2021 HOC RPD COVID-19 Safety Guidelines

Last Updated 8/10/2021

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are asking all attendees to please follow these guidelines: 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our commitment remains to prioritize the safety and well-being of our participants and our staff. Safety and sanitation protocols are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep you and your community safe. We have based these guidelines using current COVID-19 guidance by the CDC, State of Colorado, and local public health agencies and are defaulting to the most stringent guidance among these. We commit to remain apprised of any updates from our public health leaders, and will alert all participants should our guidelines be revised. Please remember that these safety and sanitation protocols are a shared responsibility between all Heart of Colorado RPD participants.

While attending in-person programming, all HOC RPD participants must follow our COVID-19 protocols:

    • If you, or a family member, are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has been recently exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, we ask that you respect the safety of others and stay home.
    • All conference participants will be required to check-in each day at the registration desk to answer a COVID-19 questionnaire, and have their temperature checked.
      • Participants will not be permitted entry if they:
        • Have a temperature exceeding 100°F
        • Are experiencing symptoms of or have tested positive for COVID-19
        • Have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
    • All participants will be required to wear a mask or protective face covering at all times when indoors except for presenters while they are presenting, and the mask should follow the CDC guidelines. With participants joining us from across the region and state, we ask that even vaccinated individuals continue to wear their masks while indoors throughout the conference.
      • Participants are encouraged to bring a favorite mask from home, and free masks will be provided throughout the conference to those that need them.
    • We ask all conference participants to practice good hygiene by washing your hands frequently and avoid touching your face. It is recommended that you wash your hands before eating, after coughing or sneezing, and after using the facilities. Hand sanitizer stations will be accessible at locations throughout the conference.
    • We encourage maintaining 6 feet of distance from others whenever possible. We will be limiting capacity for our in-person gatherings to create ample space at our venues.
    • During the pandemic, we suggest that you refrain from physical contact with other participants at the event. While we are excited to see our colleague and friends, please refrain from handshakes or passing business cards – big waves and welcoming dance moves are encouraged.

Frequently Asked Questions

Programming at Heart of Colorado RPD is being held at a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces. We are limiting the number of in-person registrants to 200 individuals to ensure sufficient distancing within venues. 

We are hosting programming in venues across Fremont county for the conference including:

  • The Abbey Event Center will be the host venue for Day 1 and the morning of Day 2. The Housing Forum, Opening Night Networking Reception, Networking Breakfast, the Keynote Address, and the Future of Philanthropy Panel will be held at the Abbey Event Center. Options to eat and drink outside will be available.
  • Macon Plaza will be the hub space for Day 2 of the conference. There will be tables and chairs available for those who wish to eat outside. The capacity building sessions venues and lunch restaurants are all within walking distance of Macon Plaza. Sites include: Cañon City Public Library, Fremont Center for the Arts, The Hive Cañon City, and the Steeple Event & Conference Center.
  • There is an optional tour the afternoon of Day 2 where a bus will pick up participants at TechStart in Cañon City and take you to the Emergent Campus in Florence, the tour will end at Cañon City High School and the bus will return participants to TechStart. 
    • The school bus will have reduced capacity for spacing of participants and the windows open.
  • The Natural Resources/Recreation Tour will involve individual transportation to the venue, with a brief 1-mile hike to the outdoor gazebo where the presentation will take place. 
  • The tour of Westcliffe/Silvercliffe will involve individual transportation to the communities, followed by a guided walking tour of the areas. 

There will be signage to guide direction of foot traffic to reduce congestion and utilize socially distanced spacing when waiting in lines.  

The Heart of Colorado RPD team is thoughtfully approaching safe and delicious preparation and distribution of meals. The Welcome Networking Reception on 9/21 and the Networking Breakfast on 9/22 will be served as a buffet. Catering staff will be wearing masks and gloves.

Due to the unique offering for lunch, where a restaurant is selected at registration, not every lunch venue has outdoor seating, however, each location has the option for a takeout lunch that can be eaten at Macon Plaza. Additionally, you can find the list of participating vendors and their available outdoor space on our website here.

There will be a Taste of Fremont County reception at the Dinosaur Experience in the evening of 9/22. Options to eat and drink outside will be available. Masks will be required while indoors. The servers for each venue will be wearing masks and gloves. 

Florence Bell Tower will serve as the space for our final morning networking breakfast tea. Catering staff will be wearing masks and gloves. Outdoor options to eat and drink will be available. 

We are limiting the number of in-person registrants to 200 individuals to ensure sufficient distancing within venues. There are currently no plans for virtual event participation. 

All conference participants must register in advance and agree to these COVID-19 protocols. Same-day registration will not be offered.

We have based these guidelines using current COVID-19 guidance by the CDC, State of Colorado, and local public health agencies and are defaulting to the most stringent guidance among these. We will alert all participants should our guidelines or programming be revised due to current health conditions.