Pilots,
After careful consideration (and heavy heart), we have little choice but to cancel the 2020 Applegate Open event.
This may not come as a surprise to many of you. We reviewed the Opening Oregon draft Plan from the Governor’s Office and weighed it against a few critical components including non-essential travel abilities both in the US and abroad, the ability to uphold physical distancing, and meet mass gathering requirements in addition to other elements. With many of the flying sites currently shut down, the lack of flying and teaching currency also played a role in the decision for both race and especially SuperClinic pilots. With all the uncertainties, rather than waiting two more weeks hoping the pandemic would disappear we chose to cancel.
For those of you who have confirmed your attendance with a payment we have some options for you:
- We will apply your 2020 payment towards the 2021 AO.
- We will refund your payment less the bank fee.
- You also have the option to donate a portion, or all of your paid fees, to a fund we have created to give back and provide support to individuals, businesses and/or projects in the Applegate Valley who will suffer economically from the loss of this event.
A form will be sent in a separate email with those details for you to choose your option.
For the rest of you who have registered but not paid, if you would like to make a donation to a fund mentioned above, here is the link to do so.
https://wingsoverapplegate.org/product/applegate-valley-relief-fund/
I want to thank the team of dedicated folks that have relentlessly supported this event including pilots, staff, and volunteers. The decision to cancel was not easy, but necessary in ensuring you and your loved ones some planning opportunity. We each must do our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19. We encourage you to visit Woodrat once it has been deemed safe and watch for updates on smaller organized events including the September Star thistle Fly-in.
Stay healthy, call a family member or friend and check in on them, pick up some extra groceries for a neighbor who may need to stay home more than you due to medical conditions, support a local store or restaurant by purchasing a gift card or other item, and thank an essential employee; that includes the grocery store clerk.
See you in 2021. Thank you!
Terri
Terri Stewart
President, RVHPA
Organizer, Applegate Open 2020
AO-organizer@rvhpa.org