<div dir="ltr">Good Morning,<div>I sent an inquiry to Laura, sales manager at the Hotel, and here is the reply message:</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Thank you for your email. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are currently closed until further notice. In case of an emergency, you can leave a voicemail on the sales line at 845-485-5300 ext 6208. Messages will be checked on a limited basis. Stay safe and healthy.</i><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">According to the contract, we would not incur a financial penalty for cancellation until the end of April. My initial reaction is to wait until mid-April and try again. What do you all think?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> </span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(11,83,148);font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Regards,</span><br></p><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" color="#0b5394">Mary Jo</font></div><div><font color="#0b5394"><br></font></div><font color="#0b5394">Mary Jo Russell, MLS, AHIP</font><div><font color="#0b5394">Knowledge Resources Library & Archives</font></div><div><font color="#0b5394">Nuvance Health / Vassar Brothers Medical Center</font></div><div><a href="mailto:vbmclibrary@gmail.com" target="_blank"><font color="#0b5394">vbmclibrary@gmail.com</font></a></div><div><font color="#0b5394">Office: 845-437-3121</font></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Mar 24, 2020 at 8:16 AM McKinnell, Jennifer <<a href="mailto:mckinn@mcmaster.ca">mckinn@mcmaster.ca</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Good morning everyone,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I just looked at the cancellation policy for our 2020 venue, and, if I understand correctly, we are bound by a few conditions:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">If we cancel 180 days or more before the event date, we are on the hook for 50% of the estimated cost<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">If we cancel 179-90 days, we owe 70%<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">If we cancel 89-30 days, we owe 80%<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">If we cancel in less than 20 days of the event, we owe 90%.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So what this means to me is that if we want to cancel and not incur too many extra costs, we need to make our decision before the end of April. Further complicating the matter is the fact that our borders are now closed,
AND our countries are taking very different approaches to managing the pandemic. I can’t predict the future; however, I am concerned that my (and Denise’s) employer, may disallow travel to the US for some time.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">One idea is to ask Mary Jo to connect with the hotel and see what the penalties would be if we postpone for a year (what if we cancel 2020 and hold the conference in Poughkipsee in 2021)? Could we avoid penalties?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">None of us can predict the future, but I want to be sure we are responsible with association funds. I also see some planning taking place for September. There are whispers that some of us may be living under restrictions
for up to six months. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So I’m wondering, what should we do?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Jennifer<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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