COVID-19 Update
APRIL 15, 2020
Distribution: All SCORE Active and Provisional Volunteers
SCORE Headquarters staff are committed to providing you the best service we can as we continue to manage the impact of COVID-19. There is a lot of information out there. This newsletter and the COVID-19 Toolkit on help.score.org is THE centralized hub for you as SCORE volunteers.

We intend to send weekly updates to support you and your clients as much as possible. Thank you for going above and beyond during this time to do your best to deliver SCORE's mission. We are here to answer any questions you may have.
Client Support
Mentoring Support Needed – Real-Time Mentoring Platform
April 21 (2-6pm ET) |  April 23 (2-6pm ET)
More Dates and Times Coming….

Click the video below for more information!
Next week, we’re launching a platform that will allow you to help clients in a live, online chat. We will use our virtual conference environment to invite clients to connect with mentors in real-time mentoring sessions using chats and remote mentoring methods.
 
This is a great way for you to assist new clients and grow mentoring sessions for your chapter.
 
The platform will be live on April 21 and 23 from 2pm – 6pm ET. If you’re interested in participating, please email marketing@score.org and share the following:
  • Name
  • Email Address
  • Chapter Name & Number
  • Industry Expertise: Industries you have worked in and for how long?
  • Business Expertise: 1-3 topics areas you have expertise (such as Finance, Marketing, Social Media, HR, etc.)

Thank you in advance to everyone who has volunteered to help!

We’ll provide a platform training webinar on Friday, April 17 at 2pm ET. Register here.

SCORE Coronavirus Small Business Resource Hub
SCORE is collecting resources to answer your critical questions during the COVID-19 pandemic on our Coronavirus Small Business Resource Hub: www.score.org/coronavirus

We are also compiling information for clients and SCORE partners on SBA and CARES Act daily . Our Support Center and SCORE.org pages are being updated at 4 PM Eastern each day.

U.S. Chamber Launching Save Small Business Fund
The Save Small Business Fund is a grantmaking initiative offering short-term relief for small employers in the United States and its territorie s. A short application will go live on this page on April 20, 2020, at 12:00PM PT. Learn more here.

Communicating with Empathy
During these trying times, sometimes the best thing you can do for your clients is listen and empathize. SCORE’s training site offers Empathy in Practice to help volunteers improve their listening skills and overall emotional intelligence. To access this module, go here and once on the training site, look for module 106 Empathy in Practice .

New COVID-19 Live Webinars for Small Business Owners
On April 16, at 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific Brian Pifer with the Small Business Majority will present National Resources and Policy Updates for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 about the new loan programs made available by the CARES Act, resources related to COVID-19 and policy recommendations to bolster small business owners right now.

On April 28 at 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific, Amanda Brinkman and Deluxe will present Marketing Advice to Combat an Economic Downturn . This webinar will provide actionable marketing strategies to help clients keep their customers engaged.

On May 7 at 2:00 PM Eastern/11:00 AM Pacific, Lisa Dinhofer, The Crisis Tamer, will present Navigating Long-term Uncertainty and the Aftermath of Disruption . This webinar will provide 'navigational tools' for working with uncertainty and planning for the aftermath of disruption.
Volunteer Support

SBA and SCORE Training Webinars
We are kicking off national bi-weekly training webinars with SCORE chapters and SBA representative panelists across the country. Our first webinar was held Thursday, April 9, from 10:00-11:30 Eastern . SCORE Washington DC has helped us quickly coordinate with Rod Johnson from the SBA office in Washington DC.

View the recording and upcoming training webinars as they are scheduled on the Support Center here .

Please contact education@score.org if your chapter and local SBA representative would be willing to guide other volunteers in the coming weeks. We appreciate all who are willing to share their expertise navigating loans and small business questions at this time!

SCORE Letter Writing Campaign: Request from the SCORE Foundation
The SCORE Foundation is initiating a volunteer-driven letter writing campaign during the month of April to emphasize our positive organizational impact to members of the Senate Small Business Committee. Since we did not receive additional relief funding through the CARES Act to support our COVID-19 response, this campaign will help to put ourselves in the strongest possible position for negotiations around the next potential bill.
 
We need your help to make our voice heard! Please use the attached instructions , letter and contact information to tell your senator how much SCORE means to you, to your community and to the clients you serve.

Protect Your Zoom Accounts
As use of Zoom is rising exponentially, on April 1 Zoom released a ' Message to Users ' addressing technical tips for use and security. We would like to highlight a couple of reminders on using Zoom Meetings to host public events:
Chapter Support

Policy of Paycheck Protection Program Loan
Because we are one legally recognized organization, SCORE chapters are not able to apply for loans under the Federal Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program or any other Federal program. If a chapter is having cash flow issues related to the COVID-19 health crisis including lost revenue from workshops, please contact the Headquarters’ accounting staff ( rick.peluso@score.org ). The Headquarters’ staff is working to collect data on the impact of COVID-19 on the chapters (attach form). Chapters are encouraged to conduct online workshop, apply for private grants, and/or apply for other public grants to help offset lost revenues.  

Best Practices: Virtual Meetings at SCORE
Chapters are finding new and creative ways to use technology to help clients and communicate with volunteers. We want to hear your best practices for mentoring clients, hosting workshops, onboarding/training volunteers or any other new ideas and processes you’ve developed. 

You can view existing best practices here . Use this form to share your best practice story with us.

Reminder: Make Sure Your Work Telephone is Forwarded
As everyone is sheltering in place, make sure your voicemail and phone lines are forwarded to your “shelter in place” work location. If you are unable to access your SCORE Office phone lines to forward, please change your chapter phone number in CORE to the national call number and we will be able to filter calls for you. The phone number to change to would be: (800) 634-0245.

This includes all chapter lines that are advertised as contact lines in marketing and online, so clients can find you quickly and easily.

Did one of your SCORE Volunteers test "positive" for COVID-19?
It is your duty to notify the rest of the chapter members that someone tested positive and share what SCORE engagements they participated in during March. DO NOT SHARE THE PERSON’S NAME. Contact volunteer.services@score.org in case of any protocol questions or concerns.
Resources for Clients

SCORE is collecting resources to answer client's critical questions during the COVID-19 pandemic—and afterward. Updates are being made regularly.
Volunteer Toolkit

These resources provide the latest communications and notifications around SCORE’s policy and guidance during this trying time.
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