Every year in July, ACB holds its trademark conference and convention in various cities around the country, and 2020 was scheduled to be in Schaumburg, Ill. There is no need to explain or expound on social distancing or the reason for the decision to transform this year’s convention from an in-person to a virtual platform. What we can all celebrate is the fact that ACB recognized how important it was to find a way to keep the most important event of the organization alive. However, in the process of finding ways to transform a live and in-person event into a virtual convention, something amazing happened! The convention is not only alive but it thrives with energy, content, and a spirit to be the online event that changes the way we will hold conventions, adding multiple layers of enhancement in the future, but that is a story for another June.
This year, we will all have the opportunity to experience the best of what is convention from the comfort of our own homes. The feel and energy of convention is not only stacked in every moment of programming but in every person who has spent countless hours trying to transform the programming to shine virtually. So, although we won’t be able to share a hug in Illinois, there are so many ways to participate and engage with each other.
There will of course be general sessions, amazing tours, a virtual fireworks display which will be professionally described, and an exhibit hall with virtual participation. Then there are all the amazing special-interest affiliate programs! Highlights include: exercise, yoga and meditation; happy hours and mixers; seminars on technology, advocacy issues and imperatives; and forums on transportation and audio description, just to name a few.
This is an amazing opportunity for all those out there who have never had the opportunity to experience the magic of convention.
Time is running out to reserve your place in the virtual meeting rooms of convention. You can register online at https://acbconvention.org/ until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on June 21st. To register by phone, call (612) 332-3242 and press 6 for convention, then leave your name, telephone number with area code, and your time zone, and someone will return your call as soon as possible.