The AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo 2021 will be held August 7-10 in Orlando, Florida, and I could not be more excited. I first learned about the AORN conference when I was nine years old and my mother, who joined AORN in 1977, attended her first Congress in Anaheim, California. At the time, AORN’s President was Barba Edwards, her theme was “Reflections: Awareness for Action,” and there were 5,258 attendees.2 My mother returned home exhausted, having gained a wealth of knowledge, excited about the products she saw on the exhibit floor, and with a few freebies from the vendors. She also came back having made friends from all over the United States. But, most of all, Mom came home with a passion for AORN. I was 15 years old when I first attended the AORN conference, in 1984, in my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. That year, AORN’s President was Joan Koehler, her theme was “Commitment Challenge Change,” and there were 6,246 attendees.2 My mother was on the Congress Planning Committee, so I attended the first day of conference. My job was to dress up in a “Goober the Peanut” costume and welcome attendees (Figure 1). As attendees made their way to the Opening Session, I, along with two others who were dressed as peaches, posed for pictures with them. After changing out of the costume, I had the opportunity to watch the pomp and circumstance of the opening processional from rooms that overlooked the Opening Session. Although I did not have a plan to attend nursing school back then, as is often the case, I ended up where I was supposed to be. I graduated from nursing school in 2001 and joined AORN soon after. I became very involved in my local chapter and was excited to attend my first conference as a nurse in 2002 in Anaheim, California (the same location as my mom’s first conference). AORN’s President was Sheila Allen, who chose “Circles of Care” for her theme, and there were more than 6,400 nurses and 5,900 exhibitors in attendance.2 The pomp and circumstance of the Opening Session was just as special as I remembered. This time was different in that I was now a nurse and a member of AORN, and my mother was standing beside me. As President Allen, in her patriotic red suit, and her Board of Directors entered via the processional, my mother leaned over to me and whispered, “Everyone in this room is an operating room nurse.” A chill ran down my spine as I stood in awe of those before me. Later that afternoon, I was still in awe when Mom introduced me to President Allen. I felt like I was meeting a celebrity or royalty. President Allen shared that her daughter, Julie, was also an OR nurse. President Allen and I had our picture taken together—a tradition that has continued at every conference since then. Those five days at the conference in Anaheim are some of my favorite memories. Like my mother, I came home exhausted, having gained a wealth of knowledge, excited about the products I saw demonstrated on the exhibit floor, and with a few freebies from the vendors. I met colleagues who have become friends over the years—people I can reach out to for advice, sharing policies and competencies, and general camaraderie. I also came home with a passion for AORN. In her February 2002 President’s Message, Sheila Allen quoted Sherron Kurtz, who said, “To make a difference you have to participate – you have to be at the table. It starts with a single step.”3(p260) Those words, coupled with my first conference experience, inspired me to get involved in AORN on the national level. Sherron later became my mentor and guided my first steps toward AORN leadership by introducing me to other leaders, coaching me, and being a sounding board and editor for my candidate statements and speeches. In the beginning, AORN’s national meeting was known as the National Conference. By the fifth conference, the name changed to Congress—a name that remained for 55 years. In 2014, AORN’s national conference underwent a name change to AORN Surgical Conference & Expo. However, the name “Congress” has remained as the traditional portion of the conference during which Association business is conducted.4 Three years later, in 2017, the name was changed once again to the name that is still active today—AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo. This name encompasses all that the conference is: a global organization and gathering, a surgical conference, and a trade exposition comprising the largest conference for perioperative nurses in the world. In 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was spreading exponentially across the world in what quickly became a pandemic. For the first time in AORN’s history, our national in-person conference was canceled, and a new reality emerged—a virtual conference. During a three-month period, more than 8,000 people attended the free educational offering and virtual Expo. There were more than 14,000 total product showcase visits, more than 78,000 education visits, more than 22,000 total exhibitor listing visits, and more than 20,000 exhibitor education certificates earned. This was an amazing turnout for this virtual event during the pandemic. Because of the continued pandemic, the AORN leaders decided to move this year’s Expo to August and create another new reality—a hybrid conference. In 2021, Expo attendees will have three ways to attend: via the Leadership Summit, which provides management-focused education and activities in addition to the full conference benefits; the Global Surgical Conference, which includes in-person access to the main conference education and activities, plus 30-day on-demand streaming; and the all-new Virtual Pass, which includes online access to select sessions and experiences. More than 200 continuing education contact hours will be offered in a variety of options, formats, and tracks (eg, ambulatory, evidence-based practice, educator, leadership, sterile processing). Your conference experience will not be complete without a visit to the Expo Hall for one of the largest surgical trade shows in the United States.5 At Expo, our vendor partners display their products, present demonstrations on their use, and provide contact hour education in a live format or as study guide booklets that give you the opportunity to complete approved education after you return home. The safety of our attendees, exhibitors, and staff members is vital. AORN is working closely with Visit Orlando, the Orange County Convention Center, vendors, and key partners to ensure that we are consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. I have been fortunate to attend each annual meeting since joining AORN. There are many memories I have made along the way that will stay with me. One of the best parts of Expo, for me, is getting to reconnect with colleagues from all over the country and around the globe who have become treasured friends. The connections that I have made over the last 15 plus years are ones that I will cherish for the rest of my life. If you have never had the opportunity to attend, Expo is an amazing experience. From the concurrent education sessions and general sessions to the posters and the amazing Exhibit Hall—there is something for everyone. The conference will also include Congress, during which the official business of AORN will be conducted. This year, we will discuss and vote on changes to the AORN Bylaws. If you are attending in person, you can be a delegate and cast your vote—this represents that single step that you can take to become involved in the governance of your profession and be at the table. If you have not already made plans to come to Orlando, I hope that you can and will join us! You can plan on returning home exhausted, having expanded your knowledge of perioperative nursing; with education books and other materials, including a few goodies from the exhibit floor; with new friendships with individuals from around the country; and also with a new (if it’s your first time) or a renewed passion for AORN. Editor’s note: Visit Orlando is a registered trademark of Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc, Orlando, FL. Holly S. Ervine, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CNOR, is the AORN President and a system learning & development specialist RN, Wellstar Health System, Atlanta, GA. Ms Ervine has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as posing a potential conflict of interest in the publication of this article.