Blessed are the cake buyers -- but will they get promoted?
I’ll admit that this article (and ones related to it, like this one, and this one) hit hard. Though I work remotely now, I have never worked in an office setting where it wasn’t a woman who shouldered the responsibility of the celebrations that are a crucial part of company culture. What traditions exist at your organization? Who keeps them going? Who adds birthdays to the office calendar, and circulates the card? Who knows the favorite dessert to request from the kitchen team for a celebration?
So much of the desire for this return to a shared physical workspace focuses on the culture of an office, from holiday parties to familiar faces at the front desk to the ability to simply pop our heads into others’ offices for quick questions…
The assumed and unsaid expectations run deep: even if you’re not initially asked to buy the card or the cake or the decorations, once you do it, it morphs into your role, your responsibility. And the research shows that this may come with career consequences.
I’ll admit that this article (and ones related to it, like this one, and this one) hit hard. Though I work remotely now, I have never worked in an office setting where it wasn’t a woman who shouldered the responsibility of the celebrations that are a crucial part of company culture. What traditions exist at your organization? Who keeps them going? Who adds birthdays to the office calendar, and circulates the card? Who knows the favorite dessert to request from the kitchen team for a celebration?
So much of the desire for this return to a shared physical workspace focuses on the culture of an office, from holiday parties to familiar faces at the front desk to the ability to simply pop our heads into others’ offices for quick questions…
The assumed and unsaid expectations run deep: even if you’re not initially asked to buy the card or the cake or the decorations, once you do it, it morphs into your role, your responsibility. And the research shows that this may come with career consequences.
Is Your Staff Crumbling in 2021? With Fraying, We Must be Braiding
I have a feeling that many of us running summer camps have seen and experienced elements of this fraying — and practiced braiding — in the last month.
People are exhausted, mentally and physically. Expect the crumble. It’s coming, if it hasn’t already. Plan for the crumbling and consider new ways to braid people, yourself, and your community back together.
What have you learned? Leave a comment here.
I have a feeling that many of us running summer camps have seen and experienced elements of this fraying — and practiced braiding — in the last month.
People are exhausted, mentally and physically. Expect the crumble. It’s coming, if it hasn’t already. Plan for the crumbling and consider new ways to braid people, yourself, and your community back together.
What have you learned? Leave a comment here.
A note about sharing health manuals from the Association of Camp Nursing
Sharing resources is one of the simplest ways to engage within the ECCC and UMCRM networks. We ask questions, share job descriptions, page through other camps’ websites, in search of inspiration, support, or direction. Here are a few considerations from the Association of Camp Nursing about sharing health-related policies and procedures:
Defining a "health manual" is challenging and may contain a variety of items. For some camps, this is a brief summary of health policies while other camps include everything in their health manual.
Each state has different camp regulations that may impact your health protocol decisions.
Camp facilities/structures/layout are different, meaning how you communicate, operate, and access health services at your camp are unique to you.
Camps serve different populations (boys, girls, special needs) that drive decisions about care policies (Ex; a Sports camp will have robust orthopedic policies while an asthma camp has well-constructed protocols for respiratory conditions).
Camps are located in different places which impacts their access to higher-level healthcare services. Decisions about onsite camp health services are impacted by distance from ER or other health supports.
Camp healthcare providers onsite may have significant variance in their scope of practice so you need to understand what camp healthcare providers (typically nurses) can and cannot do and what oversight is required in each state to provide care.
These are some examples of variance between each camp. The beauty of camp is that we are diverse; the challenge of camp is that we are diverse. As you develop or refine your camp health policies/procedures/guidelines, be sure to consider all of these elements (and more) so that your policies reflect your practice, your structure, your state regulations, and your activities. There are many resources available to help you develop your camp "Health manual" on the Association of Camp Nursing website (www.campnurse.org) under Educational Resources.
