Nearly 2,000 expected at first NACo conference since COVID-19

NACo is making last-minute preparations to hold its first hybrid Annual Conference July 9-12, offering both in-person and online participation, welcoming members to Prince George’s County, Md., near the nation’s capital.

“We’re really excited to welcome county officials from across America to this great site, along with our fellow partners, our corporate sponsors and many other friends,” said NACo Executive Director Matt Chase. “It’s been a tough 15 months dealing with COVID and we’re excited to reunite with each other, celebrate our successes, share lessons learned and prepare for the future.

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Nearly 2,000 NACo members will convene both in-person and online for policy steering committee meetings, workshops, panel discussions and small-group networking at the Gaylord National Harbor Hotel and Conference Center in Prince George’s County, Md., located about 10 miles from NACo’s office near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

On June 15, NACo staff toured the hotel and conference center to prepare for the conference. “We’re adopting appropriate public health protocols, we’re maximizing our use of the space and we’re making sure this will be a safe, yet fun  and interactive experience for everybody,” Chase said.

The Annual Conference will be the association’s first large-scale, in-person conference since the 2020 Legislative Conference held in Washington, D.C. just before in-person meetings were shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has killed more than 602,000 people, including some county officials and members of their families.

This year’s Annual Conference will take place in Prince George’s County, which is located along the Potomac River, near Washington, D.C. and across the river from Fairfax County, Va.

“I would like to thank the chair of the planning committee and the president of NACo for selecting our county to host this important conference. I would also like to thank all of the NACo leadership, staff and members for your hard work over the past year, especially as we dealt with a pandemic that none of us anticipated,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.

After a day of meetings on the first day of the conference, Friday, July 9, attendees will enjoy the Opening Celebration: “Best of Maryland on the Waterfront,” showcasing the county’s finest local specialties, music and traditions, as we say “Welcome back, hon!” in true Maryland style.

At the General Session on Saturday, July 10, NACo and attendees will celebrate frontline workers’ toil against COVID and remember those who lost their lives during the pandemic in a performance by singer John Ondrasik (aka Five for Fighting), whose hits include “Superman” (It’s Not Easy).

The Annual Business Meeting, where delegates from member counties will vote for a new executive leadership team and new policy positions for the American County Platform, will take place Monday, July 12, at 1 p.m.

New this year will be a series of small meetups scheduled throughout the conference, where county officials will have a chance to talk informally one-on-one.

On Saturday, July 10, at 7 p.m., county officials from New York and others from the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) will discuss their recently published book, “Our Darkest Hours,” about how county officials handled the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will receive a complimentary  copy of the book.

There will be varying degrees of virtual participation, depending on what type of meeting is taking place. Tech support from NACo staff will be available for all participants who need it.

Pocket printed conference guides will be available at the conference and members can also download the NACo Annual Conference app, which will contain all the information you need to know, including a detailed schedule, specific meeting agendas, locations of meetings, exhibitor listing, access to networking with other attendees and more.

If you downloaded a previous Annual Conference app, you need to delete that and search for the new app in your phone’s app store. You will log in with your first and last name and the email address with which you registered.

A NACo exhibit hall will open the first night of the conference, Friday, July 9, from 5-7 p.m., with about 60 exhibitors in attendance this year, showcasing products and services important to counties. The exhibit hall will be open Saturday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. A federal agency expo is set for Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon.