FAQs

FWC 2024 What to Expect  Fees & Registration  Fundraiser & Tribute Journal Grants Schedule at a Glance speakers Local Attractions Hotel & Travel  
 

Frequently Asked Questions

FWC Basics | Registration & Pricing | Program & Schedule | Hotel & Travel
Health and Safety | Miscellaneous

 

FWC Basics

WRJ Fried Women’s Conference (FWC) 2024 will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana at a downtown hotel (details to be shared in registration confirmation), which will host both the conference programming and the nightly accommodations. FWC begins on Thursday, May 30 at 5:30pm and runs through Sunday, June 2 at 11:00am. Please note that some special programs begin earlier; check the Schedule and Fees & Registration pages for more information.

Who should attend FWC?
This conference is for all women, gender fluid, and nonbinary folks interested in attending: current and rising sisterhood leaders, individual WRJ members, WRJ Board members, WRJ Chai Society members and Board alumnae, and anyone age 18 and older who is interested in sharing this incredible experience (whether a member of WRJ or not)!

Why should I (and/or someone else from my sisterhood or another woman I know) attend FWC?
There is something extraordinarily valuable to be gained from meeting face to face with many other Reform Jewish women and from learning first-hand the tools needed to improve your leadership and personal skills and benefit your sisterhood/community and yourself. Running the gamut from the “nuts and bolts” tools that new or incoming leaders need, all the way up to advanced skills for experienced and seasoned leaders, or those interested in personal and professional growth – the conference has something to offer a wide variety of WRJ women. The large numbers of returning attendees to FWC attest to the power of this experience. It is not to be missed!

What technology will I need to attend FWC? Will there be a livestreaming option?
After completing your FWC 2024 registration, you will be given access to the private group in Mighty Networks (our new system that replaced Yammer) for FWC 2024 attendees, where you can connect with other FWC registrants, ask questions, and share resources as you prepare for your FWC experience. Closer to the conference start date, you will receive an invitation to our mobile event app, where you will need to set up an account to access the full conference schedule and details. The event app will also allow you to network with other attendees, share your social plans, and access additional resources. We will also share resources from workshops and other programs in these places after the conference ends. If you need assistance with setting up an account on Mighty Networks or in our event app, please contact wrjregistrar@wrj.org.

Recognizing the importance of being together in person when possible, FWC will be primarily focused on the in-person experience, but we will also offer a livestream/virtual-only attendance option. Please see below for information on what the livestream package includes. Specific details about the technology needed to livestream the sessions will be shared closer to FWC, but please plan to have a computer/tablet with a good internet connection and Zoom. 

Registration & Pricing

What are my FWC attendance options? How much does it cost to attend? What does my registration include?
FWC registration is available in three options:

  1. Full conference attendance (Thursday through Sunday)
    • The standard, full “Early Bird” registration fee is $595 on or before April 10, 2024. From April 11- May 15, 2024, the fee for standard, full registration is $695.
    • For any woman ages 18-36, the full registration fee is $255 (no early bird cutoff).
  2. Shabbat package (Friday evening through Saturday afternoon; no early bird cutoff)
    • The standard Shabbat registration fee is $218
    • For any woman ages 18-36, the Shabbat registration fee is $100. 
  3. Virtual-only attendance (Thursday through Sunday):
    •    The fee is $118 for anyone to sign up

All registration fees are in USD, and non-U.S. attendees must pay in USD or the equivalent amount in their local currency.

The full registration includes the following:

  • All (8) meals during the conference: Thursday dinner; Friday breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner; and Sunday breakfast.
  • All programming, including workshops, speakers, networking, worship, music, and more.
  • Pre- and post-FWC access to our private online communications and resource group on Mighty Networks and on our mobile event app.

The Shabbat registration includes the following:

  • Meals (3): Friday dinner; Saturday breakfast and lunch. Please note that this package does not include dinner on Saturday night; this is only available for full FWC attendees.
  • Programming beginning Friday at 5:30pm with worship services, running through Saturday at 6:00pm. This includes Friday night and Saturday morning services, Torah study, two workshop blocks, and a keynote session.

Virtual-Only registration includes:

  • Livestream access to FWC 2024 general sessions (3) and Shabbat worship services (2): Thursday, May 30th @ 6:30-7:15pm CT: Opening session & speakers; Friday, May 31st @ 10:00-11:00am CT: YES Fund Grantee panel on Diversity & Jewish Women’s Leadership;  Friday @ 5:45-7:00pm CT: Kabbalat Shabbat services; Saturday, June 1st @ 9:30-11:45am CT: Shabbat morning services with Installation of WRJ's Executive Committee & Board of Directors; Sunday, June 2nd @ 9:15-11:00am CT: Closing session & speakers with Installation of WRJ Executive Director. Virtual attendees will get access after FWC to recordings of all of these sessions, as well as recordings of four (4) workshops.
     

Participation in the WRJ Choir requires pre-registration but does not have an additional cost. Only full FWC attendees can participate in the WRJ Choir (which requires several rehearsals outside of the Shabbat package’s times).

