Registration for the 2021 convention will be open November 1-December 1, 2020.
Convention Dates
The modified convention will take place at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, January 10-12, 2021.
Convention Programming/Cost:
Fairs are #1 in 2021 is or theme and we will be offering a two-day training session on some of the ingredients that go into making a successful fair. The tentative convention schedule is posted as a link below. It is very fair board focused.
The cost to attend is a $75 registration fee per person to attend the convention. The change in the fee is because we will be offering two meals and refreshment breaks throughout the convention in addition to the breakfast buffets you receive as a guest staying at the Chula Vista. Our schedule allows for free time Monday evening, where are fairs will decide if they go out to eat, find a place to lounge and laugh or go and visit the Associates that attend convention.
We are typically used to seeing 1,000 people attend the convention. This year we will have to limit the attendees to 250 people to allow Chula Vista to follow the CDC guidelines.
Associate Members:
Thank you for being a WAF member. You are a valuable partner to all of our fair members! We understand this has been a very hard year. We will be offering all of the same member benefits as we have in the past, listing on our website and two courtesy passes for attendance into 74 state aided Wisconsin Fairs. Please use the Associate Convention Registration Form to pay your dues for 2021. This form can be used whether you attend the convention or not.2021 dues are due by December 31, 2020 and the cost is $70.The convention registration page, including membership renewal will be open beginning November 1.Please visit, www.wifairs.com for more ongoing convention information.
You are more than welcome to attend convention, however, in this unprecedented year, we want to offer that you service the fairs in 2021 and its more than ok, not to attend the convention. For those attending, we will keep time open on Sunday and Monday evenings for you to network with them. A lot of the fairs have already rolled contracts into 2021. We’d like to encourage all Associate Members to submit a free video showcase. With your paid membership for 2021, you’d be able to provide a 2-3-minute video showcase for our fair members. We’ll show the links between sessions as well as provide a link on our website. That way, if you don’t physically attend convention, you could still be present to our members. Please email your video showcase or a link by December 1, 2020.
Fairest Programming
We will offer programming for coordinators of the local Fairest of the Fairs programs on Sunday, January 10.This programming will be FREE to attend but registration will be required. This schedule is posted below and a link to register for his will be available November 1.Coordinators and fair board members are all welcome to attend.
Hotel Rooms
You can make hotel reservations at any time. Staff has been changing due to furloughs, so don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from Robin, as in the past. They are all taking turns so they can all remain employed. I have attached a pdf for reference on room options and contact information.
Cancellation
We are working out the details with Chula Vista Resort in this ever changing Covid era regarding how cancellations will happen. In the event the convention is cancelled, all registrations will receive their full refund, but we are extremely hopeful that our event will take place.
Thank you for the positive comments received when exploring this modified convention structure. We hope to be back to our typical full-attendee convention January 9-11, 2022 at the Chula Vista Resort.