March 19th - 23rd, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions...and Answers, Too!

 
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Registration


Confirmation Policy
No registration will be honored without payment. Registration and/or payment received after March 15, 2024 will be subject to availability. You will receive a confirmation email once your registration and payment have been processed. If you do not receive an email within 4 hours, please contact us at Registration@Keystone-Conference.org.

Cancellation Policy
We know that things come up that may prevent you from attending Keystone. Therefore, we offer 100% refund on cancellations up to February 29, 2024. After February 29, 2024 all registrations are subject to a 50% cancellation fee because of the financial commitments we must make to the hotel and other service providers for the conference. There will be no refunds after March 15th, 2024. Please email us at Registration@Keystone-Conference.org to cancel your conference registration.

Also, in accordance with the Hilton Hotel cancellation policy, room reservations cancelled on or after March 1, 2024, will be charged the initial deposit of one (1) room night and tax will be considered as the cancellation fee. However, if we are able to replace your reservation with another one, you will not be assessed a fee. So please email us directly at Registration@Keystone-Conference.org to cancel your room reservation, not the hotel or 1-800 number.

Payment Policy
A credit card is required to pay for your online attendee registration. For At-the-Door registration, we accept cash, money orders and credit cards.

What is included in my Keystone Conference registration?
Your conference package determines which meals, events and activities you will be able to partake of. When you visit the Keystone Conference registration desk at the hotel, you will be given your registration packet which includes the conference program booklet, the conference badge which is your passport to the seminars/workshops/presentations, meal & activity tickets (as applicable) and various other material.

How do I become a presenter?
If you would like to present at the Keystone Conference, please visit our Submit a Workshop page and we will consider your proposal. We have limited slots available for presentations and workshops and our goal is to provide a diverse program for our attendees. Slots fill up fast, so send your proposal quickly. Deadline is January 15th, 2024.

How do I register as a exhibitor/service provider?
If you would like to be an exhibitor/service provider at the Keystone Conference, please visit our Exhibitor Information page. All exhibitors/service providers must register to participate at the Keystone Conference. Space is limited, so please register early.

What if I have a special need?
If you require any special needs such as dietary arrangements, coordination, etc. you will have an opportunity to let us know during the registration process. The Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel and Keystone Conference want to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

Can someone under 18 attend the conference?
Yes! The Keystone Conference is intended as an educational event. We welcome all attendees interested in the social, medical, and legal aspects of gender diversity. We encourage the parents and/or legal guardians of individuals under the age of 18 to accompany these individuals in their quest for knowledge and understanding of this subject matter. Because of the nature of some of the topics discussed, we require that attendees under the age of 18 obtain the consent of a parent or legal guardian before they are admitted to any conference presentation. Please submit the Download the Under 18 Release Form upon registration if you are under the age of 18. TransCentralPA, as conference sponsor, reserves the right to verify the age of any prospective guests and/or attendees, and to restrict admission to conference events accordingly.

First Time Advice


Checking in
The staff at the Hilton are well aware of the unique issues of transgender and non-binary individuals, and their friends & families. They very much enjoy our presence and you will find them courteous and professional. If you are staying at the hotel, you'll need to register at the hotel's registration desk. Since you may have the room reserved under a name other than your 'preferred name', we suggest that you leave your preferred name with the hotel in the event a friend tries to call you during the conference. Rest assured the hotel staff is friendly and accepting and understands our need for privacy and discretion.

The Keystone Conference Registration Desk will be located on the second floor of the hotel, just look for the marquee or ask a hotel staff member. The registration desk operational hours will be prominently displayed. This is where you check in for the conference and receive your registration package including your nametag and meal tickets (if part of your conference package). Please safeguard these items and wear your nametag to all conference events. Email us at HelpingHand@Keystone-Conference.org if you have questions or concerns prior to the conference. And don't be afraid to ask questions while you are here, too!

During the Conference
We recommend bringing a pad of paper to keep a journal, take notes and jot down your daily thoughts and feelings. Being immersed in a conference like this can be informative, exhilarating and overwhelming and may lead to a number of profound emotions, feelings, thoughts and questions that you'll want to remember and reflect upon when you have more time. There will be a lot to digest both educationally and emotionally!

