Date: 1/19/26 12:33 pm From: Shirley Farrell via groups.io <shirfarr...> Subject: [ALbirds] 2026 Winter AOS Meeting CANCELLATION Due to Weather
Dear AOS Members and Registered Attendees,
After careful consultation with the AOS Executive Board and our advisors,
we have made the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming Winter AOS
Meeting due to anticipated weather conditions. I will email each registrant
as soon as I receive the updated registration list. I wanted to start
sending out the cancellation as soon as possible.
From Friday through Saturday, forecasts are calling for rain and snow
across Guntersville and North Alabama, with temperatures reaching only
about 33 degrees on Sunday. Given these conditions, travel on the mountain
would likely be difficult—and potentially unsafe. We would much rather err
on the side of caution and prioritize everyone’s safety.
*Lodging Cancellation Information*
According to the Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge, reservations must
be *canceled
at least 72 hours prior to arrival*. To cancel your reservation, you may:
-
Call the reservation desk at *(256) 571-5440*, or
-
Please note that you will need your confirmation number and the email
address used to make the reservation. While online cancellation is
available, I personally prefer speaking with a live person; however, the
lodge has shared that only one staff member is working the reservation desk
today, so hold times may be longer than usual.
*Meeting & Food Fee Options*
AOS is offering registered attendees the following options for meeting and
food fees:
1.
Donate your payment to AOS
2.
Receive a full refund
3.
Apply your payment toward the Spring Meeting
*(Please note: Spring meeting registration costs will increase, but your
registration will be honored at the Winter meeting rate.)*
Please click the link below to let us know how you would like us to handle
your meeting and (if applicable) banquet fees :
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. This was not
an easy decision, but we believe it is the right one to ensure the safety
and well-being of our members.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of AOS. We look
forward to gathering together soon under better conditions. We hope to see
you at the Spring Meeting, April 17-19, 2026, with Dr. Jason Hoeksema,
shorebird expert, as the speaker.
Warm regards,
*Shirley Farrell*
President, Alabama Ornithological Society
