Since the coronavirus outbreak began, we have been relentlessly monitoring the situation to determine how to best move forward with SPN’s Annual Meeting. Illinois Governor Pritzker announced the state’s phased re-opening plan, and, based on the proposed timeline and related event restrictions, Marriott officials overseeing the planned site of Annual Meeting in Chicago have informed us they will not be able to accommodate an in-person event of Annual Meeting’s size and scope in August.

While the in-person format of our event is cancelled this year, I am pleased to announce that SPN’s Annual Meeting will move to a virtual format for 2020.

We look forward to this opportunity to harness new, valuable ways of connecting and collaborating with each other virtually. Doing so will empower us to shape the policy solutions that our states and communities need to thrive in the months ahead.

Rest assured SPN’s team is working to create a high-quality program that will bring us together to celebrate our accomplishments, renew our bonds, and share encouragement and inspiration.

Here's a preview of what you can expect August 31-September 2:

• Sessions will take place in the afternoons (Eastern time) to accommodate attendees in every US time zone.
• Plenaries, breakout sessions, and policy sessions will be 45 minutes long, with plenty of breaks in between to prevent screen fatigue.
• Plenary shows will feature Jonah Berger and Dee Ann Turner and a live Q&A with at least one of our keynote speakers.
• There will be daily opportunities to network virtually.
• The Bob Williams Awards presentation will be hosted live to celebrate several of the Network’s outstanding policy accomplishments.

To help answer your immediate questions, we have updated our FAQs, agenda preview, and registration and hotel information at SPN.org/AnnualMeeting. Perhaps the best outcome of this development is that, with no travel required and registration fees reduced, it will be easier to participate. We would love to have you join us—here’s the registration link you can use to secure your spot.

Like many of you, we are disappointed and saddened that the in-person experience we look forward to each year—for the past 27 years—has been interrupted for 2020. But we will resolutely adapt with a powerful, alternative version of Annual Meeting that still brings us together as a Network, that inspires and energizes, and that enables us to connect with brilliant minds across the freedom movement and beyond.

We will share more details in the coming weeks, and I look forward to welcoming you virtually at the end of August!