As our first in-person conference since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, WA-TWS looks forward to welcoming you to Grand Mound. It is important, however, to be aware of the continued presence of COVID-19, the risks associated with attending an in-person event, and the need for additional precautions to help protect yourself and others. In collaboration with our venues and local partners, we have ensured the following measures to promote a safe environment for our attendees:

• Sanitation & Hygiene — Hand sanitizer dispensers will be placed throughout the meeting and event spaces, particularly in high frequency areas. Face coverings will be available at registration. Conference organizers will have regular touch points with the venue staff in advance of the conference and onsite to ensure adequate cleaning, sanitizing and response strategies.
• Social Distancing — To facilitate a comfortable conference experience for all attendees and encourage respectful boundaries, WA-TWS will be asking registrants to indicate their social distancing preferences on their registration form. These preferences will be used to distinguish attendees based on their level of comfort with social interaction as follows:
  • Green — I’m vaxxed! Hugs and handshakes welcome.
  • Yellow — I err on the side of caution. Elbow bumps and small groups may be okay, but please ask first.
  • Red — Greet at six feet! Absolutely no contact and please respect my space.
  • Black — Prefer not to specify
• Shared Responsibility — Conference organizers will continue to monitor the situation and will be in constant communication with our local partners and venues. As we have seen over the past few years, policies and trends around COVID-19 are fast moving and changing at all levels of government. New orders, regulations, restrictions, and guidance that may affect the conference are being issued by federal, state, and local governments on a regular basis and will be followed by WA-TWS. Attendees will be kept informed and notified of any changes to the current conditions, protocols, regulations or conference program as they relate to COVID-19. Additionally, WA-TWS strongly recommends all attendees test for COVID-19 within 72 hours of arriving at the meeting, and take the following precautions, as consistent with CDC guidance for Grand Mound's current Community COVID-19 Level:
  • Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation.
  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Get tested if you have symptoms.
  • If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.
  • You may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect yourself and others.