[December 1, 2020] - County Statuses Updated for Business Operations Starting Dec. 3
On December 1, the Oregon Health Authority updated their map of Oregon counties with associated risk categories.
View County Risk Map View the Business Operations Document
Outdoor Dining Guidance
Starting Thursday, December 3rd, Oregon counties will be categorized into four different and distinct areas regarding closing times, indoor and outdoor dining allowance and seating capacity. For counties in the “Extreme” category who can only offer Outdoor Dining, there may be some confusion as to what defines an “outdoor space”. Based on the latest definition from the Oregon Health Authority, “outdoor space” means an open-air space which may have a temporary or fixed cover, such as an awning or roof, so long as the space has at least 75% of the square footage of its sides open for airflow. Restaurants will still need to adhere to the other restrictions on outdoor dining which include: 
*Closing time excludes take-out and delivery service
[November 25, 2020] - New Developments for Oregon's Hospitality IndustryEarlier today on November 25, Governor Kate Brown announced new standards impacting Oregon’s hospitality industry starting Thursday, December 3. Once the 2-Week Freeze is over on Wednesday, December 2, operators across this state will have different operational guidelines associated with their business location(s). This new health and safety framework uses four different risk levels for counties based on their level of COVID-19 spread—Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk—effective December 3. On Monday, November 30, the Oregon Health Authority will reexamine county data to determine which counties qualify for each risk level on December 3, following the end of the 2-Week Freeze. In each subsequent two-week period, the Oregon Health Authority will examine and publish county data weekly, but county risk levels will not change until the end of the second week. In the first week, counties will be given Warning Week data to prepare for potential risk level changes. In the second week, county risk levels will be updated based on that week’s data. More detailed information will be posted before December 3. VIEW COUNTY RISK LEVELS IN A TABLE OR IN A MAP (scroll to "Effective 12/3: Oregon Risk and Protection Framework" section) VIEW GUIDANCE BY ACTIVITY IN A TABLE There are significant developments included in today’s announcement for all risk assessment columns ranging from Low Risk to Extreme Risk. Each of the 4 columns provide details for restaurants on how they can operate and ORLA is grateful for the inclusion of outdoor dining in all risk categories as well as an extension of Oregon’s curfew of 10pm to 11pm or Midnight depending on the risk category a county is in. Please review the linked documents and reach out to your Regional Representatives with any questions. *Note: ORLA remains in contact with the Governor’s Office about the importance of turning on Video Lottery Terminals or VLTs. Once we have clarity about the plan for VLTs we will communicate the news to our Video Lottery Retailers around the state. Lottery revenues provide important revenue for critical state services while also providing much needed revenue for Oregon’s restaurant and bar operators. We remain committed to advocating for the importance of VLTs for both purposes with the ability to wear face coverings at all times while machines are being used by players.
[November 24, 2020] - ORLA Remains Committed to Working Through Covid-19 Realities
The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is disappointed we were not able to secure a temporary restraining order against the latest indoor and outdoor dining room freeze on our industry, which continues to impact thousands of operators and tens of thousands of industry employees.
[November 20, 2020] - ORLA and the Restaurant Law Center Sue to Prevent Ongoing Industry DevastationHello ORLA Members, Friends, and Colleagues: In an emergency meeting of the ORLA Board of Directors this week, your state association for the hospitality industry has made the decision to move forward as a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit with the Restaurant Law Center against Kate Brown in her official capacity as Governor of the State of Oregon. We do not take this stand lightly and we realize the seriousness of fighting for our rights as an industry during an ongoing public health emergency. I want you all to know directly from my office that partnerships and collaboration matter to us – especially with the Governor’s Office and their professional staff. We are taking this action due to ongoing concerns about the way in which decisions are being made as a state in the fight to save lives and mitigate virus spread. Executive Order 20-65, published online this past Tuesday afternoon, November 17 with an effective date of Wednesday, November 18 implementing a statewide two-week shutdown of indoor and outdoor restaurant dining rooms is rife with inequity. Every one of us has a leadership role to play. Your friends, family, and professional circles deserve to know more from you as a leader as to how the ongoing health emergency is creating growing inequity in our ability to operate small businesses and keep Oregonians employed. Of considerable concern is the latest news first reported by KGW earlier this week that the numbers we are using to form the basis for our economic decision making as a state are not accurate. According to KGW, individuals who need multiple Covid tests are only counted once regardless of how many tests they have taken as the crisis continues. The result of that flaw means the positivity rate in Oregon is inaccurate as thousands of Covid tests are allegedly not included in the calculation to determine our positivity rate. Without an accurate positivity rate, it seems clear we will have an incredibly difficult time implementing equitable restrictions in both private and public settings based on data. You can access the KGW story here to better understand the gravity of this situation: https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/oregon-health-authority-has-no-idea-how-many-tests-are-available-used-or-left-over/283-9276ad32-3003-4087-9ad3-9ec9bf6d9f7d As we move through the process of fighting for your rights in federal district court, I want to thank you all for doing everything you can to stay strong for yourself, your friends, and your employees. The way you approach your leadership journey today will shape your approach for years to come. Our fight is for equitable rights where operators can continue employing people in Oregon’s dining rooms in a way that aligns with the rules established for other industries and for our private residences. As we all know, if Oregonians can gather in groups of up to 6 people across two households in private indoor and outdoor settings, then Oregon’s restaurant operators should be able to serve patrons in groups based on that same standard with physical distance between dining parties. That is our goal – to establish equity in our approach as a state while our industry continues to make significant sacrifices as part of the ongoing emergency health crisis. You can find ORLA’s suit asking a judge for a temporary restraining order against the latest round of restrictions through the following link options: The Complaint with Exhibit The Complaint without Exhibit Our press release to the media regarding the filing of the suit can be found here: Press Release In the spirit of collaboration, there is one thing we all collectively can continue advocating for – action by our federal leaders to pass another relief package. Governor Brown’s office, ORLA, and other business groups are pleading with our federal elected leaders to provide this much needed relief as we wait for several vaccines to move through their approval and distribution process. Another round of Paycheck Protection Program dollars and passage of the Restaurants Act is absolutely crucial in our fight for operators across this state. As part of your leadership journey, we ask you to reach out to Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as your Oregon Congressional leader to request this action. Contact information for your Oregon federal elected leaders can be found through the following links: Contact US Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon): https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/email-ron Contact US Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon): https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact Contact District 1 Congressional Leader Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon): https://bonamici.house.gov/zip-code-lookup?form=/contact/email Contact District 2 Congressional Leader Greg Walden (R-Oregon): https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me Contact District 3 Congressional Leader Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon): https://blumenauerforms.house.gov/forms/writeyourrep/ Contact District 4 Congressional Leader Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon): https://defazio.house.gov/contact/email-peter Contact District 5 Congressional Leader Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon): https://schrader.house.gov/ ORLA is here for restaurant and lodging operators of all shapes and sizes. Our industry will continue to represent the fabric of an incredible American story while leading the way for other industries in embracing the many ways in which our culture is changing. With more female owned and minority owned businesses than any other industry in our country, I know together we will continue to lead by example. One more important note. ORLA has recently established a new formal partnership with Oregon’s Small Business Development Centers. Expert restaurant advisors are standing by to assist you in wrestling with the difficult challenges facing you right now. Coronavirus Relief Funds have made this new partnership possible. You can visit the following webpage to sign up for no cost, confidential one on one consulting in less than 5 minutes and the professional staff working with Oregon’s Small Business Development Centers will follow up. Regardless of your level of success in the industry, I encourage you to take a hard look at this resource. An outside perspective may help in uncovering a new idea that allows you to hold on a little longer until a vaccine arrives. You can sign up through the following webpage: https://oregonsbdc.org/orca/ My best to you and your families this holiday season. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in your time of need. Sincerely, Jason Brandt, President & CEO
[November 18, 2020] - ORLA's Statement on $55 million relief fund announced by the Governor
Another shutdown of Oregon’s restaurants, bars and foodservice establishments is crippling an already broken and damaged industry. While other industries in Oregon have experienced revenue losses on average of five percent from last year, the hospitality industry in Oregon has experienced revenue losses on average of at least thirty percent.
