There is no higher priority than the safety of our community. Due to the quickly evolving situation regarding COVID-19 (novel coronavirus 2019), we have been following local, state and federal government advisories regarding travel and group congregation guidelines closely. We are taking prudent action as recommended by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) and have made the difficult decision to CANCEL the 2020 Texas Master Gardener Conference scheduled to occur May 12-14, 2020 in Waco, Texas. Leadership Training on May 11th has also been cancelled.
Please read the following important information in its entirety concerning questions you may have.
Cancellations – The reservation system has been closed to process the cancellations. No action is required from you.
Refunds – You will be refunded 95% of your total registration fee, inclusive of tours, workshops and merchandise. The McLennan County Master Gardeners have spent funds on promotional materials, website building, registration system and credit card fees that they cannot recoup. The 5% withholding is to help offset a small part of their losses. We know you will understand the difficult position of our host county due to this cancellation.
We ask that you be patient with the refund process. It may take up to 7 days before the funds are returned to your credit card. Many businesses, including AgriLife, the registration platform and credit card companies are working at reduced capacity due to quarantines. Rest assured that we are working diligently to process the refunds as quickly as possible. It takes an incredible amount of work to undo all the planning that has gone into hosting 675 attendees, plus vendors and speakers.
Hotel Reservations – The Hilton Waco and Courtyard Marriott have agreed to cancel all reservations in our block to avoid being inundated with calls and to prevent you, our Master Gardeners, from an extensive period on hold while you wait for your call to be handled. If you booked outside of the block or at another hotel, you will be responsible for cancelling your lodging reservations.
Awards – The Search for Excellence Awards will be given at a later date. At this time, we do not have the details of how or when that will happen. What we do know is that the entries have been judged and you will be recognized for your efforts. Please do not pose questions about awards to the awards committee, McLennan County or the State Office until we have announced alternative plans to recognize the recipients. There are too many details unanswered at this point and we appreciate your patience.
As other information becomes available, we will be in communication with you. Everyone is being affected by current events, but our priority remains the health and wellbeing of our volunteers.
We encourage everyone to practice social distancing and to follow these simple guidelines for your personal safety.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Stay home if you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Find the latest guidance at:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Proudly hosted by:
McLennan County Master Gardener Association in Waco, TX
Waco Convention Center
Registration is OPEN!
Join us for our annual Texas Master Gardener Conference, as we gather to attend educational classes and hands-on workshops, go on tours and fellowship with old and new friends alike.
Keep up to date on our conference Facebook page