Sharing resources is one of the simplest ways to engage within the ECCC and UMCRM networks. We ask questions, share job descriptions, page through other camps’ websites, in search of inspiration, support, or direction. Here are a few considerations from the Association of Camp Nursing about sharing health-related policies and procedures:
Defining a "health manual" is challenging and may contain a variety of items. For some camps, this is a brief summary of health policies while other camps include everything in their health manual.
Each state has different camp regulations that may impact your health protocol decisions.
Camp facilities/structures/layout are different, meaning how you communicate, operate, and access health services at your camp are unique to you.
Camps serve different populations (boys, girls, special needs) that drive decisions about care policies (Ex; a Sports camp will have robust orthopedic policies while an asthma camp has well-constructed protocols for respiratory conditions).
Camps are located in different places which impacts their access to higher-level healthcare services. Decisions about onsite camp health services are impacted by distance from ER or other health supports.
Camp healthcare providers onsite may have significant variance in their scope of practice so you need to understand what camp healthcare providers (typically nurses) can and cannot do and what oversight is required in each state to provide care.
These are some examples of variance between each camp. The beauty of camp is that we are diverse; the challenge of camp is that we are diverse. As you develop or refine your camp health policies/procedures/guidelines, be sure to consider all of these elements (and more) so that your policies reflect your practice, your structure, your state regulations, and your activities. There are many resources available to help you develop your camp "Health manual" on the Association of Camp Nursing website (www.campnurse.org) under Educational Resources.
New round of Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advances:
The U.S. Small Business Administration is launching a new round of Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advances:
Targeted EIDL Advance provides eligible businesses with $10,000 in total grant assistance. If you received the EIDL Advance last year in an amount less than $10,000, you may be eligible to receive the difference up to the full $10,000. The combined amount of the Targeted EIDL Advance and any previously received Advance will not exceed $10,000.
Supplemental Targeted Advance provides the smallest and hardest hit eligible businesses with a supplemental payment of $5,000. Even if you have previously received the original EIDL Advance in the full amount of $10,000, you may be eligible for the Supplemental Targeted Advance if you meet eligibility criteria. The combined amount of the Supplemental Targeted Advance ($5,000) with any previously received EIDL Advance or Targeted EIDL Advance ($10,000) will not exceed $15,000.
The eligibility criteria for the Targeted EIDL Advance and the Supplemental Targeted Advance are slightly different.
Businesses eligible for the Targeted EIDL Advance must meet ALL the following eligibility criteria
Located in a low-income community, as defined in section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code. The SBA will map your business address to determine if you are in a low-income community when you submit your Targeted EIDL Advance application.
Suffered economic loss greater than 30 percent, as demonstrated by an 8-week period beginning on March 2, 2020, or later, compared to the previous year. You will be required to provide the total amount of monthly gross receipts from January 2019 to the current month-to-date.
Must have 300 or fewer employees. Business entities normally eligible for the EIDL program are eligible, including sole proprietors, independent contractors, and private, nonprofit organizations. However, agricultural enterprises, such as farmers and ranchers, are not eligible to receive the Targeted EIDL Advance or the Supplemental Targeted Advance.
Businesses eligible for the Supplemental Targeted Advance of $5,000 must also meet ALL the following eligibility criteria:
Located in a low-income community, as defined in section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code. The SBA will map your business address to determine if you are in a low-income community when you submit your Targeted EIDL Advance application.
Suffered economic loss greater than 50 percent, as demonstrated by an 8-week period beginning on March 2, 2020, or later, compared to the previous year. You will be required to provide the total amount of monthly gross receipts from January 2019 to the current month-to-date.
Must have 10 or fewer employees. Business entities normally eligible for the EIDL program are eligible, including sole proprietors, independent contractors, and private, nonprofit organizations. However, agricultural enterprises, such as farmers and ranchers, are not eligible to receive the Targeted EIDL Advance or the Supplemental Targeted Advance.
Before You Apply: To help applicants determine if they are located in a low-income community, as defined in section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, the SBA is making available a mapping tool at https://sbaeidl.policymap.com/app.
