Good morning. I am sure that like me you are excited for our upcoming state fall workshop series that will be this Saturday Aug. 7 in Middle Tennessee and the following Saturday, Aug. 14 in East Tennessee. Last week we received the National Awards, and I know our chapters are going to be excited to see their work honored by the National Society along with all the other wonderful things we have planned for attendees. I am also sure that like me you have been following the news regarding covid and the new delta variant that is starting to be seen in populations across the southeast. With this new variant in mind we have once again consulted those in the healthcare industry for guidance as to how to move forward with these workshops.
Since recent studies have shown that both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals can carry and spread the virus, in keeping with current CDC recommended guidelines we are asking that all participants wear a mask indoors at the workshop venues until you are seated in your session or where social distancing is not an option. This is also in alignment with a request from the President of MTSU that has asked for similar measures to be put in place for other events occuring on Aug. 7 elsewhere on campus.
Additionally at the Middle Tennessee Workshop venue the following measures and precautions will be in place:
*MTSU Ballroom is a 13,000+ square foot room with a capacity of over 2,000. Our registration is right at 300, so we will have more than adequate space to socially distance.
*Each table will be set to seat only 6 people. *Masks will be available at the information desk for anyone who does not have one. *Individual bottles of hand sanitizer will be available to all attendees. *In order to reduce the number of people touching boxed lunches, a DD or DS will hand a boxed lunch to each attendee from 1 of 3 separate stations that have several feet of space between them. *A new technology is being provided so that attendees can ask questions via their phone which will eliminate the need to pass around and share a microphone. *Individual session rooms have space for social distancing. *Registration, sales items, items for distribution will be located downstairs and sessions will be upstairs providing more opportunity for distancing. *Tables will be spread out in order for members to be able to socially distance as they shop or pick up their items.
Finally, if you are feeling ill, experiencing symptoms, or have been in recent contact with someone diagnosed with Covid, we ask that you stay home this year for the safety of our members. We will continue to watch for further guidance from the CDC and state officials as we get ready for this upcoming weekend, and we will reevaluate all procedures and measures for East TN following the Aug 7, 2021 workshop. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday as we kick off this last year of the Wimberley Administration.
In Service, Cecile
