Less Than Three Weeks Until Convention Kick-Off
The 118th Annual UBCM Convention is now just a few weeks away. We are excited for you to join us for five days of learning, exploring, sharing, networking and connecting! The UBCM Convention is your opportunity to access timely and relevant local government knowledge, insight, and best practices from wherever you are in BC.
A few notable convention announcements we’re pleased to highlight this week: Jody Vance to Guide Keynote Interview with Rick Mercer and Jill Atkey, Dr. Alina Turner and Dr. Penelope Gurstein revealed as Panelists for the workshop session: Housing Prospects, Trends and Key Issues.
We're also gearing up to deliver #UBCM21 starting with the UBCM Kick-Off Networking Night on Monday, September 13th from 6pm to 8pm. We hope everyone plans to log-in and join us on the virtual convention platform then.
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Proud to Premier the 1st UBCM Kick-Off Networking Night
What is one of the integral elements of the in-person UBCM Convention that always makes it memorable? An obvious answer is the face-to-face networking during the traditional UBCM Welcome Reception. It's the hand shaking and camaraderie, idea sharing, debating and of course laughter and socializing. But amidst the pandemic, 2021 will once again not be like our previous Conventions.
We all know there is no replacing genuine in-person meet-ups, where people mingle and move around the room together. However, this year, UBCM Delegates will experience an innovative, immersive virtual networking experience that is THE next-level, best thing - it's called Spatial Chat!
On Monday, September 13th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm we are very excited to feature our first-ever UBCM Kick-off Networking Night, hosted online. This will truly be a special virtual adventure not to be missed! All registered Delegates will be given exclusive and seamless access to the Spatial Chat environment, directly through the Pheedloop virtual convention platform.
Given the Convention's overarching theme of Obstacles to Opportunities, we've assembled a diverse group of thought-provoking speakers to challenge, inspire and push the limits of your thinking. They hail from varying backgrounds with deep passions ranging from Technology and Leadership to Child Care Advocacy, Pandemic Burnout and Resiliency.
Join this incredible group of creators, connectors and leaders to learn how as individuals we may grow, and explore how we might all live and work together better with the ultimate goal of impacting and uplifting our communities.
Our format for the event will be as equally unique. On our main stage, speakers will provide engaging 10-minute presentations followed by a quick-fire question and discussion session. Afterwards, delegates will easily maneuver their avatars to the various augmented reality break-out rooms. You'll enjoy and experience a virtual social setting that so closely recreates our real-life interactions.
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The UBCM Kick-Off Networking Night not only promises to be informative, it will be frivolously fun and a far cry from the same old zoom rooms! We'd also like to shine a special spotlight on CUPEBC, our Headline Sponsor for this exceptional event.
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UBCM Virtual Tradeshow
Get ready to take a digital stroll through our virtual Tradeshow. This year’s show will feature over forty virtual booths. Connect with exhibitors specializing in the local government sector to learn about new solutions, services and effective practices or discover new contacts and explore potential new partnerships to enhance your community.
As soon as registered Delegates receive their credentials, they can access the Tradeshow and begin browsing booths in the 3D floor plan or use the search function to find exhibitors to preview their organization’s bios, watch pre-recorded content and download any handouts in their virtual library.
The Tradeshow will be open and available for the duration of the UBCM Convention, with the daily show schedule to coincide with core Convention programming. We have also set aside dedicated agenda breaks offering 'non-conflict' time between sessions, where exhibitors will be standing by online, ready and eager to answer Delegate questions.
Starting Tuesday, morning, September 14th through Friday morning, September 17th check the Program for these special time blocks called Delegate Break - Join Exhibitors LIVE in the Tradeshow.
Step into any exhibitor’s booth and join their global chat stream or click to connect with any of the named booth managers directly. While inside the virtual booth, Delegates can engage in a private text exchange or click the 'Join Live' button to launch a 1:1 video chat where you can even share screens and include multiple colleagues on the video call.
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Navigating the Pheedloop Platform
Getting Ready
This may be your first time attending a multi-day convention online or your first experience with the virtual Pheedloop platform. As we gear up for the 3rd week in September, in future Convention Bulletins, we’ll share additional tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your virtual meeting experience on the UBCM virtual convention platform.
Set up your Pheedloop Profile
During the first week of September, all registered UBCM Delegates will receive an email containing your unique access credentials. When you log-in, you will be brought to the Convention Lobby page.
