Dear AEM Members,
As we begin to come to terms with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our daily lives, I want to provide you with an update on our ongoing efforts to continue to serve our membership while ensuring the safety and well-being of the Association’s staff, our member companies, and their employees as we navigate our way through these challenging times.
AEM’s staff is working remotely and I am pleased to convey we have full capability to conduct business on your behalf. And while the national response to COVID-19 continues to evolve, the Association is taking a number of steps in light of what is happening across the country and around the world.
Please be sure to forward this message to anyone on your teams who are involved in the following:
AEM Board Meetings
Originally scheduled for March 24-25 in Washington, DC, AEM Board and Ag and CE Sector Board meetings will be held via teleconference on those same days. As we normally do, we will be sharing news about what was covered in the board meetings via the AEM Industry Advisor. If board members have any questions, they should contact their liaison for the board on which they serve.
Advocacy Initiatives
AEM’s Advocacy Team has been working closely with Congress and the Administration on the bipartisan coronavirus relief package passed by the House and continues to advocate for an additional legislative package that would include broader economic measures, such as a tax rebate, a payroll tax cut, small business grants and loans, and expanded unemployment insurance, and relief for equipment manufacturers.
AEM is taking the lead on a joint letter (with AED and EDA) to all 50 Governors urging them to consider equipment manufacturers and their suppliers and dealers as “essential businesses” and to issue (or update) directives to that effect. The letter will also be shared with House and Senate Leadership and the White House to urge them to take steps to encourage Governors to consider the industry as “essential” as well as any other steps they can take to ensure that our industry remains operational.
The April 16 joint event with Growth Energy and Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) to highlight the importance of ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard to growers, producers, equipment manufacturers, and dealers across the country has been postponed. A new date will be announced in the future.
The 2020 Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-In will take place May 12-14. As of today, this event has not been postponed. A decision will be made in the next month and will be subject to guidance from the U.S. House and Senate.
Planning for AEM’s events at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee in July continues, but we are in close contact with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and will reassess based on guidance from the DNC.
AEM’s 2020 Manufacturing Express is scheduled to launch on July 17. As of today, we do not have a reason to postpone the launch of this initiative, but we are monitoring the situation closely and will adjust as circumstances warrant.
For more information, contact Kip Eideberg at [email protected].
Statistics Programs
AEM’s statistics staff asks program participants to exercise a special measure of patience regarding the market data cycle. There may be unexpected delays in some of the reporting stemming from unforeseen connectivity issues as companies are scaling up to accommodate all their remote staff or similar issues, although most -- if not all -- of the reports will likely be produced without delay.
Please notify data processors and AEM statistics staff of any anticipated reporting issues. Doing so will allow for communications to be sent to impacted companies in an effort to allow them to plan accordingly.
Details regarding specific statistics meetings will be sent directly to those involved. For more information, contact Mike Lietke at [email protected].
Product Safety & Compliance Seminar and Liability Seminar
Originally scheduled for April 27-30, 2020 in Itasca, Illinois, the 2020 Product Safety & Compliance Seminar and Liability Seminar will be postponed and the new date will be announced soon.
AEM Committee Meetings
AEM will continue to update the membership on upcoming committee meetings, which will either be held virtually or rescheduled at a later date. Committee members should contact their staff liaison if they have questions.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE
Finally, as we all come to terms with the recent changes in our lives, I want to offer my sincerest thanks and congratulations to everyone who contributed to delivering an astoundingly successful CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE 2020. As you already know, we made the important decision to close the show one day early as the pandemic situation evolved globally.
Through the efforts of our talented and hard-working show staff and the support of thousands of exhibitors and attendees, we were able to pull together in the face of overwhelming adversity and not only hold the events, but also deliver tremendous results by all measurements. Click here to see our press release sharing show numbers and details.
I’m proud and honored to have been a part of such an achievement, and I greatly appreciate our members for their contributions. Now, let’s all do what is most important – care for our families and loved ones and get through these difficult times together. I am confident we will continue to move our industry forward despite today’s challenges.
We will continue to share information related to AEM services as things develop. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or your staff liaisons for committees or programs if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Dennis Slater, AEM President
