APMM Board postpones conference due to health concerns
Dear Member of the APMM Community,
The Governor of Washington declared a State of Emergency late on Saturday after a man died of Coronavirus in the Seattle area. There now exists the possibility of community spread of the COVID-19 virus and the Washington State health department has indicated that they are dealing with “an emergency evolving situation.”
In the best interest of our members' health and the stability of our organization, on Sunday afternoon the APMM Board of Directors unanimously decided to postpone our Seattle Conference. While rescheduling must take into account the course of occurrence and reoccurrences of the COVID-19 virus, we would like to begin by considering a delay of about 6 months, pushing the conference roughly to October. The board is actively monitoring the situation in Seattle and will arrange a new schedule as events are clarified. This has been an extremely difficult decision to make, and we ask for the continued support and understanding of our membership as we safely and calmly work through the matter. We have a truly magnificent conference planned which is filled with excellent tours, interesting speakers, a wide range of workshops, a solid assortment of vendors, all in a world-class location. We plan to proceed with the same arrangements, only at a later date.
Many corporations, both as APMM members and worldwide, have begun to suspend employee travel or cancel events. It is likely that many of our members would be unable to travel to Washington due to these restrictions. We anticipate host locations cancelling tours or suspending use of facilities to our members. While only a few of our members have confirmed these restrictions from their organizations, the State of Emergency declaration issued late Saturday will certainly impact decisions as businesses reopen Monday morning.
The safety of our members and the stability of our Association were paramount in making this difficult decision. It would be irresponsible to risk the health and well-being of our members and also risk heavy losses to the Association if travel interruptions or local government regulations eventually prohibit or prevent our gathering.
Our mission has always been one of sharing professional communication, education, information and resources throughout our community of model makers. To encourage and support as many members as possible in this endeavor, we have struggled to keep the costs of membership and events as low as possible. The conferences help to provide the financial support needed to manage our organization with no excess in finances. We are truly a shoestring budget organization, relying on the many talents of our members and volunteers to help support our mission. The postponement of the conference places particularly difficult stresses on our already tight budget and we ask for your consideration of that situation in the coming months as we work on rescheduling this event. Remember that this organization exists to support your work as model makers.
The APMM Board continues to work through the issue and will need to address some matters as they are presented, while we work to reschedule the conference. Either Samanthi or I am available to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding this decision.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this decision.
Jill Kenik, APMM Board President
[email protected]
or [email protected]
#APMMCONF2020
The last time we were in Seattle (1998), a company with the funny name Google was founded, a young singer
called Britney Spears made her debut, and the film Titanic won 11 Oscars.
Yeah, it's been a while...
In model making, Rhino V.1 was released, the APMM underwent a reorganization, and the APMM's newsletter "The Leading Edge" was published soon after. Technologically speaking, our profession was going through major advancements, but the need for traditional skills was as strong as ever. We gathered in Seattle at the Madison Renaissance Hotel from July 24 - 28, 1998 and toured Nike in Portland, Boeing, and Modelwerks. If you were there, you might still have the t-shirt somewhere in your closet.
Things have changed in the last 20+ years, but the need for model makers to gather, recharge, re-calibrate, and reunite is just as important now as it was then.
OUR EVENT SPONSORS
    
    
   
Conference 2020 brings us two West-Coasters who embody the spirit and drive of the model maker.
Jeff Hoefer is our Keynote Speaker at Saturday's lunch and Chris Stanley is our Featured Model Maker at Sunday's lunch.
 
