INFORMATION BLAST:
GENERAL CONFERENCE 2022 INFORMATION
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE CME CHURCH
Welcome to the 39th Session and the 40th General Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church!
This correspondence is designed to inform you of information that you may not be aware of, to clarify questions that you may have, and to provide you with answers to inquiries that have been raised to my office and to the Local Planning Committee of the Second Episcopal District. Over the next few months we will continue to send eBlasts to keep you informed of the latest information and any major changes.
Information Sharing
Correspondence to you will come from difference sources. These include your registration information and other correspondence from the Local Planning Committee – sent to you via email from CME Church (emails@brushfire.com) to the email account that you first provided when you registered; and eBlast information notices like this one will come from the CME Church Communications to your email address on file.
The General Conference website, cmechurchgeneralconference.com, provides information for CME members and visitors. If you have not received any emails, or know of persons who have not received a registration confirmation or any other informational emails, please inform the office of the Executive Secretary.
Registration
All persons planning to attend the conference must be registered to enter the Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC). This requirement is in response to adhering to the COVID 19 Protocols of both the CME Church and DECC. Registrations will allow the logistics committee to properly plan for attendees, as social distancing is required. The registration fee of $150.00 for the week is required for all persons 18 and older, including visiting CMEs, visitors, spouses, and other family members. One Day Pass registration is available for $50.00 for all persons 18 and older. CME members and visitors age 17 and under are required to register at no cost. Each registrant will receive an entrance badge, for access into the DECC. Vendors will receive a badge, which will allow access into the DECC.
Again, there is no costs for children and youth registrations; however, they will still be required to register and receive a badge for entrance. If you have not received a registration confirmation, please contact Clarice Chattman at info@cmechurchgeneralconference.com.
Click here – Registration
Registration Confirmations
Some of you may have experienced challenges with your registration confirmation. Some of the records were batched when entering the registration information into the registration system, brushfire. As a result all of the names within a batch were associated with the first name entered. Therefore, your eTicket carried the name of the group header, as opposed to your name. This issue should be resolved by February 27, 2022. As groups are unbundled, the first name in the batch will receive emails for each registrant that is being unbundled. Please disregard these emails. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. As a part of the clean-up, you may receive another eTicket for review. Please edit the information once again and save it.
DECC Entrance Requirements
Everyone who qualifies for receiving vaccinations (persons aged 5 and older) is asked to be fully vaccinated. We are working with a third-party vendor who handles personal health information and records. You will be required to provide your proof of vaccinations to the vendor, who will maintain your privacy and your record. We will inform you at the appropriate time to submit or present your information. If you are not vaccinated, regardless of the reason, you will be subject to daily testing, which you may be required to assume the costs for such tests. One of our major sponsors, CVS Pharmacy, will have an on-site health room, where you can receive an array of services, including testing for COVID, vital checks, and more.
Social distancing will be required outside of the DECC as you approach the DECC for entrance, as well as inside the DECC in efforts to minimize potential spread of COVID and/or its variances. Please be patient as each person will need to be scanned for temperature readings.
Transportation To and From the Airport, Train Station or Bus Depot
At this time transportation to/from the airport is not being provided. Executive Transportation is one of the transportation vendors at the Cincinnati Airport (CVG); and they have agreed to provide ground transportation shuttle services for General Conference attendees. Reservations are required. Visit www.executivetransportation.org/reservations or visit the Second District website, www.cmechurchgeneralconference.com. Please use the promo code: CMEGC22 for a price of $26.00 from the Airport to the Hotel; or a Round Trip to and from the Airport for $40.00.
If you need transportation to or from the train station or bus depot, please contact Clarice Chattman at info@cmechurchgeneralconference.com.
Click here for Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport Information
Persons who are Driving
Please be aware that parking is a premium in the downtown area where our conference is being held. If you are planning to drive, please contact your Hotel for the appropriate parking information; and to inquire about parking rates, if there is available parking. There is a downtown garage in the vicinity of the DECC with an entrance rate of $21 and with no in/out privileges. That is, each time you enter the garage, the cost is $21.
Hotel Reservation Changes
All Hotel changes must be requested through the Executive Secretary’s office. If you are coming in early or extending your stay, please contact my office before March 5. Early arrivals and extended stays are the responsibility of the delegate, unless approved by your episcopal leadership.
Hotel for Conference CME Members and Guests
Visitors and CME attendees can obtain hotel reservations at the Graduate Cincinnati, 151 Goodman Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45219. The contracted rate is $165 plus 18.3% hotel taxes per night.
Click here – Hotel Reservation
Welcome Reception
The Second Episcopal District invites all registered attendees to a Welcome Reception to be held at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Buses will begin running at 6:15pm and the last run is 9:15pm. Attendees must be registered for the conference. Registration badges will be required. Come and enjoy a taste of Cincinnati and walk through the Underground Museum.
Daily Transportation – Chartered Buses
The local transportation committee will provide buses for hotel pick-ups to and from the DECC. A schedule will be posted.
