I'm a nobody in this forum, in NADA, and I don't even belong to my local OH fish club :P but ...
It seems to me, if there was a cancellation, it probably would have been best to say something to the effect, "logistic problems" or "coordinating financial responsibilties" or whatever.
This thread, to an outsider (ME!) just makes the BOD sound petty, politcal, and childish --- which was my first thought when I read the initial post with no subsequent replies.
It further fuels the fire as now there is going to be word-of-mouth bickering and people taking sides (with PMs to people that "matter" but not for people who don't).
All in all, if you don't want it mentioned publicly, don't bother mentioning it at all (as someone already stated).
Again, I'm nobody, but most of the people who read this thread are "nobodies" and we're all wondering, "WTH is wrong with these people? If the conference does go on, should I bother booking a flight in the event it might get cancelled?"