Melva Gifford

A submission to caucus corner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?utm_campaign=invite-to-the-town-hall-3-may-12-%28quick-send%29&utm_content=watch%3Fv%3Dax1-bk3-x1-l1w&utm_medium=email&utm_source=activepipe&v=ax1Bk3X1L1w

Good: soldiers
Bad: soliders

Here is another word that keeps messing me up. But I just noticed the word inside a word. It might help me in future spelling. The word is SOLD. Don’t SOLDiers go to war because they are selling the ideals of their nation to the enemy? Maybe some armies wish to keep the civilians of their country free from enslavement.

Another set of SOLDiers may wish to subject their enemies to be under their control. Each has a theology and thus SOLDiers are the instruments of promoting that theology against those who disagree.

This interview was a part of an online webinar under the header Leadership in Crisis. The interview featured the founder of Constellation, an online Facebook group. It was hosted through the Essence of Wonder. Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker.

Constellations: interview
Helen Montgomery: founding member of the constellation.
Christopher Ambler: Founder of that could be canceled Constellation. It was a joke and then 32 K joined. it kept growing

Q: challenges: some people want to take over. One person had a good idea, their friend created a group for it.
– A member of the group had a suggestion. The administrator of the group said, go for it. The person said they didn’t have time.
– Another if not want what we provide, maybe leave the group.
– Rule 4: response already suggested.
– No hate speech, no bullying is the key to motivation: don’t make drama.
– If someone event posts something even borderline hate speech the moderator will say no to the post. If they continue to harass say no, then if persistent put them on mute for a couple of days or the moderator r may eventually remove them.
– Moderations is done quietly.

Q: Helen Montgomery: moderators will consult with each other on certain posts.
– as a group, they Will determine what are the other guidelines?
– Made income on a shirt and gave extra money to charity. Sent to doctors without borders.
– Second fundraiser: donated to food banks in need.
– How to find: cancellation on Facebook?
– Artist groups and dealers group. In the dealers’ group, you can sell things in their group. Most members are looking at the dealers’ group.

Q: What keeps you doing this?
– Keeps me busy. Keeps me entertained. It helps my ego. Giving money to charity. It makes me feel good.

Q: When trying to send income for shirts to fan staff, but it becomes a beauty contest.
– If two side an issue is sharing their opinions? You have this argument but you can’t have it here. Keeping a questionable post loaded or remove will be interpreted by one side as winning and the other side as losing.

Concellation 2020
– https://www.facebook.com/groups/concellation/

These are notes from a church talk. Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker.

– Self-reliance is gritting your teeth and doing the best you can do.
– The first article of faith speaks of the Godhead. Self-reliance we rely upon the help of the Godhead.
– D&C: 19:23 savor lists 3 factors.
– Learn of me
– Listen to my words
– Walk in the meekness of my spirit.
– How to learn of him? Joseph Smith said the Book of Mormon was the most correct book on earth by following its precepts. As we read of the Book of Mormon maybe imagine yourself as one of the members of Lehi’s Book of Mormon. Look at the video on LDS.org website. Link:
– Lehi’s family was self-reliant as they relied upon the Lord.
– How to listen to the word of the Lord? Did we listen to the last conference and do we continue to listen or heed the counsel. The ensign is but one of the words of the lord.
– How walk in the meekness of my spirit? When we think of ‘meek’, do you envision someone who can be pushed around by others? Or do you see someone who is meek to the influence of Jesus Christ? Meek means I can’t hold grudges against others. The atonement permits our sorrows and mistakes to be wiped clean. We can have an open change to the Holy Ghost.
– Isiah: when reading the Book of Mormon, mark every time that makes reference to Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost. By the time you’re done, you’ll see that your Book of Mormon has measles because there are so many marked references.

An email from Utah State Senator, Keith Grover. I got permission to share these emails from the Senator. This is a submission to caucus corner.