Because of this massive economic disparity, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA), the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, sent a letter to the Legislative Joint Emergency Board earlier this week asking for the immediate creation of a $75 million Hospitality Relief Fund to help operators and their employees survive another shutdown. Hospitality businesses need immediate help. We cannot wait for February and hope a relief package will materialize and be approved at the federal level. This is an emergency and we need the Joint Emergency Board to take action now to save our industry and the tens of thousands of Oregonians who rely on it to put food on the table, pay their rent or mortgage and provide for their families’ needs. 
[November 13, 2020] - CEO Message Regarding Dining Shutdown
To Oregon Hospitality Operators: Today’s news announcing a statewide shutdown of indoor and outdoor restaurant dining for 2 weeks starting Wednesday, November 18 is incredibly tough news to take for our employees, their families, and the viability of our business operations. We stand with you as staff at the state association in finding our way through what has proven to be the most difficult crisis our industry has faced. Many of you have opportunities to take advantage of revamped systems that allow you to ramp up curbside, takeout, drive thru, and delivery services as we move through this shutdown period and the upcoming winter months. Make sure to use every tool in your tool kit to ask your customers to join you in keeping the bones of your business intact. We continue to be asked to make significant sacrifices as an industry due to the nature of our business models. The prolonged duration of the pandemic and the state’s response is rife with inequities and we continue to be asked to carry significant business burdens for the betterment of society. This morning the Governor’s office told us we are reaching the utilization of approximately 80% of our hospital capacity in the Portland Metro area. We have said all along our decision making as a state should focus on hospitalization utilization and not on variations in new and presumptive daily case counts. Oregon’s business community is sending the following letter to Governor Brown’s office in response to the latest round of restrictions. As part of our outreach we identify action steps the Governor can take now to help lead our state through the ongoing challenges we face. In addition, it is our duty to pursue reasonable modifications to fees and other expenses restaurants incur in normal years and ask those be adjusted given emergency declarations enacted to date. In addition, we hope to prop up a hospitality relief fund through the Emergency Board of the Oregon Legislature to assist our operators as we await more action by the federal government on a second round of Paycheck Protection Program dollars. Please reach out to your Regional Representatives from ORLA who are there to assist you in finding a path forward. We stand with you in navigating the tough decisions resulting in further restrictions directly impacting our ability to survive and contribute to our local economies across the State of Oregon. Sincerely, Jason Brandt, President & CEO Your ORLA Regional Representatives: 
[November 6, 2020] - Response to the New Restaurant Reductions to Indoor Capacities
To Industry Operators in Oregon: Today’s press conference by Governor Brown has us deeply concerned as your industry association. It was announced there will be a new 2 week restriction on restaurants effective Wednesday, November 11 in the following counties: Jackson, Umatilla, Malheur, Marion, and Multnomah Counties. [Update: on Nov. 9, four more counties were added including, Baker, Clackamas, Union and Washington.] (See Reopening Guidance — Specific Counties on Pause) The restaurant restrictions announced today are as follows for these counties:
We understand how hard you are working to create a safe and welcoming environment for your employees and customers. I would argue there has never been a more important time for the role restaurants play as part of the mental health equation as our state suffers through a prolonged statewide health emergency. The new restrictions enacted by the Governor’s office today require an immediate response by your state association. As a result, we have finalized the following press release and plan to engage in every media opportunity made available to us and make sure your viewpoints are appropriately represented. You can view our press release here: Today’s announcement includes status quo operations for our industry in some counties while others will have to endure further restrictions. For restaurant operators located in counties where we have new 50-person indoor restrictions we ask that you join us in taking an action step. As we continue to engage the media, it will be important to showcase the paychecks that will be lost in our industry due to the new restrictions. The data provided each week by the Oregon Health Authority shows us where virus spread is taking place outside the private, unregulated settings that remain culprit #1. We need to make sure and provide broader perspective on what happens in Oregon when we institute new regulations not based on available data. We encourage you to join us in our weekly review process of the Oregon Health Authority data provided through the following link. The latest published report is from this past Wednesday, November 4, is available here: COVID-19 Weekly Report. Page 22 out of 44 showcases active outbreaks associated with workplaces in Oregon. Out of approximately 75 outbreaks notated in Table 7 of the report, only 2 are from our industry. We need to assist the Governor’s Office in understanding the deep economic impacts arbitrary rules have on our operations. Please take one minute and share how the new restrictions will impact your operation (if you are located in an affected county). We hope to keep track of business and county locations alongside paychecks lost at those locations as a result of the new restrictions. 
