The 2020 Friends of the Plains dinner scheduled for April 24 at the Copper Top in Emporia has been canceled to help limit public events during the COVID-19 pandemic. The dinner will not be rescheduled for 2020, according to Friends spokesperson, Susan Brinkman.
The decision is consistent with guidance provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
“It was a difficult decision to cancel the dinner, which is our major fundraising event for the year,” Brinkman said. “The Friends organization supports the outreach, research, publication, and collection activities for the Center for Great Plains Studies. Our friends will be disappointed, but I believe they understand the need for everyone to work together to limit gatherings and practice social distancing until this health emergency has passed.”
Friends will have the option of a refund or applying their dinner reservation to the 2021 event. Great Plains staff will be contacting participants individually through the end of the month to determine preferences.
Questions about the workshop should be directed to the Center at cgps@emporia.edu.