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From the Desk of Marty Schaffel: Our Pathway Out of This

We have been through a worldwide nightmare.  It has taken a huge toll on all of this.  But the good news is that we can see the promised land.  We will begin to see things open up.  It won’t be the flip of a switch.  It won’t be revolutionary, but evolutionary.  City and state officials will likely ask cautiously, and rightly so, because if this scourge bounces back, we will have a real problem responding.  We are all pretty worn out by the effects of this.

What are the things that are required to get back to the closet replica of how our lives once were? 

    We will need massive testing to understand how pervasive this virus still is and how safe it is to return to normal. We will need to have large scale testing for antibodies from those who have previously contracted this virus and see if that provides a high degree of immunity from future infection. We need an antiviral drug that will tremendously enhance recovery for those who get this virus. Those that have gotten this disease and have had acute respiratory distress syndrome have in many cases gone on a ventilator and sadly died thereafter.  This is a horrible way to die.  And loved ones are nearby but cannot say goodbye.  We cannot let this persist. We must stop the spread of this disease. 

ASHA, UPHA, and the other breeds who make up the Joint Leadership Council are aggressively working on processes and procedures we will need to invoke in order to safely reopen our barns, shows and businesses. We will have to adhere to these guidelines to protect each other.  And to show the venues where we seek to have shows that we take this seriously and will act safely and follow appropriate procedures. You can find more information, resources, and ways to help at www.jlccares.com 

Now comes my biggest concern and question.  What is the state of the health of our industry today and what will it be like in 90 days when more shows and businesses are back in action? We need to know the answers to the following questions: 

    What percent of our businesses are still financially solvent and will be several months from now? How has the economy affected the financial viability of our exhibitors? Will 100 percent of previous riders return when the shows begin again? How many will have had to cut back or stop altogether? When will people feel safe again coming to places like barns and shows where people gather? What will people need to see and feel in order to get that comfort level back?

We need this data NOW! And we need it on an ongoing basis.  It is critical to know the state of our association and industry.  I do not know how to gather this information.  I need your help and guidance collecting it. I need your advice on how to interpret it.  I hope and pray that when this dark cloud is lifted, we will all be able to see EVERYONE we have enjoyed being with all these years.

 Marty Schaffel, ASHA President