Affiliate Events - Annual Meeting

Eligible meetings and events organized by exhibitors, universities, non-profit organizations, and government entities may be held in conjunction with ACR Convergence, the ACR's annual meeting. Any meeting or event that involves ACR scientific meeting attendees hosted by a company or organization, regardless of exhibiting status, is considered an affiliate event and must be approved by the ACR.

All third-party agencies acting on behalf of an exhibiting company are expected to adhere to ACR exhibitor rules and regulations, including all affiliate event guidelines. The exhibiting company will be held responsible for the activities of any third-party agency appointed on its behalf.

Eligibility

To hold an affiliate event, you must be one of the following:

• 2022 exhibitor (If the ACR receives notice that an exhibiting company cancels exhibit space, all affiliate event approvals, as well as housing reservations, badges, etc., will be cancelled)
• Nonprofit organization
• University, college, or school of medicine
• Division of the government

Approved Times, Policies, and Categories

Meetings and events must adhere to the policies, rules, regulations, and guidelines and must be approved by the ACR. Events cannot offer CME (except for approved industry symposia). The ACR does not allow signs, banners, or hospitality/registration desks in lobbies or any public areas of hotels or the convention center publicizing affiliate events. One sign placed directly outside the assigned meeting room is permitted.

Affiliate events may be held during the times stipulated in the Affiliate Events Information sheet. All other times are reserved for ACR programming. On-site registration for affiliate events may not begin before the approved event time.

Non-Attendee Meetings
Non-attendee meetings are any event at which only full-time employees of the organization will be present.

• Cannot include ACR attendees unless the individual is an employee of the company or sits on the board
• May not offer CME

Approved Times: Unrestricted

Attendee Meetings
Attendee meetings are any event in which ACR attendees will be present. They may not offer CME. Attendee meetings include:

• Advisory Boards: Sponsored and financially supported by a pharmaceutical/biotech organization, academic center, nonprofit organization or consortium that focuses on a genuine need, benefits patient welfare, documents outcomes, and advances the field of rheumatology.
• Committee Meetings: A meeting of a group of people for administrative purposes.
• Focus Groups: Meetings that target a specific group of attendees to obtain specific data.
• Investigator Meetings: Restricted to fewer than 150 individuals and sponsored and/or financially supported by a pharmaceutical/biotech organization, academic center, nonprofit organization or consortium that focuses on institutional review boards or regulatory agency-approved protocols and serves to review conduct or results of a specific study. Such studies must benefit patient welfare, document outcomes, and advance the practice of rheumatology.
• Social Functions: A reception, dinner, etc., where there is no CME educational programming. Speakers may be engaged provided they are primarily employed by (primarily employed is defined as 50 percent or more of an individual's working time) the supporting organization. The ACR does not regulate, endorse, or support social events. The ACR strongly discourages large social events.

COVID-19 Policy

All affiliate events must adhere to and uphold ACR COVID-19 guidelines and policies.

Hospitality Suites

Hotel hospitality suites can be reserved by exhibitors and used for social events and any of the other approved meeting types. The guidelines and the approved times for the meeting/event must be followed and ACR approval must be received. Contact information to obtain a hospitality suite will be available upon application approval.

Industry Supported Symposia

Companies interested in offering a symposium should refer to the ACR Convergence Industry Supported Symposia Guidelines. There is a separate application process for this type of event.
See Industry Supported Symposia Details

Fellows in Training/Medical Students/Residents Events

Any event or activity outside those offered by the ACR is prohibited November 11–14.