Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training
Canceled for 2020
The Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront will be our home base for the 2021 VMN Conference (Photo credit: Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront.)
2020 VMN Conference Postponed to 2021
With concerns of public health foremost in mind, the VMN State Staff have decided to postpone our September 2020 conference until 2021. We are saddened to announce this news but we feel strongly that this is our best course of action at this time.
*THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE 2021 CONFERENCE IN VIRGINIA BEACH.
*EXACT DATES TBD AND WILL BE BASED ON VENUE AVAILABILITY.
Below are some FAQs that offer more detailed information if you are interested, including what to do if you have a hotel reservation.
Your patience, understanding, and continued support are deeply appreciated. We were eagerly looking forward to seeing you all at the beach this September, but the reality of the situation calls for caution first, and we must heed that warning.
We will send out, and post here, more information regarding the 2021 VMN Conference as details are confirmed. We will miss seeing you and look forward to an amazing event in 2021.
Warmest regards,
The VMN State Program Office
*Michelle Prysby, Director
*Terri Keffert, Volunteer Coordinator
*Tiffany Brown, Project Assistant
With concerns of public health foremost in mind, the VMN State Staff have decided to postpone our September 2020 conference until 2021. We are saddened to announce this news but we feel strongly that this is our best course of action at this time.
*THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE 2021 CONFERENCE IN VIRGINIA BEACH.
*EXACT DATES TBD AND WILL BE BASED ON VENUE AVAILABILITY.
Below are some FAQs that offer more detailed information if you are interested, including what to do if you have a hotel reservation.
Your patience, understanding, and continued support are deeply appreciated. We were eagerly looking forward to seeing you all at the beach this September, but the reality of the situation calls for caution first, and we must heed that warning.
We will send out, and post here, more information regarding the 2021 VMN Conference as details are confirmed. We will miss seeing you and look forward to an amazing event in 2021.
Warmest regards,
The VMN State Program Office
*Michelle Prysby, Director
*Terri Keffert, Volunteer Coordinator
*Tiffany Brown, Project Assistant
FAQs
Why did the VMN State Staff decide to postpone the 2020 conference?
First and foremost, the VMN Program and VCE have a responsibility to protect the health and welfare of all people associated with our programs. The health risks associated with bringing together 250+ people are very serious. In addition, we must adhere to federal and state guidelines on group gatherings--and the picture is unclear if events of 200 people would even be legally permitted by September. Additionally, all in-person VCE events have been suspended through August 31, 2020. Our conference is scheduled to take place just 10 days after that. If VCE has said that we should not meet in large groups through August 31, we seriously doubt we will be allowed to go from 0 to a gathering of 200+ people within that next 10 days.
It's only May. Why was the decision made this early?
The amount of advance planning needed to successfully mount the conference each year requires us to be finalizing many details even now. This includes booking vendors who require significant deposits (transportation, for example). Such steps are nearly impossible given the current uncertainty around COVID-19. In addition, an early decision provides clarity to participants and planners alike, who can adjust all plans and make sure we have the least negative impact for all parties.
I've already made hotel reservations for 2020. What should I do now?
You do not need to do anything. All reservations under our rooming block were cancelled by the hotel when we decided to postpone the event. If, for any reason, you need to get in touch with the hotel, we have listed their phone number here.
The Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront
757-266-5323
Will the VMN Program sustain a financial loss because of the decision to postpone?
By making the decision to cancel now and by planning to hold the 2021 Conference in the same venue, we will not have an unexpected loss of program funds.
Why don’t you make the 2020 conference an online event?
Due to the hands-on nature of our classroom sessions and our participants’ LOVE of field trips, we do not feel that conference attendees would get as much out of a virtual version of a master naturalist conference.
We will continue to offer alternative forms of continuing education in 2020 and encourage you to take advantage of those programs.
Are we still doing VMN Statewide Awards for 2020?
Yes, we will have VMN Statewide Awards in 2020. You will receive an email from the VMN State Program Office later this year with all nomination information and forms.
Are we still doing a VMN Statewide Photo Contest for 2020?
The VMN State Program Office had already made the decision to close the Statewide Photo Contest in its current format. We are in the process of rethinking the best ways for everyone to share photos and to recognize our talented VMN photographers. When we know what that looks like, we will share the information across the VMN Community.
Why did the VMN State Staff decide to postpone the 2020 conference?
First and foremost, the VMN Program and VCE have a responsibility to protect the health and welfare of all people associated with our programs. The health risks associated with bringing together 250+ people are very serious. In addition, we must adhere to federal and state guidelines on group gatherings--and the picture is unclear if events of 200 people would even be legally permitted by September. Additionally, all in-person VCE events have been suspended through August 31, 2020. Our conference is scheduled to take place just 10 days after that. If VCE has said that we should not meet in large groups through August 31, we seriously doubt we will be allowed to go from 0 to a gathering of 200+ people within that next 10 days.
It's only May. Why was the decision made this early?
The amount of advance planning needed to successfully mount the conference each year requires us to be finalizing many details even now. This includes booking vendors who require significant deposits (transportation, for example). Such steps are nearly impossible given the current uncertainty around COVID-19. In addition, an early decision provides clarity to participants and planners alike, who can adjust all plans and make sure we have the least negative impact for all parties.
I've already made hotel reservations for 2020. What should I do now?
You do not need to do anything. All reservations under our rooming block were cancelled by the hotel when we decided to postpone the event. If, for any reason, you need to get in touch with the hotel, we have listed their phone number here.
The Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront
757-266-5323
Will the VMN Program sustain a financial loss because of the decision to postpone?
By making the decision to cancel now and by planning to hold the 2021 Conference in the same venue, we will not have an unexpected loss of program funds.
Why don’t you make the 2020 conference an online event?
Due to the hands-on nature of our classroom sessions and our participants’ LOVE of field trips, we do not feel that conference attendees would get as much out of a virtual version of a master naturalist conference.
We will continue to offer alternative forms of continuing education in 2020 and encourage you to take advantage of those programs.
Are we still doing VMN Statewide Awards for 2020?
Yes, we will have VMN Statewide Awards in 2020. You will receive an email from the VMN State Program Office later this year with all nomination information and forms.
Are we still doing a VMN Statewide Photo Contest for 2020?
The VMN State Program Office had already made the decision to close the Statewide Photo Contest in its current format. We are in the process of rethinking the best ways for everyone to share photos and to recognize our talented VMN photographers. When we know what that looks like, we will share the information across the VMN Community.