15 Jun Message from the President: Fall FLAVA Conference
Hello FLAVA,
I write to let you know that the Executive Board and Advisory Council met the last weekend in May to hear from the various committees and our affiliates, and to discuss the fall conference scheduled to take place in Williamsburg in October.
At that meeting, certain members of the Executive Board and Conference Committee were given the charge to investigate the feasibility of holding an in-person conference under current and uncertain future COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. After learning that funding is being limited or cut, and that travel is being restricted throughout the state (meaning that numbers being allowed to attend the conference for whichever reason would be greatly reduced) this same group turned to the hotel management to discuss options without incurring penalty.
In that meeting, the hotel gave FLAVA the option to postpone the in-person conference and reschedule it for a later date. All members of the Executive Board and Advisory Council voted to accept this option and postpone the in-person conference until fall of 2022. On this same ballot, members indicated that as an alternative to the fall 2020 in-person FLAVA conference, the organization would host an online version during the same time period.
I need to let you know that the fall FLAVA 2021 conference is still scheduled to be held in Williamsburg in October 2021 and that the above arrangement will in no means influence that contractual agreement with the DoubleTree.
Over the course of the next few weeks, members of the Conference Committee and Executive Board will work to organize a quality online conference that will meet all of our needs for professional growth. I have asked Conference Coordinator, JoAna Smith, to share with you below her initial thoughts about the online conference. She will additionally be calling upon you to share your opinions on certain items as the planning progresses.
As always, my best to you and a sincere thanks for your support as we move forward.
Dick Kuettner
President
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Good evening,
I hope you and your loved ones are safe, happy, and healthy. Teaching and learning have greatly changed in the last few months. We appreciate your dedication to the profession, students and World Language programs.
Understanding the financial and travel restrictions that districts and elsewhere across the Commonwealth are facing, FLAVA will continue to support teachers and supervisors this fall, but do so virtually.
The FLAVA conference team is diligently working to prepare for our virtual conference. We look forward to meeting the needs of language educators and fostering growth and development. Attendees can anticipate the following components of our virtual conference:
-awards ceremony
-motivational guest speaker
-recognition of new teachers and those in teacher-education programs
-business meeting
-professional development sessions and workshops
Please assist us in our initial planning for the digital Fall conference by completing three questions at this link. We look forward to providing opportunities for members to make suggestions and share input so we can customize our virtual conference to meet your needs.
We are excited to be able to join face-to-face again for the 2021 and 2022 conferences. Thank you for your continued dedication to World Languages and the FLAVA organization. We are here to support each of you as we prepare for a new school year. May you renew and rejuvenate over a relaxing summer.
JoAna Smith
Conference Coordinator
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