The Business Review December 2020

A monthly online digital publication, The Business Review targets business leaders from the Rogue Valley and beyond. This means that your published articles and advertising message are being seen, read and remembered by those who are seeking your products or services in and around Jackson County and within more than 55 Oregon communities.

THE CHAMBER OF MEDFORD & JACKSON COUNTY THE BUSINESS REVIEW

DECEMBER 2020

Legacies and Foundations Their impact in Jackson County

IN THIS ISSUE: Giving Around the Valley How to Set Up A Charity The Rogue Valley Wine Scene

CONTENTS December 2020 | VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 12

4 LEADERSHIP MATTERS A Letter from Brad Hicks, Our President & Chief Executive Officer 6 OREGON UPDATES Grocery Bag Drive 2020 The Rogue Valley Wine Scene Grange Co-Op Offers $14,000 in Scholarships for Local Students 16 CREATING A STRONG ECONOMY A Second Chance In Eagle Point Bill And Melinda Gates’ Foundation Injects Another $250 Million into the Battle Against Covid-19 15 Key Steps To Set Up A Charity 26 REPRESENTING BUSINESS ISSUES Walden Delivers Farewell Address on House Floor Updates on the COVID-19 Relief Package 31 PROMOTING THE COMMUNITY Sherm’s Donates Truckload of Food to Feed Hungry Grange Co-op and Customers Donate $50,000 to Phoenix- Talent Fire Relief Doubling Up to Help Local News 36 MEMBER NEWS ACCESS Appoints New Executive Director Carrie Borgen Profile of a Quaker – Finding A Friend in Colonial America COVID-19 Accelerates Azure Adoption Among TouchPoint Networks’ Customers December Forum Review 40 RENEWING & NEW MEMBERS 41 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

The Business Review | December 2020

Promote. Promoting the community. Create. Creating a strong local economy. Connect. Providing networking opportunities. Represent. Representing business issues. Our Strategic Objectives

Meet the Editorial Staff

Brad Hicks, CCE, IOM President & CEO brad@medfordchamber.com 541-608-8514

Lydia Salvey Editor in Chief/Vice President of Communications & Programs lydia@medfordchamber.com 541-608-8520

Kira Zavala Director of Sales

& Membership Development kira@medfordchamber.com 541-608-8522

Cathy Watt Office Administrator cathy@medfordchamber.com 541-608-8515

The Chamber of Medford & Jackson County 101 E 8th St, Medford, OR 97501 (541) 779-4847 • medfordchamber.com

medfordchamber.com

December 2020 | The Business Review

LEADERSHIP MATTERS A LETTER FROM BRAD HICKS, OUR PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I t is almost hard to remember the excitement of just a year ago as hundreds of Chamber members celebrated The Chamber’s 100th anniversary over the span of several nights. That was quickly followed, if you remember, by equal excitement over the passage of time into the year 2020. How we all were certain this would be one of the best years on record. Who among us could have guessed how terribly wrong we were and how quickly those hopes would be dashed? In the many months since then (seems like years!), our community, state and nation have all been pressed in ways none of us could have planned for, or made up, if we tried. Then, what we collectively prayed wouldn’t dare happen while we struggled so mightily, happened. The catastrophic wildfires that have unnecessarily ravaged our region for years did the unthinkable by leaving the confines of our forests and making their way into our cities, neighborhoods, businesses and homes. Currently, the health of so many things are suffering that it is hard to know what to stitch up first. Our actual physical and mental health, our economic health, our political health or our cultural health. It would seem some of those injuries are not going to heal until we “stop the bleeding,” if you will, and begin the process of healing a divided America. I don’t claim to know just how we go about fixing all those things but I do think it is obvious that stopping the hate and division is chief among the cures. Equally, as throughout our history, the business community, in the form of The Chamber, can and must rally our region around a path forward. One that gets us on the other side of this pandemic and at the same time, drives an economic recovery for all. No more government picking winners and losers. We need every Southern Oregonian to be a winner in this recovery. Now as we move into 2021, cautious and uncertain of the days immediately ahead, let’s not forget to be bold as we explore our greatest comeback. As always, you can count on your Chamber to be the Catalyst, Convener and Champion for your success. Whether it is in-person or virtually, at The Chamber of Medford & Jackson County our purpose is to bring together our area’s leading voices from the public and private sectors in an effort to create prosperity for all. Thanks for your endurance, your resilience and your commitment to our community and to your Chamber. We hope you enjoyed a bit of a celebration with us this month at our Annual Excellence in Business Awards and we hope you know that everyday you inspire us to work harder on your behalf. We are proud to represent your interests in Helping Business Succeed! Best regards,

Brad S. Hicks, CCE President & CEO The Chamber of Medford & Jackson County

The Business Review | December 2020

December 2020 | The Business Review

OREGON UPDATES

Grocery Bag Drive 2020 Food for Hope Feeds Those Struggling with Food Insecurity during the Holidays November 30, 2020 | Medford, OR | Press Release

information about drop off sites and the virtual food drive visit ACCESS’ website at www.accesshelps.org/foodforhope. ACCESS distributed more than 5.3 million pounds of food last year and feed more than 38,000 residents, which is one in every five in the County. In 2020 alone, ACCESS assembled and distributed more than 55,000 emergency food boxes in response to the need caused by COVID-19 and the devastating fires. Every dollar donated to ACCESS provides four meals to those struggling with hunger. Tax deductible monetary donations can be made online at www.accesshelps.org or mailed to ACCESS, PO Box 4666, Medford, OR 97501. The Food for Hope food and fund drive is sponsored by Sherm’s Thunderbird, Food 4 Less and Rosebud Media. For more information, email lsanchez@accesshelps.org

A CCESS’ Food for Hope grocery bag drive, now in its 37th year, is the largest annual community food and fund drive helping to fight hunger in Jackson County. The goal for this food and fund drive is to collect 10,000 pounds of food and $30,000 to help support ACCESS’ Food Programs. “There is so much need for food in our community right now. The Food for Hope food and fund drive helps ACCESS stock up our Food Bank’s shelves so we can get it to hungry families struggling this holiday season and into the new year,” says ACCESS Executive Director Carrie Borgen. “This year’s drive is a little different because of the pandemic. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to help. Instead of inserting a grocery bag into the newspaper, a donation envelope will be in the newspaper instead, “ says Marcee Champion, ACCESS Food Programs Director. She adds, “We are also holding a virtual food drive on our website as another option.” Rosebud Media will distribute the envelopes through their newspapers (Mail Tribune, Daily Tidings and Savor) on Wednesday, December 2nd. For those who would like to donate food, Food for Hope grocery bags can be picked up at Food 4 Less and Sherm’s Thunderbird Markets. The bags can be filled with non- perishable food items and dropped off at ACCESS, Food 4 Less or Sherm’s Thunderbird Markets. Filled grocery bags should be dropped off by December 31st. For more

ABOUT ACCESS ACCESS provides food, warmth, shelter, and other essential services to Jackson County’s low- income children, families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. As the Community Action Agency of Jackson County, Oregon, ACCESS has been helping residents break the cycle of poverty since 1976. Last year, more than 57,000 people received assistance from ACCESS’ wide continuum of services, including obtaining safe, affordable housing, rental assistance, utility assistance, weatherization, free loaned durable medical equipment and healthy food.

The Business Review | October 2020

Let’s keep it going and stay #SouthernOregonStrong!

THE CHAMBER OF MEDFORD & JACKSON COUNTY IS A CATALYST • CONVENER • CHAMPION

Know of a compelling story that relates to business conducted in Southern Oregon? Email us at businessreview@medfordchamber.com

We are a company of doers. Problem-solvers. Trailblazers. We are welcoming. Engaging. Friendly. Informative. We’re haulers in polo shirts, mechanics with power tools and customer service staff who are always happy to lend a hand. We embrace the power of service and champion the environment. When you’re a customer, you’re part of our family. Waste disposal. Recycling. CNG fuel. Shredding. Compost. WE ARE ROGUE. And we’re proud to be part of the community we’ve called home for over 80 years.

roguedisposal.com

December 2020 | The Business Review

OREGON UPDATES

THE ROGUE VALLEY Wine Scene

Outdoor adventures attract people to the Rogue Valley all year long, but not everyone may want to brave the winter weather to ski, snowshoe or sled. They want something...cozier. We suggest winter wine tasting! These are some of our favorite places to warm up beside the fire with a glass of wine. We invite you to check them out.

The Business Review | December 2020

Hummingbird Estate 1677 Old Stage Rd., Central Point, Oregon 541.930.2650 | www.hummingbirdestate.com

Located in Central Point — just minutes from Medford — Hummingbird Estate has everything you desire for an afternoon of wine tasting. Built in 1927 and originally known as the Carpenter House, this 47 acre estate is now home to a six varietal vineyard including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Malbec, Viognier and Grenache. Hummingbird Estate has ample outdoor seating and fire pits. They also offer blankets to visitors for snuggling up by the fire with wine. And if you find yourself not wanting to leave the grand elegance of this classic estate, you can also book one of their wine themed suites. Then you can relax by the fire for as long as you want, sipping your favorite red or white, and daydreaming the hours away.

December 2020 | The Business Review

continued from page 10

Kriselle Cellars 12956 Modoc Road White City, Oregon 97503 (541) 830-8566 | www.krisellecellars.com

Kriselle Cellars, located just north of Medford on the Upper Rogue Wine Trail and is a must stop during your winter wine tour in the Rogue Valley. Not only are they known for their world class wines, impeccable hospitality and knowledgable staff but they also have amble seating outdoors complimented by outdoor heaters. In and around their property, you will be greeted by the holiday spirit this winter as they are boasting seven Christmas trees! Gather around with your friends and celebrate a special occasion, even if it’s a Wednesday. Because when you’re sipping continuously award-winning wine around a fire pit with vineyard views, even Wednesdays are worth celebrating. Check their website for hours during the holidays.

The Business Review | December 2020

Irvine & Roberts 1614 Emigrant Creek Road Ashland, Oregon 97520 541) 482-9383 | www.irvineandrobertsvineyards.com

Located just 5 miles from downtown Ashland and 20 from downtown Medford, Irvine & Roberts’ tasting room boasts stunning views of their estate vineyards and the surrounding Southern Cascade and Siskiyou mountain ranges. Their tasting room experience evokes the same elegance, balance and texture as their incredibly handcrafted wines. With unparalleled views of the rolling hills from every angle, it’s the perfect place to relax by their gorgeous outdoor stone fireplace, share a glass of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay with friends and gaze out at a real life wonderland.

