2020 C&S Virtual Conference FAQs
Why was this event turned into a virtual event instead of being hosted in San Diego, California?
The COVID-19 crisis has made hosting an in-person event implausible. With regulations in California unknown at this time, and your health and safety of utmost importance to us, the NAA Board of Directors made the decision to go virtual in order to deliver the most value to Conference & Show attendees.
LOGISTICS/REGISTRATION
How do I cancel my hotel and flight reservations?
The Town and Country San Diego hotel will automatically cancel existing reservations and process refunds as appropriate with no penalties and no additional action required.
If you’d like to keep your reservation, please contact the Town and Country directly at 619-291-7131 by Monday, May 18.
Please direct questions or concerns to housing@auctioneers.org.
Most airlines are working with customers to modify or cancel flights more leniently during this crisis. Please contact the appropriate airline directly.
I already registered for the conference in San Diego. When do I need to decide if I want to move that registration to the virtual conference, or cancel?
Your current registration will automatically be transferred and applied to the virtual conference by June 15, 2020, unless you notify staff otherwise. If you wish to transfer your registration sooner, please contact staff and it will be processed within three business days.
Since virtual conference registration fees are lower than in-person (only in 2020 due to COVID-19), the difference in registration fees will be held and applied to a future NAA event of your choice. Upcoming 2020 events include Benefit Auction Summit and Designation Academy, or you can choose to hold the difference for Conference & Show 2021 in Minneapolis. You may also choose to have the difference refunded by written request to registration@auctioneers.org.
If you prefer not to attend the virtual conference, you may choose to have your registration fees applied to Conference & Show 2021, or request a full refund in writing to registration@auctioneers.org. The typical $50 cancellation administrative fee is waived for 2020.
How do I register for the virtual conference?
If you previously registered for Conference & Show in San Diego, your registration will automatically be transferred as noted above. If you were not previously registered, you may register for the virtual conference by the morning of the virtual conference day to participate in the live virtual event. Alternatively, you may also register for on-demand access to the virtual event by Aug. 31, 2020.
When is the deadline to purchase the on-demand conference?
August 31, 2020
If I register for the virtual event and am unable to attend, can I get a refund? Will there be a cancellation fee? What is the deadline to cancel?
One of the benefits of a virtual event is that if you are unable to attend live, you still have access to on-demand conference content through the end of 2020. Thus, the value of registration remains. That said, if you feel you need a refund, please contact registration@auctioneers.org no later than 5 p.m. CT on June 30, 2020. The typical $50 cancellation administrative fee is waived for 2020. Cancellations will not be available after June 30, 2020.
Will I receive confirmation of my registration?
Yes. New registrants will receive their confirmation within three business days. Existing registrations, refer above.
ABOUT THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
Will the Pre-conference Education be offered virtually?
Pre-conference Education will be postponed and rescheduled to another date or event separate from the 2020 virtual conference. More information will be provided as reschedule details are confirmed. If you registered for a 2020 preconference class, your registration will be held as credit in your account to be applied toward a future NAA event. Please contact registration@auctioneers.org by June 30, 2020 to specify for which event you would like to apply your credit or if you prefer to request a refund.
How long is the virtual conference?
The virtual conference is scheduled from 9:00 am through 4:00 pm CT, on July 14, 15 and 16. The content is also available on demand for the rest of 2020.
How much does it cost to attend virtually?
The complete three-day 2020 virtual conference is valued at the same price as a regular Conference Without Meals registration of $520. However, the NAA is offering a 40% COVID-19 discount off the existing member pricing, making registration $312. This includes live content and on-demand content through December 2020.
The discounted member rate is also extended to nonmembers for the 2020 virtual conference only.
If you cannot attend all three days, daily virtual access is available with the 40% COVID-19 discounted rate of $108 per day ($180 value).
If you are unable to attend any of the 2020 live virtual conference days, you may still register for on-demand access to the event. On-demand pricing is the same as the live virtual pricing noted above for all three days or per-day access.
Why is registration the same price as the onsite event, when we won’t be getting the same product?
The NAA understands how hard this year has been for auction professionals. Because of that, we are offering our discounted COVID-19 rate for the virtual conference. That said, we believe strongly in the value of a virtual product.
While a virtual conference does not have the same experience as an in-person conference, there are trade-offs in value between the two experiences.
- The virtual conference provides more continuing education credit opportunities (up to 21 hours possible) than the in-person conference allows.
- The virtual conference provides access to the same high-quality speakers and education content as the in-person conference, including virtual interaction and networking with other attendees and the speakers.
- The virtual conference requires no additional travel/hotel expense to participate and allows you to access the entire virtual conference (not just the education sessions) on demand for several months after the live virtual days.
- Because you can participate in the virtual conference from the convenience of your home, office, or on the go, you are not required to take significant time off work or away from family in order to attend, and you have the option to rewatch the virtual conference on demand if you are unable to participate in all the live virtual conference activities each day.
Can I still utilize a payment plan?
Yes. Two-month payment plans can be requested via paper registration forms submitted to registration@auctioneers.org or received at NAA Headquarters via mail by May 25, 2020.
What is a virtual event/conference?
