We are pleased to announce the 2021 virtual NWA Annual Education and Training Conference and Exhibits will take place June 15 – 17, 2021. Please note the conference will take place virtually (completely online).
2020 was a year of unrest and uncertainty filled with change, innovation, and transformation. Recovery is coming in 2021.This year’s conference theme is “ENGAGE, CONNECT, & INSPIRE: Bolstering Health Equity in WIC”.
NWA hopes each Conference Attendee will:
As always, the Conference will offer an excellent opportunity to acquire new skills. Attendees will network with peers and colleagues along with exhibitors who provide WIC-related products and services for WIC participants. The conference will also offer an opportunity for attendees to hear from USDA officials and to dialogue on relevant updates and challenges the program faces. The Conference sessions will be sure to get you thinking and asking questions!
This virtual conference will include pre-recorded and live presentations in the form of webinars via our virtual conference platform. Attendees will be able to access various sessions, expand their professional skills, and increase their knowledgebase – all from the comfort of their own homes! You will have access to the conference platform 24 hours/7 days a week. All sessions will be recored and available for viewing within 1 hour of the live session. The virtual conference platform will close on September 17, 2021. That's 3 ENTIRE months to enjoy, learn and network with your Colleagues!
One of NWA’s main priorities for this Conference will center on Diversity and Inclusion. We plan to weave this topic throughout the conference, as this is an important issue that affects all of us and is often overlooked in the WIC Community. We as practitioners owe it to our clients to make sure they are receiving equitable access to nutritious foods and breastfeeding support. To do this, we must acknowledge and remove obstacles to families’ short- and long-term health and wellbeing including poverty, discrimination, institutional racism, and other forms of bias expressed through housing, healthcare, education, labor, and other public policies.
We’d like for each attendee to leave the conference feeling ENGAGED, CONNECTED and INSPIRED!
The conference will formally begin with the Opening General Session on Tuesday, June 15 at 11:00 am ET and will end at 5:00pm ET on Thursday, June 17 with the Closing General Session. The NWA Board Meetings, Section Meetings, and Business Meetings will occur on Monday, June 14. Additional details on the Monday, June 14 meetings will be shared closer to the date of the meeting.
Registration will open on February 22, 2021.
For questions, please contact NWA National Office at confsupport@nwica.org. We'll be happy to assist.
| Registration Type | Early Bird Rates - ENDS May 14 | Regular Rates - BEGINS May 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Conference Member | $50.00 | $50.00 |
|
Pre-Conference Non-Member
|
$75.00
|
$75.00
|
|
Member
|
$285.00
|
$385.00
|
|
Non-Member
|
$385.00
|
$485.00
|
|
Student
|
$100.00
|
$100.00
|
|
Speaker (includes Poster Presenters)
|
$185.00
|
$185.00
|
| Group Member Increments | Early Bird Rates - ENDS May 14 | Regular Rates - BEGINS May 15 |
|---|---|---|
|
10-20 Group Members
|
$260.00
|
$360.00
|
|
21-40 Group Members
|
$235.00
|
$335.00
|
|
41+ Group Members
|
$210.00
|
$310.00
|
*In order to receive the Group Rate, please enter "BULK" in the Promo Code Box and the system will automatically apply the discount.
*All Groups MUST be registered in ONE Group in order to recieve the discount!
Pre-Conference Rate:
To Register for the Pre-Conference, please click HERE
| Member Rate | Non-Member Rate |
| $50.00 | $75.00 |
Registration will close on Friday, June 4 at 11:59 pm ET.
All payments are due by Friday, June 11. Payments must be received to gain access to and participate in Conference activities and sessions.
To cancel your registration, a written request MUST be received by NWA via email to ConfSupport@nwica.org or fax to (202) 387-5281 no later than the close of business on May 31, 2020.
Cancellations received before or on May 31, 2021 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be granted on or after 12:00 AM ET on June 1, 2021.
