Exciting news! The IAVAT Board of Directors is excited to announce a hybrid conference in partnership with Southern Illinois University - Carbondale June 15-17, 2021. The Annual IAVAT Conference will be held in person on SIUCs campus, but will also offer a virtual option for those unable to attend live. Please note that as this decision was just made, professional development options and a conference agenda are still being finalized and will be shared in the coming weeks. Professional development opportunities will be posted on ilaged.org and will require conference registration (info below) prior to being able to sign up for workshops. The goal is to keep the conference agenda fairly similar to previous years, simply adjusting as necessary to follow COVID guidelines.

Registration is now live on ilaged.org. Please note the separate line item options for in person and virtual attendance. After budgetary discussions, the IAVAT Board voted to maintain the same registration fee as previous years to ensure that budget obligations are met and that we have enough revenue to cover the additional costs of converting the event to a hybrid format and for potential unknown costs related to hosting an event to meet COVID guidelines at the given time. This flat rate will also allow for ease of accounting, consistency in registration, and will reallocate the meal costs paid for an in person attendee to cover the additional costs for connecting virtual attendees.

Registration will remain open through the conference dates, but will charge an additional $50 late fee for all registrations beginning June 1, 2021. Please note that suggested conference donations are also listed as line items at $5 increments. If you increase the quantity you register on those line items, you are able to increase donations to those funds by $5 increments. If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, please click here to identify those. At this time, we are unsure of availability of extra meal tickets, but will add those options to the registration form in the future as meal options and corresponding COVID guidelines are finalized.

The option is included to pay 2021-2022 IAVAT dues for typical active/annual members. If you are a student member, will be a first year member, or are a life member of any organization, please contact Lori Copsy (lcopsy@illinoisffa.org) to receive a customized membership invoice for your specific circumstances.

Housing blocks are available and currently open at the following Carbondale hotels:

Home2 Suites by Hilton Carbondale

https://home2suites.hilton.com/en/ht/groups/personalized/M/MDHCAHT-VAT-20210614/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Group Name: IAVAT

Group Code: VAT

200 West Elm Street 

Carbondale, Illinois 62901

618-529-2555

Holiday Inn and Conference Center

www.holidayinn.com/carbondaleil

Group Name: IAVAT Conference

Group Code: IAV

2300 Reed Station Parkway

Carbondale, Illinois 62901

618-549-2600

Hampton Inn Carbondale

https://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/personalized/C/CRBILHX-FFA-20210614/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Group Name:IAVAT Annual Illinois Conference

Group Code:FFA

2175 Reed Station Parkway

 Carbondale, Illinois 62901

618-549-6900

We look forward to celebrating the past year with each of you at the 2021 IAVAT Conference!