4/6/2020 - 5:00pm PST The Oregon Country Fair Board will be holding their monthly meeting this evening at 7pm. The event will be live streamed here. A look at the agenda shows an extensive discussion of issues around the COVID-19 outbreak, but does not show a mention of a definitive decision whether Fair will be held this year. El Scorcho (me) will be watching the meeting. Watch this space for further news and analysis. Be well brothers and sisters! 4/6/2020 - 8:45pm PST
This evening the OCF board adopted the following statement and group of motions: Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we find ourselves just like many other non-profit organizations facing a lot of uncertainties. This includes our finances. Our current financial situation has us looking at the long-term future of our event. While OCF has potential fiscal vulnerabilities, there are strategies that can help ensure that we can protect our event, people, and land. The intent of these motions is to get OCF through this uncertain time; it is not an effort to change Fair priorities related to philanthropy, Culture Jam, the three-day event, long-term projects, staffing priorities, or other values that are reflected in our fiscal choices.
Two days ago the Fair board released the following statement: Dear Fair Family, The Board of Directors of the Oregon Country Fair has been pulling together to respond to the needs of the organization, the event, and the Fair Family in these uncertain times. There is much to consider—many fine details and moving parts—in any decision that the Board makes. Each must be made with due care and be consistent both with our duty of stewardship to the organization and the health and well-being of our community. We appreciate your patience and trust as we navigate this unprecedented time in the history of the Fair, and of the world. The coronavirus has laid siege to the world and all of its inhabitants. Without adequate testing, treatment or cure, the only defense is to change personal behaviors, cease gathering, and physically distance ourselves. In response to a public health order prohibiting mass gatherings, the Fair is postponing ticket sales, booth registration, contracting, and booking entertainers. The office and Fair site are closed to all but essential activity. Plans for Culture Jam are on hold. Fair management in consultation with the Board have engaged attorneys, land use planners, financial professionals, and other expert consultants for advice and assistance. Their charge is to pursue whatever actions are necessary to ensure that we can put on the Fair we all love when the pandemic is controlled and the prohibition on mass gatherings has been lifted. We are committed to keeping the Fair family informed in a timely way as the Fair leadership continues to navigate the legal, financial, and political processes that affect our Essential Event. We plan to prioritize communication with you moving forward and will release updates as frequently as we have new information to share with the Family. We love you. We ARE you. Please take care of each other and be gentle with yourselves as we all move through this challenging situation together. With love, The Oregon Country Fair Board of Directors Clearly the board is taking a very cautious stance. It was shared in the treasurers report during the meeting that the Fair has $1.3 million on hand going forward. While to some this may seem like a large sum of money (it sure is in my world!), for a philanthropic organization with significant land holdings that holds an annual event that hosts many thousands of people, this amount gives pause, especially considering that the primary fundraising event might not happen or may have less than robust attendance. While the board DID NOT make a definitive decision to postpone or cancel the Oregon Country Fair event, there was ample community comment urging one of those courses of action. Most notable was a message read by the Gypsy Caravan performers and crew stating that as a group, they would not be at Fair if the event is held. Other community members advocated for a virtual event with live streamed performances from the Fair site. There was very little support for holding the Fair as scheduled. As it stands tonight, we don't know what will happen come Fair time this summer. Try not to let it bother you too much. Focus on staying healthy and happy. Continue maintaining physical distancing and sheltering in place as much as you are able. The more we fight the virus the quicker we can get back to a semblance of normal...with or without the Fair. Peace and love, El Scorcho
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Author: El Scorcho (not his real name)Been camping for Fair at Zumwalt since 1994 and still haven't seen it all. Why else have a blog for something that lasts three days, once a year? I am not an employee of the City of Veneta and have no affiliation with the Oregon Country Fair. Well, I go to Fair and I do volunteer stuff at camp, but that in no way makes this website and blog official. Consume with caution! Archives
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