Were You Registered for the 2020 ANCOR Annual Conference in Miami? We Need You to Take Action by April 10

For the convenience of our members, we are re-sharing the content of an email sent on March 25 regarding three actions you need to take for the refund process.

“As we announced last week, Elevate: The 2020 ANCOR Annual Conference will not move forward as originally planned in Miami due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, we will be offering a free virtual conference with select sessions that are relevant and timely for providers and others responding to the coronavirus crisis — details about the virtual conference experience are forthcoming.

In the meantime, we are sharing information about refunds, hotel reservations and other frequently asked questions that pertain to the 2020 ANCOR Annual Conference. The following three action items require your immediate attention, and more information is available in the FAQs section below.

Action items:

1. Registration Refunds: When it comes to handling refunds, you have two options: (1) request a full refund, or (2) waive your right to a refund and treat the amount paid for your registration as a donation to help defray ANCOR’s costs related to canceling the conference. If you choose the first option, we completely understand. If you choose the second option, we deeply appreciate your donation, as it ensures we can allocate more of our resources toward advocacy, and the offering of timely and accurate information in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. Regardless of which option you choose, you must complete this form to indicate your preference no later than 5 pm PDT on Friday, April 10. Please allow up to four weeks for refund requests to be processed.
2. Hotel Reservations: The Hilton Downtown Miami has canceled all room reservations that were booked under the ANCOR room block (i.e., at the discounted $209/night rate) using the conference/hotel link; no further action is required on your part if you booked using this method. However, if you booked your hotel room at the Hilton Miami Downtown outside the ANCOR room block (e.g., using Hilton’s central reservations system or a third-party travel site such as Expedia), or if you booked a room somewhere besides the Hilton Miami Downtown, you will need to cancel your reservation on your own using the same method you used to book your stay.
3. Flight Reservations: Don’t forget to cancel your flight reservations if you haven’t already. Most airlines are offering flexibility on their change policies given the COVID-19 crisis, and you may or may not be eligible for a refund. Here are some tips based on ANCOR staff experience: (1) find your record locator and the date on which your travel was initially booked first; (2) review the change and cancellation policies of the airline with which you were scheduled to travel; (3) attempt to cancel or reschedule your flight online, rather than by phone (airlines are experiencing unusually high call volumes).

If you need any assistance with registration refunds, please contact Lauren Middleberg at [email protected]. If you have questions about canceling hotel or travel arrangements, please contact Jerri McCandless at [email protected]

FAQs:

Q: Is there a processing fee associated with requesting a refund?

A: No. You will be refunded the full amount paid for your registration.

Q: What happens to the money I paid if I don’t complete the form by April 10?

A: ANCOR will consider the amount you paid as a donation to the association. We appreciate it! These are unprecedented times for all of us, and ANCOR continues to ensure your voice is heard in Congress and within the administration, while connecting you with timely resources; if you are able to contribute the registration fees you already paid toward ANCOR’s programs — including our COVID-19 response — we sincerely appreciate it.

Q: If I waive my right to a refund, is my donation tax-deductible?

A: No. Because your registration was paid to ANCOR, which is a nonprofit trade association but not a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization, your donation is not considered tax deductible.

Q: I’ve heard there will be a virtual conference in place of the Annual Conference. Can I apply my registration to the virtual conference?

A: No. The virtual conference — details about which are forthcoming — will be free to ANCOR members and non-members as a service to the community.

Q: I/My colleague won a Direct Support Professional of the Year Award and was to be honored at the Annual Conference in Miami. How will I/they receive their award instead?

A: The plaques themselves will be mailed to you/the award recipient. But, we can’t possibly miss the chance to celebrate! Therefore, we are exploring options for a virtual awards celebration, and will share details as soon as they are available.”