Reopening the exhibitions industry is not a passive activity. I am so proud of the way our members have stepped up to be proactive in many different areas, which will help to make reopening happen sooner rather than later. I think we were all excited and happy to see that CES plans to be a live show in January 2021.
Here are some of the activities our members have recently taken on:
On June 3, Exhibitions Day, EDPA members voiced both their concerns and their commitment to advocacy for the exhibitions industry. Advocacy means direct action, contacting legislators to bring the cause of the exhibitions industry to the forefront. Specifically, there are two bills, currently in the House of Representatives:
HR6697, the local chamber, tourism, and 501(c)(6) protection act, which modifies the Paycheck Protection Program implemented by the Small Business Administration in response to COVID-19. The bill expands the program to encompass organizations with 300 or fewer employees that (1) operate under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code (other than a professional football league), or (2) are a destination marketing organization engaged in promoting communities and facilities to businesses and leisure travelers.
HR6800, the Heroes Act, responds to the COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses. This bill is very comprehensive.
EDPA members, as well as members of other industry organizations, are engaged in communicating with their representatives to stress that the expedited passage of these bills is critical.
EDPA also fully endorses the GBAC STAR™, the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation for facilities. GBAC is a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association. Its 20-part GBAC STAR Accreditation Program helps facilities establish a comprehensive system of cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention. Successful GBAC STAR facilities can demonstrate that correct work practices, procedures, and systems are in place to prepare, respond, and recover from outbreaks and pandemics. Most major US convention centers enrolled in this program as soon as it was announced.
EDPA and the EDPA Foundation have contributed $25,000 to the GoLIVETogether initiative. To date, GoLIVETogether has raised over a half-million dollars. GoLIVETogether is also engaged in advocacy and in providing statistics and tools, such as this infographic, to demonstrate the contributions the exhibitions industry makes to the economy.
Chris Griffin, EDPA Vice President, Industry Advocacy and Future Workforce Initiative, summed up the day. “It’s extraordinary how so many associations in the exhibition and events industry have come together this year. Not just for Exhibitions Day, but also for The GoLIVETogether coalition, the Health and Safety Taskforce, and a dozen other meaningful initiatives. There is nothing like ‘Community’ to lift people up and remind us what we can do when we rally around common goals. The trade show and event industry is nothing if not a community. We deal with crisis, obstacles, and challenges in our day jobs. And when the stakes are as high as they are right now, there is no more impressive group of people to be working with.”
JOIN OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS! WE NEED YOUR HELP
Now more than ever, it’s vital to communicate our story effectively to elected officials at the local, state, and national levels. Please join our efforts. Click here to access a variety of advocacy tools provided by IAEE, including letter templates and how to reach your elected officials. Roger Rickard, President and Founder of Voices in Advocacy, also created recaps of our industry issues, and he describes how to engage in advocacy. Hear what he has to say.
Thank you EDPA Members for your efforts and continued support!
