City Club Missoula will be holding their annual State of the Community Forum in an online platform for the first time, due to coronavirus concerns. CEO of the Missoula United Way Susan Hay Patrick has details.

“On Monday May 11th at 11:30 a.m., via ZOOM, we are featuring our annual State of the Community Forum,” Hay Patrick said. “Every year, that features the president of the University of Montana, the mayor of Missoula, and the chair of the board of county commissioners. This year, Seth Bodnar, Mayor John Engen, and County Commission Josh Slotnick will be in attendance.”

Hay Patrick said the discussions will revolve around both the COVID-19 crisis and other matters of interest to the Missoula community.

“They are specifically going to be talking about Missoula’s response to COVID-19 as we move toward thinking about reopening and recovery efforts get underway,” Hay Patrick said. “They will also highlight other activities that aren’t COVID-19 related at the city, county, and university.”

Even though the forum will be held for the first time online, Hay Patrick acknowledged that more people would be able to view the forum than ever before.

“I am excited about bringing this important free forum to everybody that has a computer,” Hay Patrick said. “I think that one of the things that COVID-19 has really brought into sharper leaf in our community is the digital divide between people of relatively higher incomes and people with lower incomes. That is another issue to address as a community.”

Attendees must register at cityclubmissoula.com and will receive an emailed invitation with a link allowing entrance into the digital forum. There is no charge.

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