America’s Service Commissions (ASC) is excited to welcome our network back to in-person events in 2022. We understand everyone will have mixed emotions — ranging from excitement to anxiety — about attending an in-person event, and this may be your first time traveling or being in a large group setting for more than two years.
It is important to ASC to make sure we are following the most up-to-date public health guidance and that our attendees feel safe. What may feel safe to one person may not to another person, which means we must set a standard for all in-person attendees that hopefully finds a reasonable approach that works for most, but still may not work for everyone. ASC cannot eliminate all risk and each person must make their own determination of personal risk based on their unique circumstances.
If you cannot comply with our requirements for in-person events or do not feel safe attending based on these expectations, we understand and hope you can join us for one or more of our many virtual-based learning opportunities throughout 2022.
The following document details our expectations for all in-person event attendees with the intent of creating a low risk and enjoyable event for all. These requirements will be updated as plans for health and safety protocols change or new information from the CDC or our local venues is announced. Please check back for news and additional guidance as ASC continues to refine our planning.
ASC will be using a vendor to conduct vaccine or negative COVID-19 test verification. The vendor is HIPPA compliant and maintains all records. Registrants for each ASC event will be provided a code and instructions to complete the required steps to verify vaccination status or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event via an approved testing provider. Attendees must complete this on a smartphone or tablet and will be given a QR code on their phone/tablet to be scanned upon check-in at the event. Failure to complete these steps in advance will result in being denied entry to the event until the necessary verification is completed. Attendees must have their QR code accessible on their smartphone/tablet at check-in.
We appreciate your support and patience as we work through this added layer of event management to ensure the health and safety of our attendees. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@statecommissions.org.
Requirements for Entry to In-Person Events
In order to attend in-person ASC events in 2022, the following requirements are in place for all attendees at this time:
For the purposes of entry to ASC events, at this time, a person is considered fully vaccinated:
This guidance applies to COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use and for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (i.e., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines), and COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (i.e., AstraZeneca/Oxford, Covishield, Sinopharm, and Sinovac), on or before your attendance at an ASC event. ASC may expand the list of vaccines, provide more specific guidance regarding mixed vaccination dosing, and/or provide additional guidance regarding boosters as prevailing public health guidance evolves.
You should not attend the ASC event if you are experiencing, or have experienced within the 10 days prior to the event, signs and symptoms of COVID-19. You also should not attend the event if you believe that you may have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are not yet cleared as non-contagious by state or local public health authorities or the health care team responsible for your treatment.
In addition, attendees should self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and are asked to contact ASC at info@statecommissions.org if they receive results of a positive COVID-19 test within 10 days after participating in the event. Any private health or personal data that may be received by ASC in connection with such measures and precautions will be treated as confidentially as possible.
All attendees will be expected to follow these guidelines. This includes ASC staff, attendees, speakers, and any vendors, exhibitors, or sponsors. ASC is in the process of defining specific event entry protocols for 2022 in-person events that reflect these principles and that comply with prevailing local regulations and will provide more details about implementation of the protocols as we move forward.
On-Site Health Measures
The following protocols will be in place during in-person ASC events:
ASC recommends all attendees, exhibitors, and staff comply with travel guidelines issued by the CDC when traveling to the event location. In addition, we expect all individuals will think carefully about any risk they may pose to others and to make informed choices about travel as well as onsite and external engagement.
Safety Code of Conduct (In-Person and Virtual)
ASC is committed to providing an inclusive, safe, professional, and welcoming environment for all event attendees including, but not limited to: speakers, presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, ASC staff members, and all others. By registering for and attending ASC events, all participants are expected to adhere to our Code of Conduct. ASC expects all participants to help foster an inviting experience for all attendees. ASC has zero-tolerance for any form of discrimination or harassment, and unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated in-person or virtually.
Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to:
In response to any incident of unacceptable behavior, ASC reserves the right to take immediate action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the event without warning or refund. ASC also reserves the right to prohibit attendance, either virtually or in-person, to future ASC events. If you experience harassment or hear of any incidents of unacceptable behavior, ASC asks that you contact us at info@statecommissions.org or by speaking with a staff person at our in-person registration desk so that we may take the appropriate action.
It is important to ASC to make sure we are following the most up-to-date public health guidance and that our attendees feel safe. What may feel safe to one person may not to another person, which means we must set a standard for all in-person attendees that hopefully finds a reasonable approach that works for most, but still may not work for everyone. ASC cannot eliminate all risk and each person must make their own determination of personal risk based on their unique circumstances.
If you cannot comply with our requirements for in-person events or do not feel safe attending based on these expectations, we understand and hope you can join us for one or more of our many virtual-based learning opportunities throughout 2022.
The following document details our expectations for all in-person event attendees with the intent of creating a low risk and enjoyable event for all. These requirements will be updated as plans for health and safety protocols change or new information from the CDC or our local venues is announced. Please check back for news and additional guidance as ASC continues to refine our planning.