[November 4, 2020] - ORLA 2020 Election Update
In a momentous election year, Oregon’s vote-by-mail system, in place for over twenty years, appears to have once again performed as intended. Oregon’s Secretary of State is reporting over 80% of Oregonians voted in this election with some counties reporting almost 90% participation. Like all of you, we are carefully monitoring the latest updates on election results at every level: Federal, State and Local. Below is an update from the Government Affairs team on the latest results and which races we are still watching. We will provide updates as events unfold and as new information becomes available. Regardless of who occupies the White House or who takes leadership of the House and Senate, the hospitality industry has an array of immediate needs as well as long-term opportunities and challenges that must be addressed in Washington. Similarly, we need to work with our newly elected leaders here in Oregon alongside those re-elected to office to help ensure outcomes for the hospitality industry if we are to survive. FEDERAL UPDATE These are the key takeaways as of mid-day Wednesday, Nov. 3rd. Bottom line, whatever the outcome of the presidential election, it appears likely the House will remain under Democratic control (with potentially Republican gains) and the Senate will remain under Republican control (with potentially Democratic gains). The White House The race for the White House continues to narrow. If President Trump retains his slight leads in the red to purple states of North Carolina (15 electoral votes) and Georgia (16 electoral votes), all eyes will shift to the small handful of battlegrounds:
Vice President Biden’s safest route to 270 is to secure Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada, in which case he doesn’t need North Carolina or Pennsylvania. Michigan and Wisconsin may be announced later today and Nevada possibly tomorrow. In Oregon, Vice-President Joe Biden beat President Trump 57%-40% to earn Oregon’s seven Electoral votes. The Senate Republicans started the cycle at a distinct disadvantage, defending 23 Senate seats, compared to 12 for Democrats. Moreover, only two Democratic seats were ever in play, whereas Republicans had to aggressively defend 12 seats, including several in blue and purple states. So where does that leave us in terms of the Senate’s balance of power? If Joe Biden wins, Senate Republicans must hold their remaining net losses to one seat in order to retain control.
The House Contrary to conventional and media wisdom, it was a positive night for the House GOP. Not enough progress to win back majority control of the House, but many seats were won where victory was far from certain. With several decisions outstanding, as of this writing, the Republican candidates have officially defeated seven Democratic incumbents and only lost two seats, which were the result of redistricting in North Carolina.
STATE UPDATE Oregon Secretary of State In an open seat, State Senator Shemia Fagan (D) defeated State Senator Kim Thatcher to win this seat currently held by a Republican, Bev Clarno, appointed to serve out the remainder of Dennis Richardson’s term as he passed away partway through his service. Fagan won the seat 51%-43%. Oregon Treasurer Incumbent Tobias Read (D) defeated second-time challenger Jeff Gudman 52%-41% to retain his position as Oregon State Treasurer. Oregon Attorney General Incumbent Ellen Rosenblum (D) defeated her challenger, Michael Cross 57% to 41% to retain her position as Oregon Attorney General. State Senate Key Races Oregon Democrats currently hold 18 of the 30 State Senate seats, allowing them a supermajority. This means they do not need any Republicans to pass tax bills or other legislation. If the Democrats were to win two more seats, they would have a quorum-proof majority, meaning they could pass legislation without needing any Republicans to show up and vote. In 2020, there were three key races for both Democrats and Republicans. Republicans had to defend two seats, one in the Salem area and one in Central Oregon and Democrats had to try and hold an open seat on the coast just to maintain the current makeup. Here are those races and where they currently sit:
State Representative Key Races Oregon Democrats currently hold 38 of the 60 State House seats, allowing them a supermajority. This means they do not need any Republicans to pass tax bills or other legislation. If the Democrats were to win two more seats, they would have a quorum-proof majority, meaning they could pass legislation without needing any Republicans to show up and vote. In 2020, there were four key races for both Democrats and Republicans. Two open seats, one on the southern coast and one on the northern coast and two seats Republicans were defending, one in the Salem area and one in Bend. Here are those races and where they currently sit:
Bottom Line In Oregon, at the Federal level, incumbents won and Republicans retained Congressman Greg Walden’s seat meaning there is effectively no change. At the State level, Democrats retained Attorney General, State Treasurer and took back the Secretary of State position they lost in 2016. In the State Legislature, Republicans are leading in two of the three key Senate races, but all are too close to call as of this writing. If the numbers hold, there will be no change in the makeup of the State Senate. In the Oregon House, Republicans lost one race, won two races, and are leading in the fourth. If the numbers hold, Republicans will net one seat changing the makeup of that chamber to 37 Democrats and 23 Republicans which is still a supermajority. [To continue reading previous blog posts from ORLA's CEO, click "Read More" to the right]
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Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Remains Committed to Working Through Covid-19 Realities11/24/2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 24, 2020
Available Data Translates into Ongoing Inequities for Oregon Hospitality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 19, 2020 Contact: Glenda Hamstreet, Executive Coordinator, ORLA 971.224.1509 | ghamstreet@oregonrla.org Wilsonville, OR– On November 18, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released the latest available data on workplace outbreaks in Oregon. In a November 18 published report, the OHA has identified 3,097 active Covid-19 cases associated with workplaces. Of those cases 18, or 0.58 percent are tied to restaurants. Lodging operations, which have no current outbreaks, don’t even appear on the list. “Oregon’s restaurants are struggling mightily. The state’s new restrictions are forcing an unsustainable round robin of furloughs and layoffs in our industry, an industry that is second to only health care in the number of people it employs,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “We continue to seek answers to better understand the sacrifices being experienced by Oregon’s hospitality businesses and our industry employees based on available data.” The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) has been an active partner in transforming thousands of hospitality environments to promote guest and employee safety. The industry continues to argue additional restrictions on controlled environments pushes virus spread to uncontrolled environments. “We can turn the corner in this state on coronavirus infections while still supporting the livelihoods of our fellow Oregonians as long as we make reasonable decisions based on available data,” said Brandt. “The data has clearly shown Oregon’s controlled restaurant and lodging environments offer a safe alternative to the private, social gatherings state officials have identified as the primary culprit driving the virus’ spread.” The state association continues to advocate for necessary adjustments to restaurant dining room protocol. For example, Governor Brown’s November 13 press conference stated private gatherings should be limited to 2 households or a maximum of 6 people. ORLA is advocating the same standard for group dining physically distanced from others be allowed immediately in dining rooms across the state. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191.  Confidential, No-Cost Advisor Network Made Possible by Coronavirus Relief Funds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2020 Contact: Terry Hopkins, Regional Representative, ORLA 541.441.2219 | THopkins@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR– The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) and Oregon’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network are pleased to announce the launch of a new, no-cost, one on one confidential advisor network. The Oregon Restaurant Covid Assistance Program includes a network of seven professional restaurant consultants ready to assist industry operators with ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic. “We feel a strong sense of urgency to build program awareness now as independent restaurant operators wrestle with what comes next,” said Terry Hopkins, Regional Representative for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “It is time for operators to engage in an exercise of humility because no one is bigger than COVID-19 and every single operator can benefit from an additional expert perspective.” Focal areas for advisor support were determined by a mass survey of restaurant operators earlier this fall. Results from survey feedback resulted in the following core areas of concentration:
