(May 21, 2020) – Each year, Project Lifesaver holds its Annual Conference: a time when representatives from many of our member agencies, our partners, and many from the special needs’ community come together for training, education, networking, seeing old friends and making new ones. This year was going to be no different. In fact, in 2019, we began the planning of what would become our 2020 conference with very special speakers including (but certainly not limited to): Kim Campbell, author of the recently released book Gentle on My Mind and Glenn Campbell’s wife; Dr. Julian Maha M.D, CO-Founder of KultureCity; Noah Wyle, an American film, television, & theater actor; and Max Gail, an American actor who has starred in many theater, television, and film roles, and a Project Lifesaver Ambassador.
We were then introduced to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic and everything changed! No one could ever have predicted the extent of disruption and change that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our society. During these difficult times, we have seen significant changes in our lives, culture, families, economy and how we will do things now and going forward. We have heard from many of you and although you would like to come to the conference, this unprecedented situation has made many unable to travel and leave the communities you serve.
Many of you suggested we hold a Virtual Conference and so that is exactly what we are going to do! With your input, we have decided to re-format this year’s conference as a hybrid conference, with both virtual and limited on-site attendance. Because of the unusual circumstances we have all faced this year, there will be no charge for attending the conference either virtually or at the conference site. Additionally, we will be fully refunding all who have already registered for the on-site conference.
We will be broadcasting many of the conference presenters out of the original conference venue, The Hilton Buena Vista Palace at Disney Springs, which has on-site, sophisticated Virtual Conferencing technology and highly experienced teleconferencing support staff. This will allow us to have a small, limited, on-site audience while broadcasting the virtual interactive conference to agencies and individuals around the world. (The on-site attendees and conference space layout will fully comply with all CDC and State of Florida COVID-19 guidelines.)
For those that choose to attend the conference on-site, Project Lifesaver is holding a block of rooms at The Hilton Buena Vista Palace at Disney Springs at a specially discounted rate of $119.00 per night.
Winston Churchill once said, “Difficulties mastered are opportunities won”. Let’s make some opportunities!
The Project Lifesaver 2020 Virtual Conference will be broadcasted on Monday, August 31st and Tuesday, September 1st, 2020. More registration and agenda details will be coming shortly, but please “Save the Dates” on your calendars.
Please go to https://projectlifesaver.org/conference/ to register for the Project Lifesaver 2020 Virtual conference FREE of charge! You will also have the option, if you choose, to register for the conference and join us at the conference site, also, at NO charge.
With the warmest regards and all the best for you and your families,
Gene Saunders
Founder & CEO