The conference planning committee’s number one priority is the health and safety of our attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and staff. We are ready to host everyone safely at the 2022 National Lifespan Respite Conference (NLRC) while understanding that the pandemic is not over and that COVID-19 remains a threat to the public’s health.  This policy will also apply to the invitation-only Lifespan Respite Grantee and Partner Learning Symposium on September 13. 

The conference staff will be enforcing the following policies for attendance at the 2022 National Lifespan Respite Conference:

Prior to the conference, attendees must submit official proof of documentation of vaccination electronically. Please upload your proof of vaccination during registration, or you can email it to rcaw@badgerbay.co at least one week prior to the conference.

• All attendees must provide documentation of CDC-defined fully-vaccinated status, which (as of 6/01/22) means at least:

1. Two doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, with the second received no less than 21 days before attending the in-person NLRC event. Boosters are required for everyone over age 50 or otherwise eligible.
2. One dose of the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (at least 21 days earlier).
3. Boosters. Attendees must provide documentation that they are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines based on the latest CDC guidance, which can be found here.  

• No substitutes will be allowed for vaccination documentation. For example:

o People who do not meet the above vaccination status requirements due to medical or religious or personal exemptions will not be able to attend the NLRC in person.

o Evidence of prior COVID-19 infection will not be accepted as a substitute for NLRC’s vaccination requirements for in-person meetings.

• People who attempt to attend in-person and who haven’t provided that documentation will be turned away.
• In-person attendees must wear masks at all times unless a) eating/drinking or b) speaking from a lectern while distanced at least 6 feet from others. The conference planning committee requires high-quality, well-fitting masks such as N95 or KN95 masks. One will be provided for you if you don’t have your own.
• People who are feeling unwell in any way that could be consistent with COVID-19 infection should not attend in-person events.

The conference will also follow any additional health and safety practices mandated by the CDC, WI DHS, or by applicable federal, state, and local authorities, whichever requires the most protection. Those practices and others will be determined closer to the date of the event, and may change between registration and the event.

Our hope is that this approach will provide our members, guests, exhibitors, and staff with as safe an experience as possible. There is still time to start the vaccination process if you are not already vaccinated.

Finally, please understand that it is impossible to hold an in-person event that is completely safe from COVID-19 risks. The conference events that include food and beverages will, of necessity, require that people will be unmasked while eating and drinking.

The conference planning committee is making organizational decisions to reasonably minimize aggregate risk to our in-person attendees as a whole, but your personal risk tolerance may vary for a variety of reasons. We would love to see you in-person; however, please note:

• If your COVID-19 risk tolerance is low for whatever reason, you may wish to take extra precautions, such as eating/drinking outdoors or in your own hotel room, and not spending time in spaces with unmasked people (e.g., dining areas, hotel lobby).
• If your COVID-19 risk tolerance is extremely low for whatever reason, we encourage you to consider taking advantage of recorded plenary and Lifespan Respite Learning Symposium sessions at a later date.