Updated CDC Guidance for Operating Youth and Summer Camps During COVID-19
On April 24, the CDC released updated guidance for operating youth and summer camps during COVID-19. The updated guidelines can be found here and include:
Updated background for what is known about COVID-19 and transmission among children and in summer camp settings
Added vaccination information
Updated guidance on physical distancing
Updated guidance on camp activities, including sports and athletic activities
Updated considerations for screening testing and contact tracing
Updated guidance on cleaning and disinfection
Removed guidance on physical barriers
Updated guidance on developing emergency operations plans
Updated guidance on ventilation and water systems
Updated guidance for communal spaces, food service, playgrounds and play space
Updated guidance for overnight camps
On April 24, the CDC released updated guidance for operating youth and summer camps during COVID-19. The updated guidelines can be found here and include:
Updated background for what is known about COVID-19 and transmission among children and in summer camp settings
Added vaccination information
Updated guidance on physical distancing
Updated guidance on camp activities, including sports and athletic activities
Updated considerations for screening testing and contact tracing
Updated guidance on cleaning and disinfection
Removed guidance on physical barriers
Updated guidance on developing emergency operations plans
Updated guidance on ventilation and water systems
Updated guidance for communal spaces, food service, playgrounds and play space
Updated guidance for overnight camps
CDC Update on Catching COVID From Surfaces
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just released a new scientific brief that says your risk of contracting COVID-19 from a surface is about 1 in 10,000. That means, on average, you have a 0.01% chance of actually picking up the virus from, say, touching a counter.
More hopeful news: The CDC says “in most situations,” you’re just fine to clean a surface using soap or detergent, and once a day is enough if you feel the need to be extra thorough. You actually don’t need disinfectants under most circumstances, the agency says.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just released a new scientific brief that says your risk of contracting COVID-19 from a surface is about 1 in 10,000. That means, on average, you have a 0.01% chance of actually picking up the virus from, say, touching a counter.
More hopeful news: The CDC says “in most situations,” you’re just fine to clean a surface using soap or detergent, and once a day is enough if you feel the need to be extra thorough. You actually don’t need disinfectants under most circumstances, the agency says.
American Academy of Pediatrics releases guidelines for safe Summer camps
To guide parents, camp directors, and pediatricians in creating safe camp environments, the American Academy of Pediatrics is issuing newly updated Guidance for Families and Pediatricians on Camp Attendance During the COVID-19 Pandemic to help protect the health of children, adolescents, staff, and communities.
New information has emerged to guide safety procedures in camp settings. Evidence has shown there is limited transmission of the virus among children and staff in controlled settings when safety protocols are followed, including wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, and the enhanced cleaning and disinfection of surfaces.
The greater availability of local testing and the longer planning period that camps have had to adjust their facilities and programming will also help more camps open safely in 2021. The updated guidance reflects this new knowledge and is intended for pediatricians and families as they make informed decisions on sending children to overnight/sleepaway or day camp during summer 2021.
To guide parents, camp directors, and pediatricians in creating safe camp environments, the American Academy of Pediatrics is issuing newly updated Guidance for Families and Pediatricians on Camp Attendance During the COVID-19 Pandemic to help protect the health of children, adolescents, staff, and communities.
New information has emerged to guide safety procedures in camp settings. Evidence has shown there is limited transmission of the virus among children and staff in controlled settings when safety protocols are followed, including wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, and the enhanced cleaning and disinfection of surfaces.
The greater availability of local testing and the longer planning period that camps have had to adjust their facilities and programming will also help more camps open safely in 2021. The updated guidance reflects this new knowledge and is intended for pediatricians and families as they make informed decisions on sending children to overnight/sleepaway or day camp during summer 2021.
Can you require your staff to be vaccinated?
Two perspectives as we look to expanding our staffs:
What else have you learned, and what does your organization plan to do? Share in the comments.
Two perspectives as we look to expanding our staffs:
What else have you learned, and what does your organization plan to do? Share in the comments.
Leading Beyond the Blizzard: Why Every Organization Is Now a Startup
A long, worthwhile read, that’s (again) a year old.
Trust is the greatest resource in human society. Without trust, we relate as competitors and in a mindset of scarcity. With trust, we discover creative pathways that unlock abundance we could never have found on our own. All worthwhile human work and life takes place under an umbrella of trust or, to use the stronger biblical word, covenant — the shelter of mutual respect and love that forms a kind of canopy protecting us from the wild and dangerous world, making room for great acts of sacrifice and beauty.
There’s a follow-up, too, which offers a roadmap for “redemptive leaders seeking to survive the winter by building for the ice age. These summarize the counsel we’re giving to (and learning from) the hundreds of business and nonprofit entrepreneurs in our community and beyond:”
Embrace your role.
Maximize your runway.
Prototype in sprints.
Organize for resilience.
Lead by naming.
Design for a different future.
A long, worthwhile read, that’s (again) a year old.
Trust is the greatest resource in human society. Without trust, we relate as competitors and in a mindset of scarcity. With trust, we discover creative pathways that unlock abundance we could never have found on our own. All worthwhile human work and life takes place under an umbrella of trust or, to use the stronger biblical word, covenant — the shelter of mutual respect and love that forms a kind of canopy protecting us from the wild and dangerous world, making room for great acts of sacrifice and beauty.
There’s a follow-up, too, which offers a roadmap for “redemptive leaders seeking to survive the winter by building for the ice age. These summarize the counsel we’re giving to (and learning from) the hundreds of business and nonprofit entrepreneurs in our community and beyond:”
Embrace your role.
Maximize your runway.
Prototype in sprints.
Organize for resilience.
Lead by naming.
Design for a different future.
Charitable Giving in Times of Fear and Uncertainty
This article is exactly one-year old. What has proven true? What else have we noticed or learned? Share your 2020-21 fundraising insight in the comments.
This article is exactly one-year old. What has proven true? What else have we noticed or learned? Share your 2020-21 fundraising insight in the comments.
Thirteen ideas to keep boards effective and cohesive in a remote environment
This article from the Stanford Social Innovation Review offers thirteen ways to build board effectiveness, virtually.
Succeeding in a virtual environment takes hard work and a willingness to experiment. But many of the board members we interviewed have been pleasantly surprised at the results, including better attendance at virtual meetings, more willingness among members to speak up, and deeper personal connections.
…
Pandemic-induced isolation and virtual technology have sparked some great ideas that give every board an opportunity to be more inclusive, more connected, and more productive than before. Boards that seize this opportunity will emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.
This article from the Stanford Social Innovation Review offers thirteen ways to build board effectiveness, virtually.
Succeeding in a virtual environment takes hard work and a willingness to experiment. But many of the board members we interviewed have been pleasantly surprised at the results, including better attendance at virtual meetings, more willingness among members to speak up, and deeper personal connections.
…
Pandemic-induced isolation and virtual technology have sparked some great ideas that give every board an opportunity to be more inclusive, more connected, and more productive than before. Boards that seize this opportunity will emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.
4 causes for ‘Zoom fatigue’ and their simple fixes
Zoom fatigue is real, and there are researched reasons why:
Excessive amounts of close-up eye contact is highly intense.
Seeing yourself during video chats constantly in real-time is fatiguing.
Video chats dramatically reduce our usual mobility.
The cognitive load is much higher in video chats.
Zoom fatigue is real, and there are researched reasons why:
Excessive amounts of close-up eye contact is highly intense.
Seeing yourself during video chats constantly in real-time is fatiguing.
Video chats dramatically reduce our usual mobility.
The cognitive load is much higher in video chats.
Ministry After COVID: What have we learned? What comes next?
Join Virginia Theological Seminary this Thursday.
As we look forward with hope as vaccinations are distributed and something resembling normal appears on the horizon, how can congregations carry what they have learned from this time, from new technologies to new skills, and ways of connecting with local and distributed communities the future?
Join Virginia Theological Seminary this Thursday.