A virtual conference is a learning and networking event that takes place only online. The speakers and attendees are in many locations. Virtual conferences provide greater flexibility with content structures and timelines. It is not an exact replica of an in-person conference, but it provides much of the same value and even additional value as an in-person event.
Do I have to attend the entire event?
You do not have to attend the entire event. Because your registration includes on-demand access to the virtual conference event through 2020, you can participate in as many or few live virtual activities as you’d like. At your convenience, you can go back to view on demand anything you missed live or rewatch on demand anything that was especially relevant to you.
How is the agenda chosen? Education sessions?
The NAA Staff, the Board of Directors, and the Conference & Show Education Committee worked together to identify the most valuable C&S experiences and education that could be included in our first-ever virtual conference. We are continually evaluating our virtual conference and working to provide the best value possible for virtual conference participants. We welcome your feedback for even better virtual experiences and value in the post-event survey!
Do I have to attend every day, all day to get my CE?
The continuing education (CE) credits for the virtual conference sessions are awarded on a per-session basis. You do not have to attend each session during the live virtual time; you may attend on-demand instead. You will receive CE credits for each individual session you attend. You can find your virtual conference session certificates of completion in NAA's Online Education Center .
Do I have access to all of the educational sessions?
You will have access to all the education sessions and virtual activities that are included in your registration. If you registered for the full virtual conference, you will have access to everything (live virtual and on-demand). If you registered for a one-day virtual conference, you will have access to everything scheduled on that day (live virtual and on-demand). If you registered for only the virtual trade show, you will have access to everything in the trade show (live virtual and on-demand).
Can I choose what education sessions I want to attend?
Absolutely. You are in complete control of the sessions that you’d like to participate in. Also, you will have access to the On Demand sessions beginning the day after the live virtual session through the rest of 2020.
Can I ask questions during the session?
Yes! Each session will have a chat window where you can chat with the speakers and other session participants, asking questions throughout the session.
Can my computer or mobile device handle the virtual event?
Yes. To have the best possible virtual experience, be sure you’re accessing the virtual conference with a strong internet connection. If others are using the same internet connection as you are, you may need a stronger bandwidth. Contact your internet provider to determine your individual internet needs for the best experience or ask others not to use the same internet connection as you while you’re participating in the live virtual event. You may also wish to view detailed system requirements or to test your system prior to the virtual conference.
What do I need to do on the day of the event? How do I log into the event?
Log into the NAA website with your NAA account credentials. Hover over the "Education" menu item across the top and select the "NAA Online Education Center." You are welcome to log into the virtual conference beginning July 7 to look around and add virtual sessions to your calendar. You may wish to join the Virtual Conference Attendee Orientation on July 13 for more detailed information on getting the most out of your virtual conference experience.
Can I access and view recordings of any session from the conference?
As long as the session was part of your registration package, you can view any of those session recordings on demand through 2020. In January 2021 the education sessions only will be added to the NAA Online Education Center for free viewing to NAA Members.
Do I need a webcam for the event?
No, a webcam is not necessary for this event, but it is encouraged. There are some virtual networking activities each day where your camera and/or microphone may be allowed. If so, it will be completely optional for you to utilize them or not.
I was asked to be a speaker for an education session when Conference & Show was going to be in-person in San Diego, will I still do my education session for the virtual conference?
Please reach out to NAA staff, Kristina Franz or Jennifer Vossman, at education@auctioneers.org to learn more about what to expect regarding your education session and the virtual conference.
CONFERENCE EVENTS
What about the Board of Directors Election?
Voting for the 2020 Board of Directors for active members as of July 16, 2020, will be held electronically via absentee ballots, and in-person during the Annual Business Meeting on July 16, 2020, at 8880 Ballentine St., Overland Park, KS 66214. Absentee voting will open July 3, 2020, and will close July 16, 2020, at 2 p.m. CT. Results will be announced at the Annual Business Meeting during the virtual conference on July 16, 2020. Voting information will be available here.
What about the 2020 Hall of Fame inductions?
Due to NAA's Conference & Show going virtual this year, 2020 Hall of Fame inductions will be postponed until Conference & Show 2021. In a meeting to be held in the near future, the Hall of Fame Committee will consider candidates for the 2021 HOF induction from those who were nominated before the June 1 deadline.
Will IAC/IJAC be held? What if I already entered?
The International Auctioneer Championship and International Junior Auctioneer Championship will be postponed until 2021. Anyone registered to compete in 2020 will be automatically entered into the contest for 2021 in Minneapolis. If you would like a refund instead of transferring your entry, please request it in writing to registration@auctioneers.org by June 30, 2020.
Will there be a Town Hall meeting?
A separate virtual Town Hall forum may be scheduled at a later date, but is not included in the virtual conference.
Due to the nature of a virtual event, the following events will be postponed until 2021:
- Welcome Party
- Foundation’s Children’s Auction
- First timer’s breakfast
- International breakfast
- CAI breakfast
- Women’s auction professionals lunch
- Auction school officials lunch
- EI Trustees lunch
- NextGen Teen Workshop
- NAA Hall of Fame Committee
- State association group photos
- Marketing Competition reception
- IAC breakfast of champions
For additional details and assistance, call NAA at 913-541-8084 or email us at conference@auctioneers.org.