Online registrations are processed via our web-based system. Each registrant must have or create a profile (account) in order to register online. See instructions on creating a profile and logging in.
Please Make Sure Your Email Address Is Correct Before Registering!
Registration will close on Friday, June 4th at 11:59 pm ET.
Registrants using a Purchase Order (PO) or check, must select the "Bill Me Later" option from the online registration system when registering. Credit card payments will be processed via our secured Stripe site. The system will automatically email a registration confirmation to the email provided. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact the Registration Department at (202) 232-5492 or ConfSupport@nwica.org.
Please note that Registrants who have paid with Purchase Orders will not be allowed access to the Virtual Conference Platform until the purchase order is received by the Registration Manager, with a copy of the registration invoice.
Mail Payments to:
National WIC Association
Attn: 2021 Virtual Annual Conference Registration
2001 S Street, NW Ste. 580
Washington, DC 20009
NWA’s federal tax ID is 8399-0160210-001
We must receive your credit card payment, check payment in full, or completed PO with invoice reference by Friday, June 11, 2021. If we have not received payment in full by the above date, you will not be able to access the NWA 2021 Virtual Conference platform.
Mail Payments to:
National WIC Association
Attn: 2021 Virtual Annual Conference Registration
2001 S Street, NW Ste. 580
Washington, DC 20009
To cancel your registration, a written request MUST be received by NWA via email to ConfSupport@nwica.org or fax to (202) 387-5281 no later than the close of business on May 31, 2020.
If you DO NOT CANCEL YOU WILL STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT!
NWA regrets that refunds will not be granted for "no-shows."
Cancellations received before or on May 31, 2021 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be granted on or after 12:00 AM ET on June 1, 2021. NWA regrets that refunds will not be granted for no-shows.
For questions regarding payment methods, please contact the Registration Manager at (202) 232-5492 or ConfSupport@nwica.org for more information.
You may print invoices, receipts, event confirmations, and view other personalized NWA information and activities by logging into your My NWICA account.
To log in:
For additional information on accessing your NWICA Account or creating an Account. Click HERE
Contact the Registration Department with any questions at (202) 232-5492 or ConfSupport@nwica.org
Event |
Date* |
|---|---|
|
Early Bird Registration Rate Ends |
May 14 at 11:59pm |
|
Regular Registration Rate Begins |
May 15 at 12:00am |
|
Last Day for 50% Refund Registration Cancelation |
May 31 at 11:59pm |
|
No Refunds will be provided after
|
June 1 at 12:00am |
| Registration Closes |
June 4 at 11:59pm |
|
Conference Platform Opens |
June 11 at 11:00am |
|
Attendee Know Before You Go Virtual |
June 11 at 12:00pm |
|
All Registration Fees are Due |
June 11 at 11:59pm |
|
Conference Platform will Close |
September 17 at 11:59pm |
* Times are denoted in Eastern Time (ET)
Are you looking forward to the 2021 Annual Conference? Share your excitement with your networks! Below are several social media toolkits where you'll find suggested posts and graphics.
If you are a general attendee, download your toolkit here.
If you are a speaker or session leader, download your toolkit here.
If you are exhibiting at the conference, download your toolkit here.
If you are a general attendee, find your toolkit here.
If you are a speaker or session leader, find your toolkit here.
If you are exhibiting at the conference, find your toolkit here.
1. What is a virtual conference?
A virtual conference is hosted entirely over the Internet. This virtual conference will include pre-recorded and live presentations in the form of webinars. Attendees participate through a Conference Platform designed specifically for the virtual conference. The Platform is where you will watch conference presentations and participate with questions and comments in real-time. Attendees will be able to access various sessions, expand their professional skills, and increase their knowledgebase – all from the comfort of their own homes whenever they want. Think of it as attending a standard NWA webinar but with the ability to engage with anyone else that is attending a conference either physically or online. We are bringing two worlds together for a shared unique experience!
