April 09, 2020

ANCA Postpones the Heartland Summit

To the ANCA community,

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis that has drastically changed our professional and personal lives, we have decided to postpone the ANCA Heartland Summit at Indian Creek Nature Center, scheduled for September 14-17, 2020, until 2021.

While we hope that some sense of normalcy has returned by September, we want to prioritize the health of our community and cannot envision providing the quality Summit experience under these circumstances. This was not an easy decision, as we have not changed a Summit in this way since we began holding this gathering 26 years ago. We are working on developing virtual opportunities in place of the in-person event, and will announce those as soon as we can.

In the meantime, we encourage our members to connect to our community via our free virtual events, ANCA CONNECTS. These free meetings are designed to allow for members of our community to support one another, as we build resilience and respond creatively to the current crisis we face. 

We also invite you to join our ANCA Google Group. There have been many discussions here related to the COVID-19 crisis including managing and supporting staff, information on the federal relief bills, and program and event cancellations. We will continue to offer our Mentor Program. The Program fosters partnerships and collaboration by connecting those members who are facing challenges with an administrator experienced in that particular issue. Both are spaces where leaders can find support and work toward solutions in these challenging times.

We are dedicated to providing the support our community needs, and we need your help. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to ANCA. The new Charitable Giving Incentive creates a new above-the-line deduction (universal or non-itemizer deduction that applies to all taxpayers) for total charitable contributions of up to $300. The incentive applies to cash contributions made in 2020 and can be claimed on tax forms next year. General operating support is especially important right now. 

Another significant way you can help is by purchasing or renewing an ANCA membership. Membership income provides much-needed cash flow throughout the year and will be vital in the months ahead. If you are able, please consider renewing early, renewing for multiple years, or supporting an ANCA member who is not able to renew at this time. 

Thank you for the important work you do. Stay safe and strong.

Jen Levy, Executive Director