Austin Civic Orchestra has canceled its February 5th concert and all
rehearsals up until then.
Mike
On Thu, Jan 6, 2022 at 7:33 PM Jarred Prejean <jarredprejean@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
For the record, I was only suggesting scanning a piece or two. Not all of
them.
------------------------------
*From:* acweboard-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <acweboard-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
on behalf of Jessica Johnson <jessica.a.johnson@xxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Thursday, January 6, 2022 5:34:11 PM
*To:* acweboard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <acweboard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* [acweboard] Re: ACWE's Return to Rehearsals
Regarding the possible plan Jarred just mentioned, we might be able to do
the scores, but we couldn't scan all the parts.
On Jan 6, 2022, 5:10 PM -0600, Jarred Prejean <jarredprejean@xxxxxxxxxxx>,
wrote:
Since we are a civic group that has often—and hopefully will again—get
money from the city, I feel like we should probably follow APH’s
guidelines, especially at stage 5.
We could do what a lot of schools are doing and go remote for the first
week or two. Although I’m generally opposed to scanning copyrighted music,
we could—if Robert has time—do a Zoom in which he goes over a piece or two,
perhaps with listening samples and a PDF of the score he can walk the band
through (or, you know, what he was describing earlier this week). We could
even, I suppose, scan parts so that people could follow along on the parts
they expect to play and perhaps even start looking at music on their own.
Of course, this is all dependent on someone being able to scan parts. Mike
or Jessica, that might have to fall to you since you guys have the music
right now.
------------------------------
*From:* acweboard-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <acweboard-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
on behalf of Warren Gill <mymaestro@xxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Thursday, January 6, 2022 12:53:02 PM
*To:* acweboard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <acweboard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject:* [acweboard] Re: ACWE's Return to Rehearsals
I vote to delay 1 week.
Further, I think it could be cool in a separate note to start sharing with
the band our planned spring program. Let's start listening to pieces and
get them in our heads, if not under our fingers.
On Thu, Jan 6, 2022 at 11:45 AM Robert Laguna <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Oh well... there goes that. Maybe we can have a zoom meeting on Tuesday to
discuss existentialism and the Gettier problem as it relates to Wind
Ensembles?
Seriously, though. I believe this means that we suspend activities in
accordance to our policy. Yes?
RL
On Thursday, January 6, 2022, 11:31:43 AM CST, Michael Bell <
mikekb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
As of today Austin is at Stage 5.
https://www.austintexas.gov/page/covid-19-risk-based-guidelines
Mike
On Thu, Jan 6, 2022 at 11:22 AM Robert Laguna <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
My dear friends,
I've read all the concerns very carefully before chiming in with my $0.02
because (for whatever reason) I know that sometimes my opinion as
conductor/music director may somehow have more weight than others'. As you
read my email, I ask that you take it on face value without judgement or
being suggestive of an authoritative outcome. You are my friends and I
deeply respect and love each of you.
I started preparing my response by taking each point (pro and con) and
presenting a counterargument for them with the hope that this method would
bring us closer to a clear decision. After a few hours I realized that this
approach was futile. Every major point raised presents a moving target that
has an equally relevant counter. This is extremely frustrating and the
stakes are high. No wonder we're here now. On the positive side, it shows
that we're deeply vested in each other's well-being and safety.
Seeking guidance through meditation and prayer, I was reminded of this
quote by Richard Bach (not related to J.S. Bach): “Your conscience is the
measure of the honesty of your selfishness. Listen to it carefully.”
I could go on explaining the insights gained on my exploration of
existentialism and how it relates to the Gettier problem but by now, if
you're not asleep, you will be soon. So I think I will spare you the
diatribe and get on with my summary and suggestion:
I believe that the difference between January 4 and January 5 is not
enough for *me* to change *my* mind when weighing the risks and benefits
of meeting to make music. I can understand why those who do not participate
in music at this level cannot see how essential this activity is to some of
us. So be it. When it comes to it the decision is as personal as any these
days (do I show up to work? do I go to HEB? do I get in my car with others?
do I get in a plane? go on a cruise?).
