We've received many responses to the last email which was sent out (which appears below), which include reminders of our club's demographics and potential liability, as well as suggestions which range from developing a way to pass the boards from table to table to purchasing all new equipment.  We would like to remind the membership that we are not reopening at this time or in the very near future and that no decision has been made, nor will any decision be made without considering all relevant information.   While we welcome input from all of our members and these are all valid concerns, it is simply too early to be considering a reopening plan without having all of the information necessary to formulate that plan.

Here is the original message:

Many members are wondering when the Club might be making plans to reopen, particularly as State stay-at-home guidelines are in the process of scaling back.

With that, of course, come the inevitable rumors, so we thought it would be best to tell you exactly what we do know right now, and what we do not know.

First, any rumors that a decision has been made or that it is likely for the Club to reopen on a particular date are absolutely false.

There are many factors which will influence the decision to reopen.  First and foremost, the County Schools must give us permission to reopen based on when their facilities themselves reopen.  That decision is their's to make and will be made based on State guidelines that are in place.  Sylvia has been in frequent contact with them so we are assured of the latest up-to-date information.

We were charged 50% of the rent for the month of March and are currently NOT BEING CHARGED ANY RENT until such time as the School District facilities reopen and we are given the okay for our facility to reopen.

The second consideration is based on the physical mechanics of our game as it relates to ongoing social distancing requirements, as well as the demographics of our club membership, which includes a high percentage of high risk individuals.

A recent communication was sent from the ACBL to the Club Managers regarding this issue:

Dear Club Managers, District/Unit Presidents and Tournament Coordinators,
 
Cities, states and provinces are starting to release their communities from “stay at home” orders. In an earlier email (dated March 18, 2020), ACBL advised that clubs be closed until at least May 11, 2020, based upon recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since that time, many local authorities have announced plans to gradually reopen the economy if certain guidelines are met.
 
It will be up to local governments to determine how and when businesses and mass gathering events will be open to the public. You should look to these authorities for details on when your club can reopen and when tournaments will be allowed to resume. Please keep in mind that your local government may require social distancing to continue, which is not possible while playing bridge in person at the table.
 
While you should follow those guidelines, the ACBL recommends that you err on the side of extreme caution given that our membership population faces an increased risk from COVID-19. It would not be unreasonable to plan to delay operations at least until the end of the summer.
 
There is not an official ACBL date for when club games and tournaments may resume. Please comply with your local government regulations. When you plan to resume operations, please notify the ACBL at least two weeks prior to that date by emailing club@acbl.org for opening clubs and tournaments@acbl.org for holding tournaments.
 
Thank you,
Joseph Jones
ACBL Executive Director
April 29, 2020

While the ACBL is clearly not dictating when clubs may reopen, they do point out some common sense issues and challenges that we must address as we move forward.

With that said, there has been no discussion, so far, as to when to reopen, nor has there been any decison to continue to remain closed until a particular date in the future.  What we can say is that we promise to continue to keep you informed; at the same time, we pledge to not make false promises or to speculate without the benefit of accurate information.

Stay tuned for more information, and stay safe.