July 22, 2021
Dear Friends:
We hope this note finds you all safe and healthy, and navigating the ongoing challenge of COVID and its effects. Last week the City of Santa Monica extended its emergency orders through September 30, 2021 given a 500% increase in COVID-19 cases in LA County over the last month, including an increase in Delta variant cases among fully vaccinated individuals.
Earlier this week, we had the most recent of a series of conversations with the fair’s venue. Based on updates from state and local health authorities, along with ongoing developments regarding the threat of these COVID variants, we’ve made the “previously unthinkable” decision to postpone WestEdge until 2022. We were originally one of only two large–scale events slated to take place at the Barker Hangar this year; the venue has also made the decision not to proceed with any other events that will be open to the public until 2022. While deeply disappointed, we’re also confident that this is the most appropriate action to protect the health and well-being of our WestEdge family in light of the many ‘unknowns’ that continue to linger.
We were so close to making this happen…ironically, we were looking forward to our largest event to date this October given the demand from so many brands to re-engage with prospective clients. We hope that you’ll encourage your own individual networks to get vaccinated if they haven’t done so already so that we can fully return to safer gatherings.
We’re grateful for your understanding and support. Again, we regret that such significant concerns have resulted in this decision, although we hope you understand our precautionary reasoning. We are planning several initiatives (both programming and smaller events) to help our clients stay engaged with the WestEdge audience, and will keep you posted as those plans develop.
With regrets and gratitude,
Megan Reilly & Troy Hanson