ASC will be using a vendor to conduct vaccine or negative COVID-19 test verification. The vendor is HIPPA compliant and maintains all records. Registrants for each ASC event will be provided a code and instructions to complete the required steps to verify vaccination status or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event via an approved testing provider. Attendees must complete this on a smartphone or tablet and will be given a QR code on their phone/tablet to be scanned upon check-in at the event. Failure to complete these steps in advance will result in being denied entry to the event until the necessary verification is completed. Attendees must have their QR code accessible on their smartphone/tablet at check-in.
We appreciate your support and patience as we work through this added layer of event management to ensure the health and safety of our attendees. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@statecommissions.org.
Requirements for Entry to In-Person Events
In order to attend in-person ASC events in 2022, the following requirements are in place for all attendees at this time:
- Attendee is fully vaccinated for COVID-19; or
- Attendee provides proof of a negative COVID-19 test conducted on a sample no more than 72 hours in advance of arrival to the event per an approved testing provider.
For the purposes of entry to ASC events, at this time, a person is considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
This guidance applies to COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use and for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (i.e., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines), and COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (i.e., AstraZeneca/Oxford, Covishield, Sinopharm, and Sinovac), on or before your attendance at an ASC event. ASC may expand the list of vaccines, provide more specific guidance regarding mixed vaccination dosing, and/or provide additional guidance regarding boosters as prevailing public health guidance evolves.
You should not attend the ASC event if you are experiencing, or have experienced within the 10 days prior to the event, signs and symptoms of COVID-19. You also should not attend the event if you believe that you may have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are not yet cleared as non-contagious by state or local public health authorities or the health care team responsible for your treatment.
In addition, attendees should self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and are asked to contact ASC at info@statecommissions.org if they receive results of a positive COVID-19 test within 10 days after participating in the event. Any private health or personal data that may be received by ASC in connection with such measures and precautions will be treated as confidentially as possible.
All attendees will be expected to follow these guidelines. This includes ASC staff, attendees, speakers, and any vendors, exhibitors, or sponsors. ASC is in the process of defining specific event entry protocols for 2022 in-person events that reflect these principles and that comply with prevailing local regulations and will provide more details about implementation of the protocols as we move forward.
On-Site Health Measures
The following protocols will be in place during in-person ASC events:
- Attendees must verify vaccination status or negative COVID-19 test per the designated process and requirements. Failure to comply will result in denial of entry to the event.
- Masks/face coverings may be required for indoor events, workshops, etc. based on current CDC guidelines and/or local guidance. Please check the requirements for each specific event. Attendees are required to bring their own masks. A limited quantity of disposable masks may be available.
- ASC will work and communicate with the venues to understand cleaning protocols, air ventilation systems, and other requirements.
- We cannot guarantee six feet of socially distanced seating, but will encourage distancing when possible.
- We will work to provide wider aisles in exhibit space and event set-up, as space allows.
- As part of event registration, attendees, exhibitors, and staff must complete an acknowledgement confirming their compliance with all health and safety protocols.
- All attendees, exhibitors, and staff should:
- Not enter an ASC event if they are experiencing any COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms;
- Wash hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds and/or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouths with unwashed hands; and
- Engage in additional responsible health and safety practices while attending ASC events.
ASC recommends all attendees, exhibitors, and staff comply with travel guidelines issued by the CDC when traveling to the event location. In addition, we expect all individuals will think carefully about any risk they may pose to others and to make informed choices about travel as well as onsite and external engagement.
Safety Code of Conduct (In-Person and Virtual)
ASC is committed to providing an inclusive, safe, professional, and welcoming environment for all event attendees including, but not limited to: speakers, presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, ASC staff members, and all others. By registering for and attending ASC events, all participants are expected to adhere to our Code of Conduct. ASC expects all participants to help foster an inviting experience for all attendees. ASC has zero-tolerance for any form of discrimination or harassment, and unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated in-person or virtually.
Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to:
- Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form.
- Harmful or prejudicial verbal or written comments or images related to gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, education level, or other class protected by law. Such comments or images shall not be directed toward any participant (as defined above).
- Disruption of presentations during sessions, in a virtual or in-person space. This extends to public and one-to-one conversations.
- Presentations, postings, and messages containing promotional materials, job offers, or solicitation for services, unless pre-approved by ASC. ASC reserves the right to remove such messages and instances of unauthorized solicitations.
In response to any incident of unacceptable behavior, ASC reserves the right to take immediate action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the event without warning or refund. ASC also reserves the right to prohibit attendance, either virtually or in-person, to future ASC events. If you experience harassment or hear of any incidents of unacceptable behavior, ASC asks that you contact us at info@statecommissions.org or by speaking with a staff person at our in-person registration desk so that we may take the appropriate action.