Advisors are standing by to engage in confidential consulting conversations and are paid through SBA CARES Act relief funds authorized by the Emergency Board of the Oregon Legislature. Restaurants operators participating in the program will incur no cost for services rendered. “It was incredibly important to us to prop up a program that allows operators to sign up in less than 5 minutes to access these free top-tier consulting services,” said Hopkins. “We know this will prove to be a unique opportunity for restaurant operators who choose to take a leap of faith and engage an advisor. We can save independent restaurants in this state by sharing expertise and resources that assist our small businesses in finding a path forward.” To sign up for advisor connectivity and to review the list of participating advisors, visit: Oregonsbdc.org/orca. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. Currently, approximately 55,000 of those workers, or 30%, do not have work available to return to. The Oregon Small Business Development Centers work in partnership with the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association in providing vital assistance to Oregon's restaurants. Creation of a $75 Million Hospitality Relief Fund is Needed for Industry to Survive
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 17, 2020 Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR– Another shutdown of Oregon’s restaurants, bars and foodservice establishments is crippling an already broken and damaged industry. While other industries in Oregon have experienced revenue losses on average of five percent from last year, the hospitality industry in Oregon has experienced revenue losses on average of at least thirty percent. Because of this massive economic disparity, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA), the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, has sent a letter to the Legislative Joint Emergency Board asking for the immediate creation of a $75 million Hospitality Relief Fund to help operators and their employees survive another shutdown. “There is no federal relief package waiting to be voted on and distributed from Congress or the White House,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “There are no stimulus checks being printed to help Oregon families pay their bills. There is no weekly check for $600 available for those servers, cooks, hosts and hostesses about to lose their jobs or have their hours cut again because restaurants can’t survive on takeout and delivery if they can do it at all.” Restaurants and bars are still paying rent and there has been no extension of the commercial rent moratorium even though revenue has been cut by as much as 65% for some operators because of the shutdowns, “pause” and now a “freeze.” Restaurants and bars are still paying OLCC license fees even though they are not able to serve hard alcohol or offer cocktails to go for customers doing pickup or delivery. They are still paying health inspection fees based on the number of seats they have in their establishment even though they cannot seat anyone in their establishment. There are payroll taxes, corporate activity taxes, property taxes on property they cannot fully use and commercial personal property taxes on property restaurants own. In addition to the immediate creation of the $75 million Hospitality Relief Fund, ORLA is recommending several other solutions to the Legislature to help the hospitality industry survive. Those solutions include:
“We were already hearing from members they were concerned about what another shutdown would do to their chances of staying open,” said Brandt. “Without significant help from the state, the hospitality industry in Oregon–many of your favorite restaurants, hotels, bars and other places– will have to permanently close their doors, putting tens of thousands of people out of work.” “Hospitality businesses need immediate help. We cannot wait for February and hope a relief package will materialize and be approved at the federal level,” said Brandt. “This is an emergency and we need the Joint Emergency Board to take action now to save our industry and the tens of thousands of Oregonians who rely on it to put food on the table, pay their rent or mortgage and provide for their families’ needs.” ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. Statewide Industry Shutdown of Dining Rooms Does Not Add Up
Wilsonville, OR– On Friday, the Oregon Governor’s office announced wide ranging closures of all indoor and outdoor dining rooms across Oregon starting November 18. The announcement on November 13th came one day after a newly published report from the Oregon Health Authority identifying 2,893 Covid-19 cases associated with workplaces. Of those cases, 22 were tied to restaurants representing 0.76% of current workplace outbreaks. “Our industry, along with the fitness industry, are the official targets of the latest directives from Governor Brown’s office,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “We desperately need an explanation, and we are not getting straight answers. If 0.76% of active workplace outbreaks represent a need to shut down an entire industry, we have a real time crisis in how we are making regulatory decisions as a state.” The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) has been an active partner in transforming thousands of hospitality environments to promote guest and employee safety. The industry continues to argue additional restrictions on controlled environments pushes virus spread to uncontrolled environments. “We are running out of ways to express our deep concern about the correlation between dining room shutdowns and private behavior,” said Brandt. “If human interaction is going to take place during the course of the holiday season, then it is much more advantageous to have those interactions take place in controlled environments.” The state association continues to advocate for necessary adjustments to restaurant dining room protocol. For example, Governor Brown’s November 13th press conference stated private gatherings should be limited to 2 households or a maximum of 6 people. ORLA is advocating the same exact standard be allowed immediately in dining rooms across the state. “Why are we allowing 2 private households to gather with up to 6 people in an uncontrolled environment and closing dining rooms when those same interactions can take place in a controlled dining room environment with oversight from a third party?” said Brandt. “We stand ready to help in getting this state back on track as thousands of livelihoods are at stake.” ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. Industry Seeks Solutions Beyond Shutting Down, Putting People Out of Work
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 13, 2020 Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR– Today, the Oregon Governor’s office announced further restrictions on restaurants statewide beyond the previous two-week “pause.” The restrictions are being announced one week after the “pause” was announced and just two days after it went into effect. The restrictions take effect Wednesday, November 18th and prohibit dining indoors or outdoors at any bar or restaurant. Drive-thru, takeout, delivery and curbside pickup will still be allowed. “Knowing small social gatherings are the focal point for the transmission of this virus, it is incredibly disappointing to see our industry once again targeted and to know bar and restaurant operators are having their employees’ and their own livelihoods put at risk,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “We continue to be asked to make significant sacrifices as an industry due to the nature of our business models. The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) is recommending several solutions to help the hospitality industry survive. Those solutions include:
“We were already hearing from members they were concerned about what another shutdown would do to their chances of staying open,” said Brandt. “This latest round of regulations focused on restaurants will trigger an unknown amount of permanent closures impacting the livelihoods of thousands of Oregon families.” In addition, ORLA is recommending these solutions to help stop the spread of the disease further:
