Joplin Mayor: We're canceling the Regional COVID Response Summit due to lack of interest

From the City of Joplin)

The City of Joplin has cancelled the Regional COVID Response Summit that was planned for early next week. Joplin Mayor Ryan Stanley noted that due to conflicting schedules and lack of interest, there was not enough participation in the event to warrant gathering.

“We were hopeful that a summit would allow the counties and major population centers to benefit all of our respective communities in the sharing of ideas and resources to help address our individual responses to COVID-19,” said Stanley. 

“I know that the City of Joplin would welcome the opportunity to participate in other future gatherings in the spirit of partnership and support. We know that this crisis is a regional concern and that our communities would all benefit from a regional collaboration.”

Last week Stanley communicated with area leaders via email to invite them to the meeting. As the response to attend was light, he emailed the group to cancel the summit. In the email he states that the City of Joplin would be open to a joint gathering if one is desired, and if we organize any other events in the future that might benefit the group, we will be happy to include the region