July 16, 2020
NACAA Members,
The NACAA Board has been busy monitoring the COVID-19 situation which continues to unfold and intensify in many areas of the nation. Due to travel bans currently in place at many of our members’ institutions and the rapid increase in Covid 19 cases in many areas, it has become clear that we can no longer safely hold a face-to-face AM/PIC meeting in Virginia Beach even at the later date of September 29 -Oct 1, 2020.
The Board has, like many other associations and after much deliberation, decided to go entirely virtual and will hold the meeting at the same dates adding one additional day. The meeting will now occur over 4 days: Monday September 28 - Thursday October 1, 2020.
The NACAA Board, in consultation with the Virginia Association of Agricultural Extension Agents and the staff at Helms Briscoe was able to negotiate with the Virginia Beach Convention Center and hotels to release NACAA from all contractual agreements without penalty.
Our plan remains to focus heavily on professional improvement and member awards
along with the by-law mandated delegate session and regional caucuses. Monday will be devoted to regional caucuses and the delegate sessions. Note: State Presidents – if you have not yet done so you must submit the names of your state’s delegates to Secretary Connie Strunk. Delegate names must be submitted no later than 45 days before the delegate session on September 28, 2020. The rest of the week will largely be composed of professional improvement activities and presentations.
Since our members are located across 4 time zones, we plan to start at 11 AM EST each day and run until 4 or 5 pm. The virtual meeting will be conducted via Zoom.
The Board has decided to waive all registration fees and those of you who have already registered will be refunded in full.
You will be required to register online to receive the Zoom links and registration information will be forthcoming soon.
This has been a difficult decision and has been the subject of much deliberation and discussion by the Board.
We would also like applaud the Virginia agents for all their hard work over the past 4 years in planning and working on what had promised to be an awesome meeting highlighting the agricultural, cultural and historical diversity of the great state of Virginia. We share their disappointment in not being able to host you in Virginia this fall.
We hope and pray that we will be able to return to a normal AM/PIC schedule in 2021.
We extend prayers for the safety of you, your families, and our nation. As NACAA President, it has been extremely gratifying to observe Extension educators from across this great country rise to the challenge of serving our respective communities and bring factual information and solutions to the daily challenges being faced by our farmers, ranchers, friends and neighbors.
Thank you for your understanding and thank you for your continued trust in NACAA!
Stay safe and all the best.
Gene McAvoy,
NACAA President
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