SWANA Encourages Chapters to Continue Using Liability Release Waiver

SWANA continues to encourage chapters to use the liability release waiver provided in Fall 2020 for upcoming in-person conferences and programs.

Following the recent announcement by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that fully-vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physical distancing, unless otherwise required by law, SWANA received some questions from several chapter leaders about the use of the liability release waiver for upcoming events.  

“With a variety of federal, state and local laws and the knowledge that only about half of all adults in the United States and Canada have been fully vaccinated, SWANA continues to believe it is a best practice for chapters and SWANA to ask attendees at in-person events to sign a liability release waiver,” said SWANA CEO & Executive Director David Biderman. “We don’t want to set standards for masking or specific protections to be followed, but we do want chapters to be protected as they return to hosting conferences.”

Using the liability release waiver is an appropriate way for chapters, other conference hosts, and each attendee to acknowledge their understanding of the current government guidelines and individual responsibility to protect themselves and others.

Members should monitor CDC and Public Health Agency of Canada announcements concerning continuing to be protected against COVID-19. If a chapter needs to obtain a copy of the liability release waiver, please contact Estella Martinez at emartinez@swana.org.