PAN/CATIE - Frontline Support Workers' Conference 

The Pacific AIDS Network (PAN) in partnership with CATIE are excited to announce that we will be hosting a three day conference for PAN member organizations, and other allied/partner organizations, where Frontline Support Workers will gather to explore, learn and discuss best and innovative practices in the field.  The conference is scheduled for February 24, 25 and 26, 2015 at the Vancouver Airport Marriott in Richmond.

Registration for the training is now open.  Please read this email carefully as it contains all the pertinent information for PAN member organizations registering for the training.  The online registration is quick and easy and only takes a few minutes to complete.  

A draft program/schedule will be released soon, but we are pleased to announce that on the first day of the conference/training we will be featuring a comprehensive full day program led by Yvette Perrault from the AIDS Bereavement and Resiliency Program of Ontario in an all day interactive session tentatively titled From Grief to Action: Building Resilience on the Ground.  

Key topics of focus for day two and three of the conference, in a blend of concurent workshop sessions, panel and discussion sessions, and plenary keynotes, will include:

• Disclosure and criminalization
• Mental Health
• Substance use
• Harm Reduction
• Aging

Who is eligible to attend?: Registration for the conference is open to all PAN member agencies. PAN is able to fully sponsor two delegates per member agency (includes: travel, shared accommodation, free registration, a light breakfast each day, and lunch each day.  Additional meals and other incidental costs will be the responsibility of the individual or their agency). 

Space for PAN events is limited and resources are finite.  We therefore sincerely thank you in advance for respecting this and remind you that through the act of registering, your delegates are agreeing to attend the entirety of all seminars, workshops, presentations, etc. that are part of the PAN-sponsored  program.  Failure to honour this agreement may result in your agency or organization being unable to register for future PAN events as well as being billed for accommodation and conference food and beverage costs.

Exceptions will apply regarding health-related and/or exceptional circumstances. It is the responsibility of the individual to inform PAN administration staff as to the reason for lateness or absence.

Additional Delegates: If member agencies/organizations would like to send additional delegates we invite and encourage you to do so but due to budget limitations a registration fee will be levied of $275 per delegate, and for organizations outside of the Lower Mainland you will also be responsible to cover your own travel and accommodation expenses to attend the conference.  To register additional delegates please click HERE.

Registration Deadline: Monday, January 19th, 2015 by 3:00pm

Availability, including accommodation, seating and meals, cannot be guaranteed for agencies whose registrations are received after the deadline.

How do PAN sponsored delegates from outside of the Lower Mainland arrange for travel, accommodation and meals?:
PAN Member sponsored delegates travelling to Richmond must arrange travel for themselves through their member agencies, and pay for their own transportation to the conference.  Eligible expenses for travel will be reimbursed by PAN via PAN’s Administrative Desk following the conference (see below for expense reimbursement details). 

Rooms have been made available for training delegates travelling from outside of the Lower Mainland (not including Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack) at the Vancouver Airport Marriott (the event hotel). To ensure accommodation, delegates must submit the required accommodation information, via the online registration form, no later than Monday, January 19th, 2015 by 3:00pm. Delegates are eligible for one room night per day of training, unless you are not able to get back to your home community at the end of the session and in that case we will provide an additional night of accommodation. There will be no charge for shared rooms but a request for a single room will incur a charge of $75.00 per night (You/Your organization will be provided with an invoice prior to the start of the training).  Please note: In the future if you or your PAN member organization have an unpaid charge from a previous training/meeting, you will not be eligible to register for future trainings/meetings until the payment is made. 

All delegates will be provided with a light breakfast and lunch on each day of the training.  Agencies are responsible for providing their delegates with monies necessary for dinners and incidentals; monies provided for non-training meals and incidentals cannot be reimbursed by PAN.

Cancellation, Changes and No-Show Policy:
All delegates are responsible for notifying PAN's Administrative Desk of any cancellations within 5 business days of their scheduled arrival in order to avoid accommodation, and conference food and beverage, billing for non-attendance. In the event that a person does not arrive at the training hotel for this training, on each of the designated three days, (a no-show) PAN will invoice the member agency for accommodation costs (where applicable) and a registration fee to cover programme, venue and meal costs. Please note that this includes people based in the Lower Mainland.

Expense and Reimbursement information for PAN member agencies:
PAN’s Administrative Desk will reimburse PAN Member sponsored delegates for transportation costs as outlined by PAN and agreed to by the PAN Member organization.  Expense claims received after 14 days WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED.  

The cost of economy fares is eligible for reimbursement UP TO A MAXIMUM of $400.  Note that ORIGINAL travel receipts, including boarding passes, must be submitted, attached to conference reimbursement forms (these forms will be included in the onsite registration package).  Costs for cancelled or altered airfares/bus will not be reimbursed.

This conference is also open to non PAN member organizations.  If you know other organizations that might be interested in this conference please feel free to direct them HERE.  Registration for the conference for non PAN members is $275.00.

If you have any questions about this training please feel free to contact Stacy Leblanc at 604.968.3160 or stacy@pacificaidsnetwork.org

We look forward to seeing you at the training in February.

Sincerely,
Stacy Leblanc
Director of Program Development
Pacific AIDS Network

Register Now!