It is with the deepest regret and certainly a large amount of displeasure that we must announce that STAR2020 must be cancelled. It is simply going to be too much of a logistical and legal nightmare to pull off such a large gathering during this period of pandemic and governmentally mandated regulations.
To understand the challenges, we suggest you read the CDC website in regards to managing events during this time.
From the CDC report, "The more people an individual interacts with at a gathering and the longer the interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with Covid-19 and Covid-19 spreading." and, "Highest Risk: Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 foot apart and attendees travel from outside the local area.:
That's STAR in a nutshell, isn't it?
So after getting an opinion on what legal ramifications we might have if we couldn't adhere to all the mandates, after getting medical opinions from various sources, and after discussing the logistics and other factors with club leaders and STAR organizers, the EC was unanimous in its decision to cancel STAR2020 and begin work on STAR2021.
All MSTA members will receive a more in-depth explanation via email, people that have already registered will receive a refund, and the bike raffle will be still held. Look for information on the bike raffle and STAR 2021 in future emails and updates.
The EC