Since our last update, the Task Force on Re-Entry has continued to compile the growing scientific and governmental information related to COVID-19 and to meet to help guide the Board of Trustees in its decisions about our response to the situation. Our primary concern continues to be our members and friends who wish to congregate in our building, which is relatively small, confined, and not well-ventilated. Given the age of our building and the expense of retrofitting it to safely allow more fresh-air circulation, we have continued to hold most meetings, including our Sunday platforms, online instead of in-person since March 2020.
The Task Force has continued a phased approach to getting back into the building. With the advent of successful vaccines, allowing more people to congregate without masking and distancing, in-person activity restrictions are changing. As Task Force member Mary Matsui notes in her recent article, “reopening has many forms.”
- In-person committee meetings can be held indoors in the main hall with fully vaccinated members without masking and without distancing (pre-pandemic numbers). Only during non-Rhymes & Reasons hours. Attendees must show proof of vaccination.
- In-person meetings can be held in the upstairs office with fully vaccinated members without masking and without distancing (pre-pandemic numbers). Only during non-Rhymes & Reasons hours. Attendees must show proof of vaccination.
- In-person mixed group (vaccinated and up to two non-vaccinated members) can be indoors in the main hall with masking and with distancing (spacing dictates numbers). Only during non-Rhymes & Reasons hours.
As we begin to incorporate these new guidelines, our small outdoor events, such as lunches and walks/hikes, may begin to be modified if all attendees are vaccinated. At this time, we are beginning to identify if an event is for fully vaccinated attendees or for a mixed group. We are developing a reservation system to know who is attending, and vaccination status. At this time, if the event is only for fully vaccinated, those attendees must show proof of vaccination to ensure safety of all attendees.
We are continuing to plan for the hybrid model of Sunday platforms to begin in September. In-person attendees may be limited in number and will need to be fully vaccinated, showing proof of vaccination. We anticipate trialing the hybrid platform a couple of times during the summer Sunday platforms.