Oregon’s business community is sending the following letter to Governor Brown’s office in response to the latest round of restrictions. “Businesses throughout Oregon have proven that they can make the operational changes necessary to keep their employees and their customers safe, even during this unprecedented pandemic. What we need now is a plan to address the root of the problem without causing additional harm to Oregonians throughout the state,” said Brandt. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. Update as of 11.6.20
The final OSHA Temporary Rule addressing COVID-19 has been released. As a reminder, as Temporary Rules these are allowed to be in effect for 180-days. A discussion about making them permanent (possibly expanded/revised) is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Effective Date: November 16, 2020 to May 4, 2021
Delayed Effective Dates:
Several resources are now available online under “Documents,” with more on the way in the weeks to come. OSHA also offers consultation services and technical specialists to help employers comply with the requirements. View the entire Temporary Rule here: https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/div1/437-001-0744.pdf View workplace chart for application here: https://osha.oregon.gov/rules/advisory/infectiousdisease/Documents/Overview-Table-for-Oregon-OSHA-COVID-19-Temporary-Rule.pdf OR-OSHA also released a fillable Exposure Risk Assessment to download – for use by employers in their compliance. We expect additional training tools to be released in the coming weeks including, model Infection Control Plans, videos for use in employee training and a sample/model Employee Notification Policy. Update as of 10.28.20 There is a lot going on right now at the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and we wanted to provide a direct update to summarize all the activity. There are 3 separate public processes occurring at Oregon OSHA. Please take a look below and click through on any link if the issue is one you wish to provide comment on. If you’re interested in ORLA's perspective on each item, see the “ORLA Notes” with each paragraph below. (1) COVID-19 Temporary Rulemaking Oregon OSHA has initiated a process to create an infectious disease control standard temporary rule for all workplaces in Oregon. The process has included taking Phase 2 guidelines for our industry from the Oregon Health Authority and housing them at Oregon OSHA in a temporary rule format. By law, temporary rules can last no longer than 180 days.
(2) Penalties – Increasing Minimum and Maximum Penalties At the same time – and completely unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic or the COVID-19 temporary rulemaking, Oregon OSHA is coming to the end of an eight-month period of public comment on changes to the existing penalty rules, including an increase in the maximum penalties that align Oregon penalties with federal OSHA as directed by both Congress and the Oregon Legislative Assembly.
(3) Employer Knowledge/Employer Responsibility The Employer Knowledge rulemaking has been on a similar time frame as the Penalties Rulemaking, but they are actually two distinct rulemaking proposals. In this rulemaking, Oregon OSHA proposes to add two definitions and a paragraph to the Division 1 rules. The Oregon Supreme Court in CBI Services v. Oregon OSHA determined that Oregon OSHA needs to more clearly define how “reasonable diligence” and “unpreventable employee misconduct” are interpreted and applied in enforcement activities and Oregon OSHA believes that such guidance is most appropriately provided through an administrative rule. The proposed additions to the rules are to clarify in general how Oregon OSHA assesses an employer’s reasonable diligence, what constitutes unpreventable employee misconduct, how Oregon OSHA assesses an employer’s knowledge of a violation, and when an employer is and is not responsible for a violation that has occurred on its worksite. After spending several years developing the proposal, Oregon OSHA is coming to the end of an eight-month period of public comment on these proposed changes.
Please take action and make a difference if you can. [Updated 11.10.20] Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) The new Commercial Activity Tax is imposed only after a taxpayer exceeds $1 million of taxable commercial activity. Once they pass that threshold, the tax is $250 plus 0.57% on gross receipts greater than $1 million after subtractions. Proceeds of the tax are directed by statute to boost funding for public schools. The Department of Revenue's website includes a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for tax payers to better understand what the tax is and who is subject to the tax. ORLA Updates:
Latest Announcements from the Department of Revenue and ORLA:
 Click image to download CAT calculator example. Resources & Webinars to Help You Understand the CAT The Commercial Activity Tax is complicated and calculating your potential tax can be confusing. Therefore, ORLA has created a CAT calculator example to help our members understand how to calculate the tax. This exercise is only meant to help you project what your tax liability could be; as always, be sure to consult your tax advisors. ORLA hosted two members-only informational webinars on Nov. 19 and Dec. 3 that explained the new tax, the Department’s implementation plans and what you can expect as a business owner. Tax experts with accounting firm Moss Adams LLP in Portland also provided some best tax practices for the hospitality industry. ORLA members can access the slide deck from the presentation by logging into the Member Portal on ORLA's website and clicking the Resource Library. FAQ: Can we include the CAT tax on our customers’ bill? A. The legislation that established the CAT (Oregon Laws 2019, Chapters 122 and 579) does not specifically prohibit a business from passing on additional cost of the tax. If you do choose to add a new line item to the receipt, the line item itself still counts as “commercial activity” when determining your tax liability. Consult with an attorney or financial advisor before making any final decisions. How the Commercial Activities Tax Came About This was one of the 2019 Legislative Session bills having the biggest impact on businesses. ORLA was opposed to this bill as it raised taxes on commercial activity for businesses with gross revenues of over one million dollars. ORLA, along with others in the business community, was able to amend the original bill to include a deduction for labor or cost of goods sold. The association will work during the rule making session to ensure hospitality businesses will be able to include the tax increase on receipts so customers can see the impact of the tax. Additional Information and Timeline for the CAT
 DOR Sought Industry Input in CAT Rule Making The Department of Revenue (DOR) held a series of town hall meetings across the state in September-October to seek input from business taxpayers about the administrative rules for Oregon’s new Commercial Activity Tax (CAT). Nearly 900 business taxpayers and tax professionals took part in these public forums or participated in video conferences and conference calls. More information is now available on the CAT page of DOR website. If you have any questions, please email Greg Astley, Director of Government Affairs, at Astley@OregonRLA.org. This is for general informational purposes only. The information is not, and should not be relied upon or regarded as, legal advice. Please consult with your legal advisors. Newly announced restrictions on indoor restaurant spaces defy logic, data, and goals designed to reduce virus spread in Oregon FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2020 (Updated 11.9.20) Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR– Today, the Oregon Governor’s office announced new restrictions on restaurants located in specific counties. The restrictions take effect next week and further reduce the total number of people, including staff, that can be on premise. The new restrictions for specific counties will change the current maximum of 100 people indoors and reduce the maximum to 50 people indoors. In addition, group dining at restaurants in affected counties will be reduced to a maximum of 6 people. The two-week pause applies to Multnomah, Marion, Jackson, Malheur and Umatilla counties. On Monday, Nov. 9, four more counties were added to the pause list; Washington, Clackamas, Baker and Union counties. “We have said all along we were going to follow the data as a state and we have some of the most comprehensive, transparent data