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In this week's RSA Town Hall Series, members learned a great deal of information on rink signage, rink re-opening ideas, how to sanitize and maintain social distancing in the skating center, legal ramifications and much more. Watch Recording Download Chat Details Sample Coronavirus Rink Signs - Bobby Bentley Below are takeaways from this week's meeting. PPP Loans have been funded again. These are completely forgivable loans if used as intended or carries a minimal 1% interest rate, so you really need to take advantage of them. If you haven't applied yet, we encourage you to do so today. If you don't use the funds from the PPP loan, you can repay it. The goal here is to make sure you can stay afloat while closed. Something we've noticed: If the first number of your loan application is a 2, you will likely need to reapply. If it begins with a 3 you may not need to reapply, but if you don't receive it by Friday, you should consider reapplying. Some are receiving their loans without any notice, so make sure to check your accounts. If you have issues with your loans, contact RSA Executive Director, Jim McMahon for advice. For states where occupancy limits have been set, you will need to calculate how many people per square feet you're allowed. Calculation is based on rink size and exit doors. Contact Jim McMahon with questions on how to do so. David Brewer with CSA Business Solutions highly suggests that you move towards a touchless payment system, which uses a new encryption code with every purchase and are more secure than credit card readers. Centeredge Software is onboard with touchless and for those rinks who don't yet utilize this option, it's very low cost to set up. The less areas customers touch, the better. Joe Nazzaro with Roll-on Floor Systems suggests that you clean surfaces BEFORE disinfecting because the soiled areas soak up the disinfectant and it needs to dry on the surface in order to work. Detergents neutralize sanitizers, so do not mix the two. Shift to non-residue cleaners. Citric cleaners, ethanol, alcohol products, lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide work for household chemicals. If you're considering hospital grade or industrial strength, handle VERY carefully. Ammonia is toxic, it degrades rags and can affect your eyes and respiratory system, so if using sprayers or foggers, you must be in full gear and protected when using them. Be careful that the chemicals you use don't damage your carpeting or wood flooring. Jerry Landers, an attorney with IALDA who works with and educates RSA members, discusses the fact that in Georgia, restaurants are now required to adhere to 39 additional guidelines when reopening. If you're planning to serve food, this may affect your business, as well. Pay attention to the fine print on your state's orders. The new suggestions that come from the RSA will be reviewed by lawyers and doctors, so make sure that you pay attention to them. You may consider waivers that include the coronavirus in your rink to protect yourself from lawsuits. Pay attention to cleaning and make sure you're doing so visibly so customers know. Bobby Bentley, past RSA President and owner of several skating centers and Roller Roo Apparel, shared several samples of posters, floor stickers and signage that he is currently working on (not final versions) for his skating center. The goal is to encourage customers to stay 6 feet apart, ask customers to put their laces back into their skates and to keep customers aware of new guidelines. He is using the Skate2020 or SkateSafe2020 taglines to create a brand mentality in customers so it's always on their mind. He has changed several surfaces near the restrooms to metal, which will make it easier to disinfect, as well as using acrylic to create sneeze guards to protect staff behind counters. He also answered a few questions that members had. How do you keep customers 6' apart? Posters and consistent announcements. The 6' is hard to enforce, but make sure that they know it's a strong suggestion. How do you take temperatures of customers? You can use an infrared thermometer, but they can sometimes be +/- 4 degrees. How do you disinfect? Using wipes, viper venom. (Some members have recommended UV/Ozone/Foggers - see below) What about masks? Customers will be suggested and encouraged to wear a mask. Birthday parties? You can change your parties to a lower quantity, utilize rooms, etc. How do you limit customers? Bring back sessions and rotate them every 3-4 hours. Utilize wristbands and offer customers sanitizer after applying or have a staff member attach it and sanitize between each customer. How do you prevent lawsuits? Consider utilizing waivers. Members asked how to bring back employees if they're making more on unemployment. If you offer them their job back and they refuse, unemployment may end, although in some areas the conversation has been arising that if a customer feels like their life is in danger, they can continue receiving UI, so this is still somewhat up in the air. Mike Flemming suggested hosting a blood drive at your skating centers to increase awareness, bring new faces inside your building and get the media involved. It's a great way to give back to the community and increase your local footprint. Kim Wall suggested offering skating passes to local healthcare workers. He is delivering over 25,000 passes to local hospital employees, fire and police unions. Brad Armstrong is focusing on graduation parties for families that were not able to host parties during the shutdowns. The topic of game placement was significant. Several rink owners placed their games in a V shape, used giant signs that look like face masks taped in between games and only turned on half of their options in order to space people out. Tom Mitchell plans to provide their front door staff with a windbreaker as an added layer of protection, in addition to face mask/shield. In an effort to keep kids from sitting on or touching the floor, some suggested suspending floor games and some floor cleaners that include disinfectant that is safe for all surfaces may be considered. FEC Music has already created an announcement for social distancing. The more signage you have, the more liability. If you say you're going to do something, be prepared to do so - and frequently. Skate trainers became a hot topic as kids frequently grab them from other kids if they're sitting on the floor unattended, which can pose a problem. Some may forgo using them, others utilize a payment system with a deposit or holding onto the parent's ID in a baseball card folder system. Some suggested handing the parents wipes to sanitize the skatemate before returning it. Kim Wall suggested members contact Gym Wipes as they specialize in gym cleaning products that you can also use in your skating center. For rinks with carpet on the walls, some rinks use Odorban and bacteriacide within the water of the carpet cleaner. Make sure not to use any type of cleaner that contains a detergent as this will leave an oil film that will result in dirt sticking to the carpet and it is hard to remove from carpets. When cleaning tokens, put them in a disinfectant bath and clean the same way you would dishes. Consider switching out to card readers through companies like Amusement Connect, Embed or other such systems. We highly encourage you to watch this week's webinar to learn more about what you can do in your skating center to prepare. If you're not participating in our weekly town hall meetings, we encourage you to do so. Click on here to register to attend next week's meeting.
In this week's RSA Town Hall Series, members learned a great deal of information on rink signage, rink re-opening ideas, how to sanitize and maintain social distancing in the skating center, legal ramifications and much more.
Below are takeaways from this week's meeting.
Bobby Bentley, past RSA President and owner of several skating centers and Roller Roo Apparel, shared several samples of posters, floor stickers and signage that he is currently working on (not final versions) for his skating center. The goal is to encourage customers to stay 6 feet apart, ask customers to put their laces back into their skates and to keep customers aware of new guidelines. He is using the Skate2020 or SkateSafe2020 taglines to create a brand mentality in customers so it's always on their mind. He has changed several surfaces near the restrooms to metal, which will make it easier to disinfect, as well as using acrylic to create sneeze guards to protect staff behind counters. He also answered a few questions that members had.
We highly encourage you to watch this week's webinar to learn more about what you can do in your skating center to prepare. If you're not participating in our weekly town hall meetings, we encourage you to do so. Click on here to register to attend next week's meeting.