INTERNATIONAL
FROM THE COCKPIT
Bill Lavender bill@agairupdate.com
Deciding to Distance or Distance from Deciding
State trade show organizers will soon have to decide if their convention will be held online, or some attempt at masking and social distancing.
A 6 | agairupdate.com
I received an email recently from one of the state associations advising me that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s annual convention would be held “online” as CE sessions over a four to six-week period of time. I had already given thought to this option for having a convention when, a few months ago, the Brazilian national association (SINDAG) decided to delay its annual convention until 2021. It also decided to host its 2020 convention online as a series of Zoom webinars. I have not formed an opinion on whether I prefer an online convention instead of no convention. I certainly have an aversion to wearing a mask during the entire convention, particularly during trade show hours. I fully understand the potential safety of wearing a mask, especially when social distancing is not an option. The recommended practice of maintaining six feet away from another person is probably not enough, anyway. All ag-pilots have a real good knowledge of drift and potential drift. If in fact aerosols of speech or coughing are anywhere near the micron size reported, I believe drift could occur darn near across the room. Obviously that doesn’t happen, drifting across the room, or everyone by now would be infected. Maybe the aqueous nature of the drift helps the smaller droplets evaporate before they travel six feet and the larger droplets fall to the ground before then. Hmmm… that’s an interesting concept. Regardless, state trade show organizers will soon have to decide if their convention will be held online, or some attempt at masking and social distancing. Depending on the state and the location, there actually may not be a bar open at the venue! Imagine that for an ag-pilot convention.
NAAA is moving forward with its plan to host its December 2020 convention in Savannah, as of the end of July. The demands of COVID-19 are dynamic and seemingly change daily. It is going to be a wait and see game as to whether there actually is a national convention in 2020. Assuming NAAA does have its convention, other state shows would be wise to send a representative to observe how it is done and return home with vital information about what works and what does not work for prevention of the spread of COVID-19 at a convention. No matter how much planning and effort is made, a trade show during a pandemic is going to be challenging and require tremendous cooperation by attendees. In less kind words, that means if you are not going to abide by whatever rules are in place, don’t attend. Don’t ruin this effort by NAAA, or a state show, and for all the others that are trying to get through this mess. Back to the masks - I’ve resisted wearing one, partially out of foolishness and partially because I resent being told what to do. However, if I step back and look at this act impartially, wearing a mask is as much for protecting those around me as for myself. I’m just not going to wear one while I am by myself driving my truck (I’ve seen this)! Everyone has an opinion about COVID-19 formed by facts versus outright lies by politicians for political gain. For every person arguing for preventive measures, there are as many arguing against them. In my opinion, statistically everyone will eventually catch the virus, unless a vaccine is found. It is just a matter of time. The masks, social distancing, closing bars at 10 pm, limiting gatherings to a certain number and other preventive measures are only stop-gaps, slowing the spread, buying time while waiting on