December 2020 | The Business Review

Schmidt Family Vineyards 330 Kubli Rd, Grants Pass, OR 97527 (541) 846-9985 | www.sfvineyards.com

Enjoy fine wine and food, walk the beautiful gardens and make Schmidt Family Vineyards your second home. The vineyard and tasting room sit nestled in a picturesque area surrounded by mountains with ponds, gardens and grape vines. Whatever the weather, you’ll have fun exploring the expansive grounds. At the center of this beautiful winery is their tasting room and abundant outdoor seating, with a large stone fireplace, welcoming wood beams and rustic beauty. With a thorough list of exceptional wines — including Merlot, Soulea, Pinot Gris and more — you’ll feel warm inside and out.

The Business Review | December 2020

Snuggle up under warm blankets, beside a fireplace or around an outdoor fire pit while enjoying a glass of wine and watching the sparkling fire. It’s cozy, romantic, and simply Southern Oregon at its best. If you’re ready to embark on a winter wine tasting journey in the heart of the Rogue Valley, visit www.TravelMedford. org to start planning. n

December 2020 | The Business Review

OREGON UPDATES

Grange Co-Op Offers $14,000 in Scholarships for Local Students

Grange Co-op in partnership with local Rogue Co-ops has awarded over $118,000 in scholarships within the last 8 years. Grange Co-op is excited to continue this gift to the hard-working and committed young adults of the community by announcing the opening of the 2021-2022 Grange Co-op and Rogue Co-op Scholarship application. As a part of Grange Co-op’s GrangeGives initiative, eight $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors. The Rogue Co-ops will award one $2,000 scholarship to a high school senior. Rogue Co-ops is a coalition of Southern Oregon cooperatives including Rogue Credit Union, Medford Food Co-op, Ashland Food Co-op, and Grange Co-op. To qualify for either scholarship, students must have a GPA of 3.50 or higher and have participated, during the academic school year, in at least one of these activities: FFA, 4-H, Horticulture, DECA, FBLA, student body leadership, school sports, or non-related activities such as work

experience. In addition, students must reside in Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Curry, Douglas, Siskiyou, Shasta, Tehama, Del Norte, Modoc, Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Glenn or Butte counties. The application window is November 1st to January 31st annually. Grange Co-op and Rogue Co-op Scholarships are merit- based. Awardees must meet all scholarship requirements and exemplify the criteria specified. Grange Co-op places high value on investing in the lives of youth in our communities. Grange Co-op and Rogue Co-op Scholarships strive to recognize and reward those who have the want and passion to pursue higher education. On November 1st the scholarship application will open, and students can apply by visiting www.grangecoop.com/ scholarship-opportunities/. Please reach out to scholarship@grangecoop.com if you have any further questions. n

The Business Review | December 2020

December 2020 | The Business Review

CREATING A STRONG ECONOMY

Jessica Robertson and Alex Robertson load Christmas gifts Thursday in Eagle Point. Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune

A Second Chance In Eagle Point Buffy Pollock | Mail Tribune | December 9th 2020

EAGLE POINT — Making amends for her own darkest days, a former addict who wreaked havoc on the community for four years is hoping to spread some Christmas cheer to members of the community devastated by a year of pandemic and fires. Eagle Point resident Jessica Robertson has launched “Santa’s Angels” this holiday season to help match families in need with those wanting to spread holiday cheer. “There’s a lot of need, and it’s a time that we need to help our community and our fellow neighbors,” said the mother of four. Robertson, who recently celebrated

18 months of being clean and sober, is hosting the effort with her ex-husband’s new wife. The woman, Alex Robertson, raised three of Jessica’s children while their mother battled addiction and made local headlines for various crimes. “I wanted to find a way to give back to the community because I’ve caused so much havoc in this community and because there are so many people struggling right now. Giving back is something that makes me really happy, even before I was in my addiction,” she said. Robertson’s remembers her own family benefiting from the generosity of holiday gift trees when she was

The Business Review | December 2020

growing up. With her children back in her life and a new baby, Robertson said she is excited to show she can do good. In the past few weeks, dozens of families have reached out — to help and to be helped, she said. Families in need range from families displaced by wildfires to others who have lost income and stability due to the pandemic. While she’s proud of her life now, Robertson, 35, said her name, at one point, was synonymous with drama, crime and drug use. Her spiral began in 2016 when her former husband was deployed overseas, and post partem depression, coupled with caring for newborn twins and a toddler, pushed her over the edge. “I was kind of hanging on by my teeth, and I let the wrong people into my life. I was on pain medication, and that’s when all the doctors had to start cutting back on the pain medication. Things just fell apart,” she said. “I was super sick from the opioid withdrawals. I had no idea what heroin even was, but I had someone offer me a medicine refill and she ended up giving me heroin. She said, ‘I don’t have the pills, but I have this.’ My thought was, ‘My kids need me. I have to figure out how to function.’ I was just so lost at the time, weak, willing to do whatever. ... My first taste of heroin was in October 2016, and I was lodged on huge charges by March.” Robertson spent at least a year in jail and twice as long racking up other charges. “I was arrested something like 27 times. I was in jail more than out of jail, and I so badly wanted to be done,” she said. Jackson County Recovery Opportunity Court gave Robertson the tools and options she needed to reclaim her life. “After spending a year in Jackson County Jail, I pleaded into the ROC program, which saved my life. They offered me something I hadn’t had — a chance,” she recalled. “I could’ve gone to prison and done eight or nine months and come right back to the same life. ROC court 100% saved my life.” Alex Robertson conceded that her unlikely pal had caused a lot of pain, but she said she is proud to be part of her recovery.

