We are 9 Days away from our new Aloha LTC Tournament. We realize that covid is still prevalent along with other seasonal illnesses that are affecting some teams. We also realize that some teams have some serious concerns as it comes to Covid and have chosen to not play at this time and we respect that. We also realize that some teams may be torn on participating in this tournament for fear of missing out on an opportunity for a trip to Hawaii. We have debated on whether to cancel this tournament altogether this year and push it back to next year where we would send a team from the South & a team from the North. However, after carefully reviewing this option, we quickly realized that this would hurt a couple teams that are breaking up, as well as some players who are leaving teams or the area all together. We always try to do our best to make the best decision for the safety and gratification on of the majority of our members and teams and yes, sometimes it doesn’t work for everyone and for that we apologize. So, Rosanne & I decided this is not the fairest option at this time. What we have decided is to give the teams the following two options. We will send this news release link out to all our Aloha LTC Team Captains so that they can discuss with their teams which option their team would prefer.

Option 1: If a team is not comfortable playing in this tournament, due to Covid or not feeling comfortable in this large of a setting. Teams have the option to push their qualification back until next years tournament. So, whether a team gets requalified or not, they would be entered into next years Aloha LTC.

Option 2: Teams that play decide their team wants to play in this Years Aloha LTC, due so of their own accord and being fully aware that this is a 3-day event with many rounds of play and tighter spacing due to the fact we will be using all 8 tables for the majority of the rounds. Teams that decide this option to play in this event also do so being fully warned in advance, that masks while SHOOTING their match or WALKING around, will be strictly enforced at all times. And what we mean by that is that the masks while SHOOTING or while WALKING around must be covering both their mouth and nose. If a team is not ok with that, or physically can’t do that at this time, then it is best that these teams choose option 1. We will only give 1 warning & 1 warning to the player who either forgets to wear it properly or simply refuses to. After that, they will be asked to leave post 82. So AGAIN! If a team simply does not feel safe with Covid right now, or members of your team simply cannot wear a masks due to health issues or concerns or simply do not want to wear one PROPERLY, than please choose option 1.

Option 2B: Teams who decide to participate and can do so while being able to follow the Mask guidelines listed above will also have the following option. Due to the serious restrictions in Hawaii in general along with the requirements to even get on a flight for Hawaii. The team who wins this event will have the option to push their trip back until 2023. I will explain this option in greater detail during the event. The winning team can also choose to go to Hawaii this year as the Hotel accommodations have already been booked and are still reserved at this time.

We ask that Team Captains discuss these options with their teams and notify us by Friday on what option their team would like to choose.

We are also not going to get into a political debate on this issue. We are also not saying that we are in favor of mask wearing or that we are not in favor of it. We are not saying we are in favor of getting vaccinated or not getting vaccinated. What we are saying is that this is the current mandate that is in place. It’s also a mandate that is currently keeping businesses from being once again forced to close as well as a current mandate that does make some members feel safe. So, we ask that those of you who have strong views on this subject one way or another, simply not only keep this debate and rhetoric out of this tournament but also out of league play in general. We get some of you have some serious strong views on vaccines or masks, but most of members come to league night to get away from all that rhetoric and political divide. This tournament & League night is not the time for these kinds of arguments.  If we all stop looking at it as being compliant, or not being told what to do by the government and instead start thinking about it as just doing what we all have to do right now to keep our host locations doors open, helping the player next to you feel safer and just doing your part to help ensure that our league does not get shut down again, I truly believe it will help us all get through this together the way our APA family should. Let’s work with each other not against each other.