Masks to be required at 2022 National Conference

Started by Eclipse, August 14, 2022, 08:09:26 PM

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Eclipse

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/members/events/2022-national-conference


From multiple sources across the tubes...

""Greetings, Teammates.

I am excited that we can have our National Conference in person this year. I can't wait to engage with CAP colleagues from across the organization in Louisville. Unfortunately, we will probably have an unwelcome guest in our midst at the conference — COVID-19.

I write to you today because of my work with the COVID-19 Plans Team, as an organizational leader, and your teammate. We are all tired of the pandemic and are ready to get back to normal. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still with us, making many people sick across the country and in the world. The current variants are highly transmissible and much of the country is at the "high" level of risk, including Louisville.

(www.covidactnow.org). We have seen COVID-19 continue to spread at encampments, NCSAs, in our families, and in our workplaces. And in just two weeks, we have over 800 attendees planning to come together in Louisville to connect, collaborate, and celebrate. Because we need to make informed decisions, consider the following:
A member of the Command Team recently attended a non-CAP event at which everyone who didn't wear a mask was infected by COVID-19.

Our colleagues who have traveled to large gatherings outside CAP have contracted COVID-19. None of those events required masks.

Masking at large summer activities has minimized the spread of COVID-19 and allowed us to accomplish our mission(s).

We held a Command Council Meeting wearing masks in Washington, D.C., during a period of high transmission, and COVID-19 didn't spread.

Based on these experiences, Centers for Disease Control information, and my role as a risk manager, the data tells me wearing masks is the prudent thing to do. CAP's experience with multiple large activities this summer has proven that masks helped prevent attendees from getting sick. Therefore, Gen. Phelka and I have decided that masks will be required for all participants at CAP's National Conference this year.

I know wearing masks can be controversial for some. I am as tired of COVID-19 precautions as all of you are; however, we must protect ourselves and those we care about. We know and have demonstrated at other large-scale CAP events that masking works. Personally, I don't love wearing a mask, but I love my mom, who has COPD and is a cancer survivor; my brother, who has a rare blood disease; and my CAP friends, some of whom are older and some of whom are ill; so I do what I can. My heart tells me masking is the right thing to do, and our own results confirm that. Can we prevent all illness? No, we can't. Can we do our best to protect those we care about? Yes, we can. In my humble opinion, masking is a small price to pay to get to connect, collaborate, and celebrate with my friends and colleagues. We'll get through this together by adapting as we always do — I look forward to seeing you in Louisville!

Brig. Gen. Regena Aye
National Vice Commander"


Also interesting is now members are "Teammates"? Is that the corporatespeak term of 2022?
At least it's not "Airmen".

"That Others May Zoom"

Eclipse

#1
That would be a big 10-Nope from me (were I going).

Not because I have an issue with any organizaiton mandating masks (or other remediation), but
because there's simply no reason to subjective oneself to multiple days of fogged glasses
and being out of breath, just to sit through a bunch of old information, blue-sky
"wouldn't it be great if..." and "wasn't it great when..." presentations in a room full
of goobers wearing incorrect, non-N95 type masks, and/or wearing them incorrectly (cover
your nose and shave the beard grandpa).
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/facialhairwmask11282017-508.pdf

And of course, because eating is somewhat difficult while wearing a mask, the banquet will be a combo of
bedazzled ineffective masks, coupled with sitting shoulder to shoulder at banquet tables,
maskless, sipping soup, passing the bread bowl, and breathing on each other.

Especially in light of the CDC most recent "well at this point we don't know what to do, so
you guys are on your own while we deal with MonkeyPox...Peace Out!" guidelines.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0811-covid-guidance.html

Anyone who wants to wear one should do so, but if the fear of transmissibility is still
so high that there needs to be a mask mandate despite what the general population is doing...

...cancel the activity.

Or...

...if you are at higher risk for a serious case, or have people in your life who are, 
just don't go. Don't expose yourself or others.

Safe, efficient, effective.

Despite the fact that the "new" map(s) have at times this summer been in a state which should have put the majority of the organization on Phase 0 (especially in light of all the mobility during Summer activities) there has been zero guidance or comment on Covid Posture since Feb2022.
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/covid-19-information-cena

One could certainly conjecture this is due to a "cross your fingers" attitude, knowing full
well that another drop-back to remote-only would probably be the effective end of CAP.

"That Others May Zoom"

Eclipse

Also, anyone who has even causally looked through photos of this year's encampments and NCSAs
would know that the inconsistent and incorrect way masks are being utilized at most of
these events would in no way either prove or disprove their effectiveness, or any correlation
to being infected.

Wearing them in formation?  Yes, no, sometimes, maybe, what was the question?

During PT? Um...

In the mess halls? Nope.

How about in quarters? Hmmm...

"That Others May Zoom"

arajca

At the risk of seeming alarmist, if you're that concerned about it, MAKE VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE AN OPTION!!!!! I won't be attending it this year as I simply can't afford it, like many of our members. The past few times I did attend one, I really didn't get much out of it. I don't see any reason to go to another National Conference.

Eclipse

Quote from: arajca on August 15, 2022, 12:49:02 AMMAKE VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE AN OPTION!!!!

Agreed.  Why this isn't an option is somewhat baffling.

This seems to be a hard pendulum swing by some organizations and employers as if it's possible to
just undo the last 2 Years by simply removing the virtual options from activities and work days.

The result, at least that I've seen, is often people voting with their feet.

Considering inflation, fuel prices, and the chaotic state of the air travel industry right now,
Covid might not even be the #1 factor for non-attendance.