Not included in your FWC registration are the following expenses:

  • Hotel reservations
  • Flight and other travel arrangements (including ground transportation)
  • Meals not listed above (such as Thursday and Sunday lunches)
  • Optional pre-conference Fundraising Event
  • Purchase of WRJ products
  • Donations to WRJ

Does WRJ offer any financial assistance to attend FWC?
WRJ offers a limited number of grants to eligible women, to cover the cost of one Early Bird (full) registration to attend FWC. Visit the Grants page to learn more and apply.

WRJ also had a Sisterhood Delegation Rebate program from our 2021 conference, which gives a post-FWC2024 discount to sisterhoods who qualified in 2021. If you have questions about this, please contact Heather Lorgeree, Director of Engagement, at HLorgeree@wrj.org.

How can I register for FWC? How do I pay the fee?
FWC 2024 registration is only available online. Registration will open in January 2024 and close on May 15, 2024. All registrations must be completed on an individual basis (no group registrations) on our secure online website and paid for in full by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) when submitting your registration. Once registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email, which contains the details about and link to make a reservation at the group rate at the FWC hotel.

If your sisterhood is covering your registration fee, please make the appropriate arrangements to enable you to pay at the time you register.

If you need to pay by check, please contact wrjregistrar@wrj.org for instructions.

All registration fees must be paid, in full, before FWC; partial payments cannot be accepted.

What happens if I need to change or cancel my registration?
If you register for FWC 2024 and are no longer able to attend, you must email the WRJ Registrar with your cancellation request and include the reason for the cancellation. A full refund of the registration fee originally paid, less a $50 administrative fee to cover credit card processing costs, will be provided for requests received on or before May 8, 2024. After this date, no refunds will be provided, as WRJ will have already incurred non-refundable expenses on your behalf. In the event of extraordinary circumstances, such as a documented illness, death in the family, or inclement weather that makes travel impossible, WRJ will seek reimbursement from our vendors on your behalf, but please note that no refund of any amount is guaranteed.

Cancellations for your hotel room must be made directly with the hotel. Any cancellation made fewer than 72 hours before arrival will incur the first night’s fee.

Can I attend part of FWC and pay a lower fee?
Aside from the Shabbat package (see above), WRJ will not offer any prorated or abbreviated attendance options.

Can I bring a guest with me to some or all of FWC?
FWC attendees will be fully occupied with conference-related programming from Thursday afternoon through Sunday midday. Therefore, guest packages are not offered. If you are being installed to the WRJ Board or Executive Committee and would like your friends and family to be able to watch, please stay tuned for more details about livestreaming our Shabbat services.

Program & Schedule

What is the schedule for the weekend? What types of workshops are being offered?
The conference schedule (subject to change) is available on the Schedule at a Glance page. More details about workshops will be added in the spring as we get closer to the conference.

Do I have to pre-register for individual workshops? 
All workshops during FWC do not require advance registration. An attendee may choose to attend any workshop onsite, as long as space remains in the room (on a first-come, first-served basis). Note that the WRJ Choir does require advance registration and will have several advance meetings/assignments (see more details below).

Are there any special add-on programs available?
​FWC 2024 features a pre-conference Fundraising Event – a lunch at the iconic Antoine’s Restaurant. This special event will give you an enjoyable experience, dining on delicacies at a classic New Orleans venue and enjoying jazz music, while supporting WRJ's important work. Sign-ups through registration are now closed, but please email wrjregistrar@wrj.org to be added to our rolling waitlist. Limited spots are still available, but filling fast!

What is the WRJ Choir?
The WRJ Choir provides an opportunity for women to share their love of music and singing with other attendees by rehearsing before and during FWC, and performing during FWC worship services. Coordinated by WRJ’s Nancy Cohen and working with musician Elana Arian, the choir will have one mandatory rehearsal via Zoom before FWC, and at least three mandatory rehearsals onsite (exact dates/times TBD). Materials and information will be sent in advance for preparation, and all rehearsals are required. No prior musical experience is necessary. Choir sign-up closes on April 10th and sign-up is limited to the first 30 women.

How much time will I spend in religious services? 
Worship is a very significant part of FWC. We are together for all of Shabbat and WRJ holds joyous Friday night, Saturday morning, and Saturday evening Havdalah services. All services and their music are arranged especially for WRJ FWC 2024 – you won’t want to miss the meaningful magic of hundreds of women lending their voices to pray as one!

Will we vote on Constitutional Revisions and Resolutions at this conference?
No – the Legislative Body Meeting for these voting and governance matters will be held separately, over Zoom, on June 18, 2024 at 7:00-10:00pm ET. More details about voting and the proposed topics will be shared in the spring. Attendance at the virtual Legislative Body Meeting is free and is not related to FWC attendance.

