Leadership Conference Going Virtual May 11-15

Move United’s Annual Leadership Conference was originally slated to be hosted with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee in Colorado Springs, CO, However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision has been made to move the event online in order to provide constituents an opportunity to partake in some of the training opportunities available.  The conference will be comprised of 24 sessions delivered online the week of May 11-15, 2020.

 


Thanks to the generous support of the conference sponsors and Move United’s own investment, all registration fees have been waived in an effort to increase access, promote information sharing, and encourage community building beyond the existing Move United membership network.  As we continue to navigate these challenging times, it is more important than ever to remove barriers in order to bring people together, so we may work collaboratively in the interest of supporting the health and wellbeing of people of all abilities.

 

There were reservations about how the event would be fundamentally altered by the virtual environment, given that it is historically rooted in hands-on, experiential learning and unique networking activities.  We surveyed our community last month and the response was overwhelmingly positive, ready to be flexible and willing to meet the challenge with an open mind – the very essence of adapting to achieve!

 

On Monday, May 11, the 2020 Move United Virtual Leadership Conference will open with an exciting announcement from Move United Executive Director Glenn Merry.  On the following days, a series of sessions are offered based on the designated conference track planned for that day:

 

Tuesday, May 12: Pathways to the Paralympics

Wednesday, May 13: Organization Management and Development

Thursday, May 14: Inclusive Outdoor Recreation

Friday, May 15: Membership Network Insights.

The week will close with a keynote presentation from Paralympic hopeful, Cassandra Grenier.

 

On Monday, May 11, a session about Move United’s New Member Infrastructure will explain the recent expansion that continues to fuel Move United’s growth in recent months. The Move United Membership Network has expanded to four different levels with the goal of serving organizations with varied models for service delivery, including Parks and Recreation agencies and local YMCAs that would not have qualified in the past.  Also on that day, representatives from USA Archery, USA Hockey, and the US Tennis Association will lead a session on How To Establish an Inclusive Framework.

 

Last year, Move United launched the Sport Protection Policy as a system to ensure the membership network follows best practices to protect youth athletes and other vulnerable individuals from abuse. On Wednesday, May 13, a panel discussion will convene to discuss its implementation, featuring representatives from US Center for Safesport and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

 

Move United Education promotes professionalization of the adaptive sport industry through education and training. Last year, Move United committed nearly a half-million dollars to train hundreds of instructors and coaches around the country.  Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is the cornerstone of Move United’s education and training events and has shaped each leadership conference since 2009.