2022 Annual Water Resources Conference COVID-19 Protocols

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COVID-19 Health and Safety Standards at the 2022 Annual Conference

In the world we live in today, there is an inherent and permanent risk of being exposed to COVID-19 in your daily life. Trips to the grocery store, getting gas, picking up your children from school, and seeing family and friends are among the risks we take daily to live a normal and productive life. AWRA seeks to normalize how the AWRA community can gather in-person to fulfill our mission of community, conversation, and connection. 

UPDATED: July 8, 2022

AWRA will hold its 2022 Annual Water Resources Conference in Renton, WA as planned. There will not be a hybrid component to this conference. AWRA staff successfully hosted two in-person spring conferences (April and May 2022) and has completed training to become a COVID Certified Coordinator. This certification demonstrates that staff has the best practices and knowledge of planning in-person events during a pandemic. The health protocols in place are the best practices of in-person gatherings today. The restrictions that are in place are the current standards, and protocols may change closer to the conference date. Please note that AWRA reserves the right to mandate COVID-19 related mandates and restrictions in the conference meeting space.

STRONGLY ENCOURAGED RECOMMENDATIONS

1. OPTIONAL - WEAR A MASK! The mask mandate has been lifted in Renton, WA. AWRA strongly encourages attendees to wear a mask but it is optional.


2. UPDATE - AWRA strongly recommends that you receive a COVID-19 vaccination and carry your vaccination record. Vaccination is not required to attend.


3. WEAR A SOCIAL DISTANCING STICKER! In order to non-verbally communicate your comfort level with social distancing, please place a color sticker that most describes your comfort level in interacting with conference participants.
• Green – Shake hands/hug
• Yellow – Elbow bump/fist bump
• Red – I prefer not to touch and stay at least three (3) feet apart from me.

AWRA is closely monitoring COVID-19 in Renton, WA and will update this page should any changes occur to the conference, in general, or the conference COVID-19 protocols. We recognize that this may feel like a fluid situation and ask that you check this page often for updates. If circumstances change in the local area, the AWRA Board of Directors will assess the situation as it unfolds and may choose to make different choices at that time.

REGISTRATION NOTE & CANCELATION POLICY

AWRA Code of Conduct

All conference participants (presenters, moderators, panelists, attendees, etc.) must adhere to the AWRA Code of Conduct and must register at the appropriate registration rate. AWRA Gateway members are not eligible for discounted conference rates. The registration fees are the major source of funding for the Conference, and the sharing of registrations is prohibited - every person attending the conference must register. For presenters, if two or more individuals will be presenting, each individual must register for the conference. This includes: all technical session presenters; all panel session presenters; and all poster session presenters.

Cancelations must be made in writing. We can transfer your registration to someone else by October 19, 2022. Those cancelations received by October 19, 2022 will be subject to a processing fee of 25% of total fees. No refunds will be given after October 19, 2022. If you test positive for COVID-19 three days prior to or on the first day of the conference, AWRA will issue a credit* to your account less a 25% processing fee after the conclusion of the conference. *A note from your physician must be provided to AWRA in order to receive the credit. Abstract submission fees are nonrefundable. Refunds will be processed after the conclusion of the conference.

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