in the country being provided by the Oregon Health Authority in their weekly COVID reports,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “These new restrictions do not follow the data available to us. This action will directly result in more Oregonians interacting in uncontrolled, private environments as opposed to restaurants with controlled, regulated environments.” The Oregon Health Authority’s weekly COVID report is published mid-week with the latest edition released on Wednesday, November 4. A copy can be obtained through the following link: The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) remains committed to thorough weekly reviews of any workplace outbreaks connected to the industry. In the latest edition, only 2 foodservice locations are identified out of approximately 75 workplace outbreaks across the state. The workplace outbreak section can be found starting on Page 22 with details included in Table 7 of the weekly report. “We are one of the largest employers in Oregon and the efforts being undertaken by our operators across the state is nothing short of monumental. The weekly data continues to prove the importance of controlled, regulated environments like restaurants as an alternative to private gatherings,” said Brandt. “We are literally making decisions that could drive us in the wrong direction as a state.” “We have a role to play in providing safe alternatives to private settings. We need more opportunity to be a part of the solution.” Early in the COVID-19 crisis, the Governor’s office convened the Coronavirus Economic Advisory Council, but the council was disbanded months ago with no alternative for collaboration amongst industry leaders and health experts. ORLA is recommending an economic advisory council be reestablished immediately to assist the Governor’s office with the intelligence needed to understand the wide-ranging impacts to local economies triggered by new regulations.
“There will be thousands of operators across the state who will be unable to comprehend an additional arbitrary limit on the total number of people they can have indoors with no consideration given to the square footage available,” said Brandt. “We will have less paychecks to provide to struggling Oregonians, less opportunity for Oregonians to take a ‘mental health break’ in controlled restaurant environments, and we will drive more people to unregulated, private gatherings leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday.” Restaurants able to physically distance guests by party with at least the recommended six feet between tables, should be allowed to do so without arbitrary restrictions. For establishments with a larger footprint, capping capacity to 50 or 100 people when they can safely seat more means robbing them of the opportunity to keep people employed and keep Oregonians from struggling more than they already have this year. With some reports suggesting as many as 85% of independent restaurants will close without some form of financial assistance or less arbitrary regulation from government, further reducing restaurants’ ability to generate revenue makes that figure seem even more likely. ORLA is creating an online interface to track Oregonian paychecks lost from restaurants located in counties where the additional restrictions will take effect. Operators will share their business name, their county location, and the number of paychecks lost due to the new restrictions. “We believe wholeheartedly in collaboration and partnership and our industry must continue to do whatever we can to mitigate virus spread and support the heroes in the health care sector who are putting their lives on the line to save their fellow Oregonians,” said Brandt. “We have a role to play in providing safe alternatives to private settings. We need more opportunity to be a part of the solution.” ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of approximately 10,000 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce prior to COVID of 183,191. Roughly 30%, or 55,000 jobs, remain lost in the industry as a result of the COVID pandemic. We welcome industry members' article submissions relevant to the restaurant and lodging industry in Oregon. Association members are primarily considered and encouraged to share expertise and perspective following the guidelines below for submitting an article. Please note, we do not publish press releases. The criteria outlined below in no way guarantees your submission will be published at all, or that a submission will appear in any particular issue. The submission should satisfy the criteria, but is entirely subject to editing for length and content.
To submit an article for consideration in any of ORLA's communication vehicles please email Editor, Lori Little, at LLittle@OregonRLA.org. Guest Blog Submission Guidelines
To submit a guest blog post, contact ORLA’s Director of Business Development Marla McColly at 503.428.8694. Guest blog posts are considered sponsored opportunities. Oregon Hospitality Industry Continues Push for Midnight Curfew and 100-Person Cap Removal10/28/2020 Safe Adjustments Needed to Regulations for Restaurant and Lodging Establishments
Wilsonville, OR– The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is convinced two key regulations are ready for adjustments based on recurring COVID-19 weekly workplace outbreak reports. The weekly reports, available through the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) website, consistently show negligible outbreaks occurring in foodservice and lodging operations. “We review the weekly reports from OHA religiously and can see the care being taken by our operators in controlled and highly regulated environments they manage,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “It is time, regardless of county phase, to allow operators the ability to stay open until midnight and to allow larger venues with ample square footage more flexibility in safely managing their capacity.” Currently, the Oregon Health Authority requires all foodservice operations in Oregon to close at 10pm regardless of their current phase of operation. In addition, all foodservice and event venues including lodging event space must limit their indoor capacity to 100 people including staff. “On the surface we realize a 100-person limitation sounds like an appropriate preventative measure to mitigate virus spread in Oregon,” said Brandt. “However, large scale venues have the ability to provide ample physical distance between associated parties of 10 or less and can accommodate more employees with hours while still operating safe, controlled environments.” ORLA is focused on facilitating communication between the Governor’s office and small businesses operating restaurants and lodging establishments across Oregon. A recent push this past week to communicate stories with the Governor’s office resulted in over 100 small business stories being shared about how a midnight curfew would help save restaurants. ORLA hopes to share similar stories about the impact of the 100-person indoor cap as well and the ripple effect it has on local economies throughout the state. “Some of the loudest voices in our industry on the importance of removing the 100-person indoor cap rule are coming from businesses who don’t have space to accommodate over 100,” said Brandt. “This showcases the ripple effect that hits smaller businesses when larger venues can’t accommodate larger groups in a community. Without the additional flexibility there is less activity and commerce in local communities and our operators rely on that foot traffic to stay afloat.” For more information on the efforts of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association please visit OregonRLA.org. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. Currently, approximately 55,000 of those workers, or 30%, do not have work available to return to. Contact: Jason Brandt, President & CEO, ORLA 503.302.5060 | JBrandt@OregonRLA.org The 10pm closure time is confounding to the hospitality industry. Nothing about COVID-19 changes after 10pm. It is still a virus our industry takes seriously, and we have completely changed our businesses to accommodate for its realities. With the information we have available seven months into the pandemic, the 10pm closure is not based on science and does not reflect the reality of the situation regarding transmission of the disease. It’s time to demand answers for why businesses cannot be allowed to operate past 10pm. Ask the Governor why this limitation still exists and let her know where you stand! Hospitality businesses are taking extra efforts to protect our communities, our customers, and our employees, and now we need help to make it on the other side of winter. We need the Governor to listen to us and trust us to help keep Oregonians safe.
