Open Letter to the Community
On behalf of the ILEA International Board of Governors, a warm welcome to you, our members, and all in our ILEA Community. I hope you, your loved ones and your colleagues are well.
We know the spread of COVID-19 and the parallel economic downturn has had dramatic effects on our members, event professionals and businesses around the world. The ILEA Board of Governors, just like you, are each working through the impacts to our own businesses, careers, families and livelihoods while we focus on our ILEA member community.
ILEA is committed to supporting our members in connecting, navigating and, one day soon, thriving in this special industry of ours. While this has been an incredibly challenging time, we understand the realities our members are facing and we remain dedicated to fostering a strong community and a bright future we will build together.
In mid-March, we assembled a team of ILEA Board of Governors who continue to focus daily on COVID-19 impacts by capturing and sharing relevant content, monitoring the global situation and providing meaningful connections and support to the worldwide community.
Here is a list of ILEA resources available to you:
- COVID-19 resources page on ILEAHub.com with continuous updates
- “Request Support for an Initiative” opportunity on ILEAHub.com
- Join thousands of members and industry partners hosted by ILEA International:
- Free webinars every week with relevant experts and topics
- Free weekly mindfulness and mental strength webinar series
- Free ILEA chapter webinars posted, with local and regional specific content
- Easy-to-access webinar recordings and highlight blogs
- Members-only content in My Communities
- Forward-thinking conversations with partner associations and industry groups, ensuring our members have a voice in the future of our industry
The ILEA Board of Governors is focused on keeping this organization strong by strategizing to create new ways for our community to connect, learn, and grow – so we have a vibrant ILEA community to be a part of as we head toward recovery.
Because ILEA is a membership-based community for event professionals, the organization is greatly impacted too. As we look toward the new membership year starting 1 July, with membership renewals taking place in May and June, it is only with your engagement and support that we can continue to provide opportunities for connection, community and education.
If you are interested in being a part of the ILEA community or reinvesting in your membership for another year but you are working through financial challenges, you will be able to reach out for assistance on ILEAHub.com to set up a payment plan. This support channel will open on 1 May and will be led by our ILEA Board of Governors.
While you stabilize your business, support your teams and families, and imagine what could be next for you in your career, please consider investing in yourself – now more than ever – with an ILEA membership. Our commitment to you is to ensure that ILEA is the essential community for creative event professionals and to provide incredible value for your investment.
Now is the time to work through our challenges together, collaboratively re-envisioning and building a future with a flourishing live events industry.
Please know we are thinking of you. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Jennifer Trethewey, CSEP
International Live Events Association – President