By, Laura Olsen, Association Manager and Event Coordinator, and Caroline Bowers, Association Executive
Destinations and venues are opening their doors! Which means, associations are once again bringing their members together for in-person and hybrid events. However, we certainly wouldn’t call it a “return to normal.” Pandemic-era restrictions and safety precautions still hold true and require an additional degree of planning and care to ensure attendee safety.
The Wisconsin Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (WI-ASLA) navigated these challenges during their 2022 Spring Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Impact Association Management team worked closely with WI-ASLA to ensure the event was not only safe, but also an incredible benefit to the association’s members.
Establishing COVID-19 Safety Precautions
The theme of this year’s WI-ASLA’s Spring Conference was to “(re)connect” to celebrate meeting in person after nearly two years of only virtual events.
“The WI-ASLA Spring Conference on Landscape Architecture 2022 is about reconnecting to ourselves, our environment, and each other.”
The decision was made early on in the planning process to promote a safe in-person event by requiring face masks and proof of a negative COVID-19 test result for all attendees. The planning committee also had to adapt from traditional event catering needs to serving boxed rather than buffet-style meals as part of the COVID-19 prevention strategy. The venue turned to an outside caterer to meet the event’s needs and the Impact team worked with WI-ASLA to make sure this change would provide attendees with a quality dining experience without negatively impacting the budget.
There was concern that WI-ASLA’s COVID-19 safety policies would turn away attendees but were proved wrong. This year’s event had some of the strongest numbers the association had seen in the years prior to the pandemic.
Connecting the Dots with Quality Content
The two-day conference kicked off with the WI-ASLA President highlighting the association's accomplishments and goals and a presentation from the President of ASLA National. After these updates, attendees enjoyed educational sessions that embraced Wisconsin’s rich history, fostering community, embracing diversity, and protecting the environment while creating beautiful outdoor spaces.
Many sessions thoughtfully incorporated the history of the local area, including celebrating the legacy of renowned landscape architect, Frederik Law Olmsted, whose firm designed the nearby Lake Park. Local author and historian John Gurda brought the sessions on day one to a close with a presentation on Milwaukee’s parks from pre-history to present, ending with a call to action to preserve these green spaces which won the applause of the entire audience.
The energy and enthusiasm of the entertaining presentation were carried over into the evening’s Spring Social which offered attendees a relaxed atmosphere, appetizers, and a hosted bar.
Day two kicked off with sessions that embraced the diversity of our environment, our people, and the landscape architecture industry.
Reggie Jackson, nationally heralded independent scholar, researcher, writer, and consultant to the media on race relations, closed the educational sessions with a deep look at the impact of segregation in the area and how the profession can foster positive change.
“We hope to reconnect with colleagues and sponsors and celebrate the future of what landscape architecture contributes to society as well as our homes, neighborhoods, communities, state, region, nation, and world.”
Once again taking advantage of the local history of the area, the conference closed with a tour of Milwaukee’s Lake Park which celebrated Olmsted’s design legacy and the positive impact the profession can have on the environment and society.
The combination of great educational offerings, local themes, and a relaxed atmosphere was a win for all involved. Impact’s team was proud to be part of this successful event. Discover how Impact can support your next in-person or hybrid event.