since many of you will not have an opportunity to shop our vendors this year, we encourage you to consider spending some of your “show money” with them either in-person or through their on-line shops. The following is a list of the AMPS 2020 vendors:

· UMM-USA

· S & J Hobbies

· MiG Productions

· Wanamaker Hobbies

· Boomers' Books & Empire Models

· Microworld Games LLC

· The Scenic Factory

· HQ72 Resin Productions

· Tiger Werke Resin

· Custom Dioramics

· AK Interactive USA

· Hobbyworld USA

· DavidDoyleBooks.com

· For the Historian

· Airfix

· Challenger N Scale Hobbies

· Alpine Miniatures

· Armand Bayardi Model Maker

· Hobby Fan

· JLG Designs, LLC

· Frank Rincon

· Red Beach One H&S

The show team from AMPS Central Pennsylvania worked for over two years to put on a high-quality convention for 2020. They are to be congratulated for their hard work and navigating through this very tough time. Likewise, we owe the Northeast Military Modelers Association a debt of gratitude for offering to cover down when it looked like we could not hold our show in Camp Hill PA due to COVID-19.

We thank you for your patience and support during these trying times, and hope that you recognize we have made the best possible decision for AMPS under the circumstances.

John Charvat Peter Espada

AMPS, President Show Chair, AMPS Central Pennsylvania

Sad,but one of the last places I would want to be is shoulder to shoulder in a crowded room.So many of the things in the past taken for granted now are reason for pause.A ballgame,concert,museum,crowded shopping,crowdwd streets,museums,aquariums,all things I always enjoyed.

Getting old

It was said somewhere else that these vendors are generally small bushiness and count on us free-spending show-goers for their livelihood.
The suggestion was to do some online shopping with them and spend some of the money you WOULD have spent at the show, gas to and from, lodging, food, beer... with them in support ( and the hopes that )

For myself, I've got a shopping list for Boomers Books and some UMM-USA tools.

Mike