"That Others May Zoom"

RiverAux

Not that I've ever considered going to a National Conference, but if they are concerned about COVID to the extent that they are requiring masks then they could address Eclipse's issues fairly easily:
1.  Have a short training session at the beginning of the conference showing people how to wear them.
2.  Enforce it. 
3.  Cancel the banquet as there is no way to do that safely if airborne disease transmission is a concern. 

Brit_in_CAP

#6
Quote from: arajca on August 15, 2022, 12:49:02 AMI won't be attending it this year as I simply can't afford it, like many of our members.

Selective quote, but a key point, and not only for CAP events.

Cost of everything is rising.  Personal travel to California soon, and the airfares were scary.

Soon as I hit Save I saw the other comment from Eclipse making the same point: "Considering inflation, fuel prices, and the chaotic state of the air travel industry right now, Covid might not even be the #1 factor for non-attendance."

If I was still active, there's no way i could justify the cost of this event.

Jester


etodd

If we didn't have formal uniforms and all that bling, my guess is that attendance would dwindle drastically.

I've never seen anything at a conference that could not have been sent out in an email. Send out the pdfs and powerpoints.

Roundtable discussions can be held all year long via zoom.

"But its the networking" ..... can be done so easily electronically these days in many ways.

JMHO ... YMMV.
"Don't try to explain it, just bow your head
Breathe in, breathe out, move on ..."

Luis R. Ramos

Squadron Safety Officer
Squadron Communication Officer
Squadron Emergency Services Officer

TheSkyHornet

Quote from: etodd on August 15, 2022, 01:54:01 PMIf we didn't have formal uniforms and all that bling, my guess is that attendance would dwindle drastically.

I've never seen anything at a conference that could not have been sent out in an email. Send out the pdfs and powerpoints.

Roundtable discussions can be held all year long via zoom.

"But its the networking" ..... can be done so easily electronically these days in many ways.

BZ!

I think a lot of people also confuse the ability to network with the ability to drink in the bar or one's hotel room (en masse, sans mask).

Holding Pattern

I've been to several wing and one region conference.

I've yet to see a value-add from the national conference.

That said, I got more out of those things as a cadet than I did as a SM.

The banquet was a big deal for the cadets then.

I believe I got far more out of the virtual conferences and the virtual RSC as a SM than any of the physical conferences I did as a SM.

Without kids in the program I don't have as much invested in going to these conferences in the first place, but additional burdens like wearing a mask when I am certain that there will be no uniformity of n95 masks nor will fitment be done not only makes the entire thing security theater, but given the average age of CAP SMs I've seen at these conferences it makes it a dangerous level of security theater if the threat is significant enough to warrant masks in the first place.

---

As an aside, one of my squadron members has long covid and can't make it to these in person events anymore. Long covid is recognized now as an ADA line item when it comes to disabilities and not having a virtual accommodation for these conferences may start becoming an actionable issue, especially given we have proven that utility of virtual conferences.

https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/civil-rights-covid19/guidance-long-covid-disability/index.html


NIN

Quote from: Jester on August 15, 2022, 12:50:51 PMThere is no banquet this year.

The "Saturday night event" is different than a banquet this year. Trying something new.

I'm still a little confused as to what it is and how it will look. (since, you know, I have the visual of what the banquet looks like locked in my head)

I'll know for sure Saturday after next.
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.

Eclipse


"That Others May Zoom"

NIN

I believe the idea is that its more spread out than "8 people at a table and 80 tables" in "The Grand Poobah Ballroom."

I could be completely all wet on that. But thats the impression I got when it was described.

Something different than the old "rubber chicken banquet."  (note: I don't mind a rubber chicken banquet now and again, but that's just me. Some folks don't want to go to the conference, some folks don't want to go to the banquet, whatever. To quote a buddy: "You do you, boo.")

#lifeisasuperspreaderevent #getusedtoit
Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
I have no responsibilities whatsoever
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
The contents of this post are Copyright © 2007-2024 by NIN. All rights are reserved. Specific permission is given to quote this post here on CAP-Talk only.


PHall

I believe it all comes down to go if you want to and don't go if you either don't want to or are concerned about Covid.
Covid isn't going away any time soon so you all might as well learn how to live with it.

Toad1168

Quote from: NIN on August 16, 2022, 11:44:42 AM
Quote from: Jester on August 15, 2022, 12:50:51 PMThere is no banquet this year.

The "Saturday night event" is different than a banquet this year. Trying something new.

I'm still a little confused as to what it is and how it will look. (since, you know, I have the visual of what the banquet looks like locked in my head)

I'll know for sure Saturday after next.

The dress code confuses me.  Looks like you can wear anything from mess dress to shorts and flip flops.......
Toad

TheSkyHornet

Quote from: Toad1168 on August 17, 2022, 03:02:50 PM
Quote from: NIN on August 16, 2022, 11:44:42 AM
Quote from: Jester on August 15, 2022, 12:50:51 PMThere is no banquet this year.

The "Saturday night event" is different than a banquet this year. Trying something new.

I'm still a little confused as to what it is and how it will look. (since, you know, I have the visual of what the banquet looks like locked in my head)

I'll know for sure Saturday after next.

The dress code confuses me.  Looks like you can wear anything from mess dress to shorts and flip flops.......

Me meeting the National Commander


MSG Mac

No Banquet means I might just check out early and save one night's hotel costs.
Michael P. McEleney
Lt Col CAP
MSG USA (Retired)
50 Year Member