REUNION 2021 POSTPONED

Dear Fellow Communicator,

I am writing to let you know that as a result of the impact of COVID, the RNZNCA Committee has decided to defer the Reunion planned for 26-28 March 2021 in New Plymouth until April 2022.

When the committee decided last November to boldly go where no man has gone before, into the COVID world and proceed with the Reunion as planned we did not envisage or even imagine that the virus would still be around to the extent that it is.  The recent lockdown of Auckland and restrictions placed on the rest of the country shows that the virus is still a threat and an outbreak can occur at any time. 

After much deliberation the committee decided at a Zoom meeting last night that the COVID situation poses too much of a threat to go ahead with the Reunion as planned.  This threat is not only in possibly preventing at short notice the Reunion going ahead, but also in potentially affecting the health and welfare of those attending the Reunion.  There is no certainty that there will not be another outbreak or increase in alert levels in the three weeks before the reunion.  If Auckland is still in or back at Alert Level 2 at the time, the requirement for those from the city to still observe the restrictions of this alert level make it impossible to hold the reunion.  Moreover, a good number of the Association members are in the ‘at risk’ age bracket and could easily be affected if there is an atypical virus carrier at the Reunion.

By deferring the Reunion until next year, the Committee felt that this would give time for the COVID vaccination programme to be completed.  This will give a far safer and more certain environment with little, or no likelihood of outbreaks or increased alert levels.  Additionally, the Trans-Tasman travel bubble arrangements should be in by then thus enabling members from Australia to attend the reunion.

The intended venue for the Reunion will remain New Plymouth with the proposed dates of 8-10 April 2022.  The only outstanding action is confirmation from the venue that they can accommodate us then.  Once this confirmation is obtained, details of the revised programme will be promulgated. 

If you have reserved your Reunion accommodation with Novotel, we will also include details of accommodation bookings in our discussion with the Novotel; information on the outcome of those discussions will also be promulgated mid next week.

Those who have paid for reunion registration and events have a choice of either leaving their payment with the Association until next year or asking for a refund.  Those who would like a refund should email our Association Treasurer, Dearne Berry, on treasurer@rnzncomms.org with your Name, Service Number and account details or telephone her on 021 377 913 to discuss.

Yours sincerely,

G.D. HOUGHTON

President

6 March 2021