Email May 9th
Here are some updates from the last few days:
• Utah small businesses renting commercial property who lost revenue as a result of measures taken to minimize the public’s exposure to COVID-19 may receive pandemic relief. During the special session, the Legislature passed S.B. 3006, which appropriated $40 million in commercial property rental assistance. GOMB will oversee the COVID-19 Commercial Rental Assistance Program and administer the grants. Qualifying businesses and nonprofits may apply beginning May 11. More information here.
• On May 4, the Utah Driver License Division began offering additional services by appointment only, including learner permits, original license/out of state transfer, provisional license, motorcycle permits and the motorcycle skills test. Essential services are available on a walk-in basis. Learn more here and here.
• The Utah Department of Health is asking businesses to follow the Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan guidelines by encouraging employees to stay home when ill. Read the guidelines here.
• The Small Business Administration announced agricultural businesses are now eligible for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans as part of the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act. Learn more here.
• Utah’s transmission rate for COVID-19 is 1:1. The state’s robust testing has received accolades across the United States. According to a Harvard Global Health Institute analysis, Utah is one of the nine states that have the testing capacity needed to start reopening. Our state fatality rate is just under 1 percent, which is one of the lowest in the nation.
• The COVID-19 case count dashboard on coronavirus.utah.gov now includes current hospitalizations in Utah due to the virus. See the dashboard here.
• The Utah State Fair is still scheduled to take place September 10-20. Fair officials are continuing to work with public and health officials to implement best practices and provide safety to those who attend. The state fair’s website can be found here.
• The state has the opportunity to help struggling Utah farmers who are experiencing food insecurity. Learn how to help here.
As of May 8 at 1:00 p.m. Utah’s private and public laboratories have administered 138,688 tests with 5,919 testing positive.

There have been 488 total hospitalizations, with 92 currently hospitalized.

There have been 61 fatalities, with an estimated 2,769 recovered.

Additional information can be found here.

Email: May 6th

Here are some updates on COVID and other issues.
• FEMA announced $200 million in supplemental funding from the CARES Act for grants through its Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Combined with the $120 million in annual funding appropriated by Congress, a total of $320 million will be distributed throughout the country to human service organizations to assist those in need. Read more here.
• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has published resources to help partners and stakeholders deal with managing risks to their ICT supply chains. Resources can be found here.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded $20 million to increase telehealth access and infrastructure for providers and families to help respond to COVID-19. Read more here.
• The Centers for Disease and Control, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, issued guidance for cleaning and disinfecting spaces as the United States begins to reopen. The guidance offers step by step instructions on how people can reduce the risk of exposure to COVID 19 and stay safe in public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and homes. Read the guidelines here.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began processing payments from the Provider Relief Fund to hospitals with large numbers of COVID-19 inpatient admissions through April 10, as well as to rural providers. Read more here.
• Border Patrol has strengthened its presence along California’s coastline to combat human and drug trafficking, preventing further spread of COVID-19. Read more here.
• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency launched a telework product line intended to advise and support businesses and organizations that increased telework due to COVID-19. More information here.
• Malls in Utah are beginning to reopen as the state moves to the orange phase of the Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan. Malls that announced openings include City Creek Center, The Gateway, Fashion Place and Station Park. Shoppers are encouraged to check individual locations for hours of operation.
• Starting this week, state epidemiologist Angela Dunn will be holding briefings three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 1:30 p.m. Watch the briefings here.
• In Utah, 60 percent of COVID-19 cases have been individuals exposed to the virus by someone in their household, 20 percent of cases have been exposed by someone they knew outside their household, 11 percent have been a result of community spread, and 4 percent were exposed at their workplace.
• The state is tracking a COVID-19 outbreak in the San Juan health district associated with the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation has had a total of 116 cases from the beginning of the outbreak and over half occurred last week. The Utah Department of Health’s mobile testing team has been out several times in the past couple of weeks testing all community members and providing guidance on contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation.
• iFit Interactive Fitness donated one million medical-grade surgical masks to the state. Read more here.
• Zion National Park is expected to increase access to the park starting May 13. More information here.
• Palisade State Park, including the golf course, is now open. Read more here.
• Beginning May 5, Capitol Reef National Park will reopen access to day use in the North District (Cathedral Valley) and South District (Waterpocket Fold), and overnight stays in Cedar Mesa campground and Cathedral Valley campground. Learn more here.
• President Trump announced efforts to increase the safety of seniors during COVID-19 by coordinating two shipments of PPE to all 15,400 Medicaid and Medicare-certified nursing homes in the United States. The first shipments are expected to begin this week and are meant to supplement existing efforts to provide equipment to nursing homes. Read more here.
• On Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $40 million of available funds for the development and coordination of a network of national, state, territorial, tribal and local organizations to deliver COVID-19 related information to minority, rural, and socially vulnerable communities hardest hit by the virus. More information here.
• The Department of Justice and Homeland Security are extending their temporary postponement of Migrant Protection Protocols due to COVID-19. Hearings scheduled through June 1 will be rescheduled for a later date. More information here.
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched the “Operation Stolen Promise” web page providing information on COVID-19-related fraud schemes. The page highlights investigative efforts the agency has taken and shares facts, tips and guidance on how to recognize and report potential fraud. Read more here.

During Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to give a special thank you to all teachers! During this unique time, I have watched teachers adapt quickly and use innovation and caring to reach out to their students.

I have 4 children in public schools at all levels and the teachers at these schools have been phenomenal as I am sure your teachers have been for you if you have school-aged children.

Thank you teachers!

Email May 2nd
Good Saturday Morning,
• The Utah Department of Health deployed a strike team to a residential facility in Utah County that cares for adults with intellectual disabilities where several staff and residents tested positive for COVID-19 over the past several days. The strike team is providing nursing level care, PPE, medical supplies and testing all residents and staff who initially tested negative.
• Grand County issued a press release informing visitors that the national parks in the Southeast Utah Group and the campgrounds on all other public lands remain closed. Overnight accommodations and commercial campgrounds in Moab will be open, as well as trails on public lands. The county is asking everyone who cannot social distance to wear a mask. Read more here.
• The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food has opened the application process for the UDAF COVID-19 Grant Relief Program. Grants are available for qualifying Utah agriculture operations. Funding is in association with the CARES Act and S.B. 3006. Learn more here.
• Bryce Canyon National Park will begin increasing recreation access on May 6. Bryce Canyon will reopen access to the main park road and all viewpoints to Rainbow Point, the restrooms at Sunset Point and the trails within the Bryce amphitheater area. The park visitor center, fee booths, campgrounds, as well as the Mossy Cave parking and trail area, Backcountry and Under the Rim trails, and park concession facilities, will remain closed. More information here.
• The golf courses at Wasatch Mountain State Park are now open to all Utahns. More information here.
• The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the National Park Service are working on expanding recreation at Lake Powell. Boaters are encouraged to monitor updates here.
• Utah has received 520,455 face shields, 1,330,555 N95/KN95 masks and 360,663 surgical gowns through purchasing, FEMA and donations.
• The American Red Cross and the American Association of Blood Banks continues to seek blood and convalescent plasma donations. To find where you can donate, click here.
• Gov. Herbert issued an executive order officially moving the state from “high risk” to “moderate risk” on the COVID-19 health guidance and protocol scale beginning May 1. The order adopts the guidance provided for the orange phase in the Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan and is updated to include the recommendations from the Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission. Read the full executive order here. Read the updated version of the guidelines here.
• Gov. Herbert temporarily suspended the enforcement of statutes requiring registration of some motor vehicles through May 15, giving motor vehicle owners a leniency period while navigating closures and appointment-only registration at DMVs. The order is effective starting today, April 30. Read more here. Appointments can be scheduled at dmv.utah.gov.
• The Salt Lake County Mayor, in coordination with the Salt Lake Health Department, issued a new health order rescinding all prior public health orders related to COVID-19 starting today and remaining in effect until May 15. The recommendations mostly mirror the orange phase in the Utah Leads Together 2.0 Plan. Read the order here.
• The number of new claims filed for unemployment in Utah was 11,830 for the week of April 19-25, which is a 40 percent drop from the previous week. However, it is still a 946 percent increase from the average weekly claims in 2019. More than $22.6 million was paid in traditional unemployment benefits, and an additional $40.4 million was paid in federal dollars from the CARES Act $600 weekly stimulus. Additionally, more than 7,300 Utahns filed for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program funded by the CARES Act. The report can be found here.
• The Utah Department of Workforce Services is reminding individuals receiving unemployment benefits must accept suitable offers to return to work, or they may be at risk of losing unemployment benefits. Read more here. Additional information and resources are available at jobs.utah.gov/covid19, including returning to work FAQ for employees and returning to work FAQ for employers.
• Starting next week, Gov. Herbert will no longer be holding daily briefings. Dr. Angela Dunn will give COVID-19 updates about three times a week. The governor will join once a week and as needed.
• The state is working on responding to COVID-19 outbreaks and hotspots by developing strike teams consisting of mobile testing teams, investigative teams and support teams.
• The Trump Administration has taken supportive actions to help Utah during the COVID-19 health crisis. These actions include approving Utah’s Major Disaster Declaration and signing the Paycheck Protection Act and the CARES Act. A breakdown of the funding Utah received from the federal government can be found here.
• The CDC is joining with Action Alliance to launch the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19. Read more here.
• The National Institute of Health announced positive results to a trial using Remdesivir, an investigational broad-spectrum antiviral treatment administered through daily infusions. Hospitalized patients with advanced COVID-19 and lung involvement who received Remdesivir recovered, on average, faster than similar patients who received a placebo. The preliminary data analysis was from a randomized, controlled trial involving 1,063 patients. More information can be found here.
• As of May 1 at 1:00 p.m. Utah’s private and public laboratories have administered 112,558 tests with 4,828 testing positive and 403 individuals having been hospitalized with 186 currently hospitalized. There have been 46 fatalities and 2,062 have recovered. Additional information can be found here.