 Hospitality and Tourism Professionals to Embark on Experiences of a Lifetime
Wilsonville, OR – In partnership with Travel Oregon and the Oregon Destination Association, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) is proud to announce the launch of Year 2 for the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy (OTLA). Participants will begin their first multi-day program experience in Eastern Oregon, April 28-30, 2021, pursuing in-depth experiences and knowledge that will elevate their passion and excitement for our state’s extraordinary offerings. The deadline to apply for the class launching in 2021 is Friday, December 4, 2020. “Much has changed in our world since the inception of the program and we're seeing incredible things happen with the current program participants who are half way through the inaugural year experience," said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. "The value of program experiences and professional connectivity created by the program will provide lasting benefits to those accepted to the program each year.” OTLA has spent great deal of time and attention into keeping all participants safe in the age of COVID-19 and are committed to refining all logistics and experiences each year to protect the integrity of the program and the value it brings to those involved. The Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy is a new experiential learning program targeted to tourism professionals seeking to polish their leadership and professional skills and make positive and lasting contributions to the state’s tourism economy. An advisory committee of tourism industry representatives helped shape the development of the program through a shared vision of cultivating stronger champions for Oregon's tourism industry. The program consists of four multi-day excursions to be completed over the course of a year. ORLA has been intentional in its pursuit of activating industry champions and the OTLA program supports that goal. The academy provides a compounding benefit of bringing people together for learning through experiences and empowering them to make lasting contributions to Oregon’s tourism and hospitality industries. Participants will create lifelong relationships and networking pathways through their connections. For more information on the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy, visit OregonRLA.org/OTLA. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of over 10,220 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce of 183,191, and a total economic impact of $13.8 billion in annual sales for Oregon. Property tax season is upon us, and many property owners will be paying very close attention to their bills in 2020. Due to Oregon’s unique property tax laws, often the real market value and the assessed value of a property are very different, which can result in bills increasing even if the real market value of a property dropped in the year assessed.
If you want to appeal your property taxes, there are three general reasons for filing:
Unfortunately, these kinds of appeals do not consider financial distress. To appeal, you must file your petition by December 31st with the Board of Property Tax Appeals (BOPTA) clerks in your county. To see contact information for clerks in each county, click here. Be sure to visit your county’s website for the correct appeal forms and fee information, or contact the clerk for them. Appeals are reviewed by your county’s Board of Property Tax Appeals, made up of members from the community appointed by your county’s Commissioners. Appeals are typically heard by the Board between February through April. If you disagree with their valuation decision, you can then appeal to the Magistrate Division of the Oregon Tax Court by filing forms and paying a fee. To appeal beyond that, this chart has more information on where and when you must file an appeal—note that some of these dates may be extended by emergency declarations due to COVID-19. If you have a special appeal situation, for example, needing to contest previous assessment years, read more guidance from the Oregon Department of Revenue on how to file an appeal.  As work begins on developing a new strategic plan that is responsive to Oregon’s ever-dynamic tourism economy, Travel Oregon and the state’s seven official regional destination management organizations have launched a survey to seek input from communities, local businesses and individuals that drive the state’s tourism economy.
Information collected through the survey will help Travel Oregon and regional partners set strategic direction, make funding and programmatic decisions in marketing, grants, tourism-related infrastructure, visitor management, and more. Respondents can expect to answer questions related to what they currently experiencing as a result of wildfires, the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest, and what they and their communities need most to rebuild and support a strong, resilient and racially just Oregon tourism economy. Please expect the survey to take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Please make sure before you begin that you have ample time to complete it from start to finish. The survey period closes October 30, 2020 at 5 p.m.  Today SAIF announced ORLA/SAIF partners are receiving $299,813 in dividends from SAIF for their 2019 policy period. These dividends are being paid to members this week. While dividends cannot be guaranteed and are declared at the discretion by SAIF’s Board of Directors, this clearly represents another advantage of being part of the ORLA/SAIF program. “Our partnership with SAIF Corporation over the past 3 years is assisting the hospitality industry in our continual pursuit of top tier safety for hard working employees across this state,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO of ORLA. “Being a part of the ORLA/SAIF group is a no brainer when you add the potential for dividend payments each policy year to the group discount operators receive when they qualify for the program. We look forward to the ongoing partnership with SAIF Corporation as industry operators work to save every penny they can.” ORLA’s endorsed service partnership with SAIF gives eligible ORLA members a workers’ compensation group discount that is validated by NCCI and approved by DCBS. As the restaurant and lodging industries face some of the most difficult workplace safety challenges, this partnership aims to reduce worker injuries and improve member’s safety programs. During the pandemic, SAIF has remained open for business, serving Oregon's employers and workers. This has included taking steps to help injured workers who faced challenges accessing care and working to reduce the financial burden on businesses. Ask your agent for an ORLA Group quote or contact SAIF directly at 888.598.5880. About SAIF SAIF is Oregon's not-for-profit workers' compensation insurance company. For more than 100 years, we've been taking care of injured workers, helping people get back to work, and striving to make Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work. For more information, visit the About SAIF page on saif.com.  Watch Now: "No Recess Without Relief" New Coalition Of Public And Private Sector Leaders Call On Congress To Act On COVID Relief Before Election
Washington, D.C. (September 30, 2020) – COVID RELIEF NOW, a new coalition of nearly 200 major public and private sector groups across the U.S., today called for “No Recess without Relief” imploring Congress to not leave town for the 2020 elections without passing additional COVID economic relief – stating millions of jobs and survival of small businesses as well as vital government services are on the line. The coalition stated that if Congress fails to act, millions of employees will be furloughed or terminated; millions of unemployed Americans will lose their unemployment insurance pandemic benefits; hundreds of thousands of companies will be at risk of closing their doors forever; and the vast majority of state and local governments will have to curtail critical services in order to balance budgets due to a decline in tax revenue. Read the letter signed by coalition members, including the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, that was sent to Congress today: This week is pivotal for COVID relief legislation and we must do everything we can to make sure our voice is heard. We need you to add your voice to ours. Write, call, and tweet your elected officials and tell them that the hotel industry’s needs must be included in any final bill. Take action and share this message with your colleagues!  A Family of Hardworking Winners
