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Statement on COVID-19 from Public Affairs Council President Doug Pinkham

By March 9, 2020April 16th, 2020Uncategorized
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April 16 Update

The Public Affairs Council will be rescheduling in-person events through the end of July. Some of the events will be rescheduled for a later time, others will be redesigned for a virtual-only format.

March 18 Update

The Public Affairs Council will be rescheduling in-person events through the end of May. Some of the events will be rescheduled for a later time, others will be redesigned for a virtual-only format.

Please click here to learn how you can immediately access the virtual learning, expertise, new ideas and information you count on from the Council.

March 13 Update

The Public Affairs Council has cancelled in-person workshops through the end of March. During this time, we are encouraging our staff to work remotely both for their safety and to practice social distancing to help prevent the spread of the virus.

We are still available to answer you calls and emails and provide you with all the services you expect. View our staff directory to find the expert you need or contact our main line at 202-787-5950 or [email protected].

You can still participate in our live webinars and you can always download webinar recordings – both options are free for members. Learn more here.  And remember to communicate with your peers through our online member community Council Connect, where we also have numerous resources available for public affairs professionals.

 

March 9, 2020

Council members and public affairs professionals based in Washington, D.C., and beyond are a vital part of our community of colleagues and friends, and safety at our events is our highest priority.

Like you, the Public Affairs Council is concerned about the spread and impact of COVID-19. Here’s what we are doing to ensure that our workshops, seminars, conferences and other in-person events are as safe as possible for all who attend.

Sanitation is a priority
At Council headquarters, hotels or conference facilities where we hold meetings, we will ensure that hard surfaces such as door handles, tables and chairs will be thoroughly wiped down with a disinfecting cleaner before every event.

Communicating safety guidelines
Prior to all in-person events, registrants will be sent a list of guidelines to help make their experience safer. Our recommendations will follow those of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. We also recommend checking these organizations’ websites often for updates.

Free cancellation
Effective immediately, we are offering a 100% refund for cancellations to events occurring now through the end of June. You can cancel at any time, for any reason.

Access to online learning and resources
We offer many remote, e-learning opportunities. Most of our workshops provide a virtual participation option in which registrants may take part via computer, with access to video and audio. We also offer dozens of informative webinars free to members each year and a large library of past webinar recordings. Learn more here.

In addition, we encourage members to visit our Council Connect online community of public affairs professionals to share ideas with peers and download resources. Look for conversations and information about COVID-19 through this platform.

As always, we at the Public Affairs Council are committed to providing you with the strategies, insights, data and best practices you need to perform your job at the highest level. Even more important, we’re committed to creating the safest environment possible for you to learn and share ideas and knowledge with your peers.

Doug Pinkham
President