Thursday, the Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration and 388th Fighter Wing performed a formation flyover throughout the state. I hope you were all able to see this great tribute to healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 on the frontline. If you miss it, you can watch a video from the lead F35A here and see a picture here.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Senator Keith Grover
Utah Senate District 15
801-319-0170

This is a submission to caucus corner. These are the voting results of the delegates on April 25, 20.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/147ZW6fgcz3KOexafXuVtBA0ksSbyxm7QUKqbNSAyIh8/edit?fbclid=IwAR12PeEqlSbcjICG6UCYkHkouJaoZiO7czTnXC-YyA_-ypIEsadJtRIYmM0#gid=0

Good: significant
Bad: signifient

I just noticed that there are four words in sign-if-i-cant. If I can remember this I might start spelling this correctly. This is a very sign-if-i-cant’ trait on this word.

The panel discussion was a part of an online discussion under the header Leadership in Crisis. The panelists were past or current Event Chairs. It was presented through Essence of Wonder.
Panelists Christopher Garcia, Vincent Dochety Gaddi Wells, David Kennedy, Colette Fozard, Patti Wells. Steve Kelner, Randall Shepard. (Many chairs of past cons)

Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker.

David Kennedy (security conference had an issue at the convention: How do we handle outside influences.
– Had a domestic incident occur years early. People wanted to get one participant removed from the conference. The social media frenzy was incredible. Planned in advance a code of conduct for potential responses to a possible situation.
– Durvey con sold 3k membership in 13 sec. We were a relaxed con with a friendly open conference.
– When people don’t get along with each other they lash at each other in social media.
– Confusion can be caused when different committee leaders respond in different ways to the same thing. Needed a streamlined response worked when we responded to a man harassing a woman and having to remove that man from the conference.
– After nine years, it was a time that the con no longer brings the joy it once did. You discontinue or transfer leadership to other people. There was much work was involved it was like a full-time job. Having people on social medial consistently dumping on them each year the same people became demotivating.

Randall Shepherd: came late six months before con in Texas.
– There were cochairs that were not getting along. All of the committee was unhappy and people delayed projects. Budgets were behind.
– Having several confidants that will give you blunt and honest responses that others may be afraid to tell you.

