The Sacred Fire In Winter

New Year’s Class Attendance Guidelines

Although the New Year’s Class will be primarily virtual, several members have asked if it is possible for them to attend in person.

Montana is currently under a Phase 2 COVID-19 directive, which restricts public gatherings in closed spaces, unless proper social distancing can be maintained. In addition, due to a reduction in staff, we are currently not able to provide all the services that normally are part of the conference.

Working within these parameters, we have adopted the following guidelines for our local members who would like to attend in person. Out-of-state attendance is not encouraged due to extra quarantine or testing requirements, and we are not yet able to receive international visitors.

1. Our main program will be offered in King Arthur’s Court and will be broadcast worldwide. The Spanish program will be available on the TSL broadcast only. Russian translations can be accessed through registration on the TSLRussia.org broadcast site.
2. Our interactive “Essentials of the Teachings” program will be conducted online, using Zoom videoconferencing. The Spanish Essentials Program will also be offered online.
3. Due to state restrictions, this event will not be open to the public. Only members will be able to attend (Keepers of the Flame in good standing), and they are encouraged to pre-register.
4. Capacity in the Court will be limited in order to provide for distancing between people. We will not pre-assign seats. Limited overflow seating will be available if we reach capacity in the Court.
5. Montana currently has no quarantine requirements for visitors arriving from other states. However, we have our own quarantine requirement for people visiting the Ranch from other states. The purpose of this is to provide for the safety of conferees and reduce the possibility of having an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Inner Retreat. See the requirements below.*
6. Montana has a state-wide mandate, with limited exceptions, for face coverings in indoor public spaces and in outdoor spaces where social distancing is not possible. Since this event will not be open to the public, we will not be requiring conferees to wear masks, but you are welcome to do so. For more information about the governor’s orders, go to https://covid19.mt.gov/Masks-and-Face-Coverings
7. We are not able to offer any on-site housing for this conference.
8. There is no shuttle service available.
9. There will be fresh meals served during the conference at the Ranch Kitchen (restaurant), with precautions taken for the prevention of spreading germs.
10. The bookstore will also be open to conference attendees, encouraging the use of face coverings and social distancing.
11. While we will be taking every precaution to keep everyone safe, please understand that given the current state of the pandemic in Montana and the U.S. in general, we can’t offer any guarantees, and attendance is at your own risk. In particular, if you are in the category of people who are at higher risk for COVID-19 complications due to age or pre-existing health conditions, we recommend that you do not attend in person and join us on the broadcast instead.

*Inner Retreat Out-of-State Travel Quarantine/Testing Requirements

If you plan on traveling to the IR or have arrived here in the last 7 to 14-days then you are required to take the one of the following actions to comply with our out-of-state traveler quarantine/testing requirements:

• Quarantine for a minimum of 10-days
• Quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if negative test result is obtained. Test must occur 3-5 days after your arrival

You may contact Bozeman Deaconess Hospital or the Livingston Urgent Care facility for COVID testing.

Please do not come to KAC or your local Teaching Center/Study group if you or anyone in your household

• Has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not met the criteria for when it is safe to be around others
• Has symptoms of COVID-19
• Is waiting for COVID-19 viral test results
• May have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• Is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19