Updated March 9: Cancellation of SREE 2020 ConferenceThis morning, with regret, the SREE Board of Directors voted to cancel the March 2020 SREE conference. In this email, we explain how we came to this decision and what the next steps are for you and for SREE. How the SREE Board made its decision. As a research society, SREE advocates for using evidence to inform decisions that affect individual lives and public well-being. In coming to its decision, the SREE Board considered what is known about the transmissibility of COVID-19 and the groups most at risk for complications, what is still unknown about the prevalence of the virus in the United States, and how conference registrants and their employers are making their own risk assessments.The Board also considered alternatives to holding an in-person conference this week. Ultimately, the Board concluded that it would be unwise to ask conference participants to travel to the conference and convene with a large group during these uncertain days. Further, the growing number of virtual participants could place demands on conference technology that we are not able to handle. What you should do. HOTEL Renaissance Phone Number: 703-413-1300 If you made reservations elsewhere, reach out to that property. TRAVEL What SREE will be doing. SREE will issue a refund of your conference registration fees (including any workshop fees) within 60 days. Refunds will happen automatically; you do not need to contact SREE to request one. IF you have any questions about refunds, send them to [email protected]. SREE will also be exploring ways for presenters to share information online or through future webinars. More to come. The Board thanks the SREE community for their patience as we worked through this difficult decision and for providing feedback on your plans. We also want to express deep appreciation to the conference logistics staff led by Bonnie-Day Nagy, who worked tirelessly over this past weekend to prepare for various contingencies. We send our sincere wishes for good health. Sincerely,
Ruth Curran Neild and
Ellen Weiss
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