Statement Regarding COVID-19 and the 2022 MWBWG Annual Meeting

COVID-19 and CDC guidance at the time of the in-person meeting will be followed to the extent possible. Please know that there is not and has not been a statewide mask mandate in Missouri. Currently, there is not a mask mandate in St. Louis County, but that could change by the meeting date. With this in mind, we still prefer you to wear masks while inside Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, and social distance as appropriate. In-person attendance will be limited and registration limits are currently set at 75 in-person participants (including the host committee). This meets the current 1/3 capacity guidance for the conference venue. As we are sure you are all aware, the situation could improve or decline in the weeks or days leading up to the annual meeting. Should conditions dictate that it would no longer be responsible to hold an in-person meeting, the Missouri Bat Conservation Alliance is committed to providing a full, two-day virtual conference experience.

On Monday, April 4^th, 2022 the MWBWG (with exception of minimal building staff) will be the only group in the building. On Tuesday, April 5^th, 2022 the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center will be open to the general public. Our meetings will be held in the Auditorium, with theater style seating, and we’ll have exclusive use of two classrooms for our meeting. 

Of course all meeting participants are encouraged to be respectful and safe at all times, regardless of pandemic status whether in-person or virtual. The MWBWG strongly recommends the use of face masks, maintaining social distancing of six feet where possible, and to attend only online events if you are actively suffering cold and flu-like symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the 10 days leading up to April 4, 2022.

We want this to be an event to remember for all the right reasons. These include finally getting the opportunity to connect in person once again, taking advantage of the expanded opportunities to participate even where travel may be restricted for any reason, and to encourage the networking and sharing of ideas in the conservation of bats in the Midwestern United States.

As the local host committee, the Missouri Bat Conservation Alliance wishes to invite all comers (in-person and virtual) to register for the 14^th annual Midwest Bat Working Group Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri!