By Attorney Mitchell Herring, Sniffen & Spellman, PA
December 6, 2021
The following is an update to the COVID Vaccine Mandate Stand-Off Article (Login Required)
Published November/December Source Magazine
Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach offers over 22,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including our 10,632 square foot Dunes Ballroom with pre-function space, designed to host over 700 people and the area’s largest. With a total of 8 meeting rooms, divisible into 12 break-out rooms, we have the ideal space for any size meeting.
Located less than 30 minutes from two international airports, Clearwater Beach is a top destination on Florida’s stunning Gulf Coast. Our Pallavi Spa is the ideal place to rejuvenate after a day of meetings. And where else better to watch the sunset, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, than at our signature restaurant, Ocean Hai, designed to tempt your palate with exceptional dishes that express the local flavor.
From well-appointed executive boardrooms, timeless hotel ballrooms, private outdoor rooftop terraces and spaces to the sprawling Palm Beach County Convention Center, The Palm Beaches offer a perfect fit for every meeting size and event need. Brandon Hall, CMP, and our award-winning Destination Services Team will be your right-hand in planning, and in finding the community partners who will bring innovative and engaging experiences to elevate your attendee’s experience. Imagine having an artist producing a live installation in the exhibit hall, or a local coffee roaster serving coffee & tea to order out of an outfitted VW van in the pre-function areas. It’s all within reach when you leverage our relationships and community to bring a local Palm Beaches touch to your event.
Learn more about the world-renowned hotels and meeting spaces we offer, our vibrant downtown meetings districts and the promotional offers that give you more, for free. Start planning with us today!
In March, FSAE conducted a survey of Executive Members regarding their meetings this year. We gathered data on 2021 conference plans, anticipated meeting sizes, feelings about travel, and their challenges & needs to better plan for meetings. Also included is information on sourcing RFPs and criteria changes for future meetings.
This survey provides insightful data on the current meetings atmosphere for Florida's association industry, so we are sharing the results. Hopefully this helps you as you move forward with your future in-person meetings.
FSAE is partnering with Rapid Press to provide members a discount for on-demand signage, decals and floor clings for social distancing, mask usage and other COVID related messaging.
Perfect for your events or office / property, members receive a 10% discount on all orders with the code FSAE10. Plus, Tallahassee members can select to pick up orders locally to avoid shipping fees and any delays.
Click here to view decals
With so much uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and Florida’s reopening, the FSAE Board of Directors has voted to move the Annual Conference to a fully virtual event.
This was a difficult decision for everyone, with the health and safety of our attendees, FSAE staff and hotel employees paramount in the Board’s decision.
Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and others are leading an effort to make changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to allow for more flexibility for use of the funds. Next week the House is also expected to vote on the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) to make changes to loan forgiveness in the current PPP. As of now, both of those efforts do not include associations. Help us send the message to Congress: don’t leave associations behind in any modifications of the PPP.
We need your help to weigh in with Congress to include 501(c)(6) nonprofit associations. ASAE and other association advocates have reached out to ask for associations to be included, but we know Congress needs to hear from more voices. We are asking association professionals to reach out to any contacts in the House or Senate your organization may have, or call your representatives, and ask for associations to be included in the Paycheck Protection Program. View sample text for the House and Senate to share via email with your contacts or over the phone. (Word doc)
Last week we sent out a survey to our executive and associate members to gauge where members are in regards to your own conferences as well as your comfort level on attending any conferences or meetings, including the FSAE Annual Conference this July. We had 350 participate and we want to thank everyone who gave us feedback!
What we learned from the survey is that members are pretty comfortable (29%), not sure (20%) or nervous about the idea (29%) of attending FSAE20. The biggest concerns are the safety measures that will be in place onsite as well as what happens as the state begins to re-open. Safety is our biggest concern too. We are working closely with the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek staff to ensure social distancing and minimal contact policies are in place, so provided the state is in Phase 3 of re-opening, we will have Annual Conference this July. Register Now
For several years, the FSAE Young & Emerging Professionals Committee has hosted a food drive to support local food banks around the state at our May events. Just because our events are now virtual, they didn't want to cancel the drives - especially now that food banks are used more than ever to support families affected by the economy and schools not meeting in-person. Please join us for the FSAE YEP Virtual Event - Virtual Food Drive to donate to your local food bank.
VIRTUAL EVENT - VIRTUAL FOOD DRIVE
Hosted by the FSAE Young & Emerging Professionals Committee
FSAE is partnering with our members from the Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center/Florida College of Emergency Physicians to help make sure emergency room doctors, nurses and first responders throughout the state have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to safely do their jobs and take care of us. Our goal is to connect our members’ members/contacts (your members) with their staff to coordinate local donations of supplies of any masks, gloves, face shields, gowns, shoe/head covers, eye protection, etc. that your members may have that aren’t currently being used.
Donate Smarter has also joined the campaign accepting monetary donations to help facilities buy PPE supplies with their Every Hero Needs a Mask campaign.
FSAE is working with ASAE and other states to petition Congress and President Trump to include professional and trade associations in phase 4 of the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and we need your help.
ASAE has authored sign-on letters to Congress and the Trump Administration and we ask your organization to add its name by tomorrow, Thursday, April 2, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern.
On Friday, March 27 the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, providing over $2 trillion for emergency aid to Americans and businesses. The Act does allow relief for 501(c)(3) non-profits, but unfortunately 501(c)(6) organizations were omitted from this round of relief.
However, The US Chamber reports that most 501(c)(6)s are eligible for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans through the Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. “This program has been in place, but was modified in this stimulus package,” The Chamber states. “One modification is that (c)(6)s can apply for a modest $10,000 advance to help with payroll, and that $10,000 does not have to be repaid.”
A message from Frank Rudd:
I hope this email finds you healthy and well during the COVID-19 crisis. This is truly an unprecedented time and our thoughts are with all of our members. We know you are all struggling to find some normalcy in the chaos and that our Associate friends are all struggling to keep the doors open. We have never needed each other more - and I know our association community and FSAE family will emerge stronger from this turmoil.
By Jennifer Norman, Novi AMS
With so much uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, you as a leader of your association, have the opportunity to provide some balance and normalcy for your employees.
