Large Event Planning Workshop March 6

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments and Northwest Missouri State University are teaming up to offer a workshop designed to address organizations that are planning for events such as festivals, youth camps, vacation bible schools, rodeos, etc. While snow is still on the ground, many are looking to summer and starting to plan their annual summer events. With COVID-19 still impacting our communities, what efforts should we be taking to ensure our events are safe for attendees?

The Large Event Planning Workshop is being held virtually, via ZOOM and is scheduled for Saturday, March 6, at 9:30 a.m.

There is no cost to attend the workshop. Those planning to attend should register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/large-event-planning-workshop-tickets-141483094745.

John Carr, Program Coordinator and Instructor for the Emergency and Disaster Management program at Northwest Missouri State University, will facilitate the workshop which will focus on topics such as the current best practices for event hosting related to COVID-19, the trajectory of the pandemic, where we anticipate things will be this summer, and how to ensure your event is a safe one.

In addition to teaching courses, Carr serves as Exercise Director for Missouri Hope, the largest full-scale disaster training exercise in the region. The exercise brings together students, faculty, and partner agencies from throughout the country, allowing Northwest students first-hand experience in disaster response operations. Outside of Northwest, Carr serves as the Executive Director for the Consortium for Humanitarian Service and Education, a non-profit focused on promoting full immersion, full behavioral, simulation exercises to college students in the fields of emergency management, nursing, homeland security, and humanitarian relief. Carr also serves his community through his work with the Boy Scouts of America, American Red Cross, and support of emergency management initiatives in Northwest Missouri. Carr has a master’s degree in Emergency Management from North Dakota State University, a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northwest Missouri State University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Science from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. 

His research interests include citizen engagement in emergency management processes, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), simulation design, and emergency management in higher education.

The Large Event Planning Workshop is the first of three workshops being funded with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds that were awarded to the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.