About the Annual Meeting

August 25, 2021

Dear AFWA Members:

Last week, the Association issued a Duty of Care Statement to guide your participation in our Annual Meeting in Providence, RI. We did so out of a desire to ensure the most productive, and safest, meeting experience possible in consideration of the latest local and national guidance regarding vaccines, masks, and related matters. Several of you provided important feedback – observations and questions – that led us to reevaluate the provisions of the Statement. 

We believe the vaccine requirement is foundational to the Duty of Care Statement and it remains unchanged. Given that neither the State of Rhode Island nor the City of Providence have any mask requirement at this time, we have decided to make that provision “optional but recommended” except for the group bus ride to a retreat venue (i.e., masks will be required on the bus). Finally, we will not “assign” seating for meetings or meals, but some of you may find it desirable to select a seat that you will consider “your space” for the duration of the meeting. 

Thanks for your patience with us. As you well know, every day seemingly offers new insights, considerations, and decision points for managing meetings, travel, and human interactions.

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Read the Updated Duty of Care statement

Best Regards,

Ron Regan
Executive Director

About the 2021 Meeting Format

The 2021 AFWA Annual Meeting will take place from September 8th – September 14th, and will be a two-part, hybrid meeting as per below.

• Virtual Committee Meetings: Wednesday, September 8 through Friday, September 10.
• In-Person Meetings, Providence, RI: Sunday, September 12 through Tuesday, September 14.  During this time, there will be the director-only retreat, meetings of the Executive Committee, special events with sponsors, and the Business Meeting.  Most of these meetings will also be available virtually including the plenary session, the awards ceremony, and some professional development workshops.  

We feel that this schedule offers the best combination of allowing for greater attendance and participation virtually, as well as the opportunity to interact personally at some of our essential Director level meetings. On the schedule, we've indicated which events are being offered virtually, in-person, or both. Please review this information prior to registering for the Meeting. 

Meeting Updates

• Attendee registration is open! View options and pricing, and sign up to participate. 
• COVID-19 Readiness: Keeping You Safe & Healthy at AFWA’s Annual Meeting. Read this before registering!
• Support AFWA's Annual Meeting as a sponsor or exhibitor. 
• Review the schedule of events. 

​COVID-19 Readiness: Keeping You Safe & Healthy at AFWA’s Annual Meeting

The leadership at the Association has developed the following Duty of Care for their Annual Meeting which will help keep you safe when attending the event in person in Providence.

Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Duty of Care for Hybrid Meetings
As of 9/7/21
The Association is excited to hold our first hybrid event. Our concern for your health and safety is our top priority, and we want to make your experience at the meeting positive, and as professionally successful as in pre-COVID days. To that end, we are implementing the following guidelines that we hope will make you and your colleagues comfortable and safe. These guidelines are subject to change if new guidance is issued on, before, or during the Annual Meeting by the State of Rhode Island, the City of Providence, or the CDC.
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Association Guidelines:

• Proof of vaccination will be required when you check in at the registration desk. A paper copy or photo on your phone will be accepted. We will not retain any copies of this certificate. 
• Masks are optional but recommended in all indoor meeting and event spaces. Masks will be required for group transportation (i.e., on the bus) to and from the retreat venue.
• Social distancing will be adhered to, when possible, in meeting spaces, meal spaces, and on group transportation. 
• Daily temperature checks will be required.
• Hand sanitizer and masks will be provided at check in and available at the registration desk.
• You will be required to sign a waiver when you register.
• If you have COVID symptoms while you are at the meeting, please remove yourself from conference event spaces and quarantine. Please let John Lord at AFWA know that you are symptomatic at jlord@fishwildlife.org. We will share this with attendees, but will maintain your confidentiality.

The staff at the registration desk will have a list of locations in Providence where attendees can get COVID tests, if necessary. 
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​Hotel Guidelines: 
Omni hotels has established their own protocols which are posted on the Travel Logistics section of this website. 

Registration Modifications:
If you want to change your registration from hybrid/in person to virtual, or virtual to hybrid/in person please email info@delaneymeetingevent.com. View our policy on changing registration types. Please note our room block expired Friday, August 20.

Who Attends 
This annual event provides a forum for conservation leadership and brings together more than 700 leaders from fish and wildlife agencies and conservation groups from all 50 states, U.S. Territories, Canada and Mexico in order to discuss conservation policy and management issues and accomplishments. Attendees include key decision makers in the field of fish and wildlife, including; directors, assistant directors, program managers, and others involved in fisheries, wildlife habitat, law enforcement, legal affairs, industry, as well as public affairs (information and education).

Highlights
Highlights of the event include collaborative committee and working group meetings, thought-provoking Plenary Session, recognition of outstanding achievements at the awards presentation, and plenty of social and networking opportunities.