Date: 1/19/26 1:36 pm From: Shirley Farrell via groups.io <shirfarr...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] 2026 Winter AOS Meeting CANCELLATION Due to Weather
Thank you! It is not easy to cancel all of the fun plans that were made.
FYI: We have reserved Lake Guntersville for the 2027 winter meeting,
January 22--24, 2027.
Shirley
On Mon, Jan 19, 2026 at 2:47 PM Paul Franklin via groups.io <phfranklin36=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> I commend this very wise and conscientious decision.
>
>
> On Monday, January 19, 2026 at 02:33:52 PM CST, Shirley Farrell via
> groups.io <shirfarr...> wrote:
>
>
> 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
> -
>
> Cancel online at: https://reserve.alapark.com/cancel/ >
> 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 :
>
> 👉 https://tinyurl.com/2026-AOS-meeting >
> 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
>
>
>