The octopus symbolizes flexibility, creativity, and intelligence. It is also an unofficial mascot of the coastal city of Seattle. Model makers, like octopuses (yes, that's the plural!), employ a wide range of abilities, sheer ingenuity, and multitasking skills. What better way to commemorate our gathering in Seattle than with a clever octopus/multitasking theme. You'll definitely want to add this event's t-shirt to your growing collection!
Located north of downtown, the University Inn is near the University of Washington campus, and just 15 minutes drive to the iconic Space Needle. Our special $139/night rate includes luxurious accommodations in a casual and fun setting. Included is a complimentary Continental breakfast, room amenities like mini-fridge and coffee maker, and an afternoon coffee reception with the University Inn's signature pineapple cupcakes.
Reserve your room by visiting the hotel reservations page and use the online booking code: APMM2020 or by calling 866-866-7977 or emailing [email protected].
The University of Washington's Alder Hall is a short walk (0.3 mi) from our host hotel. You can also arrange in advance for a ride from the hotel shuttle. Both locations are also on the University of Washington bus route.
We will have the following activities at Alder Hall:
- Workshops - Saturday 9 AM to 3 PM
- Keynote Lunch - Saturday 12 noon
- Industry Expo/Vendor Reception - Saturday 3 PM to 6 PM
- Workshops - Sunday 9 AM to 3 PM
- Featured Member Lunch - Sunday 12 noon
- General Members Meeting - Sunday 3 PM to 4:30 PM
To assist with budgeting and planning, we have a variety of registration options. Early registration will begin this summer and run through October 31, 2019, offering a savings of $50 to those who register far in advance. But, no worries if you can't register early - we'll keep online registration open right up until Conference time - we know how those last-minute deadlines work!
Register online, or call 315-750-0803 for special arrangements, and scholarship or sliding scale options to make your training and travel goals attainable. Let us know how we can help get you to Conference 2020!
To help us develop the kind of program that will benefit you the most, we need to hear from you what topics are most important to you. To suggest a topic or idea, simply send a message to [email protected]. Our workshop topics often fit the theme of the Conference but are by no means limited to it.
If you're interested in presenting a workshop, we will compensate you with a $100 credit on your registration rate for your participation or a crisp $100 bill. Give us an idea of what you'd like to present and share with your colleagues!
Being able to tour local model shops, other custom-manufacturing workplaces, relevant educational facilities and even the occasional makerspace is a huge bonus of having our conferences in different locations each time. Every different place we visit has the potential to teach us a valuable skill or introduce us to a new tool or material. Partnerships can even grow out of a random tour encounter.
Be sure to join us first thing Friday and plan to stay through the day on Monday to get in on the tours! You won't regret joining 50 or so of your colleagues on a luxurious motor coach visiting places that will enrich, enthrall or energize you. The price even includes a sumptuous lunch – most likely at a popular local restaurant!
EVENT SCHEDULE
We pack so much learning, conversation and connection into four days that you'll be amazed at the mix of activities that the APMM Conferences include! Below is a tentative agenda so you can plan your time accordingly. All activities and times are subject to change.
Friday Tours 8 AM - 5 PM
Pizza Meet & Greet 5 - 7 PM
Saturday Workshops 9 AM - 3 PM
Saturday Lunch 12 noon
Industry Expo/Vendor Tabletops 3 - 6 PM
Sunday Workshops 9 AM - 3 PM
Sunday Lunch 12 noon
Open Membership Meeting 3 - 4:30 PM
Women in Model Making Happy Hour 5 - 6 PM
Monday Tours 8 AM - 5 PM
You'll meet vendors who supply the materials, equipment and technology that model makers use every day - in a casual and no-pressure setting. Browse, make contacts, and come away with strategic partners and the latest in technical know-how. Vendors will display their products and services throughout the Conference, but they'll participate in the Industry Expo and Reception on Saturday, March 14th from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. This event is open and free of charge to anyone from the local model making community.
Exhibiting with us? See our Vendor FAQ
Our biennial competition is the best way for up-and-coming model makers to show their skills and talents. Not only do they gain tremendous acclaim and recognition, but there are cash prizes! Come for the exposure and you might go away with a prize... or a job - which would be the best prize of all, right? Any student or recent graduate (within 18 months of leaving school) can submit a model for the competition.
Sponsorship opportunities, like model making projects, come in all shapes, sizes... and budgets! Check out our Conference 2020 Sponsors to date and consider helping us out with one of our events or activities. Trust us, there's an option for every price point! While we're all about learning, we know that all work and no play make for dull Conferences, so let's get some fun activities to round out our gathering.
Contact [email protected] if you have questions about our event that have not been answered here.
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