TLCA Cancelled! - 32nd Annual Rubithon Wagon Run Official Thread, Date Change - August 19-23, 2020 (2 Viewers)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Let me save you the trouble of looking for the FB post:

A NOTE FROM TLCA PRESIDENT ROSS WOODY
I’m writing today to respond to numerous questions regarding the cancellation and rescheduling of several TLCA events due to COVID-19 restriction. There is declared a national emergency by President Trump, the CDC and the World Health Organization which has resulted in cities, towns and states issuing travel bans and closures.

First, I want to share with you how our lives have been impacted over the past week. On Thursday, March 12th, our family and friends were packing and making final plans to attend our son’s wedding in Hawaii. On Friday, March 13th, the DOD issued a travel ban on all military families, which cancelled their wedding. California Governor Newsome had issued a ban on public gatherings, and my company had closed our San Francisco office. After talking within our family Saturday, our son encouraged us to make the trip in spite of the cancellation, and just make it a family vacation. Saturday and Sunday brought the announcement of closures to public facilities, parks, memorials and restaurants across Hawaii. Late Sunday evening our family decided that we shouldn’t risk travelling, and we would have to cancel our flights, hotels, car rentals, etc. It’s a shot to the gut because we’ve planned it for almost a year.

The COVID-19 restrictions issued locally and countrywide have led to the cancellation or rescheduling of 5 TLCA events. In most cases, events were full, and registrations were closed. The host clubs have spent some of the registration funds in order to put on these events. In most cases, the club spent a significant portion of what has been collected through registration towards the overhead of the event, as their “profits” come at the end from the raffle proceeds. Issuing full refunds right now could break a club.

In the cases where the event is rescheduled, our hope is that you can attend the new dates. If not, there is no choice but to work with registrants to refund registration fees. If you can’t make a rescheduled event, please let the registration contact know. Please have patience with the host club to allow them time to assess the monies spent, merchandise on hand, and their ability to issue refunds.

Over the next month, TLCA will be working with the event organizers to determine what can and will be done for our members that are asking for refunds. Our SOPs cover this topic under Event Cancellations, but it was written from the point of view where the registrant is cancelling. We don’t specifically cover an event being cancelled so we will need to address this with each event host.

I would like to make sure that at the end of this, our members are happy, the host clubs are happy, and the Board of Directors are happy. Please give us time to work on this once the “curve has flattened” and we can focus on a resolution. I know that we as a Board understand the significance of these registration refunds to our members and the clubs, and working together we will make it right. Just give us time to review it and determine what we feel will be fair to all.

To conclude my family’s tale of woe due to COVID-19 cancellations, even though we bought trip insurance, and have travel insurance through our credit cards, both coverages have exclusions for epidemics and pandemics. We are essentially quarantined to our homes, and can’t fly, even if we wanted to, but the insurance coverage won’t cover our any of our costs. The airlines are issuing travel credit, but if we can’t reschedule our trip, we will be out over $5000 in airfare. Our son and his fiancé are out several thousand in deposits and payments for things like flowers, cake, wedding dress, etc. I say this not for your pity, but just so that you know that I know how devastating this can be for everyone and that I feel your pain and anguish. I feel that if we are calm and use some understanding, we will get through this together.

I encourage you to use this time to write about your experiences right now as content for Toyota Trails. Write an article on an event that never was, or send an article about the project you completed as a result of extra time you may have due to closures and quarantines. The TLCA community will appreciate these stories more than ever.

Thank You,
Ross Woody
TLCA President
 
These are indeed strange times. Who would have believed last November that the economies of entire nations would slow to a trickle in just four months? Or that the news cycle would be nonstop COVID-19? It is a fact that the effects of COVID-19 are global and have impacted virtually every form of social interaction, including many of our favorite pastimes. Many events, including major sporting events, have already been cancelled, rescheduled, or are on the verge of being cancelled or rescheduled. Many of the fabulous vendors who support our event year after year have been (or may soon be) impacted by the economic downturn.

For those of you who thought for sure this was coming, you were right. For those of you who were hoping it wouldn’t, I apologize. I can assure everyone that the thought of moving the Rubithon dates two years in a row was not something taken lightly, and I seriously considered forging ahead with the June dates. However, after careful consideration, advice from folks I respect greatly and the need to secure alternate dates while they are available; I have decided to once again move the Rubithon to August.

One of the variables I cannot predict is the effect COVID-19 will have on the resumption of school for K-12 students, and their parents. Along those lines, the odds of all school systems across the country starting at the same time are slim, at best.

To wrap it all up, I thought it best to go with the dates that were available to secure Rubicon Springs, and far enough out to reasonably assure the Rubithon could be held this year. Ultimately this was my call and if anyone is upset you can be upset with me. To borrow one of the new terms used in this COVID-19 era, it was done “out of an abundance of caution”.

So, having said all that, the 32nd Annual Rubithon has been moved to August 19 – 23, 2020. There as still many logistical issues to overcome, and plenty people and things to coordinate. As always, we will do everything we can to ensure everyone enjoys a first-class off-road experience, and leaves with enough memories and new friends to last for years.

If you have already registered but cannot attend on the new dates, we will provide a full refund.

If you haven’t registered and still want to enjoy the Rubithon, then register and join us in August. The water is warmer, the mosquitoes are fewer and nights are more pleasant.

Sincerely,

Dick Thompson, Rubithon Chairman
 
As much as it sucks I think you made a Good Call ., With all that is going on right now ,Or lack of things going on .And late season heavy snow . I will see you in Aug
 
Thanks for the head's up. See you on the new dates.
 
We've had to adapt to some strange circumstances lately, and we'll adapt to this. I agree with the decision and am glad you made it now.
 
bummer. Can't make that :(
 
What would be the best way to go about cancelling a registration ? :(
 
See you all in August!
 
All, the Wagon Run is officially filled up (23 trucks!) and registration for the Wagon Run is closed! Like you, I sincerely hope we get through this and Rubithon continues on its new schedule. Stay safe and see you in August.
IMG_4131.jpeg
 
All, the Wagon Run is officially filled up (23 trucks!) and registration for the Wagon Run is closed! Like you, I sincerely hope we get through this and Rubithon continues on its new schedule. Stay safe and see you in August.
View attachment 2271456

For those looking for a run with about the same pace, and comparable rigs, look at Doug Hufts Breakfast Run. Plus, you can start the trip with a nice breakfast at Ice House Resort!
 
Like many of you I'm just counting down the days until we get together at Loon Lake. Besides 2m/70cm ham radio I use an inReach satellite communicator to let others know how things are going. Looking back on updates sent is a lot of fun. Here's an update I sent from the Springs in 2017:

1587624371229.png
 
What would be the best way to go about cancelling a registration ? :(
I don't know the official way of doing that, however my roommate is looking for a spot in the wagon run and we could work something between us if you haven't canceled it yet. He wasn't going to be able to do it, but life has changed and looks like he will be able to do it.
 
I don't know the official way of doing that, however my roommate is looking for a spot in the wagon run and we could work something between us if you haven't canceled it yet. He wasn't going to be able to do it, but life has changed and looks like he will be able to do it.

No objection from me, I don't know if there's a waiting list already though and if that would be unfair to them? @reddingcruiser ?
 
Hey folks! looking forward to another run. fingers crossed we get through this COVID pandemic and the trip still is a go.
I don't know the correct way to go about this, but if anyone has to cancel, my roommate is looking for a spot to jump in with his rig. Originally life got in the way but it is looking like he can make it. If not, I'm sure he will come with me as my co-pilot!

IMG_3888.JPG
 
I'm in meeting, I'll get back to you all soon.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom