Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidance

Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.

Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.

Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.

This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus. This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.

The Florida ATSA board met this morning and decided it is in the best interest of all to cancel the 2020 Florida ATSA Conference and Annual Meeting. Initially, we considered re-scheduling to a later date but due to many unknowns it was decided to cancel the 2020 conference and reconvene in the Spring of 2021.

George Deitchman – Conference Chair

Hello, Members,

The Board just met and we are watching the virus just like I know you are. Here’s what you need to know:

• We are not cancelling the conference just yet. We notice that Disney and others are closing for two weeks. Depending on if the spread is reduced, we may be in a very different spot in two weeks.
• You can get out of the conference and the hotel room rental if you wish. Brooke told me the hotel will give refunds. We will refund the conference fee if you wish. So you can still sign up and not feel “on the hook.”
• At this point we are still looking at doing the conference as planned. We are also looking at teleconferencing options.
• We will be looking at this each week, and we’ll give you weekly updates.
• This too will pass.
• Take care of yourselves!

George Deitchman – Conference Chair

Minnesota has roughly five million residents compared to Florida’s over 18 million. Each year probation, parole, evaluators, therapists, child protection investigators, victims’ advocates, attorneys, judges and offenders’ advocates, and other interested parties from around Minnesota and surrounding states, meet for several days for presentations, discussions and collaboration. There are 600 professionals and other stakeholders at the conference in Minnesota which has been going on for over 20 years. Partners Day is our first step to create programs having a broad appeal for a number of parties. This year, on Thursday we’ll have a Partners Day. We have fifty slots for “partners from DOC, DJJ and many others who share the same passion for safety, and to move forward sanely and fairly for all. You can attend if you’re a Partner or if you bring a Partner with you. We are buying lunch for our “Partners” and if you come the lunch will be $25, which is what we pay the hotel. We have reached out to various state agencies at the top, but we also need to reach out to the grassroots, meaning those you work with and interact with each day. They will not have to pay for the Partners Day. You will notice we have tailored the Partners Day talks to things we think our Partners will find particularly on point. The day is “shortened” for those who wish to drive in and return home in one day.

-George Deitchman, PhD, President