Hotel & Travel

When should I arrive for FWC? When does it end?
The conference is on Thursday, May 30 through Sunday, June 2, 2024. Please complete your online registration before booking your hotel and flight/travel, so that you will know exactly when to arrive and depart, based on the programs for which you register. For general FWC attendance, you should plan to arrive at the hotel no later than 4:30pm on Thursday to check-in and pick up registration materials; this means you should book a flight that lands at Louis Armstrong International Airport earlier than 4:00pm on Thursday, and stay through the conference’s end on Sunday at 11:00am by booking a flight that departs after 2:30pm. However, there are pre-conference options, including the WRJ Board of Directors Meeting (Tuesday night – Thursday morning) and the WRJ Fundraising Lunch Event (Thursday midday) that require an earlier arrival, so please book your travel accordingly for your attendance needs so as not to miss this special opportunity!

Where is the 2024 FWC? Where do I stay? How do I get there?
FWC 2024 will be held at a hotel in downtown New Orleans, which will host both our programs and our sleeping rooms. For security reasons, we are not sharing the name of the hotel on any public forums, including this website. You will receive the specific hotel name, location, and a link to book a room in WRJ’s block in your registration confirmation email. If you need any details prior to registering, please contact us at wrjregistrar@wrj.org.

The hotel is about a 20-30 minute drive from New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY). No shuttle service is offered by the hotel. You may tax a rideshare (Uber/Lyft, ~$40 each way).

For those driving, overnight parking is available at the hotel, at 25% off the rates (currently: $42/day for onsite/self-parking and $52/day for valet parking).

Cancellations with the hotel must be made at least 3 days before arrival in order to avoid paying a one-night fee.

Can I share a hotel room? How do I find a roommate?
Rooms at the FWC hotel contain 1 king or 2 double beds, and can certainly be shared between two women. Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations, including finding their own roommate. If you would like to share a room but do not have a roommate, use the WRJ FWC 2024 Attendees’ Mighty Networks group (to which you’ll be added once you complete your registration) and post that you’re looking for a roommate and for which night(s). Women have good success rates in matching up this way!

Health & Safety 

Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) is committed to providing the safest and healthiest environment for our members, participants, and employees. Of course, COVID-19 remains a factor when holding in-person events, and WRJ is taking steps to mitigate the risks inherent in such activities. We will operate within the parameters of our “Covenant of Care” document, which requires that attendees be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 and attest to the fact that they are not sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or other communicable illnesses. We will continue to assess the health climate closer to FWC and will share any health-related requirements (e.g., submitting a negative COVID test before attending) that attendees will need to follow. Our decisions and requirements will be guided by recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), federal, state/provincial, and local health authorities, and will be revised and amended as necessary. Maintaining a safe and healthy environment is a shared responsibility among the organizers, venue managers, and each and every participant.

In addition, Jewish tradition teaches that every person is created b'tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image. In the spirit of this core Jewish value, every individual who participates in events within the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) community – including participants, presenters, staff, vendors, guests, facilities staff, and all others – will be valued and treated with respect. Every participant, whatever their role, has a right to a safe and inclusive experience, including treatment that is fair, honest, dignified, and nonjudgmental. WRJ does not tolerate, in any form or at any time, discrimination, harassment, bullying, sexual misconduct, threats, intimidation, menacing, or any other offensive behavior or acts against anyone in our community or participating in our events. This includes but is not limited to actions taken against others based on their race, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, physical appearance, size, ethnicity, origin, religion, class, or any other identity. All FWC attendees will be required to sign off on our Code of Conduct to participate in the conference.

Miscellaneous

I have dietary restrictions. Will I be able to eat the food at FWC?
All food served at FWC is kosher-style, but not certified kosher (i.e., no pork or shellfish is served, and no meat and dairy products will be mixed in the same dish). There is always a vegetarian option available which includes protein, and we will do our best to accommodate dietary needs such as allergies to dairy, nuts, gluten, etc.

*Be sure to enter all dietary needs into your online registration so that we can make note of your restrictions and work with you and the hotel to accommodate you. If you have any questions or want to discuss your restrictions, please contact Amanda Feldman, Director of Events & Leadership, at afeldman@wrj.org. 

Does FWC 2024 offer accessibility accommodations?
The FWC hotel’s interior is entirely wheelchair-accessible. Elevators bring guests to the meeting level and to their room floors, where there are a number of mobility-accessible rooms. Please note that special accommodations regarding your hotel stay must be made directly with the hotel.

In accordance with WRJ’s Accessibility Policy, we strive to make FWC accessible and meaningful to all those who wish to participate. If you require any accommodations, please enter them into your online registration and also contact Amanda Feldman at afeldman@wrj.org by April 10, 2024 so that we can work with you to support your attendance throughout the conference.

Is there WiFi at the hotel?
Yes, attendees will receive complimentary basic WiFi in their hotel rooms and meeting space during FWC.

What is the dress code? What should I bring with me?
Dress is generally “business casual.” On Shabbat, attendees typically wear nicer dresses, skirts, slacks, and tops (there will be a break on Friday afternoon to change). A comfortable pair of shoes for walking and a light sweater, scarf, or jacket for layering (as room temperatures can vary) are also important. Finally, don’t forget to bring with you any WRJ/District pins and tallitot/kippot, as is your custom. And be sure to leave a little free space in your luggage for any souvenirs!

 

For any unanswered questions about WRJ FWC 2024, please contact WRJ Registrar or call 212-650-4050.