March 16, 2020
Good evening members. This is a very difficult time in our community and our state as the Coronavirus public health emergency continues to expand. We are each dealing with the impacts in one way or another. For myself, my husband Eric oversees the State Operations Center at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, which has been activated to its highest level to manage the effects of this growing emergency. So, unfortunately, I have a very unique perspective and insight on this public health emergency.
Given the evolving threat of the Coronavirus, and the guidance that has been issued by our State Public Health officials - guidance that is intended to lower the threat of continued spread of the virus - as well as discussions with both board members and Studio Tour committee members, I have no choice but to direct as your President that we indefinitely postpone the planned studio tour and any promotional activities related to it. Additionally, we will move to having our board meetings virtually - either by phone or video conference, and cancel our monthly general meetings.
We will reconvene the general meetings when it is safe to do so. In June the board and committee will look to see if holding our Studio Tour in early October is feasible. Refunds will be issued to those members who applied to participate in the June Studio Tour. If we are able to have a tour this year a new application process will be opened to all members.
I believe, based on my personal knowledge of this emergency and the research I have done, that we have an obligation to take steps as an organization to do our part to ensure we are not promoting opportunities to spread the virus further, or more importantly, threatening the health of our members. By complying with the guidance that has been issued, we are doing our part to protect the public health of ourselves, our family, our friends, and our larger community.
Thank you for your understanding.
Aimee Lamoureux
EDHAA President, 2020
Good evening members. This is a very difficult time in our community and our state as the Coronavirus public health emergency continues to expand. We are each dealing with the impacts in one way or another. For myself, my husband Eric oversees the State Operations Center at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, which has been activated to its highest level to manage the effects of this growing emergency. So, unfortunately, I have a very unique perspective and insight on this public health emergency.
Given the evolving threat of the Coronavirus, and the guidance that has been issued by our State Public Health officials - guidance that is intended to lower the threat of continued spread of the virus - as well as discussions with both board members and Studio Tour committee members, I have no choice but to direct as your President that we indefinitely postpone the planned studio tour and any promotional activities related to it. Additionally, we will move to having our board meetings virtually - either by phone or video conference, and cancel our monthly general meetings.
We will reconvene the general meetings when it is safe to do so. In June the board and committee will look to see if holding our Studio Tour in early October is feasible. Refunds will be issued to those members who applied to participate in the June Studio Tour. If we are able to have a tour this year a new application process will be opened to all members.
I believe, based on my personal knowledge of this emergency and the research I have done, that we have an obligation to take steps as an organization to do our part to ensure we are not promoting opportunities to spread the virus further, or more importantly, threatening the health of our members. By complying with the guidance that has been issued, we are doing our part to protect the public health of ourselves, our family, our friends, and our larger community.
Thank you for your understanding.
Aimee Lamoureux
EDHAA President, 2020