The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and work. Because of this, the CWR Board of Directors has decided that the 2020 CWR Annual Conference, scheduled for the San Diego Mission Bay Resort from September 29 through October 2, will now be hosted as an online experience in an abbreviated version. For those of us looking forward to this venue, we are pleased to report that San Diego Mission Bay Resort is being considered for our 2022 conference!
While this decision was difficult, the reason behind it was our primary concern: attendee safety and the well-being of those with whom we live and work. Also taken into consideration was our host hotel’s current restrictions and inability to hold this event according to the terms of our contract. Fortunately, we have reached a mutual agreement with the hotel, with no financial loss for CWR.
2020 Conference Committee Chair Rob Cogswell has shared a video message concerning the changes to our conference plans:
This fall, CWR will offer a significant portion of the content planned for the 2020 Conference as online experiences:
ONLINE MINI-CONFERENCE
Wednesday, September 30
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PT
This three-hour-long experience features five speakers. Registration is required and will be available for $125 for members ($150 for non-members) through August 31 and $150 ($160 for non-members) after that date.
REGISTER
SCHEDULE
ANNUAL CWR BUSINESS MEETING, MEMBER RECOGNITION & CWR AIM AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT
Thursday, October 1
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. PT
While registration is required, business meeting attendance is free of charge to current members in good standing.
REGISTER
AGENDA
CWR ACADEMY WEBINARS, FLASH CONVERSATIONS AND ZOOM CALLS
Additional conference programming will be presented in CWR Academy webinars, Flash Conversations and Zoom calls in the weeks following the online mini-conference. Some presentations will require a fee, while others will not. The schedule for these presentations will be announced soon.
Teresa Maya, CCVI, one of three keynotes scheduled for the 2020 conference, will deliver her address during the September 30 mini-conference. The other two keynote speakers—Mary Pellegrino, CSJ, and Norma Pimentel, MJ—have been rescheduled for future conferences. Sister Mary will speak at our 2021 Annual Conference while Sister Norma will address our 2022 Annual Conference.
Registration fees of those already registered for Conference 2020 will be rolled forward to Conference 2021. Those registrants will be contacted by CWR staff to determine if they wish to apply a portion ($125 for members; $150 for non-members) of their registration fee to this year’s online mini-conference. Registrants who would prefer to receive a refund may request one by emailing CWR Business Operations Manager Michelle Izguerra at mizguerra@c4wr.org.
Gathering together for our annual conference is a cherished part of the CWR experience. While we are disappointed that our in-person event won’t happen this year, we are confident that the decision to switch to an online experience is best for everyone. At the same time, we are very excited to deliver much of the conference programming this fall as online experiences.
We want to thank the 2020 Conference Committee and, in particular, Chair Rob Cogswell, for arranging a fantastic conference.
We look forward to gathering in person for CWR’s Annual Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, October 5-8, 2021 and to continued connection with our membership through upcoming online events. The conference venue will be announced October 1 during the Annual Business Meeting.