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Confluence 2020 Postponed to July 23- 25 2021

COVID-19 is touching all of our lives and at this time our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our Confluence attendees. Since our last announcement on April 10, the United States has become an epicenter for COVID-19. The Governor of PA has prohibited large gatherings during the yellow phase of the reopening and no one is sure how long this phase may last. Experts predict that continued social distancing efforts may be required until such time as there is an effective vaccine, a milestone we are not expected to reach this summer.

It is for these reasons that the Confluence committee has decided to postpone Confluence until next year. It will now be held July 23-25, 2021 at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel.

Our Featured Filk Guest, Tim Griffin, and our Writing Workshop coordinator, Rachel Swirsky have agreed to join us in 2021. Unfortunately our scheduled Guest of Honor, Martha Wells, will not be able to join us in 2021. We will post updates as they become available.

If you have already purchased a membership for Confluence 2020 it is still active and will automatically roll over to 2021. If you plan to attend in 2021 you don’t need to do anything. Everyone who has a membership for 2020, has a membership for Confluence 2021.

Registration will remain open at the pre-registration rate until April 15, 2021. If you know someone that wants to attend Confluence 2021, now would be a great time to purchase a membership!

If you have already purchased a membership for 2020, but will not be able to attend the rescheduled convention in 2021, please send an email to registration@parsec-sff.org by December 31, 2020 so we may issue you a refund. (However, like all fan-run conventions, Confluence is facing a financial loss due to this postponement. If you are able to do so, we request that you consider allowing us to roll your membership over to next year or transfer it to someone else.)

If you have already made a hotel reservation, in the Confluence room block, at our hotel, it has been cancelled.  No action is required.

We would like to extend our thanks to the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel for allowing us to cancel our 2020 event without a penalty. We will post a link when the hotel is ready to take reservations for 2021.

This postponement has been an exceedingly difficult decision for us to make.  However, our program committee is hard at work brainstorming ways in which members of our community might still come together and connect during this strange and difficult time.

Tentative plans are being made for hosting a virtual Confluence music track over the weekend of July 24-26. This would feature online concerts by several of the performers who had been set to appear at Confluence 2020 as well as online open filking.

Virtual literary program items might also be possible, although discussions about such items are very preliminary.

We hope to have more information for you in the following weeks. Watch our websiteour Twitter accountour Facebook page and Facebook Group  for updates. If you would like to receive important Confluence updates, please sign up for our newsletter!

We appreciate your patience and understanding during these unprecedented events. Our hearts go out to all those affected by the virus and the disruptions it has caused. Even if we cannot be together this July, we remain optimistic that the situation will soon improve. I know we are all very worried about the impact that COVID-19 is having on our loved ones and daily lives.

Please take care of yourselves and each other,
The Confluence Conference Committee


Recommended resources:
Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel cancellation Policy during Covid 19
Sci-fi/Fantasy conventions canceled so far – Tor.com
PA Governor, Life sustaining business FAQs
Coronavirus—COVID-19 (CDC)
Steps to Prevent Illness (CDC)
Hygiene Etiquette & Practice: Coughing & Sneezing (CDC)
Stop Germs! Wash Your Hands (CDC)