Looking Ahead to NAGC23
By Lauri Kirsch, Ed.D., Shelagh Gallagher, Ph.D., & John Segota, MPS, CAE
Later this spring, registration will open for NAGC23, which will be held November 9-12, 2023, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. There is a lot of excitement building for this year’s convention, as NAGC has had a long partnership with the Walt Disney Company. However, some concerns have been raised recently about holding the convention in Florida, which has been in the headlines over the past year due to its passage of several controversial laws that impact education and stand in contrast to many of NAGC’s values.
At its most recent meeting, the NAGC Board of Directors discussed this issue at length. The board framed the discussion by emphasizing its priorities and values: creating a safe and welcoming environment at the convention, demonstrating NAGC’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and organizational sustainability. After thoroughly examining the alternatives, the board decided to keep the 2023 convention at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
One factor the board considered is that our presence will undoubtedly have a greater impact than our absence. Through the convention, we can support Florida educators and help them in their efforts to provide thoughtful and meaning-filled learning experiences for their students. In this way, NAGC23 can become a platform to bring attention to important issues and promote our values, such as inclusiveness, diversity, and equity.
Another key factor in the board's decision was the support of the Walt Disney Company. Disney has a long history of supporting many of the same values that our organization holds dear. The corporation's commitment to these values, along with the state-of-the-art facilities and unparalleled guest experience at Walt Disney World, make it a strong choice to host our convention, as it did in 2016.
A third factor was maintaining the association’s financial well-being. Venues for the NAGC annual convention are usually selected 2-3 years in advance. The contract with Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort was originally signed in 2018 for our 2020 convention, well before the current political controversies surfaced. Disney agreed to work with NAGC during the pandemic to reschedule the convention and waive any penalties; however, moving the convention now would incur a cancellation fee of over $750,000.
While we understand that each person’s decision on whether to travel to Florida and attend the convention will be personal, Walt Disney World is known for creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone, something we also aim for NAGC23. Moreover, we will seek out ways to create a positive impact through the convention. To that end, we will reach out to talk with stakeholders and constituent groups in the weeks and months ahead, including a town hall for members, to listen to concerns and identify opportunities for positive impact.
Our goal is to ensure that NAGC23 is a positive and enriching experience for all attendees and has a beneficial and meaningful impact on gifted and talented children in Florida. This is something we can work towards together, and we hope that you will help be a part of that positive change.
Lauri Kirsch, Ed.D., President
Shelagh Gallagher, Ph.D., President-elect
John Segota, MPS, CAE, Executive Director
