To our Ignition Community,
This is an email none of us ever imagined we would be sending even a few months ago, but the current reality leaves us with few options.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce Critical NW 2020 has been canceled. We view the risk to participant health, the risk of pre-event congregation, and the economic impact on participants as simply too great for Critical NW 2020 to proceed.
You have entrusted us with the management of something we all hold dear. It is our responsibility and our obligation to act in the best interests of each and every member of Ignition Northwest. What that means has become something far more challenging. Like everyone, we are all stumbling in the dark, hoping to do what is right. Ultimately we have decided that the principle of civic responsibility compels us to decisive action.
While we don’t know what July will look like, guidance from health authorities worldwide have made it clear that this is only the beginning. There are truly herculean efforts involved with creating Critical, both on the part of production, and from our theme camps and artists. We fear any delays in decisive action will further encourage people to prepare in a way that is unsafe for themselves and for all they may encounter. Gathering together in groups, potentially spreading this virus further, is a real risk as we get closer to the event.
While the health risks, both on-site and in the months leading to the event, were a major part of our decision, there was an additional factor that weighed heavily on our minds. We also must acknowledge that many in our community are facing extraordinary economic circumstances right now. National unemployment has skyrocketed. Many in our community are in a difficult place financially or are suddenly out of work, with few options and no end in sight. We hope that we can find a way to use the time and energy that would otherwise be allocated to Critical to support those who have been hardest hit by this crisis, reenvisioning what we can build together.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and look forward to a time when things are safe enough (and legal!) for us to gather together in person once again.
With love and respect,
The Ignition Northwest Board of Directors and Critical Northwest 2020 Producers,
Chanel Ryssel, MSW – Co-President
Christina Donley – Co-President
Tara Fischer – Vice President
David Hendrickson – Director of Technology
Jasmine Fears – Secretary and Communications Support
Kelly Beebe – Director of Communications
Melissa Morgan – Treasurer
Heather Candeleria – Director
Jacob Lemberg – Director
Tracey Guice – Director
Decoy / Heidi Rennewitz – Senior Producer
Christmas / Kelly Owens, PhD – Associate Producer
Tuna / Morgan Davis – Associate Producer
This is an email none of us ever imagined we would be sending even a few months ago, but the current reality leaves us with few options.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce Critical NW 2020 has been canceled. We view the risk to participant health, the risk of pre-event congregation, and the economic impact on participants as simply too great for Critical NW 2020 to proceed.
You have entrusted us with the management of something we all hold dear. It is our responsibility and our obligation to act in the best interests of each and every member of Ignition Northwest. What that means has become something far more challenging. Like everyone, we are all stumbling in the dark, hoping to do what is right. Ultimately we have decided that the principle of civic responsibility compels us to decisive action.
While we don’t know what July will look like, guidance from health authorities worldwide have made it clear that this is only the beginning. There are truly herculean efforts involved with creating Critical, both on the part of production, and from our theme camps and artists. We fear any delays in decisive action will further encourage people to prepare in a way that is unsafe for themselves and for all they may encounter. Gathering together in groups, potentially spreading this virus further, is a real risk as we get closer to the event.
While the health risks, both on-site and in the months leading to the event, were a major part of our decision, there was an additional factor that weighed heavily on our minds. We also must acknowledge that many in our community are facing extraordinary economic circumstances right now. National unemployment has skyrocketed. Many in our community are in a difficult place financially or are suddenly out of work, with few options and no end in sight. We hope that we can find a way to use the time and energy that would otherwise be allocated to Critical to support those who have been hardest hit by this crisis, reenvisioning what we can build together.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and look forward to a time when things are safe enough (and legal!) for us to gather together in person once again.
With love and respect,
The Ignition Northwest Board of Directors and Critical Northwest 2020 Producers,
Chanel Ryssel, MSW – Co-President
Christina Donley – Co-President
Tara Fischer – Vice President
David Hendrickson – Director of Technology
Jasmine Fears – Secretary and Communications Support
Kelly Beebe – Director of Communications
Melissa Morgan – Treasurer
Heather Candeleria – Director
Jacob Lemberg – Director
Tracey Guice – Director
Decoy / Heidi Rennewitz – Senior Producer
Christmas / Kelly Owens, PhD – Associate Producer
Tuna / Morgan Davis – Associate Producer