As we look forward with hope as vaccinations are distributed and something resembling normal appears on the horizon, how can congregations carry what they have learned from this time, from new technologies to new skills, and ways of connecting with local and distributed communities the future?
Safe Camp Advocacy
This call will focus on sharing relevant research findings and educational resources to support coordinated engagement efforts, strategy, and best practices for operating safe camps in 2021. If you are currently advocating for camps in your state, please join ACA and your fellow camp professionals.
This call will focus on sharing relevant research findings and educational resources to support coordinated engagement efforts, strategy, and best practices for operating safe camps in 2021. If you are currently advocating for camps in your state, please join ACA and your fellow camp professionals.
Model State Guidance for Overnight Camps
This document provides guidelines, recommendations, and reference information specifically for overnight camp operations for spring and summer 2021. The foundation for these guidelines is built upon published documents from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Association of Camp Nursing (ACN), and in the Field Guide from the American Camp Association (ACA).
This document provides guidelines, recommendations, and reference information specifically for overnight camp operations for spring and summer 2021. The foundation for these guidelines is built upon published documents from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Association of Camp Nursing (ACN), and in the Field Guide from the American Camp Association (ACA).
Details on new relief bill, American Rescue Plan Act
Last week, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) was signed into law. Some highlights of the American Rescue Plan Act for nonprofits, as summarized by the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits here, include:
Improvements to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Programs. The American Rescue Plan Act allows many larger nonprofits to apply for PPP loans for the first time by extending eligibility to nonprofits with more than 500 employees that operate at multiple locations as long as no more than 500 employees work at any one location. It also allows performing arts nonprofits to apply for both the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) and the PPP with limits on the total amounts they can receive from the two programs.
Extension and Improvement of Federal Unemployment Coverage. The COVID relief package extends various federal benefits for unemployed workers – including coverage for self-employed workers and staff of religious and very small nonprofits and $300 per week supplemental federal payments – through September 6, 2021. These benefits had been scheduled to expire on March 14. Notably for nonprofits, the federal government will cover 75% of the unemployment costs of reimbursing nonprofits from April 1 through September 6; currently, the federal government is only covering 50% of these costs, and the state of North Carolina is covering the other 50%.
Tax Relief for Individuals and Employers. The American Rescue Plan Act provides $1,400 stimulus checks for most taxpayers. It also helps working families by increasing the child tax credit and earned income tax credit. The new law extends the tax credit for nonprofits and other employers that offer paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave through September 30, 2021 (it was set to expire on March 31).
Increased Federal Funding for Various Programs Important to the Work of Nonprofits. The American Rescue Plan Act provides additional funding for child care providers, the Corporation for National and Community Service, arts and humanities organizations, food assistance, housing and homelessness prevention, and nonprofits providing services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
$340 Billion in Additional Funding for State and Local Governments. This support could help ease financial pressures on cities and counties and provide additional support to state legislators to invest in nonprofits providing COVID relief.
Funding for COVID-19 Vaccines, Treatment, and Testing As Well As Other Public Health Programs. The added investment in these public health measures should significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19.
We expect a number of webinars digging into this new relief package to become available from non-profit, camp, and hospitality industry organizations in the coming weeks, and will share what we see and hear.
Here’s another detailed resource on the non-profit implications in the new act, from Candid for Non-Profits.
Last week, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) was signed into law. Some highlights of the American Rescue Plan Act for nonprofits, as summarized by the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits here, include:
Improvements to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Programs. The American Rescue Plan Act allows many larger nonprofits to apply for PPP loans for the first time by extending eligibility to nonprofits with more than 500 employees that operate at multiple locations as long as no more than 500 employees work at any one location. It also allows performing arts nonprofits to apply for both the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) and the PPP with limits on the total amounts they can receive from the two programs.
