Arkansas Press Women has had the privilege of planning the 2020 National Federation of Press Women Conference. A stellar lineup of speakers and topics awaited us in June.
But the safety and health of our members has led NFPW to forgo this year’s conference in North Little Rock. Arkansas WILL be the host state for the 2021 conference instead. A new date will soon be released and the NFPW conference page updated.
NFPW President Gwen Larson informed members today – April 20 – of the hard decision made this weekend by the NFPW executive board.
“You’ve heard me say many times that our NFPW conferences are like family reunions — more so than any other professional conferences I attend. Every year I look forward to seeing friends and hugging in hotel lobbies, hotel bars, on sidewalks and elsewhere as new people arrive
throughout conference week. Right now, I am grieving that loss,” Lawson wrote in her emailed message.
Although the decision was easy to make given all the public health information about the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference’s absence will be noteworthy. NFPW members have gathered each year since 1937 to learn from experts and each other. Not even the terrorist attacks of 9/11 stopped NFPW from meeting that traumatic week.
APW last hosted the national conference in 1988. The theme then was “You can do it all.” Building on that, but recognizing the privilege many of us have, this year’s theme was “Lift Every Voice.” We expect to continue lifting – amplifying – voices in 2021.
We thank our members, speakers and sponsors for supporting us this year and look forward to your enthusiasm for 2021. Please send us an email at arkpresswomen@yahoo.com with any questions about the schedule change.
In the meantime, NFPW is still making plans to recognize 2020 award winners, Communicators of Achievement, and member milestones this summer. NFPW will notify members of several virtual events.
Read NFPW President Gwen Larson’s letter to NFPW members at https://nfpw.org/conference/