The joy of discovering @NorthBayPython got a shout out in the @PeoplesCDC weekly COVID-19 weather report on account of our approach to #HealthAndSafety :ablobcatneon: https://peoplescdc.org/2023/08/15/peoples-cdc-covid-19-weather-report-55/

There are shining examples of events around the globe fully adapting to the COVID era.

I'm thrilled with what #FOSSY, #OpenInfraSummit, and #BSDCan did earlier this year, like what #SeaGL has planned, and applaud the #PyConAU organizers for their approach, too: https://2023.pycon.org.au/safety/covid/ 👏🏻

Here at @NorthBayPython we're taking a cautious approach to adapting to our new venue. We've relocated to a venue with far better ventilation than the 1800s Vaudeville theater we used to run out of, but we don't yet have data on ventilation.

So we're requiring masks, and also using CO2 monitors throughout the venue to establish a baseline.

We'll use what we learn to calibrate next year's #HealthAndSafety policy! #PublicHealthPledge #PHPledge #NBPy

If you're at #FOSSY I hope you'll join me at 3pm in the DEI track (room E147) for my talk:

Con flu, con crud, and COVID-19: the time for #HealthAndSafety policies is _yesterday_

It's been difficult to prepare for. It's emotional subject matter as someone who has lost a brother to COVID-19, and still has a lot to lose. But it's so important. We need to do better as community and event organizers.

If our events have a Code of Conduct but not a Health and Safety policy, we've missed the point.

Love the approach to #HealthAndSafety at #FOSSY.

It’s brought out many who couldn’t otherwise be here, and in so doing bringing turning out those who appreciate the work of the @phpledge — even if they can’t join as signatories.

If you haven’t heard of the #PublicHealthPledge, I encourage you to take a look and consider joining to take a stand for more safe and inclusive events: https://publichealthpledge.com

If you’re an event, we offer a badging program and support in designing your H&S policy!

It feels so strange to be back at the OCC for an in-person conference! Especially having cut my teeth here as a community manager, it’s a bit heady.

But it is SO good to be here and to see so many folks I haven’t seen in years!

I’m so grateful to the #FOSSY organizers for making this happen and taking #HealthAndSafety seriously so folks like me can attend without undue risk to my health 😷

The quickest photo I’ve ever snapped in my life, because just after I’d bent over to take a picture of the ‘Please close the gate because of the geese’ sign, I heard a hiss somewhere behind me.

#HealthAndSafety
#NoTimeToFocus

What an honor! I'm thrilled to share that I'm a speaker at the first ever #FOSSY by @conservancy this July in Portland.

I'll be talking about event #HealthAndSafety policies and what the pandemic can teach us about taking our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to the next level. (Feat. the @phpledge!)

I can't wait to see the full lineup for the conference :ablobcatrave:

Learn more and get your ticket at https://2023.fossy.us/

#OpenSource #FOSS #PHPledge #PublicHealthPledge

A conference's work on accessibility and inclusion includes the speaker lineup. People need to see themselves represented on stage.

So why are so many thoughtful event organizers launching CFPs without a #HealthAndSafety policy in place?

Why is it OK to launch in a way that's exclusive of disabled and chronically ill people? You wouldn't launch without a Code of Conduct. If I can't tell if your event is going to be safe to attend, there's no way I'm submitting a proposal.

#Events #PHPledge

The best time to make #HealthAndSafety policies a standard part of in-person event organizing was years ago.

The second best time to do it is _now_ :ablobcatbongo:

And it's not hard or mysterious, even if you're a small scrappy event!

We, the @phpledge team, are creating resources to help you figure it out and are collaborating with event organizers to help them iron out the finer points. Do reach out!

Learn more at: https://publichealthpledge.com/badging

#PHPledge #PublicHealthPledge #Events #COVID

I've just received the first contributed translation of the @phpledge and I am so, so excited :ablobcatrave:

#PHPledge #PublicHealthPledge #HealthAndSafety

Seeing photos of masked crowds at FOSS Backstage :meowmeltlove:

Thank you to the organizers of #FOSSBack for setting a great example and making the event safer and more inclusive of immunocompromised people! _This_ is community leadership.

Mask mandates FTW 😷

#PHPledge #HealthAndSafety #DEI #Covid #Events #OpenSource @phpledge

I hope #EverythingOpen and #SCALE20x both implement a mask mandate next year.

I'd quite like to attend those events, but a mask mandate is the bare minimum of pandemic risk mitigation.

More people should be asking for that. Including people who attended/are attending those events right now.

It's not hard, and I'm here burning my scarce spoons to help organizers figure it out and make events safer and more inclusive *for everyone.*

#PHPledge #Disability #DEI #HealthAndSafety @phpledge

Absolutely chuffed to see #PyTexas following @pycon's lead on #HealthAndSafety: https://www.pytexas.org/attend/health #PHPledge

I love this: "During “Masked Tuesdays,” everyone is required to wear masks and only take-out concessions are available. Cinemapolis also established “Open Captioned Wednesdays” to support people who prefer watching movies with captions." via @simonstl

https://theithacan.org/opinion/editorial-cinemapolis-new-policies-assist-its-audience-vastly/

#Accessibility #HealthAndSafety #DEI #Solidarity #COVID #MaskUp

If you haven't signed on to the #PHPledge yet, consider: is now the time? 🤔

#HealthAndSafety concerns are not going away, nor is the pledge.

Get in now and stand in solidarity with people with disabilities and chronic illness, caregivers, and the people who live with them :solidarity:

Commit to safer and more inclusive events today: https://phpledge.com ✍🏻

#Covid #MaskUp #Events #DevRel

A vocal minority of people who like rights, but fail to see how those require mutual responsibilities, have succeeded in convincing community leaders and elected officials that it's mainstream to not give a shit, and that mask mandates are hard to enforce.

When time and time again, evidence shows people broadly mask up without fuss when it's a policy.

That's one reason it's so important for us to be vocal about the #HealthAndSafety measures we want to see put in place. #PHPledge #Covid

What a fabulous thread from Matthew Oliver on the #BirdApp !!

#PPE #occupationalhealth
#occupationalsafety
#HealthAndSafety
#Masks #Medical

https://twitter.com/sameo416/status/1619478657336238082?t=bHgQjK4p6_uyqWF0AW_N_g&s=09

It's just the beginning, but I'm very excited about releasing the first #PHPledge event badging standard today.

The grading system it uses gives organizers and attendees something concrete to target.

Work in progress, for sure, but I believe this is a powerful starting point: https://phpledge.com/badging

#Covid19 #CovidIsStillHere #DevRel #Events #OpenSource #FLOSS #HealthAndSafety

The cognitive dissonance of seeing in-person events being awarded "gold medals" for DEI while they do _nothing_ to mitigate the transmission of COVID and other contagious diseases.

If anyone else in #OpenSource feels strongly about this, I'd appreciate your support in conveying the importance of #HealthAndSafety to DEI with the wonderful people at the #CHAOSSproj: https://github.com/badging/event-diversity-and-inclusion/issues/226

They're a wonderfully thoughtful bunch and I know that, together, we can make this right.

It's important that we celebrate when an event takes COVID seriously – so we all see whose steps to follow in, and so organizers are rewarded for their efforts.

Join me in celebrating success 👏🏻

:mastodon: https://josh.tel/@josh/109746160223953152
:linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7023761474829393920/

#PHPledge #Events #HealthAndSafety #CovidIsStillHere #Covid #OpenSource