COVID-19
INDUSTRY ACTION, NEWS & UPDATES
04.21.2020
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CALL TO ACTION #1:
This is Happening Right Now!
When the CARES Act was passed, funding $350 billion in payroll forgiveness for businesses with fewer than 500 employees, it asked seasonal operators to calculate their average monthly payroll using a calculation that did not work well for many industries, including outfitters and guides. America Outdoors and many industries in the seasonal sector are advocating for a calculation that works better for the uniqueness of their operations.
Senate staffers are encouraging impacted industries to reach out TODAY to members of congress and let them know that we need the PPP language fixed.
America Outdoors has quickly organized this Action Tool. Please use it!
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CALL TO ACTION #2:
We need this information, and we need it as soon as possible.
Please Take 5-Minutes and Reply ASAP!
Yesterday, you all should have received an email asking you to complete a survey. So far, about 60 of you have responded, which is great. But we need to hear from as many outfitters as possible (and again, right away)
Please Take 5-Minutes and Reply ASAP!
Since mid-March, IOGA has been leading a push to create Congressional and agency support for funding/legislating to provide additional funds for trail maintenance and opther projects to be carried out by outfitters and guides.
While this has and continues to be a multi-pronged effort, one approach in particular has emerged from the rest over the past week in terms of its likelihood of moving forward as a potential addition to the “Phase Four” Stimulus Bill, with Senator Daines announcing his intention to move forward with an outfitter and guide jobs program.
The legislative proposal would direct funding to the U.S. Forest Service to provide additional for trail maintenance and other projects to be carried out by outfitters and guides.
In order to provide Congressional leaders and agency officials the details they are asking for, We NEED INFORMATION FROM IDAHO OUTFITTERS.
Please take 5-minutes to complete the Survey.
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Registration Open
IOGA Webinar with Leah Corrigan
Planning for CoVid19:
Liability and Employment Issues for Idaho Outfitters
Leah Corrigan will discuss the potential for liability related to conducting operations in the age of CoVid19, and suggest practical ways to mitigate that liability while maintaining the fundamental client experience. Leah will also discuss employment issues related to CoVid19, including potential OSHA implications and an outfitter’s duty to mitigate the risk of employee infection. This session will include time at the end of the presentation for questions and answers.
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Updated
"Pulse of the Outfitter Industry During COVID-19"
Poll Released By America Outdoors
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Lewiston Tribune
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Redside Contest
What Is A Guide? #ThisIsAGuide
The Redside Foundation wants to hear from Idaho Guides about what it means to be a Guide: What we love about it, what we miss about it, and what we are looking forward to about guiding. What makes a guide’s life so unique? What are Guide Super Powers?
CATEGORIES:
- Photography: 1. Vintage 2. Action 3. Landscape/Wildlife
- Essay (under 500 words)
- Poem
- Recipe
- Wildcard
- Each category will have a winner and a runner up. There will be one grand prize winner.
- Prizes include:
- 100 liter Yeti Duffle Bag, 66” Canyon X Sawyer Guide Paddle, CRKT Knives, Fun-Luvin’ Fleece Wear, A Redside Guide Amulet, Jade Travel Yoga Mat, ArchiTec Apparel Merino Hoodies, NRS Guide Shirt, and more.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Create a visual or written story that tells the outside world what is it to be a guide. Show the world how who you are and what you do makes a difference in other people’s lives, as well as your own. Be brave. Share your talents and thoughts with us -- the world needs to hear your story. This is your platform.
To be considered for prizes, submit your entry to (to be considered for prizes) and on Facebook or Instagram. If you are submitting an essay, on Instagram, please post a brief synopsis and a favorite quote from your essay. On either platform, post your story. Tag us, and use the hashtags #thisisaguide #guideidaho. Deadline April 29th.
Read More Here: https://www.redsidefoundation.org/contest
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Desert Mountain Medicine Offering Remote WFR:
"
Hello Idaho Outfitting Friends -
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent cancelation of the ID River Rendezvous, I wanted to notify you about a new offering from DMM: the Remote-Hybrid WFR Recertification Course (R-HWRC). This adapted format was specifically designed to accommodate outdoor professionals in these unprecedented times when current guidelines won't allow traditional face-to-face training. The R-HWRC will provide guides with the training and certifications that their demanding jobs require.
You can read more details about this new format in the attached letter and the R-HWRC webpage. Here are the important points:
- Currently, there are two R-HWRC offerings: May 2-3 & May 23-24. Interested attendees can register now.
- There are two components to the 24-hr R-HWRC: 16-hr self-paced online pre-course + 2 virtual classroom sessions with live instructors (totaling 8 hrs)
- Successful R-HWRC Outcomes = WFR Recert, WAT, and CPR certifications w/ 1 year durations
- Follow-up component: 2-day in-person practical training to extend certifications for an additional 3 years
- Total Cert Duration = 4 years (upon successful completion of the '20 R-HWRC and '21 in-person practical sessions)
- Total Tuition Cost = $325
Let me know if you have any questions about this new course offering or DMM's COVID-19 response. Wherever appropriate, thanks in advance for spreading the word about this new WFR Recertification offering through your correspondence, website, and social media. This innovative remote format is currently the only of its type. We're excited to support our industry by offering this important training to professional field staff!
