December 30, 2020
In response to member's wishes, the Winter Clinics Committee has decided to condense the content down to two full days, with optional virtual socials, non-medical education, other fun activities on the side. See the revised schedule here (subject to change as we confirm speaker availability.)
December 16, 2020
This Monday our board of directors met and discussed some of the important issues in our medical community right now. One of those topics was Winter Clinics and the need to reassess the safety and wisdom of the holding an in-person conference just 10 weeks from now with the current public health emergency that we face. We discussed splitting the in-person attendees into smaller group sizes that would comply with current gathering guidelines, grab and go meals, and other adaptations. But in the end, they voted unanimously to pivot the 2021 meeting to a completely virtual event.
I am proud of them for making a difficult but prudent decision. Yet it still makes me very sad for yet another loss of an annual tradition and fondly attended event by our membership. From the current in-person registrants that pleaded to keep the event on, I understand all the reasons and yearnings to keep it going this year. But, I also recognize as physician member association, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard than the public.
As we look around our community, state, and region at other conferences being planned for first quarter 2021, you would be hard pressed to find anything that is remaining in person. Even with modifications for safety, it would put us gravely out of step with guidance from public health officials that we very much want to support (especially in light of recent events.)
Now, we get to focus all of our energy on creating the very best Onsite Virtual Winter Clinics possible. You heard me correctly: Shore Lodge is still open for business under Stage II conditions. Most physicians already registered have told me no matter what, they’re going to McCall to ski, relax, recharge, and refresh themselves and their families. As far as education is concerned, we will be broadcasting that from Boise. This means you can attend Winter Clinics from whichever place you wish: McCall, Tamarack, Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, or your own hometown!
We know there is no way to exactly replicate the amazing in-person networking that takes places with your colleagues, our exhibitors and sponsors, and speakers. But we’re going to do our very best to make it a high-value collegial event nonetheless. We will be working with our speakers to create presentations that are still informative and engaging for our setting
We will also still have attendance raffles, exhibitor booth raffles, wellness sessions, some non-CME education specific to physicians, trivia nights, networking opportunities, and some fun surprises mixed in. In fact, we have so many ideas, we need your help to know what is most important so you don’t feel inundated with options. If you can take a few minutes to answer this survey, it would be most helpful
Here’s what I need from you:
1) If you have a reservation at Shore Lodge AND intend to keep it, you must contact them by December 22nd or it will be automatically cancelled. They will honor the group room rate and have graciously allowed us to cancel our contract without penalty because of conditions, even if they do change. Call the reservation desk at 1-800-657-6464 by December 22nd to communicate your intent. Shore Lodge is committed to safety for the guests who choose to stay and have published their We Care standards of health and safety.
2) If you are an in-person registrant, I will eventually be in touch with you to find out if you still intend to keep your registration and attend virtually. As per our terms, you have until January 25th to communicate for a full refund or for 100% of the difference between in-person registration pricing and the virtual prices below which I think is an exceptional deal. The sooner I hear from you, the better.
3) Give us your feedback. There are many things we could do to make a virtual event more fun and engaging, but I know we can’t do everything. Help us narrow the possibilities with a response to this short survey.
Thank you for understanding our situation and for continuing to share this now VERY affordable opportunity for continuing medical education with your colleagues.
In response to member's wishes, the Winter Clinics Committee has decided to condense the content down to two full days, with optional virtual socials, non-medical education, other fun activities on the side. See the revised schedule here (subject to change as we confirm speaker availability.)
December 16, 2020
This Monday our board of directors met and discussed some of the important issues in our medical community right now. One of those topics was Winter Clinics and the need to reassess the safety and wisdom of the holding an in-person conference just 10 weeks from now with the current public health emergency that we face. We discussed splitting the in-person attendees into smaller group sizes that would comply with current gathering guidelines, grab and go meals, and other adaptations. But in the end, they voted unanimously to pivot the 2021 meeting to a completely virtual event.
I am proud of them for making a difficult but prudent decision. Yet it still makes me very sad for yet another loss of an annual tradition and fondly attended event by our membership. From the current in-person registrants that pleaded to keep the event on, I understand all the reasons and yearnings to keep it going this year. But, I also recognize as physician member association, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard than the public.
As we look around our community, state, and region at other conferences being planned for first quarter 2021, you would be hard pressed to find anything that is remaining in person. Even with modifications for safety, it would put us gravely out of step with guidance from public health officials that we very much want to support (especially in light of recent events.)
Now, we get to focus all of our energy on creating the very best Onsite Virtual Winter Clinics possible. You heard me correctly: Shore Lodge is still open for business under Stage II conditions. Most physicians already registered have told me no matter what, they’re going to McCall to ski, relax, recharge, and refresh themselves and their families. As far as education is concerned, we will be broadcasting that from Boise. This means you can attend Winter Clinics from whichever place you wish: McCall, Tamarack, Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, or your own hometown!
We know there is no way to exactly replicate the amazing in-person networking that takes places with your colleagues, our exhibitors and sponsors, and speakers. But we’re going to do our very best to make it a high-value collegial event nonetheless. We will be working with our speakers to create presentations that are still informative and engaging for our setting
We will also still have attendance raffles, exhibitor booth raffles, wellness sessions, some non-CME education specific to physicians, trivia nights, networking opportunities, and some fun surprises mixed in. In fact, we have so many ideas, we need your help to know what is most important so you don’t feel inundated with options. If you can take a few minutes to answer this survey, it would be most helpful
Here’s what I need from you:
1) If you have a reservation at Shore Lodge AND intend to keep it, you must contact them by December 22nd or it will be automatically cancelled. They will honor the group room rate and have graciously allowed us to cancel our contract without penalty because of conditions, even if they do change. Call the reservation desk at 1-800-657-6464 by December 22nd to communicate your intent. Shore Lodge is committed to safety for the guests who choose to stay and have published their We Care standards of health and safety.
2) If you are an in-person registrant, I will eventually be in touch with you to find out if you still intend to keep your registration and attend virtually. As per our terms, you have until January 25th to communicate for a full refund or for 100% of the difference between in-person registration pricing and the virtual prices below which I think is an exceptional deal. The sooner I hear from you, the better.
- Non-Members Virtual $200
- ACMS Members Virtual $150
- ACMS Members No CME $120
3) Give us your feedback. There are many things we could do to make a virtual event more fun and engaging, but I know we can’t do everything. Help us narrow the possibilities with a response to this short survey.
Thank you for understanding our situation and for continuing to share this now VERY affordable opportunity for continuing medical education with your colleagues.