Nationals

Messages

Folk,

The Executive Committee has been working on the plans for the 2021 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in the face of the pandemic. After informal polls of our membership, we have determined that the likelihood of having enough critical mass for an in-person nationals is very unlikely. We know that the sooner we moved to resolve the question of whether we were going to be virtual or not was important to everyone in making plans. Therefore, the Executive Committee has decided that it is in our best interest to have the 2021 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament be virtual. Our decision is complicated by the fact that we are under contract with the hotel. Fortunately, we have negotiated with the hotel and they have agreed to allow us to declare a force majeure event. This wonderful news means that Phi Rho Pi is released from the contract for 2021 without penalty. In exchange for this concession, which will save us financially, we agreed to make Bethesda, MD our tournament site for 2023. We will sign an addendum to this year’s contract to reflect the change in dates and a slight increase in room rates of $5.

This means we are free to move to a virtual tournament. We will work to finalize the way in which this will operate and vote on the changes at the NCA meeting in November. So, we will notify you about the nature of the tournament later. We will have to be very flexible this year as there is no way in which we will be able to do everything that we normally do. However, we will update you as we go along, and we appreciate your patience.

While it certainly won’t be the same as an in-person experience, it will provide the same national level competition, the same comradery and a very unique experience. We hope you will plan on joining us for the fun. We will see you in space.

Duane R. Fish, on Behalf of the Executive Committee