Hi everyone! If you miss the comradery, insights and ideas you get from conferences and will scream if you have to attend one more webinar, we have your back, and understand that O&M's HATE TO SIT STILL! So we’ve planned our 2020 “Live” Online SOMA conference to be so interactive, engaging, and “live” that you won’t believe you’re not there in person! SOMA was the first conference to have “Feet-in-the-Street” sessions when no one thought it was possible (who’d believe participants could get out of their seats and have their conference session on the subway or crossing streets or echolocating buildings?!), and now it’s routine for O&M conferences. So come join us for another first – a “live” online O&M conference! a.. All sessions will be interactive, so you can participate and engage with the presenters; b.. There will be networking breaks and socials where you can meet and chat with other attendees; c.. You can go to the exhibitors’ tables, see what they have and talk with them; d.. The sessions will NOT be recorded, so whatever goes on in your session, STAYS in your session! The conference will be December 14-15, 2020. We’ve extended the deadline for the Call for Papers to July 12, and the Early-Bird registration is $99 until the end of July (fully refundable until September 10) – more info on our website. COME AND SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH EXCITED, ENGAGED PARTICIPANTS! Yeah, we know what you’re thinking – whether you’re a seasoned presenter or a newbie, you’re wondering “How in the HECK can I present remotely and get the audience engaged? That’s hard enough to do when we’re in the same room, much less when we’re looking at screens!” And that’s where we’re here to help. This will be a conference like no other – any information that’s worth sharing is worth processing, with discussions, hands-on practice, brainstorming solutions, asking the audience for their input, etc. Even the most dry report can be made interactive, and we’d love to help you make it happen. There are a few ideas at https://somaconference.org/papers.html and more may be coming – some folks have already submitted proposals with innovative ideas for making their sessions interactive! You have a few weeks to put your thoughts together and send us your ideas. If you haven’t figured out how to make your session interactive, we don’t care, we’ll get there together. And if you’re worried about whether or not you can come, don’t worry – if you are accepted and then decide not to come for any reason, no problem – you can always decline. More information is at https://somaconference.org – or just go to the link to submit your proposal -- Dona ________________________________________ Dona Sauerburger, COMS Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind Gambrills, Maryland dona@sauerburger.org / 301-858-0138 www.sauerburger.org ________________________________________