Encouraged

A note from our Event Manager, Tom Waddell...

I rubberneck left and right as I stroll the aisles at the Oregon Convention Center. Between people-watching and browsing wares in hundreds of exhibits, I walk slowly and purposefully so that I don't slam headfirst into Spider-Man or trip up Stranger Things' Eleven, or any one of thousands of people inside the building at that moment—many in costume. I sidestep a growing crowd queuing for photos with a guy who's the spitting image of David Bowie's Goblin King from the movie Labyrinth. I pass Wonder Woman, R2D2, and yet another obscure anime character that I've never heard of. No need for roll call because the gang's all here, COVID pandemic be damned. And so it went at the Rose City Comic-Con a little over a week ago in one of the most colorful, plastic, and foam rubber'ish assignments I've ever had while working in the mass timber industry.  

We hold our annual International Mass Timber Conference at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon (USA). Like most, we had to cancel our 2020 event when COVID-19 careened into the globe mid- to late winter. COVID forced our hand yet again this year and we went virtual-only in March. But for April 12–14, 2022, we've set our sights on launching an in-person event—a return to the glory days of connecting face-to-face—that so many of our attendees have told us they want.  

That's why I was excited to get free tickets to the in-person Rose City Comic-Con, courtesy of the convention center, because this was no ordinary gathering and I had to see it for myself. At 30,000 attendees, it's the largest indoor event to take place in the state of Oregon since the March 2020 shutdowns. 

Because Oregon takes COVID very seriously, getting this many people indoors at once—at this moment in time—is no small feat. But there are two very big reasons why this event was possible and why it should make an in-person 2022 International Mass Timber Conference very doable. 

1. Attendees were required to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test. This is easy to do in Oregon because the state has one of the highest rates of fully vaccinated in the U.S. In Multnomah County where Portland sits, over 78% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated (at time of writing). Our contact person at the Oregon Convention Center mentioned that one of her clients who holds events around the country is finding that he gets much larger attendance in states with high vaccination rates. It's no surprise why.  

She also said that they expect this policy to continue through the end of next year. Since this requirement—vaccination or negative PCR test—will most likely affect the Mass Timber Conference, attendees can feel good that they're socializing in a safer environment even when shoulder to shoulder with others. You would only need to show your proof of vaccination or test result at registration when checking in for the first time. The verification lines at Rose City Comic-Con moved quickly and steadily, so this bodes well for our event and for making sure our attendees get checked in without much hassle.  

2. Masks are required in public spaces while indoors, and even while outdoors if six feet of distance is not doable. Attendees at the Comic-Con were not deterred because they had to wear masks. People had a blast. Business was brisk for exhibitors. Convention center restaurants were packed. A key takeaway is... we're learning to live with COVID. The power of in-person events is undeniable and probably in greater demand than ever before. Masks are far from a divider... they have the power to bring us together.   

To sum it up, we're encouraged. Pulling off a large, in-person event in a highly vaccinated state (and even higher vaccinated county) with strong safety measures seems more and more a reality. Over 30,000 people recently put this to the test.  

If the current outlook is any indication, we're due for an awesome in-person International Mass Timber Conference next April. With over 110 exhibit spaces sold so far and only a handful of sponsorships left, plus attendee pass registrations coming in every week, industry professionals around the world are clamoring for in-person networking, live educational presentations, and visits to mass timber buildings.  

It'll be a return to the good ole' days, but with a slight twist for added safety. And as usual, slide on elf ears and plastic medieval swords are completely optional.