Special Message to Attendees from President Sanz

July 30, 2021

Dear WIFLE Leadership Training Attendee:

Our Leadership Training is just 2 weeks away and I know many of you are wondering about navigating this year’s event as COVID is making a resurgence in a number of places in the United States.  Like many of you, I am very concerned about the resurgence of COVID. Although I have been vaccinated, I am of a certain age that causes me to act more cautiously.  None of us have had to navigate through this previously so we work with what we know.

The County of Hillsborough (Tampa) reports that approximately 55% of their population over the age of twelve have been vaccinated.  However, there is a high transmission rate for the entire state of Florida.

From reviewing the WIFLE registration information, most of our registrants answered “yes” to the vaccination question. Reviewing that information allows us to tentatively project that approximately 75-80% of WIFLE attendees have been fully vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing masks indoors and in areas where there are high transmission rates -- or if someone in your family is compromised and cannot be vaccinated -- or is too young to be vaccinated.

On Site Logistics for Training Sessions, Meals and Seating

At the Marriott Water Street, most of the training, WIFLE Exhibit Hall, and meals are located in one section of the hotel leaving us relatively segregated.  The public will not be transiting through our space.

Tables will be spread out in the Exhibit Hall and foyer for breakfast and lunch so that you can create space between you and others. The meal selections for breakfast and lunch will be portable. Breakfast is a continental breakfast and lunches will be boxed to allow you to take you meals back to your room if you desire or find other locations within the hotel.   

Seating for the general assemblies and classrooms will be spread as far apart as possible but mask wearing is encouraged. 

The WIFLE Awards Banquet seating will be reduced to no more than 8 per round table and we will work with the hotel for seating in the foyer to allow people even more security while they eat; they can join the WIFLE Awards Ceremony after the room prepares for the awards.

WIFLE Career Fair

While the WIFLE Career Fair will be open to the public on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, from 1:30-5:00PM, there will be a virtual component to our Career Fair so we do not expect an influx of people.  In addition, while the WIFLE Career Fair is taking place, most of you will be attending the workshops/sessions.

Recommendation for WIFLE Attendees

Please remember to bring masks with you. We will have some masks available as well as hand sanitizers so that if you walk out of your hotel room without a mask we will be able to help you.

On a personal note, each of you has a personal responsibility at home requiring you to make decisions based on what is good for them.  So, if you want to wear a mask because the situation is starting to get a bit overcrowded – please, by all means “mask up.” I will have mine.

Thank You.  

Catherine W. Sanz
President
WIFLE Foundation, Inc.