We regret to inform you that the 2020 Joint DDHR-SAS Conference is hereby canceled due to the evolving public health threat and increasing restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have postponed the 4th Biennial DDHR conference to Spring 2021, and we hope that many of you who committed to presenting and attending will join us at that time. We will keep everyone apprised of the new date, which we are working on now.
SAS is planning their next annual conference for April 8-10, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina, and thus our future events will diverge. We hope SAS members will still plan to attend DDHR in 2021, and that DDHR faculty and students will participate in SAS’s event as well.
With the COVID-19 situation changing so rapidly, we anticipate more restrictions on travel and group events in the coming weeks and possibly months. In addition to more reported cases of illness, we also expect more people will decide not to travel for this and other events in order to protect themselves and others. In the meantime, as the April 3-5, 2020 conference date approaches quickly, we are at a crucial turning point with travel plans, contracts, and financial commitments. An immediate decision was imperative.
Refunds for registration fees paid directly to DDHR will be available. Alternatively, with your confirmation, we can keep your registration fees safe and honor them in spring 2021. If you registered/paid via DDHR, please contact Ms. Pamela Bailey at pbailey2@utk.edu to either process your refund or hold your fees for the 2021 conference.
If you registered/paid through SAS, please note that a follow-up email will be sent from SAS leadership to you. SAS will have its own specific procedures for managing refunds, workshops, and other details, and those who registered via SAS will be informed separately. SAS appreciates your patience.
Airlines, hotels, and other service providers are currently adopting more flexible change/refund policies due to the COVID-19 situation, and so we hope that any travel arrangements you have made will be adjustable with minimal financial impact.
We certainly regret this situation, as so many people have worked hard over the past year to organize this event. I especially want to acknowledge our DDHR graduate student organizers, as well as our dedicated faculty and staff, whose volunteer spirit has been evident in everything from the visible social media communications and website work to the catering, hospitality, and registration arrangements. I also wish to thank Amanda Reinke and Betty Duggan of SAS for their efforts and support.
As before, please make sure this message gets passed along to those on whose behalf you may have registered.
We hope to welcome you all here in spring 2021.