2. Who should attend?
The conference is open to a wide range of Participants that include WIC State and Local agencies from across the nation, WIC researchers, WIC community members, USDA, non-governmental organizations, and other WIC partners.
3. What are the technical requirements needed to participate?
To participate, all you need is an internet connection, and a viewing device, such as a laptop, desktop computer, tablet, smartphone, or smart television. For the best viewing experience, we recommend that you join the conference using a supported internet browser,which includes Chrome,.
4. What happens once I register?
When a virtual attendee registration is complete (paid for), you will receive an email confirming your payment. NWA is working diligently to prepare for this unique experience and will send you the necessary instructions on June 11, 2021.
Note - those who do not register will NOT be cleared to use the virtual platform (the company that provides the platform will cross-check registrations with our list). If you DID NOT register, you cannot access the platform. Make sure the email address associated with your registration is accurate and up to date so that there is no delay in receiving our communications or logging into the virtual platform.
5. Can I visit the conference without paying?
Unfortunately, no. We have to use the same registration system as always, and that list will be given to the platform administrators. Only those who are paid registrants will have password-protected access to the platform. You may not visit the exhibit hall, upload a video, view videos, upload or view posters, or anything else within the virtual platform without a registration log-in.
6. Can I share my virtual conference login information with other members of my team?
For every paid registration to attend virtually, only one device (computer, laptop, tablet, phone) will be allowed to enter the virtual conference. The Continuing Education Units/Credits earned, the questions asked, and the polling conducted within that single login session are all tied to the account of the individual that purchased the virtual event.
7. Can I access and view recordings of any sessions from the conference?
In one word, YES! Similar to if you were attending the conference on-site, you will be given the opportunity to select which sessions you’d like to attend virtually. It is up to you to decide which sessions interest you in a given time block and to attend those sessions as desired. You may attend as many or as few sessions as you want. All conference sessions will be recorded and will be available for viewing 20 minutes after the session ends. The Conference site will remain open and available until Friday, September 17, at 11:59 PM ET. So you can view all Virtual Conference sessions at your convenience and continue networking with your peers, partners, and exhibitors.
8. If I want to watch 2 sessions that are streaming simultaneously, can I go back later and view one of them?
All conference sessions will be recorded and will be available for viewing 20 minutes after the session end. The Conference site will remain open and available until October 11, so you can view all Virtual Conference sessions at your convenience.
9. Am I going to have to watch sessions at 03:00 (in the morning) my time?
No! The conference will be asynchronous, as we have members/attendees all across the country and there is no time zone that accommodates everyone for a live session. The platform will be open 24 hours a day from Friday, June 11 until Friday, June 17 and you can log in, view content, and make comments at any time, no matter what time zone you are in.
The Professional Convention Manager Association (PCMA)–the premier authority on virtual meetings–recommends virtual conferences be held in the time zone where the organization is headquartered.
10. What time does the conference start?
9:00 AM (New York Time - EST). Convert to your local time here.
11. Are you thinking of organizing a group viewing party?
Joining the virtual conference is more fun with friends! Consider bringing your colleagues together to view the conference in one place. Here are some tips for organizing a viewing party:
Make sure everyone in the group is registered before the conference.
Look for a meeting place that can accommodate the group while observing social distancing guidelines.
Post a photo to your favorite social media platform of your group using the hashtag #NWAAnnual2021. We will share your photos on the virtual platform and on our social media!
12. What professional credit is available for the Annual Virtual Conference?
Continuing Education Units/Credits will be offered. Specific amounts will be provided closer to the date of the conference.
13. Will I get a certificate of attendance?
Yes, certificates will be available to all registered attendees post-conference after filling out the overall survey.
14. How will I be able to connect with other virtual attendees?
The conference platform will be available for you to interact with other attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors via various features–a main event feed for posting updates, 1:1 or group chat features, during topic focus breakout sessions, and more!
