To: All
Statewide Committee Chairs and Committee Members
The CDC has offered interim guidance
for gatherings and community events in light of the Coronavirus
disease (COVID-19). While the guidance is substantially intended
for large community events such as conferences, concerts and worship
services, the Society has carefully considered those guidelines
as they relate to statewide committee meetings, which are frequent
and sometimes large.
Out of an abundance of caution,
the Society has determined that beginning March 9th,
hosting of in-person committee meetings at the Society
offices at 14 Wall St. will be suspended in favor of
utilizing our existing virtual-meeting technology. Committee chairs
that host meetings at their offices (“offsite” meetings)
are also encouraged to suspend in-person attendance and utilize
their call-in numbers.
Meetings are not being cancelled,
they will continue and committee business will continue since
the existing teleconference technology (Zoom Conferencing for
most) that committees use is scalable. This pause from the onsite
in-person aspect of committee meetings will continue for the time
being as we monitor COVID-19 developments and periodically reevaluate
the need for this cautionary step, which we believe is the most
prudent option for the well-being of our members and staff.
Recap and Additional Information:
-
Hosting of the
in-person aspect of statewide committee meetings
at the Society Offices at 14 Wall St. will be suspended
beginning Monday, March 9th.
-
Committee meetings
otherwise continue virtually utilizing existing Society teleconference
services. Call-in and video-in information is on your committee
meeting notice emailed to you in advance of meetings.
-
If you can’t
locate your committee’s call-in information or just want
to confirm you have the correct information contact the Society
staff listed below or your committee staff liaison.
-
Your committee
staff liaison will open the conference line as they normally
do now. If you have any issues, contact Keith or Dayana above
or the main number 212.719.8300.
-
For committee
members eligible for travel reimbursement who already booked
travel to a committee meeting, while most carriers are now waiving
change or cancellation fees, the Society will reimburse you
for fees not waived.
Your Society Committee Staff,
Dayana Jean-Marie
Keith Lazarus
Ernie Markezin