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Policies & Procedures
REGISTRATION POLICIES
1. All participants—directors, students, chaperones, and guests—must be registered for the conference. 2. Only directors may register their groups or pick up registration materials if preregistered. 3. All participating students must be chaperoned. As required by FMEA and FSMA, at least one chaperone other than a director is required for every ten (10) students or fraction thereof; however, FMEA policy allows for one free chaperone for every six (6) students or fraction thereof. 4. An additional paid chaperone may be registered for (a) each six (6) students registered or (b) for each allstate rehearsal site where registered students are performing. 5. If a participating student is not accompanied by the director from that student’s school, then the principal from that school must furnish a letter designating the person from the school or school district who is to be in charge of that student. The letter should be addressed to the FMEA executive 3. Refunds must be requested in writing (email is acceptable). 4. All requests for refunds must be received no later than January 31, 2022. Requests received after that date will not be processed. 5. All refunds will be issued after the conference is completed. 6. Concert tickets are nonrefundable.
2022 FMEA Professional Development Conference Registration
director, must explain the extenuating circumstances preventing the director from attending, and must be submitted with registration materials. The school will be notified of approval. 6. Student observers are not allowed to attend the conference. If any student observers are brought to the conference, the offending school’s participation in the conference may be eliminated the following year. (Tri-M students registered and participating in sessions or working for the all-state concerts are exempt from this rule.) 7. All school music teachers must register for the conference as FMEA directors and be current members of the FMEA. This includes directors of invited performing groups, mini-concerts, and session presenters. All-state conductors from Florida schools, colleges, or universities must also be
FMEA members. No current music teacher may register as a chaperone.
REFUND POLICIES
1. Full registration refunds are available for cancellation requests made through December 15, 2021. 2. No registration refunds will be made for cancellations made after December 15, 2021, except for emergency situations. These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
CHAPERONE REGISTRATION
Chaperone registration is based on the following rules:
Elementary Students « For each elementary student registered, one free chaperone and one « paid chaperone may be registered. Any additional attendees must purchase a guest pass at on-site registration for entry into the convention center.
Middle School and High School Students « For every six students registered, one free chaperone and one paid chaperone may be registered. No other chaperones may be registered until « the seventh student is registered. Any additional attendees (chaperones or guests) must purchase a guest pass at on-site registration for entry into the convention center.
Exceptions « If you have students in more than one performing ensemble, you may pay for a chaperone for each performing ensemble in which you have regis« tered students. If you have students from different schools, you may pay for a chaperone for each school for which you have registered students.
Chaperones are not allowed to bring other children who are not participating
in an all-state ensemble. Only registered students, teachers, and chaperones wearing a conference badge are allowed in and around the rehearsal areas. Directors are asked to make sure their chaperones are aware of this policy before agreeing to serve as a chaperone.
Security Procedures
The Florida Music Education Association is working with the Tampa Police Department and Allied Security at the Tampa Convention Center (TCC) to enhance the conference experience for the students and attendees.
GREAT NEWS! In order to help keep attendees safe, there will be a heightened security presence throughout the TCC and at various hotels. All entrances to the TCC will be patrolled by uniformed officers of the Tampa Police Department and uniformed Allied Security personnel. They will be patrolling the TCC as well. The Tampa Police Department will be at the crosswalks between Marriott Tampa Water Street and the TCC, at concerts, and patrolling some of the downtown hotels during rehearsals.
All attendees (this includes members, chaperones, and student participants) must wear their conference badge during the conference once the authorized registrant obtains the conference packet.
Please be prepared for random bag and/or purse searches. It is encouraged, if at all possible, to use a clear bag, similar to those used at sporting events, for entrance.
Enjoy the Conference Experience.
Health Information
We are watching the COVID-19 Delta variant situation
closely. FMEA is committed to the health and safety of our attendees and will make every effort to develop plans and policies to instill confidence in your ability to attend safely. We highly recommend everyone follow CDC guidelines that are in place at the time of the conference.
Florida law prohibits us from requiring attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but we highly encourage all attendees to be courteous to our attendees who are not able to receive the vaccine by getting the vaccine yourself if you are eligible. If you are unvaccinated, we recommend you follow CDC advice and talk to your doctor about how to protect yourself and others around you from contracting and spreading the virus while attending the conference and how to reduce the chance of severe illness in the event you do become infected.
Because Hillsborough County is still considered a Substantial-Transmission area, masks are highly recommended for everyone’s safety, and all are encouraged to wear a mask at all times while indoors regardless of vaccination status.
Tampa Convention Center (TCC) “Ready Together” Plan
«TCC holds a Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) « « « « Star Facility accreditation Frequent sanitation and disinfectant of all rest rooms Continuous cleaning of all touchpoints Overnight electrostatic cleaning of all areas used COVID-19 branded signage in all common areas « and pre-function spaces Maintain 6-feet physical distancing in