15. Will I be able to ask the speakers questions?
Yes, there will be a chat feature that will allow you to send questions to a moderator as well you will be able to communicate with the speaker directly after their session presentation on the conference platform from September 9 until October 11.
16. What about poster sessions?
Poster sessions will also be delivered in a virtual format. In addition to viewing the posters, attendees will have the opportunity to hear first-hand presentations by the authors during the Exhibit Hall/Poster portion of the Conference.
17. Will there be an exhibit hall?
Yes! The exhibit hall is actually an impressive and interactive function of the platform we are using! Exhibitors in the virtual hall will provide a robust experience for attendees. You’ll be able to view videos and documents at their virtual booths. You can visit each booth, ask questions using the chat feature, and have 1:1 or group meetings using the platform.
Sarah Widor, the Director of Supplemental Food Programs Division, sent a letter to all state agency WIC directors supporting the 2020 Virtual Annual Conference. This letter confirms that WIC Program funds may be used to fund registration fees for this conference.
The National WIC Association held its 38th Annual Business Meeting virtually on Thursday, June 10th, 2021. It was our second virtual Business Meeting success.
Among the business conducted at the meeting included the election of NWA’s 2021-2022 Board Chair-Elect and Treasurer, as well as the 2021-2022 Nominating Committee.
The voting members were also asked to vote on proposed changes to the Bylaws, approved by the NWA Board and offered by the Bylaws Committee Chaired by Tammye Farmer-Holloman.
The 2020-21 Nominating Committee Chair, Beth Beachy (IL), and her Committee - Amanda Hovis (TX), Jessika Free-Bass (Omaha Nation), Diane Shelton (MI), and Rhonda Buntrock (SD) – are pleased to announce that the Voting Membership elected Paul Throne, State WIC Director for Washington State, as the Association’s 2021-2022 Chair-Elect, and Amanda Hovis, Director of Nutrition Education and Clinical Services for Texas WIC, as the Association’s Treasurer.
The newly elected 2021-2022 Nominating Committee includes:
Kate Franken, State WIC Director, Minnesota Department of Health, State Agency Section Representative
Erin James, Breastfeeding Coordinator, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Native American Section Representative
Beth Honerman, WIC Quality Improvement Specialist & Oral Health, South Dakota Department of Health - WIC, Nutrition Services Section Representative
Carrie Zavala, WIC Director, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Local Agency Section Representative
Voting Members also agreed to the proposed changes to the NWA Bylaws. Please see the June 2021 updated NWA Bylaws here.
NWA is deeply grateful to its 2020-2021 Nominating Committee, led by Beth Beachy, 2020-2021 Chair-Emeritus, the Bylaws Committee, as well as all of our member candidates who stood for election to help lead our Community during the 2021-2022 Board year.
A virtual conference is an event hosted entirely over the internet, allowing remote attendees to access live and pre-recorded sessions and events from their computers. Attendees participate through a website designed specifically for a virtual conference experience. This website is where participants will watch sessions streamed live and engage in sessions by asking questions and commenting in real time.
In addition to the live events, the Virtual Conference includes discussion forums, an Exhibit Hall, Poster Presentation Hall, networking opportunities, a conference resource center, the ability to search for and chat with other conference attendees, and other features specifically designed to give virtual attendees the same opportunity to learn and engage with the presenters.
You're bound to love the benefits of attending a virtual conference!
Plus, you'll have access to all of this without the hassle and expense of travel. All you need is a device with Internet access.
This online conference includes:
Registration and General Information
NWA National Office
202.232.5492
confsupport@nwica.org
Speakers
Chandra Champion
Senior Conference and Events Manager
cchampion@nwica.org
Exhibits
Dale Greenberg
Exhibits Manager
Dale.greenberg@conferencedirect.com
Marketing and Press
Whitney Dawn Carlson
Marketing Communications Manager
wcarlson@nwica.org