continued on page 18

December 2020 | The Business Review

continued from page 17

“These Phones Rock!” Voice & Data Solutions Designed for You

“I know it’s a weird dynamic that most people don’t understand. For four years, I was raising her kids completely. When you’re in addiction, you wreak — her words — ‘havoc’ on everyone in your life and everyone connected to you. “Everything she did we always took personally, because it was hard not to. I always just let her know that, even though I didn’t agree with how she was living, I told her, ‘When you are ready to do this, I’ll be there and your kids will be there.’ They deserved that chance to know their mom, even when she didn’t deserve that.” The devoted stepmom kept her word, showing up to court hearings, tending to the children of both women and teaching her how to mother her own children when she made her way back. “When she asked me to be part of this project, I felt like it was a way to show other addicts in recovery that, first of all, recovery is possible,” she said. “But also that you can create relationships with your family again and be back in their lives. And this was a good way for her to right some of the wrong. I’m really excited for her to do this. It’s helping our family as much as it will help others.” She added, “She has a big heart, and I’m just happy to see her get back to who she is.” To receive help or to adopt a family, email the women at santas.angels2020@gmail.com n

InfoStructure connects local companies with fast, affordable and easy to implement business phone services. Benefits of InfoStructure: Connecting Our Community

• Fast, affordable and reliable • No costly maintenance fees • Increased connection and efficiency • We’re local and quick to respond • We make doing business easy

288 South Pacific Highway | Talent, OR 97540 541.773.5000 | sales@infostructure.biz www.infostructure.biz

The Business Review | December 2020

December 2020 | The Business Review

CREATING A STRONG ECONOMY

Bill And Melinda Gates’ Foundation Injects Another $250 Million into the Battle Against Covid-19 December 10, 2020 | Caroline Howard | Forbes

T he Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation just announced an additional $250 million commitment to strengthen efforts in the global fight to end the coronavirus pandemic. This brings the foundation’s total funding to the Covid-19 response to $1.75 billion, with the latest $250 million representing the largest single pledge aimed at the pandemic. The new investment comes at a critical time. The scope of the devastation around the world has become more acute in recent weeks, with a surge to 69 million global cases and over 1.5 million deaths—including 15 million U.S. cases with nearly 290,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. At the same time, scientific breakthroughs needed to end the pandemic have been developed and approved with unprecedented speed and urgency to help end the pandemic. China and Russia have approved vaccines, the

U.K. began inoculations this week, and the FDA is on the cusp of authorization approvals. “It’s amazing to be sitting here in December and know that very soon the FDA is very likely going to approve the first vaccine that is already being distributed now in the U.K.,” says Melinda Gates during a phone interview. “I don’t think any of us could have predicted that we’d be at this point on March 30.” The new funding will focus on two main areas: continued R&D for new Covid-19 tests, treatments and vaccines and improvements to the delivery methods of those innovations to ensure that they are distributed safely, equitably and as inexpensively as possible—at scale. Most of all, the Gates Foundation hopes to ensure that low- and middle-income countries have access to cutting-edge technology, just like the rich countries. “They deserve to have the same tools that we have,” says Gates.

The Business Review | December 2020

Suite Of Solutions If there is going to be a global eradication of the virus, it will require investments in the logistics and supply chain, as well as preparation by clinics and healthcare workers to administer tests and vaccines and engaging with their communities so that they understand and trust what they are receiving. “Our holy grail is cheap, effective and ideally single dose,” says Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, during a video briefing. “Both for the price—it’s half as expensive— but also efficiency. You don’t have to track people coming back for a second dose, and it should be hopefully relatively easy to manufacture.” What distinguishes Covid-19 from other vaccine and public health initiatives is the sheer volume. “We’re talking about vaccinating everybody, or at least 70% of everybody, which is still probably 10 billion doses,” says Suzman. “Just a reminder, even the existing vaccines are not yet proven safe and efficacious for children or pregnant mothers or others, so we may need a second wave of vaccines…That’s why continuing these investments is so important.” Another issue is mistrust in the vaccines, fueled by conspiracy theories, something the foundation has dealt with before, particularly regarding contraceptives and childhood vaccines. “It’s been disheartening to see the disinformation because it does create vaccine hesitancy,” says Gates. “One reason is that more people are at home; they’re anxious for good reason because of Covid, they’re reading, and they’re getting fed disinformation. We’re going to have to have a reckoning when this is all over about how you put some good regulations on social media platforms so that disinformation isn’t spread so easily. Disinformation causes more deaths.” But community role models may be even more meaningful than a digital clean-up, says Gates, adding: “More than likely, once people start to see healthcare workers taking the vaccine, elderly people, teachers taking it and getting back to some semblance of normal life, people are going to talk to their doctor and decide if it makes sense for them and more than likely so they can get back to living life in a more normal way.” What Happens Next The foundation has not identified specific partners or grantees yet but has previously funded international organizations for infectious disease and immunotherapy work, such as GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, as well as private biotechnology companies, such as BioNTech. According to the foundation, it has funded $16 billion for the discovery, development and delivery of life-saving vaccines through 2019. “We can be capitalistic as a philanthropy, and we can take some riskier investments, but this execution really requires pulling together the public and private sector,” says Suzman. “And it’s worth noting and remembering that

