Hi dee hi Ridgers!

I hope this issue of Behind the Scenes finds you healthy and well! It’s so hard to believe it is almost October.

It was great to see many of you during this year’s virtual conference. While there are so many pieces of the Blue Ridge Institute experience that don’t translate well virtually, I hope you were able to find opportunities to learn, lead and renew in “somewhat” different ways during our virtual gathering.

As we look to 2021 and what I am confident we all hope will be a better year, your BRI Board of Directors and Committees are diving into our work for the year. If you are wondering about ways to engage with your fellow Ridgers, stay tuned! In addition to serving on Committees or the Board of Directors we hope to continue to offer ways to connect virtually this year.

After a few months of uncertainty, Fontana Village Resort has re-opened. BRI 2021 is scheduled for July 25-30, 2021 at Fontana Village Resort. It is our intent to meet in person in 2021 and I am very hopeful conditions will allow an in-person gathering! Our Location Task Force is working to identify other meeting locations that may better meet our needs in the future, check out the update from the Committee below. For now the important thing to note is that any reservations made for 2020 that were not cancelled by you, have rolled forward to 2021.

In the busy days of the last few months, I am very late in sharing with you that long time Ridger, Libby Alexander passed away in mid-July. My apologies for taking so long to get this news out to our larger Ridger community. Please look for more information about Libby and her life soon.

Keep your eye on your inbox for Behind the Scenes each month and please reach out if you have questions or good news to share! Take good care and be well!

Wishing you well,

Heather Adams, BRI President 2019-2021