Your name badge is required for admittance to all seminars, meals and events during the Keystone Conference. You will be asked to retrieve your name badge if you forgot it. It is also a great way to introduce yourself to others and get to know as many people as you can. Also, don't lose your meal tickets! They are required to gain access to the lunch and dinner events--no exceptions! If you have special dietary restrictions, special meals must be ordered in advance. Special dietary arrangements require a special meal ticket.

Conference


What is the schedule of events for Keystone?
A seminar schedule will be included in your conference program booklet which is available when you check-in at the Keystone Conference registration desk. The daily seminar schedule will be posted on the website in the Schedule section of the website. We will begin posting the general outline of the conference in December and expect all workshops to be posted by mid to late February.

Who operates this conference?
Keystone Conference is hosted by TransCentralPA, a Pennsylvania non-profit 501c3 corporation that has been serving the transgender community of Central Pennsylvania since 1989. The Keystone Conference started on our 20th anniversary to highlight and celebrate the wonderful community we are all part of. The organizers are all volunteers and our goal is to make this special event affordable for everyone, so please come join us!

What is TransCentralPA’s mission?
TransCentralPA is committed to providing education and caring support for transgendered individuals, their spouses, significant others, families, friends & allies. We are also actively involved in maintaining an outreach program to provide gender education to businesses, organizations, educational institutions and governmental agencies. TransCentralPA--formerly known as the Lower Susquehanna Valley Chapter of Renaissance--has been serving the Central Pennsylvania transgender community since 1989.

Attendance


Can I take photos or videotape at the conference?
Before taking any photos, you must get the permission of anyone you may capture on film or video tape including those in the background. Please respect those that do not desire to have their picture taken. Please no photos during the presentations without the consent of the workshop leader.

Can I ship my 'stuff' to the hotel?
Yes! Hotel guests can ship items to the hotel just as an exhibitor would. The hotel will hold the boxes for you until your arrival. If you plan to ship them back to yourself, you'll need to call for and coordinate the pick-up. We highly suggest that you ship them via UPS or FedEx so that you'll have a tracking number to follow your shipment. Please address the material as follows:

Keystone Conference
Attn: YOUR NAME
Hilton Harrisburg Hotel
One North Second St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101


Privacy Policy
The Keystone Conference and TransCentralPA, the host of Keystone, are committed to protecting everyone's personal information, identity and privacy. Please visit our Privacy Policy page to read it in detail. We have developed this privacy policy to inform you about what information this web site collects, who receives that information, what we do with the information, and how long we keep it. While we have made every attempt to make this policy as clear as possible, if you have any further questions about it, feel free to contact us at info@Keystone-Conference.org

What do I wear?
Participants are expected to dress appropriately for public gathering. Please use common sense and remember that you are representing our community. Formal, semi-formal and business attire are appropriate for Saturday's Keystone Gala Dinner & Dance. Note that the average temperature for Harrisburg at that time of the year is 52 degrees with a high of 63 and a low of 40.

Which restroom do I use?
The hotel has public restrooms on the first, second and third floors. Please use the hotel’s public restrooms in an appropriate manner and respectfully of other attendees. Restrooms are not to be used for undressing or changing clothing.

Conduct
Those individuals who are disruptive or disorderly may be asked to leave by the conference management team or the hotel staff, no refunds forthcoming. Anyone asked to leave by the hotel security will also be banned from the conference. Please be mindful of the effects of alcohol and drink wisely. Above all, remember: you are a representative of our community, so be a kind, polite and respectful one.

Can someone who is not transgender attend?
Absolutely! We welcome not only transgender individuals, but also their spouses, significant others, families, friends & allies. In fact, many of our seminars and workshops are specifically included to meet the needs of those that are not transgender, but know and care for someone who is.

Are spouses, significant others and partners invited?
Absolutely! Not only are you welcome, but your participation is essential. We have a very active group of spouses and significant others in our area who have developed several workshops to help your relationship as well as activities to help you enjoy yourself. Please visit our Spouses/Significant Other page for additional information.

Got a Question? Email us at info@Keystone-Conference.org



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