Melinda Gates: “I know how scary this disease can be.”

the U.S. has historically been the global leader in healthcare efforts like this.” The Gates have had ongoing conversations with Sen. Mitch McConnell and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and are waiting for the Biden administration to take office for further discussions. “We will be looking on a case-by-case basis where the greatest needs are and where there are opportunities,” Suzman continues. He predicts that where the foundation goes, others will follow. “A lot of what we’re trying to do is get support from other partners. And to the extent our work can be sort of seed funding that accelerates or helps crowdsource others.” Within days of the news of the U.S. Covid-19 breakout— with the first case recorded in Seattle, home of the Gates Foundation, on January 20—Bill and Melinda Gates were aware of the threat. “We were getting information and starting to say, ‘Oh, gosh, how quickly is this thing going to go?’” she recalls. After 20 years working in public health and infectious diseases, this time their mission came close to the hearth and heart. “We have two close friends in March who had family members who had Covid,” Gates says. “I was in touch with both people multiple times a day. It was terrifying to see what their families were going through. I know how scary this disease can be.” n

December 2020 | The Business Review

CREATING A STRONG ECONOMY

15 Key Steps To Set Up A Charity By Richard D Harroch and Harris D. Bass | Forbes | April 16, 2017 Nonprofit charitable organizations are intended to operate for the public good. When a nonprofit charitable organization is qualified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), donors can generally deduct their contributions to the charity on their tax returns. Donors are thus more likely to support charitable organizations that have an IRC §501(c)(3) tax exempt status. A qualified IRC §501(c)(3) charity also has the benefit of being exempt from federal and state income tax on its activities, with some limited exceptions. Setting up a qualified IRC §501(c)(3) charity, however, requires compliance with a number of federal and state laws. In this article, we outline some of the key steps and requirements to validly establish a qualified IRC §501(c)(3) charity.

The Business Review | December 2020

1. Learn About the Different Types of Charities You Can Start Charities can be started with different missions. Here are examples of common types of charities: • Animal charities—formed for the purpose of animal rescue, wildlife conservation, or animal welfare • Health charities—formed for the purpose of supporting the sick and disabled, curing diseases, medical research, or family and patient support • Education charities—formed to serve students, including by way of private elementary schools, high schools, and universities, and through scholarships • Art & culture charities—formed for supporting the arts and culture, including by way of museums, public broadcasting, or the performing arts • Environmental charities—formed for supporting environmental protection and conservation • International non-governmental organizations— often referred to as “NGOs” and formed to support disaster relief, humanitarian aid, or peace missions • Religious charities—formed to support specific religions and worship, or for religious-oriented media • Human services charities—formed to provide assistance to people in need, such as supplying care for the elderly, food, or shelter For IRS purposes, IRC §501(c)(3) charitable organizations are classified in one of two ways: a “public charity” or a “private foundation.” Public charities, such as the American Cancer Foundation or the ASPCA, generally receive a greater portion of their funds from the public and governmental units. Public charities are the organizations people generally think of when they hear the word “charity.” A private foundation is typically a nonprofit formed, funded, and controlled by a family or by a small group of individuals (examples include the private foundations set up by tech executives). Private foundations are subject to a number of operating restrictions not applicable to public charities, and must donate at least 5% of the fair market value of their assets each year to permissible donees. Private foundations typically use their funds to make grants or gifts to public charities for charitable, religious, educational, or other causes that help the public. Some pubic charities (such as the United Way) act like foundations by making grants to public charities. You will need to decide what kind of charity you wish to form, as the IRS will presume you are a private foundation unless you can establish that you are going to be a public charity.

2. Verify That Your Charity Will Qualify as an IRC §501(c)(3) Organization The IRS provides that to be tax-exempt under IRC §501(c) (3), an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for “exempt purposes.” According to the IRS: “The exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3) are charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals. The term charitable is used in its generally accepted legal sense and includes relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged; advancement of religion; advancement of education or science; erecting or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening the burdens of government; lessening neighborhood tensions; eliminating prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.” The organization must also not be organized or operated for the benefit of “private interests,” and no part of the organization’s net earnings may inure for the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. However, this requirement does not prevent the founders or employees of the charity from receiving fair compensation for their services. The charity must apply to the IRS to get exempt status, and jump through a variety of hoops, as outlined in Section 6 below under “What Do You Have to File with the IRS to Get Tax Exempt Status for Your Charity?” State qualification may also be required. The IRS website has a helpful section entitled Tax Information for Charitable Organizations that lays out the requirements

for qualification. 3. Come Up With a Good Name for the Charity Before you form your

nonprofit, you need to come up with a name that will be accepted by the Secretary of State’s office where you will incorporate. Each state has its own rules, but here are typical requirements:

continued on page 24

December 2020 | The Business Review

CREATING A STRONG ECONOMY

continued from page 23

Here are some examples of mission statements from existing charities: • ASPCA: “To provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”

• The name of the nonprofit can’t be the same as (or confusingly similar to) the name of another corporation on file.

