With respect to Governor Mike DeWine’s latest message and expected mandate to cancel mass gatherings, the Columbus Metropolitan Club will postpone live audience participation at its popular weekly Wednesday lunch forums for the foreseeable future. CMC will continue with regularly scheduled programming with speakers and panelists to be live-streamed via YouTube, free of charge. Audiences will receive instructions on how to view the live stream and to submit questions. 

The nonprofit organization alerted its members and its supporters via email. Members and registrants will be able to roll registrations into credit for future forums. The organization is also asking members to consider making donations to CMC to offset the loss of revenue during this crisis.  

“While the 225 average sizes of CMC forums may not fall under the forthcoming restriction of ‘mass gatherings,’ CMC is taking this proactive measure because it is the responsible behavior to keep our individual members and staff safe, and to demonstrate leadership to other organizations who might be developing their posture in response to the COVID-19 crisis for our community as a whole,” said CMC President and CEO Jane Scott. 

“We are sad and will miss seeing our friends,” she continued. “The Board and staff are hopeful that we will be able to resume normal live audience programming within a short time. We are committed to our mission of connecting people and ideas through community conversation. We’ll just be hosting it on-line for a bit.”

CMC Preparation for COVID 19
Updated March 10 at 3:30 p.m.

CMC is committed to convening meaningful community conversations which includes creating an environment where our members and guests are safe and healthy.

Unless otherwise directed by authorities, CMC will continue with its regularly scheduled forums and events.

When attending a forum, please use all precautionary means to protect yourself and others and join us in taking the following recommended measures:

• Please attempt to limit physical contact with other attendees. 
• If you feel ill, or unsure about attending a forum for which you have already registered, we understand your wish to stay home. For that reason, we are extending our cancellation window. Call (614) 464-3220, ext. 4, and leave a message stating that you wish to cancel your registration. We are happy to roll your registration fee to a future forum.
• If we do not hear from you and you don’t attend a forum for which you are registered, we are unable to give you a credit after the forum is over.
• If we are directed to discontinue public gatherings, we will communicate with you immediately. We are prepared to continue the regularly scheduled programming without a live audience by live-streaming to all digital devices at no charge. The television recording, YouTube, and all other video presences will continue, as will the podcast. 

Thank you for your patience and cooperation,

CMC team

Updated cancellation policy: Until further notice, we are extending our cancellation policy. Registrants have until 11:00 a.m. on the day of the forum to cancel their registration by email or by phone. Registrants will receive a forum credit.