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At a special meeting of the APG board held Thursday, 26 March 2020, we made the difficult, yet unanimous, decision to cancel our 2020 PMC in Portland, scheduled for mid-October. Financially, our penalty for canceling this far in advance is one we can endure. The risk of waiting too long to cancel is too great for us to chance. With so many uncertainties, and a large number of genealogical events and programs being canceled or delayed, we felt this was the best and most certain way to manage our situation.

We are currently evaluating options related to an alternative form of conference or webinar series for us as genealogical professionals that might be assembled in lieu of an in-person gathering. Further information will be forthcoming. We look forward to preparing and presenting an outstanding conference, in whatever form, as we are able.

Thank you for your continued support of APG. We are grateful to the prospective speakers for their understanding of this difficult choice. Thanks to Judy Muhn and her committee for the work already committed. Thanks to Kathy Hinckley, our Executive Director, for her help in making the conference work go smoothly and efficiently, as well.

Be safe, and stay healthy.

David McDonald

President, APG

Dear Friends and Fellow Members of APG:

With regret, but resolve, APG has decided it must forego its participation in the planned conference at Salt Lake City in May, to be presented by the National Genealogical Society. We will neither host a booth nor sponsor a luncheon there, in keeping with recent guidance around reducing group sizes and social distancing necessary to combat the spread of COVID-19.

You all know the precautions to take to minimize risks for transmission of the disease. Please take them seriously. Wash your hands. Clean your keyboards and handheld devices. Maintain your distance from others in public settings. Eat healthy foods. Drink plenty of fluids. Rest. (Use the enforced downtime to work on projects you've long been delaying or ignoring.) Be attentive to changes in your health and in those with whom you share close quarters.

Be safe. Be well. Be whole.

David McDonald, President