• The name will typically be required to end with “Inc.”, “Incorporated”, “Corp.”, “Corporation”, or “Ltd.” • The name can’t include certain prohibited words such as “Bank”, “Insurance”, “Federal”, or “United States.”

• American Diabetes Foundation: “To prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.“ • Save the Children: “To inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.” • Make-A-Wish: “To grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.”

Check out the state’s corporate filing website to see if the name is available.

A few more naming tips:

• Do a trademark search on the name at uspto.gov to make sure you aren’t potentially violating someone else’s trademark or service mark. • See if you can get the “.com” or “.org” domain name by doing a check at godaddy.com. • Se e the article 12 Tips for Naming Your Startup Business. • Check out your proposed name on CharityNavigator. org and GuideStar.org to see what other charities are operating with similar missions or perhaps confusingly similar names. 4. Establish a Mission Statement for Your Charity For multiple reasons, you want to establish a clear and compelling mission statement for your nonprofit. The mission statement in one or two sentences should sum up the essence and purpose of your charity. The mission statement: • Assists in your solicitation for donations • Explains why the charity exists • Describes who the charity serves and how it serves them • Is helpful for describing the purpose of the charity in your IRS and state filings

• American Red Cross: “To provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare, and respond to emergencies.” • National Multiple Sclerosis Society: “People affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what has been lost, and end MS forever.” • Doctors Without Borders: “We help people worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency

medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care.” • Animal Rescue Flights: “Has

been transporting animals to safety since 2008 with

the help of volunteer pilots, cabin crews, planners, drivers, rescue, and shelter volunteers.” n

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

The Business Review | December 2020

PREFER FREE CURBSIDE PICK-UP OR DELIVERY? * Call 541-864-2278 to place an order. *This free service is available for a limited time and may end without notice. A complete delivery address, valid phone number, and payment by credit card are all required at the time the phone order is placed. For orders containing beer, wine, and/or cider: Must be 21 or older to order, receive delivery of, or pick up alcoholic products curbside. Valid ID with proof of age must be available for verification at the time of delivery or curbside pickup.

Celebrate the holidays the Southern Oregon way with delicious gourmet food, fine wine, and elegant gifts from the Harry & David flagship store. Our friendly gifting experts will help you plan your holiday menu, pick out festive custom baskets or boxes, and show you around our impressive collection of local wine— one of the largest in the Rogue Valley. ENJOY THE SEASON OF SHARING FLAGSHIP STORE

1314 Center Drive, Medford, Oregon 97501 Exit 27 off I-5 • 541-864-2278 Monday–Saturday 9AM-7PM • Sunday 9AM-6PM HarryandDavid.com

December 2020 | The Business Review

REPRESENTING BUSINESS ISSUES

Walden Delivers Farewell Address on House Floor December 9, 2020 | Press Release Washington, D.C. -- Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) delivered farewell remarks on the House Floor. Walden will retire from over 30 years of public service, including 22 in Congress, at the end of the 116th Congress. Walden served in the Oregon House of Representatives for six years, from 1989 to 1995, which included serving as the House Majority Leader during both 1991 and 1993 sessions. He then served in the Oregon Senate in 1995 to 1997. Walden was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden represents the people of Oregon's Second Congressional District, which includes 20 counties in central, southern, and eastern Oregon. Walden served as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the 115th Congress and currently serves as the Republican Leader of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Click HERE for part one and HERE for part two of Rep. Walden’s remarks on the House Floor.

Greg Walden (R-OR) delivering farewell speech.

As Prepared for Delivery M. Speaker. As 2020 comes to a thankful close, so does my 22 years of public service in this incredible crucible of democracy: the U.S. House. I thank my wife, Mylene, and son, Anthony, for always supporting me during my three decades of state and federal service. I will never fully understand all they sacrificed so I could fulfill my duty in office, but I know it was a lot. I also want to thank my terrific staff over the years, and especially those who helped me build and lead such successful organizations, including my personal office chiefs of staff Brian MacDonald and Lorissa Bounds; my executive directors at the NRCC, Liesl Hickey and Rob Simms; and my staff directors at the Energy and Commerce Committee, the late Ray Baum, Mike Bloomquist and Ryan Long. And I want to thank the thousands of volunteers and supporters of my many campaigns over the years. We did it together and we did it for the right reasons: to leave our state and country better than we found it. I also want to thank some important mentors in my life starting with my parents who grew up during the Great Depression and taught me the importance of giving back to the community, working hard, always being honest and not judgmental. I want to thank those along the way who gave me career opportunities, including the folks at KTVF/KFRB Fairbanks who put a 17-year-old kid in charge of producing and directing the 11pm nightly TV news. To Roger Martin, Vic Atiyeh, Gary Wilhelms, and Denny Smith, I learned so much from working for each of you. And to Speaker Larry Campbell, time and again you showed Oregon how principled leadership produces results. It was great sport serving alongside you as Majority Leader of the Oregon House. I want to thank the church, school, and scout leaders who influenced my life in such a positive way, with a special shout out to the late Earl Fowler, my high school vice principal and student body officer advisor whose counsel when I was student body president at Hood River Valley High School in 1973-74 was as valuable then as it is now. I remember he once intoned: “When there is a

