We asked three new association CEOs the following questions to learn about their career paths and insights on issues facing the industry. The three interviewed were Christina Lewellen, MBA, CAE (CL), Executive Director, Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools; Sarah Mattes Marshall, CAE (SM), Executive Director, VA College of Emergency Physicians; and Abby Tammen (AT), CEO, Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS.

Vaccines approved for emergency use by the FDA are now providing a welcome doorway out of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, they are unlocking a range of legal issues for associations concerning vaccine mandates. May an association require employees to be vaccinated before they return to the office? And, more broadly, may it require vaccination for attendees at its meetings and conferences?

Here are some of the key issues that any association should consider before implementing a vaccine policy.

Virginia has enacted permanent COVID-19 workplace safety and health standards, effective January 27. These standards are similar to interim standards adopted in 2020 and continue to mandate personal protective equipment, sanitation, social distancing, infections disease preparedness and response plans, record keeping, training and hazard communications in workplaces. 

Employers are required to train employees on COVID-19 safety and develop infectious disease and preparedness response plans. The regulations also include guidelines for returning to work and communication about employees who test positive and potential exposures.

To a great extent, we’ve all been winging it, making it up as we go along and doing the best we can in both our personal lives and with our associations, The following ten strategies will help us survive and thrive as we move ahead.

1. Use Teamwork to Develop Solutions - Everything with the pandemic is unprecedented and no one has the experience to know what to do. We are all, to a great extent, just doing the best we can. This is a perfect time to use the benefits of teamwork. Whenever possible, associations should use workgroups, task forces and other forms of teams to work out solutions to the challenges before us. Teams will provide a well-thought-out solution that has a greater chance of success, and the team members will emotionally benefit from the interaction with others.