VEMA Members,

I can’t believe we are less than three weeks away from the 2026 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium (VEMS)! We are so excited to see many of you in Norfolk to share in learning, networking, and enjoying a chance of scenery for a few days!  Our theme of “Currents of Change: Navigating the Unknown” will be further explored as we discuss current trends and topics in our field.

Our VEMS Committees have been hard at work lining up another great event, including pre-conference training sessions, a service project on Monday 3/16 from 2-4PM,  a full conference program, an awards ceremony, a silent auction to support the association scholarship fund, and exciting networking events! A huge thank‑you goes out to everyone who volunteers to support VEMS—the conference is one of the best because of you!

The Association is also transitioning to a new app that syncs with our VEMA website. Stay tuned for details on how to access the app, which will also house important information for VEMS.

As we get closer to the big week, I wanted to provide a few things to keep in mind:

• All attendees are expected to adhere to the VEMA Code of Ethics. We want everyone to have a good time while we are all together, keeping in mind that we are a professional organization.
• We welcome your feedback about your experience at the symposium and encourage any suggested solutions to continue our improvement year after year. Please share your feedback through the post-event feedback survey. We use this survey to track ideas and suggestions and ensure the event goes smoothly.

We look forward to another great VEMS! See you in Norfolk!

Danielle Holmstrom
VEMA President