The Business Review | December 2020

leadership vacuum, fill it.” He expected us to step up and lead. I am indeed thankful for the opportunity the people of Oregon have given me to represent them here in Congress. It’s a responsibility I’ve always taken seriously as I faithfully tried to do my best to represent them. After all, this is their office, not mine. I was simply entrusted to use the powers bestowed upon it for their benefit, something I never forgot. It’s part of why I’ve returned home nearly every weekend and will soon complete my 644th roundtrip when Congress adjourns for the year. My team and I put special emphasis on taking care of the men and women who wear—or have worn—our nation’s uniform and defended America’s freedom. We helped thousands of Oregon veterans and their families receive the benefits they earned and deserved. We worked to strengthen the mission at Kingsley Air Field and open veterans’ clinics throughout the district. We are so blessed to have these brave men and women risk their lives so we can enjoy ours. America owes them a debt we can never fully repay. Having grown up on a cherry orchard outside of The Dalles, I always had great admiration for those who farm and ranch and feed us. I worked hard to protect their way of life, defending farmers and ranchers from bad policy proposals. I defended their water rights. I protected their land, starting with saving Steens Mountain. Moreover, I supported ag research and water conservation efforts throughout the district. And while we made much progress on both fronts, my one regret is that we could never find the key to unlocking a durable and fair solution to the water crisis in the Klamath Basin that could pass in Congress. We did make progress to improve forest management, even though I’m disappointed Congress has dragged its feet in enacting much more reform to make our federal forests healthier and more resilient to climate change. It was 17 years ago last week that President Bush signed the Healthy Forest Restoration Act into law. Hopefully, in the next Congress you all will heed the guidance of our Yale Forestry grad and colleague Bruce Westerman, and modernize how we manage this great American Telecommunications Subcommittee, I’m proud of the bipartisan work we did to open up spectrum for advanced communications, enact First Net for our first responders, and expand access to high speed internet—although much work remains to fully connect Americans. With the RAY BAUM’s Act we even reauthorized and modernized the FCC, which hadn’t been done in decades. resource before it all goes up in smoke. Having spent six years as chair of the

As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, we took on the deadly epidemic of drug overdose and combined more than 60, bipartisan, legislative initiates into the Support Act, which while focused on the opioid crisis, provides support for our communities to help all with addiction. We modernized our mental health laws, stepped up medical research, and fully funded the Children’s Health Insurance Program for a decade—something that has never been done before. We also modernized the FDA and its approval processes for medicines and medical devices. Thank goodness we made these changes which have already proved their value during this pandemic. We also unleashed a cleaner energy revolution in America that created thousands of new jobs and reduced America’s carbon emissions, too. Energy innovation holds the process to a stronger economy and a healthier environment. As you can tell, I’m passionate about good public policy and using the resources we have among ourselves in the Congress to get good things done for the American people. It wasn’t easy to decide to voluntarily leave this wonderful institution, but I’d long ago decided I didn’t want to get voted out or carried out. I was confident I’d win re-election and my health is good, so I leave on my own terms, feeling good about that which I’ve helped improve in the lives of those who entrusted me election- after-election. I’m a big fan of Theodore Roosevelt. His writings have also had an impact on my life. Just as my high school advisor encouraged us to fill leadership vacuums, so did Roosevelt laud those who climbed into the arena. So, I close with President Roosevelt’s words: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” God bless you, my colleagues, family and friends, and may God Bless this great country of ours. I yield back. n

December 2020 | The Business Review

REPRESENTING BUSINESS ISSUES

Wyden, Merkley Urge Extension of Pandemic Unemployment Programs in COVID-19 Relief Package Letter comes as lifeline unemployment benefits set to expire December 26 for nearly 12 million workers December 1, 2020 | Washington, D.C. U .S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged Senate leadership to include extensions of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and the combined populations of Kentucky and Oregon) falling into poverty over the span of a few months,” the senators wrote. “To address the economic hardships workers are facing during this time, these programs should be extended with additional weeks of eligibility for workers.”

the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs in the next coronavirus relief package. Both of these programs are set to expire on Dec. 26,.Wyden and Merkley noted in their letter along with 30 other senators to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “As the virus surges going into the winter months, the loss of benefits at this time is particularly cruel,” the senators wrote. “A recent report from The Century Foundation suggests that nearly 12 million workers could lose coverage once these programs expire over the holiday. In other words, roughly 12 million American workers will lose benefits this season for a job they lost through no fault of their own.” “For many, the knowledge of this benefits cliff will hang over them while they celebrate Christmas morning, share a meal for Christmas dinner, or observe other holidays with their families in the middle of what has already been a difficult and tragic year,” they wrote. “Those who are socially distancing from their families for their safety as well as the nation’s overall public health will likely experience this loss of federal financial assistance entirely alone.” The senators noted that Congress created the PUA program to help workers who wouldn’t normally be eligible for unemployment assistance such as domestic workers, freelance workers, contractors, and other workers in alternative work arrangements. Similarly, recognizing that most regular state unemployment programs provide only 26 weeks of coverage for workers (with some states providing as few as 12 weeks), Congress also created the PEUC program to extend unemployment benefits to the long-term unemployed who exhaust their regular unemployment benefits. “Since May, researchers have found that roughly 8 million Americans have slipped into poverty. That is the equivalent of the entire population of Virginia or Washington (as well as

