Annual Conference Includes Plethora of Social, Reception, and Networking Opportunities

Social events, receptions, and networking opportunities are some of the most anticipated events of each SIOP Annual Conference. They help build the community that SIOP members value.

Although the 2021 SIOP Annual Conference will be virtual, there will not be a shortage of opportunities to engage and network with colleagues. Here is just a sampling of the social, reception, and networking opportunities attendees can add to their calendars:

SIOP Sneak Peek (in Virtual Chair)
Conference registrants can join us from 4 to 6 p.m. CT Friday, April 9, for a preview of our exciting new technology, Virtual Chair. Through this platform, SIOP conference registrants will be able to move their avatars freely through a New Orleans-themed virtual venue to connect using audio and video with friends old and new! There will also be a scavenger hunt for those interested in exploring every corner of the SIOP virtual gathering space. Click here for a self-guided tour of a Virtual Chair demo space. Visit the Receptions and Networking webpage closer to the event for more information and details on how to access this event.

Welcome Reception (in Virtual Chair)
The Welcome Reception will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. CT Wednesday, April 14, in Virtual Chair. This exciting event will bring together dynamic academics and practitioners in game-show-like fun with SIOP in NOLA Squares, hosted by Tori Howes and featuring your colleagues! Top posters will also be presented during the reception. Be prepared to mix up a famous New Orleans cocktail or mocktail, and laissez les bons temps rouler! Details on how to access this event will be posted in Whova.

Interactive Breaks (in Zoom)
Interactive breaks are scheduled over the course of the live synchronous sessions (April 15-17) for virtual socializing and collaboration, akin to the coffee breaks and receptions where so many connections are made each year. You can expect a combination of curated topics that connect to the educational program’s tracks, high-impact topics that are broadly applicable across the membership, and groups that form around nonwork topics, such as personal hobbies (e.g., running). These interactive breaks are posted to the live synchronous schedule, and details are available in the searchable program.

Conference Closing Event
For this innovative close to the 2021 conference, we have secured two dynamic chefs local to NOLA, Chef Amy Sins and Chef Kevin Belton, who will provide a custom cooking demonstration for SIOP conference registrants to be aired following the Closing Plenary on Saturday, April 17, at 2 p.m. CT (and viewable in Whova through May 7).

Register for the conference by March 18 for a chance to win a seat at the table of the live recording of the Crescent City Cooking Krewe demonstration presented by Hogan Assessments.

Other Receptions and Networking Experiences (in Zoom and Virtual Chair)
Evening receptions have always offered unstructured opportunities to connect with old friends and meet new ones. Even though the conference is an all-virtual format, we seek to create opportunities for connection that enhance the overall experience.

The tentative schedule provides time for receptions in Virtual Chair on Wednesday, April 14, and Friday, April 16, with receptions in Zoom on Thursday, April 15. We are currently working with committees and other organizers to find the perfect match of technology platform and date/time slot for their event to round out the social aspects of the 2021 SIOP Annual Conference. Keep an eye here for more information.

Visit the How to Conference webpage for more information on how to access and optimize your SIOP experience. This page will continue to be updated between now and the conference, so check back often!