“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life." – Amy Poehler, actress Many of us who have been around for a while refer to those in our industry as our “Hospitality Family.” The more someone works around those who are committed to service, the more connected and inspired they themselves often become. With the onset of the pandemic, never has the innovative spirit, business savvy, and caring soul of our ‘family’ been so challenged. Our team at the Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF) and the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association see the daily struggles of our hospitality business partners and have been inspired by the innovative solutions launched in response. Encouraged by these efforts to address their business’ and community’s needs, we too have initiated proactive efforts in support. FOUNDATION INITIATIVES In my last article, I mentioned that the foundation’s Board of Directors took steps to strengthen our organization, including: renaming ourselves the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, expanding our mission to support philanthropic projects, launching new fundraising programs, and creating new training support appropriate to current needs. What’s happened since? New Training We have received requests for training assistance with the unique guest service and communication difficulties currently being experienced because of the pandemic. In response, we are creating an online series of easily digestible micro-sessions that share tips on how associates can provide positive service while still supporting safety protocols. The theme, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ focuses on helping prevent uncomfortable scenarios from escalating and causing unwelcome consequences by anticipating potential scenarios and practicing responses. Topics include;
We are grateful for a grant from Travel Oregon, sponsorship from Dutch Bros Coffee and EPB&B insurance, and our partnership with Togather Restaurant Consulting and VPW Media for their project support. We expect the series to be released in early fall. See release updates at OregonGuestServiceSafety.org. Takeout and A Movie Fundraiser Currently, we have raised and donated money to fourteen restaurants throughout the state who are providing a variety of solutions for helping feed those with food insecurity. Many of these restaurants are working to incorporate ongoing food support as part of their business model. Read more about these folks who are working hard to help change people’s lives by providing them with caring meals in our Champions article on page 16. You can also see a press release summary at bit.ly/OHFhelpawards. Additional awards are still available, see the application at OregonRLA.org/takeoutapp. We also collaborated with Cycle Oregon and Filmed by Bike to present a film festival and Q&A that focused attention on the economic benefits of the hospitality and tourism industry to Oregon’s communities and now our industry’s own critical need for public support. A portion of the event’s proceeds were donated to the Cycle Oregon Fund, a grant program that supports projects including tourism and community projects particularly in rural areas. Education Top of mind for many families are the myriad of struggles encountered in coping with the new demands of virtual education for students, parents, teachers, and our entire education system. We have been actively involved with discovering and creating resources for those who use our workforce training and Career & Technical Education (CTE) curriculum, such as ProStart. One example was our partnership with Rouxbe, an online culinary school for professionals, to provide their academic resources and videos to ProStart schools on a free trial basis and later for reduced fees. We are also seeking sponsorships and grant funding that will enable us to provide online and on-demand videos to support teachers’ virtual curriculum needs. The vision is to feature industry colleagues who will highlight various aspects such as job opportunities, facility tours, career pathways, customer service techniques, new safety protocols in place, and/or offer engaging skill-building demonstrations. Additionally, we are collaborating with Chemeketa Community College, the Oregon Coast Visitor’s Association, and the state’s workforce boards to ensure that quality hospitality training is available and accessible online, particularly for entry-level and supervisory positions. The goal is to help employees ‘hit the ground running,’ in order to reduce onsite training time needed and offer immediate value to employers. RESILIENCE I have yet to find the right words that portray my realistic recognition of the enormity of current challenges, particularly for our industry, nor my optimism that we will eventually recover. However, no one knows how to work harder than our Hospitality Family, so maybe the quote below is appropriate and helps explain my optimism about the outcome of our efforts, together. “As much as talent counts, effort counts twice.” - Angela Duckworth, American academic, psychologist and popular science author HOW YOU CAN HELP Unfortunately, looking toward the upcoming fiscal year, the foundation anticipates a 75 percent drop in revenue due to contract and sponsor funding reductions from affected partners. Your in-kind and financial contributions are greatly appreciated so that we may sustain and continue our good work. You can donate today at bit.ly/OHFDonation. Thank you. | Wendy Popkin, Oregon Hospitality Foundation About Wendy Popkin is the Executive Director of the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, a nonprofit 501c3 dedicated to providing educational, training, and philanthropic support to Oregon’s restaurant, lodging, and tourism industry. Wendy is a 35-year career veteran who describes herself as “fanatically enthusiastic about helping others enjoy the same type of fabulous career opportunities I have enjoyed in the hospitality industry.” OregonHospitalityFoundation.org  PORTLAND - SEPTEMBER 30 Earlier this month, over 500 volunteers came together to clean up downtown Portland and now there's another cleanup event planned for September 30th. This is another opportunity for the hospitality industry to show our community what we are capable of on behalf of our City, our businesses and our employees. Join the Portland Lodging Alliance, ORLA staff, SOLVE, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, Schlesinger Companies, and the Portland Business Alliance for a Downtown Litter Cleanup Day! We'll be meeting at parks and businesses throughout downtown, giving each check-in location ample space to clean and improve. All cleanup supplies will be provided. Wednesday, September 30, 2020 8:45 AM - 9:30 AM Check-in (runs until 11:30 am) Portland - different locations There will be several starting locations in Portland including: The Benson Hotel, South Park Blocks, Salmon St. Springs, and I-405 Corridor. Pre-registration is required to ensure staggered start times for social distancing and for equipment pick-up. LINCOLN CITY - OCTOBER 9 It has been amazing to see everyone come together in support of the community during both the pandemic and now these horrendous fires. The goodwill towards helping each other is a tremendous lift as we continue to fight through these challenges. One opportunity where we can help the coast community is the Lincoln City Hospitality Beach Clean-Up, an event ORLA organized with the help of SOLVE Oregon. This community-building event will showcase once again the love and support we have for Lincoln City. Friday, October 9th, 2020 10:00 am -12:00 pm D River Wayside in Lincoln City Understanding the staffing issues you may face, having at least one member from your team participate would be outstanding and greatly appreciated. Please also share this information with others in the community, as we encourage your colleagues, family and friends to join us. Thank you!
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