By Sam Dores, CVP

We can picture the headline now, “Mass Gatherings, Concerts and Events are Back and Better Than Ever!” While there’s no timeline for that headline, we try to remain optimistic and push forward in these tough times. We’re all very focused, and rightfully so, on the difficult changes, impact to our staff, and additional costs that this pandemic will bring, but it’s important to remember the silver linings and positive changes that will also come. As we begin the new normal, there will be beneficial changes that become part of our long-term venue and business processes.

We’re identifying new technology and processes that will make our operations more efficient and our guest experience that much better. We’re discussing the ways this will help us solve congestion issues we’re traditionally challenged by. Our venues will be safer and cleaner than ever before. Working through various financial models have forced many venues to reduce superfluous costs and find new revenue streams. Finding a way to maintain those cost savings and increased revenues when we return to normal will be beneficial as new business models are ushered in.

Working from home has shown that we can still be productive remotely, opening up the possibility of long-term improvements to work-life balance and mental health. Picture a day where all venues go to once-a-week voluntary work from home days, boosting work-life balance and even saving a little on utility costs. And who would’ve thought that we would miss 18-hour days and 100-hour weeks? Keep that appreciation for what you do, even when we’re back to those crazy hours. Lastly, remember the benefits and importance of relationships, laughter, and finding time to stay in touch as well as we are now, even when events resume. These are just some examples but each of your own circumstances and venues have the opportunity to provide more positives and silver linings.

Undoubtedly, things are difficult right now. Changes aren’t going to be easy and funding is going to be challenging. It’s important to stay realistic within your own venues’ bigger picture but allow yourself a few minutes each day to think about you and your venue’s positives and silver linings. In the midst of all of our daily stressors, this can help re-focus your energy and give you a much-needed mental boost. While none of us wishes we had to take this route to get there, there will be good that comes from this!

Stay Hopeful. Stay Positive. Find those Silver Linings.

Sam Dores, CVP, is the Director of Business Operations, Strategy and Development for ExtraMile Arena and Vice-Chair of the Arenas Committee.

By Stephanie Curran, CVE

Today a section of the Spokane Arena became a temporary homeless shelter. Not everyone is happy about it, especially the businesses in the neighborhood. And as a business woman, I understand that.

I’ve been criticized. I’ve been questioned. I’ve been threatened. What I have learned is that it’s always OK to stand in the truth of who you are and do the right thing. Whatever you think about the homeless and who they are and how they got here, you’re probably not wrong. But at the very least, we can all agree that no one would choose this. And let us all be grateful tonight that this is not our life.

But for at least 105 people, during this pandemic medical emergency, for the next 90 days, they are safe. And that makes our community safer. And maybe, just maybe, someone will feel what it’s like to feel safe and cared for and make a new life choice. And that would be amazing.

Stephanie Curran, CVE, is Chief Executive Officer of the Spokane (WA) Public Facilities District.

By R.V. Baugus

The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), under the leadership of Managing Director Monica Lee-Muller, has taken the proverbial “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” as it relates to the public assembly venue world as the facility opened its doors with the first exhibition since the outbreak of COVID-19.

The event, the HK Wedding Fair, is a consumer exhibition that occupies 12,000 square meters and is attended by but as Monica said, “It is a good start.”

Yes it is, and we look forward to reporting on more such instances as these as our industry slowly but eventually surely builds back to its intended use.

Oh, and congratulations to all the brides and grooms!

By R.V. Baugus

Longtime IAVM member Greg Flakus worked with the largest food pantry in Clark County Fish of Vancouver and helped them secure a much needed grant of $50,000 from a local foundation.

Flakus, who has served as the Capital Campaign Chair when they raised $1.6 million dollars to buy their own building in 2016, worked with a local family foundation, The Firstenburg Foundation, to make the request for funding.

The funds will be used to install a much needed new phone system for the organization, purchase a new pallet jack, and install a new donor tracking system for the organization.

Fish of Vancouver recently celebrated its 50th year of serving hungry families in Clark County. Last year they served more than 2,400 needy families and handed out over 3 million pounds of food to these families.

Where We Go from Here

It seems that everyone I interview for either a story in the IAVM newsletter or Facility Manager magazine on COVID-19, or anyone that writes an article for any of our publications on the topic, always comes with the caveat of, “You better hurry and run this, because it will probably change tomorrow.”

We here at IAVM realize that during this ongoing pandemic no two days are truly the same. In our publications corner of the office, we are very cognizant from the above example that an article appearing today could well be obsolete tomorrow. This is how fast everything about coronavirus is changing and changing our world.

We want to share with you our own publication change, one that we truly hope will be as temporary as possible. The May/June issue of Facility Manager will appear in a digital format copy only. We place every issue of the magazine online, so for those of you who are accustomed to reading it that way, nothing changes. For those accustomed to reading the print copy, please be sure to enjoy the magazine in its entirety online.

We will print the July/August issue  and will mail as usual to honor the change in leadership this July. Our desire is to continue printing FM after this issue. That is a target and a goal, but again …

Please know that ultimately it is our responsibility to be prudent stewards of an operating budget during these difficult times. Many of you already know this as you rearrange budgets and deal with the painstaking matter of whether to lay off staff. We face the same challenges and it simply is not prudent or a show of stewardship at this given moment in time to print. We trust from your own experiences you will understand our decision.

In closing, as we all know, we will come back and we will come back stronger than ever as our venues open back up and serve as they were intended, to bring enjoyment to the communities which you represent. IAVM will also be stronger than ever, and Facility Manager will as well in its print version you have come to love.

R.V. Baugus

Senior Editor, FM Magazine