Q: what levers did you need to push?
– To give a good public message.
– Get to know the different heads. People didn’t want to bring their friends to volunteer until the mood was less toxic.
– This part of the conversation, they referenced the movie: I believe Song of the South
– We had good marketing to get the message out that the game had changed and things are looking good.

Colette Fozard: co-chair of WA world con. Crisis at cons?
– Dublin 2019: when an issue came up technical challenges and closed captioning of the Hugo nominee. Stopped closed captioning.
– World con 75: joke gotten assigned to the challenged dept. Set a time to meet with each group. What help did they need to get on track? Helped manage a technical basis. Go to one dept. head to talk and another division head to help. Defined the weakness and strengths.
– Patty Wells: world con in Reno: In 2011 twitter was still a toy.
– Need to realize that the obvious things are not obvious to others. The creator of Charly Brown had died. And he would be guest of honor of honorism.

Vincent Docherty: 95 world con in Glasgow.
– Friday of the event, John Brenner died at the convention. We brought Robert Silverberg to do an elegy for John.
– One needs speed in their response and clarity of which responses need to be defined.

Steve Kelner: you communicate that you don’t know everything. This is what we know. You also state what you don’t know.
– You need to be responsive to people’s hot buttons during a crisis.
– You should not make a decision all by yourself.
– Size and Scope of a convention can drown people and you need to know your limits.
– Every leader needs to keep everyone engaged.
– Organize a communication outlet. Someone must always be the leader. It may be different at different times.
– Focus what are the most important things to do now. See what is important going to know.
– Give specific assignments to the committee. From the core team then delegated to further down the chain of commandment.

Collette Fozard: how to manage an online world con.
– New Zealand’s con went virtual. Committee began in execrative groups, then chairs, and then brought in division heads. Bringing world con was a 10 yr. effort.
– I needed to give leadership time to adjust to the change of doing things virtually.

Patty Wells: leadership response
– Write things short and clear. We don’t have all the answers but this is what we have.
– Have co-chairs provide the pros and cons of a decision.
– How to keep people on your side? Thank people for their contribution. Recognize what they’ve done.
– We’ve been working on responses to things that happened. How to define risks in advance. It’s better to prevent something than having to respond.
– How to be a stronger, more resilient organization:
David Kennedy: had a core committee that went through practice sessions of different scenarios.
– Did security training on all personnel every year. Had responses to criterial and standard responses. Notified hotel staff of responses. And had police personnel on-site. (ZooCon Game issue)
– Told members what to expect on security at the conference.
– Our incidents at the conference were low. If a woman was drunk, it was a woman staff member who was the one who took them to their room.

Q: How can different committees have a sense of the experience of staff members that do the same con each year?
– Randall Shepherd: there is a floating committee for World Con. New cons at new locations use the same protocols of the con in previous locations.
– Colette Fozard: build capacity before they happen without intuitional memory?
– Dublin did a good job giving clear instructions.
– New con members can be volunteers of a previous con of that con to get experience.
– I found past leadership that did a good job and ask them to work on a new project. And she trusts those leaders to come to her if they are not able to handle something.

Q: make sure organizations in managing and prevent a crisis.
– Patty wells: you need to have enough staff. The biggest challenge are there is not enough staff or there is a lack of sleep and mistakes could be made. Wham moving from a local con you need more people and you need more sleep. You need to have fresh decision-makers on the last night/day of the con.
– Vincent Docherty: need to remember self-care.
– Steve Kelner: you have to focus clearly on your objective ahead of time despite the chaos.
– Think and plan and prioritize rapidly. In advance as much as possible.
– When working with people, communicate, and encourage people. Assign them the right task; communicate continually to keep them motivated.
– Experience really matters. It’s better to have experienced so you don’t have to think.
– Vincent: be kind to yourself and to others.
– Gadi Evron: We have a plan. No matter what you prepare for, you are measured by how you respond. A comparison was made to Isaac Asimov’s first foundation. Responses to the first foundation created the response that created the second foundation.

Also: Conversations from the end of the world, are projects to see what others are doing while at home.

Here is their website: (https://essenceofwonder.com/)