Besides Wyden and Merkley, other senators signing the letter include Sens. Mark Warner ((D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Angus King (I-ME). The entire letter is here and below. Dear Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer: As the Senate considers the next coronavirus relief package, we urge you to include extensions of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program. We also urge you to include additional weeks of benefits for both programs. Right now, there are more than twice the number of Americans participating in these two programs combined as there are in the regular state unemployment system.[1] These workers are all facing job loss that has nothing to do with their skills, abilities, or performance. Congress created these programs to patch up the holes in our social safety net during a global pandemic. Congress stood up the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program to disburse benefits to workers who would normally not be eligible for unemployment

The Business Review | December 2020

REPRESENTING BUSINESS ISSUES

assistance for a variety of reasons. These workers include employees with insufficient earnings or work history to qualify, domestic workers, freelance workers, contractors, and other workers in alternative work arrangements. Similarly, recognizing that most regular state unemployment programs provide only 26 weeks of coverage for workers (with some states providing as few as 12 weeks), Congress also created the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program to provide an extension of unemployment benefits to the long-term unemployed who exhaust their regular unemployment benefits. Both of these programs are set to expire on December 26th, the day after Christmas. As the virus surges going into the winter months, the loss of benefits at this time is particularly cruel. A recent report from The Century Foundation suggests that nearly 12 million workers could lose coverage once these programs expire over the holiday.[2] In other words, roughly 12 million American workers will lose benefits this season for a job they lost through no fault of their own. For many, the knowledge of this benefits cliff will hang over them while they celebrate Christmas morning, share a meal for Christmas dinner, or observe other holidays with their families in the middle of what has already been a difficult and tragic year. Those who are socially distancing from their families for their safety as well as the nation’s overall public health will likely experience this loss of federal financial assistance entirely alone. What’s more, the loss of emergency benefits compounds the hardships many families are already facing in this economy. Since May, researchers have found that roughly 8 million Americans have slipped into poverty. [3] That is the equivalent of the entire population of Virginia or Washington (as well as the combined populations of Kentucky and Oregon) falling into poverty over the span of a few months. Right now, one in six adults with children report that their household did not have enough to eat in the last seven days.[4] For Black and Latino households, that figure is roughly one in five.[5] Still worse, nearly 30% of households with children are not caught up with their rent payments.[6] In other words, going into this holiday season, millions of additional American families are living below the poverty line, unable to provide sufficient food for their households and likely facing evictions from their home. To address the economic hardships workers are facing during this time, these programs should be extended with additional weeks of eligibility for workers. Around 4.4 million workers will have already run out of benefits by the end of the year, regardless of their surrounding economic situation, and millions more will exhaust them

next year if Congress does not add additional weeks of eligibility to both programs. We know that this virus has hit certain industries and sectors harder than others, particularly in the service sector and in the arts. Many workers need additional weeks of eligibility in these programs because demand for their services or industry has cratered during the pandemic. We know that it was the bipartisan intention of these emergency unemployment programs to provide all workers access to a safety net during this crisis, regardless of their worker classification status. Even the U.S. Secretary of Labor, Eugene Scalia, acknowledged in a Senate Finance Committee hearing on June 9th that these are important programs. On PUA, he noted that workers were “given financial support through the unemployment insurance benefit they received, which was a very good benefit for a closing economy.”[7] Today, with more than 20 million Americans claiming unemployment insurance benefits in all of the programs offered,[8] we are still in the middle of an unemployment crisis. In fact, the pandemic was the main impetus for the creation of these programs in March and, right now, we are averaging over five times the number of COVID-19 cases we had in the spring. It is clear that these programs are important lifelines for workers during this crisis and need to be extended with additional weeks of eligibility. Moving forward beyond this crisis, we will need to prioritize a dramatic update and reform to our unemployment system. Congress created the PUA and PEUC programs with the knowledge that our regular unemployment program is part of a patchwork system of worker benefits, inadequate for covering a nation facing an emergency public health crisis. The patchwork nature of American benefits does not disappear at the end of this crisis. With more than twice the number of workers presently participating in programs that did not exist before the passage of the CARES Act compared to regular programs, we will need to prioritize reforming our social safety net so that every American can gain access to a support system during times of need. Our social safety net should not require an Act of Congress to serve the American public well in the face of a disaster. We appreciate your past support for the provisions in the CARES Act that created these programs to begin with and which intended for all workers to access a basic safety net. We owe the American public the peace of mind this holiday season that Congress will continue to support them during this crisis. Sincerely,

December 2020 | The Business Review

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69

www.medfordchamber.com

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online