Extension and Improvement of Federal Unemployment Coverage. The COVID relief package extends various federal benefits for unemployed workers – including coverage for self-employed workers and staff of religious and very small nonprofits and $300 per week supplemental federal payments – through September 6, 2021. These benefits had been scheduled to expire on March 14. Notably for nonprofits, the federal government will cover 75% of the unemployment costs of reimbursing nonprofits from April 1 through September 6; currently, the federal government is only covering 50% of these costs, and the state of North Carolina is covering the other 50%.
Tax Relief for Individuals and Employers. The American Rescue Plan Act provides $1,400 stimulus checks for most taxpayers. It also helps working families by increasing the child tax credit and earned income tax credit. The new law extends the tax credit for nonprofits and other employers that offer paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave through September 30, 2021 (it was set to expire on March 31).
Increased Federal Funding for Various Programs Important to the Work of Nonprofits. The American Rescue Plan Act provides additional funding for child care providers, the Corporation for National and Community Service, arts and humanities organizations, food assistance, housing and homelessness prevention, and nonprofits providing services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
$340 Billion in Additional Funding for State and Local Governments. This support could help ease financial pressures on cities and counties and provide additional support to state legislators to invest in nonprofits providing COVID relief.
Funding for COVID-19 Vaccines, Treatment, and Testing As Well As Other Public Health Programs. The added investment in these public health measures should significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19.
We expect a number of webinars digging into this new relief package to become available from non-profit, camp, and hospitality industry organizations in the coming weeks, and will share what we see and hear.
Here’s another detailed resource on the non-profit implications in the new act, from Candid for Non-Profits.
Leading during Crisis: Building the Airplane While Flying It
This article from the American Camp Association offers six components of leading during a crisis: Effective leaders:
Take action
Adapt
Communicate effectively
Focus on the positive
Practice self-care
Analyze and adjust
This article from the American Camp Association offers six components of leading during a crisis: Effective leaders:
Take action
Adapt
Communicate effectively
Focus on the positive
Practice self-care
Analyze and adjust
The Way of the Cross for Pandemic Time Liturgy
During these uncommonly difficult times, we have seen suffering, grief and loss, and injustice laid bare. This liturgy provides a highly-relevant way for worshiping communities to collectively express a range of emotions, and to witness against the injustices in our world. It is a complete service, with music, spoken liturgy, and artwork for each station.
During these uncommonly difficult times, we have seen suffering, grief and loss, and injustice laid bare. This liturgy provides a highly-relevant way for worshiping communities to collectively express a range of emotions, and to witness against the injustices in our world. It is a complete service, with music, spoken liturgy, and artwork for each station.
Camp Staff as Essential Workers & Vaccine Toolkit
Although CDC has recommended that camp workers be deemed as essential workers, each state governor ultimately decides which workers are deemed essential in their state. The language included on the CDC website details the clear intention of CDC to have camp staff included in the vaccination prioritization. The first step is determining in what order essential workers are being vaccinated in your state.
While our understanding is that only day camp staff are named in Phase 1B, with overnight camp staff part of Phase 1C, this is also going to be determined by your state. Please share with us your experience.
This toolkit from the CDC has resources for supporting your employees in getting vaccinated.
Although CDC has recommended that camp workers be deemed as essential workers, each state governor ultimately decides which workers are deemed essential in their state. The language included on the CDC website details the clear intention of CDC to have camp staff included in the vaccination prioritization. The first step is determining in what order essential workers are being vaccinated in your state.
While our understanding is that only day camp staff are named in Phase 1B, with overnight camp staff part of Phase 1C, this is also going to be determined by your state. Please share with us your experience.
This toolkit from the CDC has resources for supporting your employees in getting vaccinated.
Employee Retention Credit Overview
The newest relief package, Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) made significant changes to the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) -- significantly that it is now available to PPP borrowers.
Join Gareth Kalfas and your ECCC colleagues to learn and discuss on Thursday, February 25 at 2pm ET.
The newest relief package, Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) made significant changes to the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) -- significantly that it is now available to PPP borrowers.
Join Gareth Kalfas and your ECCC colleagues to learn and discuss on Thursday, February 25 at 2pm ET.