So here's my suggestion: Those who still wish to meet on Tuesday at the
regular time can meet with me. In the event that I need to get the music, I
can coordinate a time and place to do so. Folks should bring their
instruments. If there are enough instruments, we will sight read the
program. If not, we will have a listening session where I will play the
pieces while reading the parts and we can talk them through. Either way,
folks need to decide whether the risk is worth taking according to their
own situation. Nothing required, no judgement.
If (and when) we go to Stage 5, all bets are off and we cancel again.
Tom, I don't think that this would require a vote since it is in line with
what we decided on Tuesday, but I will leave that to you. Whether we move
forward, postpone, or cancel, do you think that a clarification statement
needs to go out to the ensemble?
All - Once more, thank you all for everything that you do for the ensemble.
Robert
On Wednesday, January 5, 2022, 09:44:31 PM CST, Jessica Johnson <
jessica.a.johnson@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I can see the point about polling not being necessary or beneficial at
this juncture. Honestly, the main reason I recommended it was to just buy
us some time to process this decision a bit more, especially in light of
the information Jimmy shared and the massive increase in cases that Warren
just mentioned.
I talked with a good friend who works full time at a hospital in Austin
(not the same one I’m at). He genuinely thought I was joking when I told
him about the plans to start this Tuesday. That’s why I’m concerned about
this. Along with:
-Short-staffing due to RNs, PTs, techs, etc having left the field over the
past year
-Short-staffing due to COVID+ personnel
-Even if a patient is hospitalized for say, a broken bone, and they are
found to be asymptomatic COVID, the staff still have to take extraordinary
caution to not spread it to their next pt.
-Omicron is spreading so rapidly that there is a good chance (not a
guarantee, but a good chance) that this wave will burn out more quickly
than others, meaning that postponing wouldn’t be a months long delay like
it’s been for us in the past.
-***No one is more tired of this damn pandemic than hospital staff.***
I’m not sharing this to guilt trip anyone. It’d just feel shady(?) if I
didn’t.
Jessica
On Jan 5, 2022, 8:32 PM -0600, Warren Gill <mymaestro@xxxxxxxxx>, wrote:
First, I agree a poll at this time is not going to change anything, and
would not be helpful in making a decision. For those and other reasons Tom
brings, polling won't work.
Two things changed my outlook, since last night.
1) Advice from a trusted professional (other groups also not rehearsing,
and cases hitting "close to home")
2) A look at the latest stats. 1250 new cases TODAY will probably tip the
scale to move into Stage 5 (another source shows 2,310 new cases but 0
yesterday (hmm)
https://g.co/kgs/obRjzq
https://austin.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/39e4f8d4acb0433baae6d15a931fa984
3) My gut feel is this will pass quickly, with the new variant being very
contagious but not loading the hospitals as deeply.
On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 7:51 PM Thomas Hensle <tomhensle@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Team,
My first question is: what has changed since last night? I don't think
that circumstances have shifted significantly since our meeting. We touched
on the possibility of postponement, but no one expressed interest in it or
pushed for further discussion of it that I recall.
I don't really like the idea of another poll. It feels like a punt of
responsibility after we've already discussed and made the decision. If we
really do want to postpone, we can decide to do so without a poll.
Part of our decision was acknowledging that band members are capable of
deciding what risk they will tolerate in the current era of Covid. This is
somewhat of a shift from our earlier pandemic reasons for postponement when
there was less information and no vaccines and/or boosters. Would a poll
save us a wasted hour if only 12 people show up next Tuesday? Yes. But is
that really a wasted hour at this point, given the framework for how we
came to our decision last night?
I do think we should be flexible enough as a board to change our
collective mind and re-vote on a decision we made if the need arises and/or
we get new information. My opinion is that we do not need to in this case.
