Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Message from the President
Saturday, 14 March 2020
Hello ILEA Family,
It has been an unprecedented week around the world due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The spread of the virus continues to impact the experiential industry with cancellations and postponements of upcoming special events, conferences, sport gatherings and concerts to name a few categories.
This has had an impact on the businesses and lives of our members. As the global situation evolves, we as an organization continue to monitor, hour by hour, the happenings around the world. Our members and their families and teams are consistently on our minds. With that, we have a few key updates to give you here.
Next week, we had intended to gather our members for our quarterly virtual Town Hall to outline updates on several key strategic initiatives like CSEP and ILEA Live. Given the state of our industry today and the likelihood of evolving information in the coming days, we have decided to postpone these topics until a later date.
Instead, we will use next week’s Town Hall webinar timeslots to gather as a membership to discuss the impacts of COVID-19, share resources, discuss legal considerations and regain an important sense of togetherness. Please watch for information going out on Monday about how to be a part of these moderated conversations.
Next Week’s ILEA International Online Forums
Tuesday, 17 March
Topic: COVID-19: Legal Strategies for Meetings
Approach: This presentation will be given by Jeff Tenenbaum, experiences association and non-profit lawyer. We will allow time for Q&A following.
Time: 2:00 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m. MT/4:00 p.m. CT/5:00 p.m. ET
*Note – this webinar was originally scheduled for Tuesday, 24 March at 10:00 a.m. PT and will now take place on 17 March.
Wednesday, 18 March
Topic: The #ILEAStrong Community: Persisting and Rebuilding Together
Approach: This moderated forum is intended to bring ILEA members together as a community to discuss strategies and mindsets needed in order to recover and rebuild quickly as an industry.
Moderator: Jennifer Trethewey CSEP, ILEA President and Sara Grauf CSEP, ILEA International Immediate Past President
Time: 10:00 a.m. PT/11:00 a.m. MT/12:00 p.m. CT/1:00 p.m. ET
In-Person ILEA Chapter Meetings
We as an organization are asking all chapters to postpone in-person ILEA chapter meetings until otherwise notified by Headquarters. We encourage chapters to move meeting content to online forums such as webinars. Thank you to chapter sponsors and businesses who aid in this process of rearranging and thanks to you, the membership, for understanding this approach.
Our priorities, in tandem, are to help flatten the curve of spreading this virus and to continue to foster this wonderful community.
Many ILEA chapters have taken the initiative to host digital forums related to COVID-19 creating a safe place for ILEA members and event profs world-wide to gather and converse over the coming days and weeks. Check in with your local chapters for those opportunities to connect and tap into resources.
Finally, please know that we have an ILEA leadership team dedicated to focusing on the impending recovery phase following the impacts of this virus and how we can support our members and industry as we transition. While we continue to follow the facts, we as your ILEA leadership team are committed to remaining positive and focused on creating an optimistic outlook for the future of our industry.
It will take time and calculated responses to get back to where we were, but the power of community will enable us.
Take care. Be well. Keep informed with the facts and remember: we are #ILEAStrong
Jennifer Trethewey CSEP
President
ILEA International
Jennifer Trethewey, CSEP
ILEA International President