Dear NAFTZ Members, Supporters, and Friends:

The global COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt our lives – both at home and work. In this uncertain and turbulent time, NAFTZ’s primary concern remains the protection of the health and safety of our staff, our members, our families, and our communities. These considerations necessitate making difficult decisions in compliance with the guidance and mandates from our national, state, and local governments and health authorities and factoring in the feedback from members and event attendees. At the same time, we remain committed to ensuring that the association can continue as best we can under the circumstances to carry on our mission and function effectively for our members.

When we cancelled the NAFTZ Fundamentals Seminar and Legislative Summit and organized virtual events in its stead, we remained hopeful that we would be able to hold the NAFTZ Spring Seminar as scheduled. Closely monitoring the evolving situation and surveying NAFTZ members, a substantial majority of whom continue to face travel restrictions and it has now become evident that this will not be possible. Regrettably, we are having to announce the cancellation of the NAFTZ Spring Seminar on May 2-4, 2021. As we did with our past events, staff is working closely with the NAFTZ Executive Committee, Board, COVID-19 Response Team, and Programs Committee, to unwind the in-person conference and prepare for a virtual event.

NAFTZ recognizes the unprecedented challenges the current crisis poses to the association, our members, and the entire industry. The NAFTZ continues to work to provide the level of service and value our members have come to expect and to advance our core mission on education and advocacy. At the same time, we will make every effort to accord our members maximum flexibility as we manage our way through this difficult situation. With these considerations in mind, NAFTZ will:

• Work to mitigate the impact of the cancellation of this event on attendees and the association by:
o Developing a virtual conference series April 27-29 and May 4-6 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. EST to include most of the program content from the originally planned event at a discounted registration rate (Per the NAFTZ past Spring Seminar attendees survey this is the preferred next-best option in featuring the program online);
o (Note: all registrants must cancel any hotel they may have made);
o Giving sponsors the option of a refund; applying the funds to a Virtual Conference session sponsorship; or future NAFTZ event; or webinar on first come first served basis.

Thanks to our planning team and sponsorship taskforce in continuing to develop new sponsor opportunities, we welcome your review of our current sponsorships on sale now.

Virtual Spring Summit Registration is now open and we encourage you to register today.

In closing, we encourage you to share your thoughts and recommendations on how best we can assist you and the rest of the membership.

Wishing you health and peace.

Erik Autor

President                    
202-841-1521
eautor@naftz.org