We should continue this discussion relatively quickly so that we can
inform the band of what is to come.
Thanks,
Tom
On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 6:21 PM Marc Frazier <marcdfrazier@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Polling wouldn’t hurt anything.
Short delays might be easier for everyone to stomach than on again-off
again.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 5, 2022, at 5:12 PM, Jessica Johnson <jessica.a.johnson@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I support the idea of polling the membership to see if we should postpone
starting rehearsals for 2-3 weeks.
Jessica
On Jan 5, 2022, 4:48 PM -0600, Caroline Soper <caroline.m.soper@xxxxxxxxx>,
wrote:
I'm thinking it might be best to postpone 2-3 weeks atleast with the
latest surges going on after the holidays. That would give people
additional time to get boosted. There have been a number of cases at my
work place too in the last month. What is our current plan if Travis county
moves to stage 5?
Caroline
On Wed, Jan 5, 2022, 4:17 PM Ellen Knapton <eknapton@xxxxxxx> wrote:
We could poll members to see who would actually return now vs postponing a
week or two.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 5, 2022, at 4:00 PM, Warren Gill <mymaestro@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Much as I hate second-guessing, a week delay?
On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 2:27 PM James Bigham <jbigham98@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
*pokes head up out of trenches* "stuffs really on fire, yo.
Hi gang. Just wanted to give a heads up that things are grim on the front
lines. I've had 3 minions go down with a case of covid over the last 2
days. Lots, and I mean lots of tests are coming back positive. As much as
I want to be back and playing again, an unbiased assessment of the dumpster
fire we're in is necessary. It might behoove the group to postpone.
Alright, back to the trenches. More shells incoming. Stay safe out there.
Jimmythetuba
On Wed, Jan 5, 2022, 1:59 PM Marc Frazier <marcdfrazier@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Nicely done.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 5, 2022, at 12:32 PM, Warren Gill <mymaestro@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The acweboard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx email address does not accept mail from
outside the group.
In fact I sent one to this mail from another account, and I don't see it
in the forum.
On Tue, Jan 4, 2022 at 10:50 PM Thomas Hensle <tomhensle@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Let me know if there are changes to be made or things I missed. Thanks for
the notes Melissa!
Hello Band!
Happy New Year!
The Board voted last night to go ahead as planned with beginning ACWE's
season next Tuesday the 11th at 7:30 PM. Vaccinations are currently
required to attend rehearsals. Please read through the points below for all
of the information regarding rehearsals and the Band's Covid Protocols.
- Vaccinations are currently required to attend rehearsals.
Participants must be fully vaccinated, by the CDC definition
<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html>
(currently 2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna or 1 dose of J&J). * Please
bring proof of vaccination to the first rehearsal you attend.* Once
Travis county drops to stage 2 of Covid Alert, proof of vaccination will no
longer be required.
- If you are exposed to someone who tests positive for Covid, or is
showing Covid symptoms, please do not come to rehearsal for at least one
week.
- Any member who gets Covid agrees to inform the ACWE board by email (
acweboard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx). The board will then notify all ACWE members
who were at the previous rehearsal with that band member. Please wait to
return to rehearsals until one week after symptoms disappear.
- Attendance will be taken at each rehearsal. Minimum attendance
requirements will not be enforced. Please stay home to be safe as needed.
- Masks are required in the Covenant Church building, please wear a
mask when outside of the rehearsal area.
- Brass players, please bring your own cloth to catch spit each
rehearsal.
First rehearsal items to bring:
-proof of vaccination
-mask
-spit cloth for brass players
-your horn
-you!
We hope to make the best of this season while maintaining a reasonably
safe environment for our friends. Please do not take any risks you are
uncomfortable with. The Board has spent a lot of time discussing the Band's
return to music in person. We've tried to find the appropriate balance of
risk and reward, and more than anything we look forward to being able to
play music together again.
Thank you,
Tom
