Some hindsight insights on emergency planning...

RCW and WAC information regarding property tax extensions and penalty waivers.

During this difficult time, with unprecedented challenges to our daily lives and operations, WACO will continue to look for new ways to meet your changing needs. The purpose of this email is to update you on services available that may be of particular relevance at this time. We will be following up with affiliate presidents about these services, so please let us and/or your affiliate presidents know of your interest in these resources.

Convenings and trainings
Is your affiliate association considering canceling a scheduled in-person conference or training? Wondering what it would cost or equipment it would take to do it virtually instead? WACO has webinar and conference call provider accounts, equipment, and staff to assist and train affiliates and their presenters - free of charge - in scheduling, conducting, and recording your gatherings and trainings. Call or email us and we can problem-solve with you. WACO will also be working with affiliate presidents on strategies for maximizing affiliate time at the WACO Conference in October, to make up for any canceled gatherings between now and then. On a related note, our new Member Services Manager, Melanie Terry, starts April 13th, and brings a wealth of experience in event planning and online/virtual delivery of training and education.

Continuity of Operations and Infrastructure Needs
Together with Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC), WACO will be working with affiliate presidents to identify the resource needs you all are encountering as you are implementing social distancing, remote workplace, online services, etc. In light of a potential special legislative session, or inquiry from policymakers in general, we want to have tangible answers to the questions we are facing about “what would it take” to operate under these difficult conditions should they continue or recur to inform decisions about funding.

Weekly COVID-19 Conference Call – Tuesday from 2 – 4 p.m. at 866-520-1559 (free, no PIN)
Starting tomorrow, for interested participants we will have an all-affiliate call, extended time period and agenda: WACO General Update Affiliate General Update – Each Affiliate Provide Brief Update Trending Issues and Pre-planned Questions Discussion Open Discussion

COVID-19 Resource Site
Direct links to county-by-county operational status information, national and state-level resources and guidance, notes from weekly affiliate COVID-19 forum discussions and much more available here: http://countyofficials.org/268/Covid19

REQUESTS? SUGGESTIONS? As always, WACO staff welcome your ideas about how we might best meet your needs – we want to hear from you!