Dear Sarah,
I am writing to sincerely apologize for missing the upcoming planning session for the community garden project scheduled for this Thursday evening.
Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend due to an unexpected and urgent work emergency. A significant issue has just arisen with a major client’s account, and my manager has instructed me to stay at the office late to help resolve it. As this situation directly impacts our department’s deadlines, I have no choice but to remain at work.
I realize that this is very short notice, and I am truly sorry for not informing you earlier. The truth is, this crisis at work only materialized late this afternoon when the client contacted us out of the blue. Prior to that, I had fully intended to be at the session and had even prepared my notes for the fundraising discussion.
Despite my physical absence, I remain fully committed to the project and want to ensure I still pull my weight. To begin with, I would be very grateful if you could share the meeting minutes with me afterward so I can stay up to speed. Furthermore, I would like to volunteer to take on the task of researching local suppliers for the plants and soil we need. I can easily compile a list of options and price comparisons from my home and email them to you before the weekend. I am also happy to proofread any documents or flyers we need to distribute.
I hope you have a highly productive planning session, and I look forward to catching up with you and the rest of the team soon.
Best regards,
Alex Carter