2020 Christmas/Holiday Party - Wednesday Dec 9

     Very recently, I sent out a note concerning our Christmas/Holiday Party that I made reservations for last year at the Fredericton Motor Inn  (FMI). At the time of sending this note I was seriously leaning toward recommending we cancel it due the growing concerns of Covid and the lack of serious distancing protocols that I seen in other restaurants.  I have since called the FMI and have been comforted from the fact that they have, I believe, the Covid social distancing protocols in place that will allow us to have our Party there.

     In last evenings Zoom meeting we had a moderate but effective group to review and discuss my new findings about the Covid social distancing protocols that the FMI will have in place. As a group we decided based on these findings to proceed with our Party provided we had sufficient numbers wanting to attend. I was asked to provide further clarification on some items and upon that generate a note to our club clarifying the social distancing and other measures that the FMI will have in place for us. Here are my findings:

• We will have a "private" meeting room that will hold our group but we have to have a minimum of 20 people attend. That too will allow us to have a buffet meal as in the past years. Buffet pricing will remain at $23.00 inclusive with coffee or tea  OR  $32.00 inclusive with dessert, coffee or tea.
• With the buffet, however, guests are not able to serve themselves. We will have an Inn server behind the buffet line who will serve individuals in the buffet line. We must wear a mask when standing in line at the buffet and must remain at least 6 feet apart.
• We will be seated 4 to a round table that normally seats 8. I'm told this maintains the appropriate social distancing requirements.
• We must wear a mask in all areas outside of our private room and we must maintain the 6 feet distance between people in our private room.
• We must provide an attendee's list to the restaurant for follow-up if required as per Provincial Covid protocols.
• FMI has a temperature measuring device at the Lobby enabling guests to measure and monitor their own temperatures. I recommend we all do this as an insurance to protect ourselves and others.
• We will not be doing the Yankee Swap or exchanging gifts as in the past.

      So that's it. Provided we bring our own masks or alternative approved protection, follow the distancing rules and  combined with the FMI social distancing measures in place our Party will be Covid compliant.

      We need to know confirmed numbers and names of those who will be attending. I need this as soon as possible to confirm our reservation.

      I know too that this may sound onerous but it's all there to help us and others to stay safe but it's also there to allow us as a very sociable group the enjoyment of getting together, to laugh, tell jokes, get caught up, talk cars or whatever and for a short while to get our snorkels above this bloody continuing Covid wave of bad news.

   Hoping to see you there,

             Gary