Best Regards,
Tyler Harris
Director of Operations
Desert Mountain Medicine
225 Harrison Ave
Leadville, CO 80461
719.486.7260
www.desertmountainmedicine.com
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Adventure Travel & Trade Association's
"Financial Strategies and Tactics for Adventure Travel Businesses During Economic Uncertainty"
To address the current cash-flow hurdle facing many travel businesses, ATTA, in partnership with payment solutions company Flywire, has developed the Financial Strategies and Tactics for Adventure Travel Businesses During Economic Uncertainty report.
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The report provides timely and useful information for businesses to weather the economic storm induced by the current COVID-19 pandemic, and outlines safeguards to put in place to stand resilient in the face of future crises. The practical, brief-style report contains the following chapters:
- Introduction
- COVID-19: Current Global Outlook
- The Long View: Economic Recovery Scenarios
- Financial Strategies and Tactics for Businesses During a Downturn
- Beyond COVID-19: Building An Economically Resilient Adventure Operation
- Conclusion
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BLM's "Recreate Responsibly" Campaign Flyers:
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New SBDC Webinars for Small Business Owners
April 24 @ 10:00am
COVID-19 Employer Guide - What to do with your Employees During a Crisis:
Being a smart employer during the Covid-19 crisis is a challenge. What are the rules for unemployment insurance? What if people quit? What if I fire? How do I get tax credits? Learn from experts in the Labor Department, Human Resources, and the IRS what it takes to keep you legally and financially safe and sane when it comes to your employees.
Registration Link: https://business.idahosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=40400069
April 27 @ 10:00am
COVID-19 Business Survival Guide: Idaho businesses are feeling the cash crunch from the COVID-19 pandemic. This webinar will cover what you can do NOW to communicate to vendors, customers, and employees about the state of your business. This webinar also covers how to get revenue NOW and how to reduce expenses NOW.
Registration Link: https://business.idahosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=40400070
May 1,5,&7 @ 10:00am
COVID-19 Unemployment Information for Business Owners, Sole Proprietors, and Independent Contractors: Hear from experts at the Idaho Department of Labor about what Unemployment Insurance options are available for your employees, as well as Sole Proprietors and Independent Contractors.
5/1 Registration Link: https://business.idahosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=40400071
5/5 Registration Link: https://business.idahosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=40400072
5/7 Reistration Link: https://business.idahosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=40400073
Full list of statewide webinars can be found here: https://idahosbdc.org/covid-19-business-resources/covid-19-trainings-and-webinars/
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IOGA WEBINAR RECORDING
For those of you that missed it, our friends at Idaho Commerce have made a recording of the IOGA Webinar "CARES Act For Idaho's Guides & Outfitters" available. You can also access the Wenbinar Notes provided by Commerce, with links referenced and contact information for the presenters HERE
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Click on the video and it will open in YouTube
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Webinar Recording: Follow the Numbers Tactics & Action Steps for the Next 90 Days
Pat Tabor, CPA, walks outfitters through the rules and new developments with the PPP & EIDL loan options and tax relief as well as how to manage the money, including setting yourself up for forgiveness.
OUTFITTERS WITH PPP QUESTION RELATED TO 1099/W2 EMPLOYEES, SKIP TO 1:24.20 (1 HOUR, 24 MINUTES, 20 SECONDS) FOR TABOR'S TAKE.
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In a time flush with webinars, this was a really valuable one, folks.
Once again, special thanks to our friends at America Outdoors and to Pat Tabor for putting this together.
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The recent RMS News Digest announced TWO positions. They are seeking applications for a:
For details, see the attached job descriptions (by clicking the links above) or visit www.river-management.org/careers.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & RESOURCES
IOGA DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES
COVID-19 INFORMATION & UPDATES
PUBLIC LANDS GUIDANCE
OTHER AIDS AND OPERATIONAL TEMPLATES
- AOA: landing page, guidance for outfitters
- Computation of PPP Loan, Swan Mountain Consulting
- Template to Calculate COVID-19 Financial Impact, Swan Mountain Consulting,
- Pandemic Action Plan Including Scenario Planning, Swan Mountain Consulting
- Action Steps to Take Immediately in Response to Covid-19, Swan Mountain Consulting
- Expenses to Cut in Response to Covid-19 Impact, Swan Mountain Consulting
- Sample Employee Communiqué in Response to Covid-19 , Swan Mountain Consulting
- Sample Client Communiqué in Response to Covid-19, Swan Mountain Consulting
- Insurance Considerations and Impacts During COVID-19, Van Ness Feldman
BUSINESS PREPAREDNESS AND MARKETING GUIDANCE
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PLEAE STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES & ACTION FROM
IOGA.
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