Virus cancels Badger Club meetings; planning continues

The Columbia Basin Badger Club’s March 12 forum was to be on a topic that turned out to be all too topical: A lively discussion on the health care system in the United States.

But two weeks before that meeting, it was apparent that the COVID-19 virus soon would be spreading in our community and club board members reluctantly agreed to cancel the gathering, which was expected to draw some 100 members and guests. Our judgment was that the potential risk, particularly to our older members, meant the responsible decision was to cancel.

That decision quickly proved to be correct as the virus attacked in earnest. As we all know, on March 23, Gov. Jay Inslee ordered a statewide shutdown, and we have all had to adjust to the new reality of social distancing. The Badger Club has canceled only one other forum since it started in 2008 and that was for a blizzard.

For many of us, social distancing has involved telecommuting or happy hours with friends on FaceTime or Zoom. The Badger Club’s board and program committee have continued meeting via Zoom, planning for the day that we can restart our nonpartisan topical discussions. At this point, our meetings through May have been canceled. We are making the decision on when to meet again on a month-to-month basis.

Two recent decisions by the board are driven by the coronavirus outbreak. For members, dues payments are being credited because we have been forced to cancel meetings. Memberships will be extended for as many months as we cannot meet.

Second, when we are able to meet again our intent is to feature a presentation on the impacts the COVID-19 has had — and will continue to have — on our community.

This naturally will include discussion on the impacts of social distancing on schools, our medical system and interpersonal relationships. It will also, of course, include examination of the impacts on our business community, in particular the small businesses that provide the foundation of what has been one of the strongest economies in Washington state.

The Badger Club has long tackled sensitive subjects, such as recent forums on the gun control initiative and the anti-vaccination movement. We have other forums in various stages of planning on the impacts of immigration on the Tri-Cities, Washington Public Records Act abuses vs. the need for transparency and a look at a little-known piece of our history from Hanford’s early days when Camp Columbia, a prison camp, operated at Horn Rapids.

We also plan a presentation by former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis when his schedule permits.

Another decision, though not caused by the pandemic, is on what we think will prove to be an excellent change in meeting venue. The board has decided to move from its longtime meeting location in Richland to the Holiday Inn Express in Pasco, immediately south and adjacent to the HAPO Center (formerly TRAC). This location will provide a newer and more modern facility in a location that we believe will be more central for Tri-Citians.

You can register on the Badger Club’s website to be updated by email on club activities, and you also can contact us through the website to offer any suggestions.

Particularly in these days when our country’s politics have become so polarized and often bitter, we believe the Badger Club’s mission of providing a forum for civil discourse on issues of importance to our community and society is vital. The day when we can resume meeting will come, and we look forward to again joining you.

This story was originally published May 3, 2020 at 3:54 PM.