AUCD 2024 Conference
Dear Network Member,
As we begin planning this year’s AUCD Conference, we want to address the new dates: November 3-6, 2024. We understand there are concerns about the Conference being held during election week. We were originally scheduled for the first week of December, but due to the late Thanksgiving holiday this year, we were advised to move the event. We would have preferred better dates, but due to hotels booking several years in advance, it was the only available slot.
We are working to make this a great Conference experience for everyone with safety and security top of mind. We are in communication with the U.S. Capitol Police Department’s Threats Assessment Team. They have plans in place to increase U.S. Capitol Police presence throughout the week. They do not anticipate closing the U.S. Capitol. We are also in communication with the Director of Security at the Westin DC Hotel, our event host, about the additional security measures they are putting in place during our stay. They plan to increase the number of officers on site, restrict access to specific areas of the hotel, and require guests' verification before entry. The security team at the Westin, as well as the Marriott’s Global Watch Team, are partners with local and federal law agencies and together, they are closely monitoring the climate around the election.
We want to assure you that we are taking necessary precautions to ensure attendees’ safety and security throughout the Conference. This starts by hosting our Closing Plenary on Wednesday at the hotel. We will share more details about Hill Day and other event details as we get closer to November.
Moving the Conference to November 3-6 was a difficult, but necessary decision. We appreciate your patience and understanding. We hope to see you for another outstanding Conference this November.
Sincerely,
John Tschida, MPP
Executive Director, AUCD
Ilka Riddle, PhD
Conference Chair
President-elect, AUCD Board