Click on [My Profile] on the left-hand side menu to update your profile. Remember, your profile is how you will appear to other Delegates. It is important to invest a few minutes to upload a photo and provide relevant details about yourself so your colleagues and contacts can easily connect with you.
Set Up Push Notifications
When you first log-in, you will be prompted to ‘Enable Notifications'. Please select “Ok” and you will receive all notifications such as important announcements, amendments and private messages from fellow Delegates. You can customize your preferences for the types of notifications you want to receive in the [My Profile] tab on the left-hand side menu.
Set Up Your Computer
PheedLoop recommends using Google Chrome on your desktop or laptop for the best experience. Save your PheedLoop log-in credentials in a familiar place so that you can easily access them. These log-in credentials are unique to you. We strongly advise that you don’t share your login information with multiple users over multiple device locations. If you do, you run the risk that the Pheedloop system may lock out your access.
Get ‘Convention Ready’
We recommend that you block off your calendar each day for key sessions you plan to attend during the online UBCM Convention, just like you would if you were attending convention in-person.
The Help Desk
Need help? Our convention team is always available to help! Your first stop to find answers you may need is to click on [Help] on the left-hand side of teal side bar menu. If you still require assistance, then click the [Help Desk] bubble located at the very bottom of the same menu. You can also email [email protected]
Special technical and convention support staff will be available during the live agenda program, generally 8AM-4PM. Please be patient as we may be assisting other Delegates. If you contact us after core support hours, the [Help Desk] button switches to [Leave a Message] and we will respond the next day.
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Colleagues Don't Let Colleagues Miss Out on their Welcome Box
As profiled in last week’s Convention Bulletin, every UBCM Member officially registered before August 27th will receive their own Welcome Box delivered to their door or office.
Inside you’ll find a Hearty Tamari, a Wasabi-Me and a Aloha Kauai? What are these and what do they have to do with Local Government you ask? You’ll discover the secret inside and learn why the UBCM Convention Welcome Box is packed with purpose.
We’re thrilled to be profiling two incredible BC based organizations, the Moose Hide Campaign and Laid Back Snacks and proud to feature these companies as our Welcome Box co-sponsors. As you'll learn from information included inside the box, wearing “the pin” is a commitment to speak out again gender and domestic based violence. Moose Hide Campaign Co-founders Raven & Paul Lacerte met with UBCM President, Brian Frenkel and discussed earlier this week, as pictured here.
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Bookmarks To Stay Up-To-Date
Be sure to bookmark the 2021 Convention page and check back regularly to stay updated on UBCM's annual flagship event! New convention developments along with our ever-evolving FAQ page can be found here.
The Convention Program is continually being fine-tuned. Expanding details about our featured presenters and workshops are being added as we move closer to the 2021 Convention kick-off. Remember to allocate time in advance of jumping on the virtual convention platform to review the Resolutions Process and the Resolutions Book which this year includes 170 actionable resolutions on topics identified by local governments throughout BC.
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Inclusion & Accessibility
UBCM is committed to providing a safe, open, accessible, and respectful environment for the online 2021 UBCM Convention. Our approach is non-judgmental, non-biased, and inclusive. In turn, we expect Delegates to always exhibit professional and respectful conduct.
UBCM will not tolerate any communication or behavior that demeans, threatens, or harasses anyone at its events, whether online or in-person. We’d like to remind registered Delegates that each of you agreed to comply with the UBCM Convention Code of Conduct and digitally signed the Agreement and Acknowledgement Form as a condition of completing your online registration.
This year, UBCM has also made visual and audio accessibility a priority. Live closed captioning will be available on the convention platform during all live sessions and corresponding recordings. We've encouraged our marketing team to use font sizes that are large enough to be easily read on a laptop screen. On the Pheedloop platform itself, the website aims to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps ensure that the platform is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more. Let's all make sure this year's UBCM Convention is a safe and encouraging collaboration space.
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Shining A Spotlight On Sponsors
With deep appreciation, UBCM would like to recognize and thank our sponsors for their continued support. COVID-19 has meant that we have all had to adapt and become used to working within the virtual way of doing things. We truly appreciate their flexibility and openness to change. When planning your screen time at #UBCM21, please set aside dedicated time to visit our Sponsors booths in our Virtual Tradeshow. Engage with these organizations that support us to bring you this event. Without them – our Convention would not be possible!
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The UBCM Convention Bulletin is distributed to all registered delegates as well as to designated local government staff who are coordinating registration for elected officials. If you do not wish to receive these updates, you can opt-out to unsubscribe by using the link below. Copyright © Union of British Columbia Municipalities 2021 |
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