diff --git a/ietf/meeting/tests_views.py b/ietf/meeting/tests_views.py
index 527616ed9..25867fed2 100644
--- a/ietf/meeting/tests_views.py
+++ b/ietf/meeting/tests_views.py
@@ -634,6 +634,23 @@ class InterimTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
         self.assertTrue(meeting.number in r.content)
 
+    def test_interim_skip_announcement(self):
+        make_meeting_test_data()
+        group = Group.objects.get(acronym='irg')
+        date = datetime.date.today() + datetime.timedelta(days=30)
+        meeting = make_interim_meeting(group=group, date=date, status='scheda')
+        url = urlreverse("ietf.meeting.views.interim_skip_announcement", kwargs={'number': meeting.number})
+        login_testing_unauthorized(self, "secretary", url)
+        r = self.client.get(url)
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        
+        # check post
+        len_before = len(outbox)
+        r = self.client.post(url)
+        self.assertRedirects(r, urlreverse('ietf.meeting.views.interim_announce'))
+        self.assertEqual(meeting.session_set.first().status.slug,'sched')
+        self.assertEqual(len(outbox), len_before)
+        
     def test_interim_send_announcement(self):
         make_meeting_test_data()
         meeting = Meeting.objects.filter(type='interim', session__status='apprw', session__group__acronym='mars').first()
@@ -1071,6 +1088,29 @@ class InterimTests(TestCase):
         r = self.client.get(url)
         self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
 
+    def test_interim_request_details_skip_announcement(self):
+        make_meeting_test_data()
+        date = datetime.date.today() + datetime.timedelta(days=30)
+        self.client.login(username="secretary", password="secretary+password")
+
+        # ensure skip announcement option exists for Research Group
+        group = Group.objects.get(acronym='irg')
+        meeting = make_interim_meeting(group=group, date=date, status='scheda')
+        url = urlreverse('ietf.meeting.views.interim_request_details',kwargs={'number':meeting.number})
+        r = self.client.get(url)
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        q = PyQuery(r.content)
+        self.assertEqual(len(q("a.btn:contains('Skip Announcement')")),1)
+
+        # ensure skip announcement option does not exist for IETF Working Group
+        group = Group.objects.get(acronym='mars')
+        meeting = make_interim_meeting(group=group, date=date, status='scheda')
+        url = urlreverse('ietf.meeting.views.interim_request_details',kwargs={'number':meeting.number})
+        r = self.client.get(url)
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        q = PyQuery(r.content)
+        self.assertEqual(len(q("a.btn:contains('Skip Announcement')")),0)
+
     def test_interim_request_disapprove(self):
         make_meeting_test_data()
         meeting = Meeting.objects.filter(type='interim',session__status='apprw',session__group__acronym='mars').first()
diff --git a/ietf/meeting/urls.py b/ietf/meeting/urls.py
index ef30e5891..564e0f4e9 100644
--- a/ietf/meeting/urls.py
+++ b/ietf/meeting/urls.py
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ urlpatterns = [
     url(r'^ajax/get-utc/?$', views.ajax_get_utc),
     url(r'^interim/announce/?$', views.interim_announce),
     url(r'^interim/announce/(?P<number>[A-Za-z0-9._+-]+)/?$', views.interim_send_announcement),
+    url(r'^interim/skip_announce/(?P<number>[A-Za-z0-9._+-]+)/?$', views.interim_skip_announcement),
     url(r'^interim/request/?$', views.interim_request),
     url(r'^interim/request/(?P<number>[A-Za-z0-9._+-]+)/?$', views.interim_request_details),
     url(r'^interim/request/(?P<number>[A-Za-z0-9._+-]+)/edit/?$', views.interim_request_edit),
diff --git a/ietf/meeting/views.py b/ietf/meeting/views.py
index c4179297a..166191baa 100644
--- a/ietf/meeting/views.py
+++ b/ietf/meeting/views.py
@@ -1670,6 +1670,23 @@ def interim_send_announcement(request, number):
         'form': form})
 
 
+@role_required('Secretariat',)
+def interim_skip_announcement(request, number):
+    '''View to change status of interim meeting to Scheduled without
+    first announcing.  Only applicable to IRTF groups.
+    '''
+    meeting = get_object_or_404(Meeting, number=number)
+    group = meeting.session_set.first().group
+
+    if request.method == 'POST':
+        meeting.session_set.update(status_id='sched')
+        messages.success(request, 'Interim meeting scheduled.  No announcement sent.')
+        return redirect(interim_announce)
+
+    return render(request, "meeting/interim_skip_announce.html", {
+        'meeting': meeting})
+
+
 @role_required('Area Director', 'Secretariat', 'IRTF Chair', 'WG Chair',
                'RG Chair')
 def interim_pending(request):
diff --git a/ietf/templates/meeting/interim_request_details.html b/ietf/templates/meeting/interim_request_details.html
index 15c15e295..0add0c538 100644
--- a/ietf/templates/meeting/interim_request_details.html
+++ b/ietf/templates/meeting/interim_request_details.html
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@
   {% if user|has_role:"Secretariat" and sessions.0.status.slug == 'scheda' %}
         <a class="btn btn-default" href="{% url 'ietf.meeting.views.interim_send_announcement' number=meeting.number %}">Announce</a>
   {% endif %}
+  {% if user|has_role:"Secretariat" and sessions.0.status.slug == 'scheda' and sessions.0.group.type.slug == 'rg' %}
+        <a class="btn btn-default" href="{% url 'ietf.meeting.views.interim_skip_announcement' number=meeting.number %}">Skip Announcement</a>
+  {% endif %}
   {% if can_edit %}
     {% if sessions.0.status.slug == 'apprw' or sessions.0.status.slug == 'scheda' or sessions.0.status.slug == 'sched' %}
         <a class="btn btn-default" href="{% url 'ietf.meeting.views.interim_request_cancel' number=meeting.number %}">Cancel Meeting</a>