Dear colleagues
We have been monitoring the developments related to COVID-19 over the past few
weeks. The health and safety of everyone participating in our community and
keeping the UK's critical Internet infrastructure operating at this difficult
time, are important priorities to UKNOF. As a precautionary measure to protect
the health and safety of the UKNOF community, we are postponing the meeting
(which was scheduled to take place on 16 April 2020) to 26 October 2020.
UKNOF46 will still be held at Manchester Central Convention Centre.
With the COVID-19 situation constantly and rapidly changing (and now considered
a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health
Organization, causing much uncertainty for all concerned, at the same time as
being made aware of restrictions imposed on some of our attendees (including
speakers), UKNOF believes it is appropriate to take action at this point. We
looked at various options, including a remote-only meeting or even cancelling
it completely. We are doing what we know is right in the moment and are happy
to announce we have been able to postpone it to the later date.
UKNOF has been working closely with the venue - Manchester Central - and are
grateful to them for their flexibility during this difficult time for all
parties concerned. We have been able to secure a future date with them.
UKNOF46 will now take place on Monday 26 October 2020.
[[ Planned Speakers ]]
The Programme Committee will be working with the speakers of the currently
accepted talks to see which of them can still be included in the postponed
programme.
[[ Registrations ]]
Existing registrations will move to the new date. We will also be emailing
those with existing registrations with further details in case they are unable
to attend. This information is also on the UKNOF46 & COVID-19 Situation page at:
<https://indico.uknof.org.uk/event/49/page/263-covid-19-situation
<https://indico.uknof.org.uk/event/49/page/263-covid-19-situation>>
Registrations remain open. Please refer to the Registration Page at
<https://uknof.uk/register46 <https://uknof.uk/register46>> for the updated
registration schedule.
[[ LINX Manchester Social Event ]]
LINX have informed us the LINX Manchester social event to which UKNOF46
delegates were invited has now been cancelled and they will be looking at
options closer to our postponed meeting.
[[ FUNDING PLEA ]]
It would be enormously helpful if anyone who has paid for their registration
would consider, if they are unable to attend on the postponed date, moving
their registration to UKNOF47 or donating the amount paid toward UKNOF's costs.
It will enable us to manage our cash flow in this very difficult moment.
As a not-for-profit organisation, we rely on paid registrations, sponsorship
and patronage for our income, and the economic uncertainty ahead is a huge
worry. If you can afford to, please consider donating the price of a
registration or another amount however large or small to UKNOF. There are
various ways this can be done:
If no longer attending UKNOF46, the registrant can email us to cancel and
inform us you do not wish to receive a refund
A donation toward UKNOF46 can be made via the donation option on the
registration site: <https://uknof46.eventbrite.co.uk
<https://uknof46.eventbrite.co.uk/>>
Any one can sign up to be a 'Friend of UKNOF' - from around £5 per month:
<https://uknof.uk/friends <https://uknof.uk/friends>>
Sign up as a Corporate Patron of UKNOF - <https://uknof.uk/patronage
<https://uknof.uk/patronage>>
Sing up as a Sponsor at UKNOF46 - <https://uknof.uk/sponsorship
<https://uknof.uk/sponsorship>>
[[ UKNOF47 ]]
This was originally due to take place in September 2020 and will now move to 19
January 2021 at etc Venues 155 Bishopsgate, London.
Regards
Denesh
UKNOF Events Plannager