Medication Reminders
Please ensure that you have sufficient meds to last the time of your stay.
Orderlies
General Conference orderlies are appointed by the Presiding Bishop of each Episcopal District. Some of you have asked to volunteer as an orderly. Please discuss this desire with your Bishop.
General Conference Souvenir Book
The Host Committee is still receiving Personal, Candidate, Delegate/ Alternate or Business ads for the 39th Quadrennial Session and the 40th Convening of the General Conference of the CME Church Souvenir Journal.
You need a Souvenir Journal ad if…
- You want to highlight Your local Church, Annual Conference, and/ or Episcopal District
- You want to personally offer Congratulations, Prayers, etc. for the success of the meeting
- In Memory of a loved one who served the church well
- You are a Candidate seeking an office
- You are a Business or an Entrepreneur and have a service or product to offer
- You are a Sponsor and want additional exposure
- You are a Delegate/ Alternate and you want to proudly display your picture
- You are a leader and want to express gratitude
- ou are just plain o’l CME
The Souvenir Journal will be distributed in print and electronically to all registered participants and sponsors. Additional copies will be made available for purchase. We estimate the print reach to be 5k and the electronic distribution reach to be in the thousands thanks to social media, our partners, and our vast database. Again, submission opens February 1, 2022 ends March 12th, 2022.
Use this link to pay for your ad now. You can submit documents by March 12th. (https://form.jotform.com/213564760934158) After selecting your ad and processing your payment, you will receive a link to submit items.
The Souvenir Journal of the 39th Quadrennial Session and the 40th Convening of the General Conference of the CME Church will be one to remember. Please do not delay. The cost of paper and delivery delays require all submissions to be in by February 28th. We will not accept any ads after March 12th! If the particular ad you want is sold out, please select another option. If you have any questions, please email the local team at cgreenlee@DFICMEChurch.org
Submit Now!
COVID – 19 CME Protocols
ALL PERSONS ATTENDING or PLANNING to ATTEND 2022 GENERAL CONFERENCE
We have worked diligently to monitor the status and progress of other faith-based events and continue to follow the frequent updates that are distributed. Your health and safety are priorities. As the amount of information being distributed by federal and state authorities consistently change, we will continue to monitor mandates and best practices and will determine the specific course of actions to be taken to ensure your safety at the General Conference. Specific modifications and protocols will be determined well in advance of your arrival and will be conveyed in a timely manner to each of you as delegates, alternates, and guest. Joint recommendations and protocols from the Executive Secretary and General Counsel regarding the General Conference of 2022 at the Duke Energy Convention Center – Cincinnati, OH area as follows:
COVID-19 Protocol: In accordance with the state of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Public Health, all persons in attendance or visiting the site of the CME General Conference will be required to comply with the following:
I. All bishops, general officers, judicial council members, delegates, alternates, visitors, guests, and vendors are required to:
a. Provide proof of full Covid vaccination (with final dose and booster at least 14 days prior to the opening of the General Conference date of June 25, 2022); OR
b. Submit to a COVID – 19 test daily at their own expense; OR
c. Those delegates who do not intend to be vaccinated or are unable to meet the vaccine requirements or refuse daily testing should relinquish delegate seat to an alternate delegate who is vaccinated. Compliance is expected for the safety of everyone. (This notification must be given to the Presiding Bishop on or before March 31, 2022, for room reservations to be adjusted.)
II. Must agree to adhere to all Duke Energy Convention enter protocols regarding COVID.
III. The correct method of wearing a mask (mouth and nose covered) inside of the venue (Duke Energy Convention Center) at all times. Acceptable masks are surgical, cloth, or (K)N95. Gaiters, bandanas, face shields or masks with an exhalation valve will not be acceptable. Prolonged periods of mask removal are not permitted.
Proof of vaccination may be a physical vaccination card, a photo on your phone of your vaccination card or a digital vaccination record. Proof of negative testing prior to arrival may include a copy of the printed test result or a photo of the test result showing your name and identification as the test recipient.
Covid tests accepted – PCR or negative antigen test (rapid test) results no older than 48 hours will be accepted, as long as they are in writing and from a medical professional or laboratory. Negative results from a home test that are accessed through a CDC-approved mobile app will also be accepted, as long as the name on the results documentation matches the name on your photo ID.
Below are some acceptable tests that can be used:
Cue Covid-19 Test for Home and Over the Counter Use
Lucira Check it Covid-19 All-In-One Test Kit
Abbot BinaxNOW COVIC 19 Ag Card Home Test plus NAVICA app
Specific modifications and adjustments may be required on-site. Please see the Event Waiver at the registration site. Special Note: A third party vendor will be announced later that will be in charge of certifying and uploading your vaccination information as well as the results of negative testing.
We are anticipating a productive General Conference; and look forward with great anticipation your presence with us to do the work of the CME Church.
If I can be of further assistance, please contact me at cmeexecutivesecretary4@gmail.com .,
Sincerely,
Dr. Pene Woods
CME Executive Secretary
