What Will CUNA’s GAC Look Like? 'Similar, but Different'
Sanitation robots, updated layouts, and new health and safety protocols will all be visible at this year's GAC.
“People are very excited about being back in person.”
CUNA EVP and Chief Products and Services Officer Todd Spiczenski has a lot of reasons to share that excitement. He and his team are staring down the barrel at the first in-person CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference since 2020. “We were kind of in unchartered territory at this time last year when we had to make that pivot and do a full virtual GAC for the first time,” he said during a recent interview with CU Times.
While last year’s virtual GAC was a virtual success, he’s thankful that experience is behind him. But what lies ahead for the conference taking place next month in Washington, D.C. will also trek through unchartered territory with new health and safety mandates from the city.
According to the city’s health department and Mayor’s Office, as of Feb. 15, anyone over the age of 12 must provide proof of at least two vaccination doses and wear a mask to enter the convention center, restaurants, bars, hotels and any other venue inside the city limits.
Despite the fact that all GAC attendees must show proof of their vaccination status and wear a mask at all times, except when eating or drinking, while attending the conference, Spiczenski said registrations are trending close to 2020 levels and vendor spots in the exhibit hall are sold out.
“So while there’s going to be some tweaks and changes that people are going to feel and see, from a health protocol standpoint, the essence of GAC is going to be primarily what it was in 2020,” Spiczenski said.
The layout and traffic patterns in the exhibit hall will be different, with shorter aisles to improve the flow and provide “less bunching of people” coming in and out of the general sessions to accommodate as much social distancing as possible. “Additionally, we’ve added another theater within the exhibit hall, so that’ll allow for exhibitors to do product demos and interactive sessions in two different parts of the hall,” Spiczenski said.
He said the “Hike the Hill” aspect of GAC is “a work in progress” as visiting members of Congress will depend how that member is handling their own safety protocols.
While the aesthetics of GAC will look roughly the same, the main difference GAC attendees will notice will be upon entering and spending their days inside the convention center.
Samuel Thomas, COO of EventsDC, the organization that runs the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, said attendees will be able to provide convention center staff proof of vaccination by showing a physical vaccination card, a photo of the card on their phone using apps such as Clear, or even using a new app from the convention center that should be available soon.
Thomas said the convention center has upgraded its HVAC system with the highest-rated filtration equipment, antimicrobial surface cleaning equipment and even a robot-like disinfection unit. “It’s like a robot that basically emits UVC lighting throughout a room and completely disinfects the room,” Thomas said. “So I can sit this robot in a room; everyone must leave … and bam, in five minutes, that [room] is disinfected.”
Thomas added that even the handrails on the convention center escalators are constantly being cleaned by a UVC sanitation system that runs underneath the escalators.
With all of the cleaning technology throughout the convention center, Thomas said the success of the event will come down to attendees showing respect for each other and the health and safety policies put in place.
“We can all get through this much easier, more efficiently, if we’re just respectful of the rules, the mandates and frankly of each other and of ourselves,” he said. “If we can provide that respect and understanding of the rules and mandates and requirements and abide by them, the process of getting through this does not have to be in any way challenging or difficult.”
Thomas said that mask-wearing inside the convention center will be enforced at all times. “If you are not wearing your mask, we will make every attempt possible to change your behavior through a subtle and very professional reminder.” He added, “If you do not comply, then unfortunately, we would then have to take, you know, a different course to the extent of possibly asking you to leave.”
For those who’ve selected to not attend the in-person GAC, according to Spiczenski, details of the virtual GAC are expected to be released next week.