COVID-19
Protecting Our Stakeholders From COVID-19 Transmission
With the cancellation of the January 2021 Southeastern Stamp Expo, one would have hoped that the environment in January 2022 would be more conducive to stamp shows, and social events in general. Regrettably, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has proven highly contagious, although seemingly less petulant, and has raised US Covid numbers toward those seen at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
The situation in 2022 versus 2021 is different, however. First, we have a significant portion of the population vaccinated against Covid. Despite breakthrough cases involving the Delta and Omicron variants, mortality rates among the vaccinated who contract Covid are far less than those who have not been vaccinated. Although these vaccinations are a personal choice, we do urge all of our attendees to get vaccinated, and then boosted, if you haven't done so.
All this being said, the Southeastern Stamp Expo, through its Organizing Committee, has a moral obligation to do all in its power to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Accordingly, the following policies will be in place for the show
Spaced Out Bourse Area
We are moving all of our exhibition frames to another room in the hotel down by the restaurant. The Peachtree Corners room will house all the exhibition frames, and you are welcome to walk down there during show hours to view them. The result is that we can allow more space between dealer tables, and in turn individuals, in the ballroom where the stamps dealers are located. While we love the idea of an integrated show experience for all who come including the exhibition, we feel this change will allow for a margin of safety and allow attendees to put some physical space between themselves and others if they wish it.
Reduced Activities
These may be the most distressing actions we have had to take. We are canceling our Youth Table (Stamp Explorers), our Hospitality Suite (open to Exhibitors, Dealers and other special guests), a planned Boy Scouts Stamp Collecting Merit Badge class, and our Friday morning United States Postal Service ceremony. We are also reducing our presentations and seminars to a minimal number.
Mandatory Mask Policy
This may be discouraging to those of you who dislike wearing masks, but we have many attendees who are elderly and/or have co-morbidity disorders like Diabetes/etc., who are at high risk from this disease. We want these attendees to be able to attend our show knowing that we are greatly reducing the risk of transmission of the virus. Therefore, despite the inconvenience, we urge you to comply with our mandate and help keep the most vulnerable among us safe.
We will have KN-95 masks available. These provide more protection than cloth masks, which are proving ineffective against COVID transmission.
Hand Sanitizing Stations
We will have a number of portable hand sanitizing dispensers throughout the venue. Please use them often. We recommend that you sanitize your hands before sitting down at a dealer table and after arising from a dealer table.
If you are concerned about your safety at the show regarding COVID-19 transmission, please check back here soon to review our policy and do not hesitate to email us at sestampexpo@gmail.com to share your views.
The situation in 2022 versus 2021 is different, however. First, we have a significant portion of the population vaccinated against Covid. Despite breakthrough cases involving the Delta and Omicron variants, mortality rates among the vaccinated who contract Covid are far less than those who have not been vaccinated. Although these vaccinations are a personal choice, we do urge all of our attendees to get vaccinated, and then boosted, if you haven't done so.
All this being said, the Southeastern Stamp Expo, through its Organizing Committee, has a moral obligation to do all in its power to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Accordingly, the following policies will be in place for the show
Spaced Out Bourse Area
We are moving all of our exhibition frames to another room in the hotel down by the restaurant. The Peachtree Corners room will house all the exhibition frames, and you are welcome to walk down there during show hours to view them. The result is that we can allow more space between dealer tables, and in turn individuals, in the ballroom where the stamps dealers are located. While we love the idea of an integrated show experience for all who come including the exhibition, we feel this change will allow for a margin of safety and allow attendees to put some physical space between themselves and others if they wish it.
Reduced Activities
These may be the most distressing actions we have had to take. We are canceling our Youth Table (Stamp Explorers), our Hospitality Suite (open to Exhibitors, Dealers and other special guests), a planned Boy Scouts Stamp Collecting Merit Badge class, and our Friday morning United States Postal Service ceremony. We are also reducing our presentations and seminars to a minimal number.
Mandatory Mask Policy
This may be discouraging to those of you who dislike wearing masks, but we have many attendees who are elderly and/or have co-morbidity disorders like Diabetes/etc., who are at high risk from this disease. We want these attendees to be able to attend our show knowing that we are greatly reducing the risk of transmission of the virus. Therefore, despite the inconvenience, we urge you to comply with our mandate and help keep the most vulnerable among us safe.
We will have KN-95 masks available. These provide more protection than cloth masks, which are proving ineffective against COVID transmission.
Hand Sanitizing Stations
We will have a number of portable hand sanitizing dispensers throughout the venue. Please use them often. We recommend that you sanitize your hands before sitting down at a dealer table and after arising from a dealer table.
If you are concerned about your safety at the show regarding COVID-19 transmission, please check back here soon to review our policy and do not hesitate to email us at sestampexpo@gmail.com to share your views.