GCLA Member Benefits: We Move California
Here’s some good news coming out the great state of California. It was just announced this week that Gilead Sciences based in Foster City, California, concluded a major study, which began February 21, of the antiviral drug Remdesivir and found it can help hospitalized patients with COVID-19 recover faster. Dr. Anthony Fauci hailed the findings, released yesterday, as "quite good news. The data shows that Remdesivir has a clear cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery," Fauci said during a meeting between President Trump and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. This is highly significant.
On the homestretch of recovering from this nightmare, you should know that your GCLA leadership team is hard at work doing all we can to expedite the return of business.
We are partnering with the CPUC on more research projects and outreach to the entire state of transportation professionals. First up, we have sent over 6,000 letters (on GCLA letterhead) to operators in California asking them to sign it and send to their district legislators. We are pushing for extended relief on office mortgages and bank-backed vehicle loans.
We are expanding our research and data. After we sent our COVID-19 Industry Impact Study to the CPUC, they appreciated the data so much they asked us to continue conducting more studies and expanded market research. Facts are powerful. Data doesn’t lie. Our information is making a substantial impact, according to our lobbyist, Gregg Cook. To all of you who are responding to our surveys, thank you!
It’s time to talk about cleaning protocols. Last week I reached out to the Hotel & Lodging Association after seeing an announcement that they are endorsing cleaning protocols by way of ACCOR and the GBAC Gold Star certification, a standard they want the hospitality/travel industry to adopt. It is everyone’s hope that one recognizable sanitation certification will be accepted in the new era of “Clean is Safe.” Hyatt announced today that their GBAC Star program will become effective this next month. I had very productive meetings this week to ensure that the GCLA is brought into the fold of these certifications. This will become a very important membership exclusive for GCLA in the near future. The GCLA board meets on May 15th and will be presented with recommended action steps. Until then, please stand by.
We are launching an extensive public relations and marketing campaign called WE MOVE CALIFORNIA (Think, “Got Milk?” campaign by the dairy farmers). We are working on a cool video, featuring YOU, that will be sent to every association involved with our industry here in the state. This is an advertising program for using our services, designed to rev up our industry brand and attract business for you.
We are also updating GCLA.org. I ask that you please check it out. The site is a work-in-progress. Your ideas are welcomed. While visiting, please take a look at our COVID-19 Resource Center. It’s pretty cool. Next up, we are launching a vodcast program called On the Move With…These will be splitscreen format of interviews with me and thought leaders/experts on hot-button topics. We are also ramping up our webinar series focused on training and demonstrating products and services designed to make you money or save you money. Additionally, we will archive our exclusive research and whitepapers that are yours to access anytime. However, the new Education & Research area is a MEMBERS ONLY section of the GCLA.org site.
GCLA operator membership is $6.25 per month, the cost of a Starbucks pastry and one cup of coffee. We will soon be launching the Ditch Your Donut Membership Campaign. If you have not renewed your membership, please go on GCLA.org and renew. We need you to be all-in with us so we can pull through as an industry united.
My parting shot is this. I know most small businesses did not get the financial help via the PPP and EIDL programs and are very upset. We must try our best to hold on and know that this has an end to it. Nine states have re-opened. Fifteen more are on the “re-opening soon” list, including our bordering state of Nevada. For California, it is just a matter of time. You’ve got many friends in the unity of the GCLA and with me. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need anything. We ARE in this together.
Sara Eastwood-Richardson
