Call for Proposals
GopherCon's Call for Proposals is now open. If you're uncertain whether you'll be vaccinated or ready to travel in December, please know the CFP is open to both in-person and remote speakers. If you have an exciting talk, we want to hear from you! This is your opportunity to share your knowledge with the community, so get on it before the Sunday, April 25th deadline.
This year, CFP Co-Chair, Kris Brandow, is publishing a series of "Storytelling on Stage" guides to assist you in writing an amazing talk submission. He will also be leading the charge on a new mentoring program to assist community members with the ins and outs of the proposal submission process. Kris's experienced team will also coach our chosen speakers. Have questions?
Health Safety Plan (updated 4.7.21)
The organizers of GopherCon are committed to gathering in a manner that will ensure the safety of our community. As such, and out of an abundance of caution, we recommend, if possible, you are vaccinated if you wish to attend in-person. While we are not requiring proof, we hope our attendees will understand the position we are in as organizers, and prioritize the community's health and safety as much as we do. This is why we will also provide a multi-faceted online experience, at no charge, in tandem with the in-person conference, for those who cannot travel or receive a vaccine. Our goal is to provide accessibility to GopherCon for everyone!
Our plan will continue to evolve and may be amended, or potentially relaxed, based on the state of the virus and guidelines as we approach the conference. Currently however, the following is our overall plan for gathering:
- Limited Attendance: Typically we have close to 2,000 gophers attend the conference. Unfortunately, we do not think that is feasible this year. We will be visiting the venue over the next few months to determine the safest number of attendees to host and will update you when the determination is made.
- Face Coverings: Masks will be provided, and required, for all attendees and staff, except for speakers while they're presenting.
- Vaccinations: We strongly encourage gophers who are up-to-date on the current Coronavirus vaccines to attend. We will not mandate proof, nor will we disallow unvaccinated gophers from attending.
- Health Waivers: When you register onsite, you will be required to sign a health waiver acknowledging your awareness of any inherent risks of gathering. Furthermore, we will ask you to confirm that you don't have any known COVID-19 symptoms, nor have you been exposed to others with a known diagnosis or symptoms.
- Hotel Safety Measures: While some of the expected measures, such as hand sanitizer availability and well-planned dining experiences will be covered, Marriott International has implemented a variety of new protocols and elevated practices in response to the pandemic. Learn more.
- Conference Medical Services: We will provide onsite health services and professionals to answer any questions or concerns you may have. While we won't provide COVID-19 testing, we will have information available with local resources.
