The Chairman's Corner

By John Chipman, Jr.

May 2020

Governor Newsom released the details of California’s “phased and thoughtful approach” to re-opening the state. Progressing from Stage 1 to Stage 4 as quickly as possible will be great news for businesses and families blindsided by the economic hardships of the deadly COVID-19 virus.

On a national level, one important business CMSA members would like to see open sooner than later is the United States military. CMSA members pack, load and deliver military families throughout California, everywhere from Travis AFB to Coast Guard Island to Twentynine Palms, and to Seal Beach. So, when the Department of Defense (“DoD”) initiated a Stop Order on March 11, 2020, the impact was dramatic nation wide and particularly in CA. 

According to the International Movers Association (IAM), in the first seven weeks since the Stop Order, there have been 26,700 fewer moves nationwide compared to the same period in 2019. Jeanette Homan’s Lambert Transfer & Storage is feeling the brunt of the stop order at Lemoore’s Naval Air Station. “Right now we are running at 25% of capability that we normally would for this time of year,” she tells us.

In response, CA movers have implemented tough cost saving measures, like layoffs, to reduce operating expenses. PPP loans and DoD’s recent 10% adjustment have provided some relief to movers, including Jeanette’s company. But things are likely to get tougher. According to Dan Bradley, IAM Director of Government & Military Relations, DoD data suggests “by the time the Stop Order is lifted [in June, 2020] we may be as much as 90,000 shipments behind our normal pace”. That’s a 70% downturn over a 90+ day period. Hopefully CMSA members can hold the fort until the military starts moving again

Of course, CMSA didn’t have its convention in Kauai, which was a big disappointment for members who planned to attend. However, CMSA did the next best thing: We had a virtual cocktail party on April 16th.  Unfortunately, Zoom’s platform doesn’t look anything like the beautiful Kauai Marriott Resort, i.e., no commanding ocean views, no embarrassing hula lessons, and no brightly colored cocktails with those tiny little umbrellas.

Nevertheless, what CMSA’s Zoom cocktail party did offer was an expanded version of the old TV show, The Hollywood Squares. (For younger members, Hollywood Squares was 60’s/70’s game show full of TV personalities seated on a giant sized, tic-tack-toe, game board answering juicy trivia questions with wisecracks.) The CMSA’s version didn’t feature any B-grade actors, like Rose Marie, Jonathan Winters or Joan Rivers. What our cocktail party did serve up was 36+ screen panels of CMSA members and suppliers comfortably lounging around their houses firing off funny, one-liners and sipping all sorts of beverages. In fact, for my money, Jay Casey is a lot wittier than Paul Lynde (at center square), and Steve Weitekamp is a much better Master of Ceremonies than Peter Marshall.   

Casey Meyers and husband, Diego Periasco, enjoyed the virtual party from their Napa home. Diego, who is best known for his big hugs and warm handshakes, summed up the experience best: “the party was like friends being in one big room together.”
After the party, CMSA guests departed in an orderly fashion being careful to avoid the DUI check point at the intersection of Dining Room and Kitchen.

One of the best parts of my new role at CMSA is selecting the Chairman’s charity. The Chairman’s charity for 2020/21 is Grateful Gathering (“GG”). GG is a Bay Area non-profit providing at risk families, including moms and kids escaping domestic violence, with donated household goods and personal effects at safe places to live. Founded by Chris Flitter and Donna Somerville in 2012, GG has helped 700 people, more than half children. Chris and Donna say: “We believe that families can thrive when they have a safe and comfortable home.” Movers are a great fit for GG because we provide the vans and crews needed to pick up, deliver and set up the donated goods. The Chipman family and crews have experienced firsthand the transformative impact one day of volunteering can have on the life of a family in need. If you’d like to learn more about GG, please check out www.gratefulgatherings.org

On a concluding note, I personally can’t wait until “high risk” businesses re-open in CA. They include gyms, theaters, and religious services. The most important high risk business is my barber. If she doesn’t get back to work by late May there will be trouble. What’s left of my hair has migrated from “old-grey dude” to “mad scientist.” My dog doesn’t wag his tail when he sees me; he growls. If truth be told, I could substitute a photo of Doc Brown from Back to the Future on my LinkedIn profile and no one would notice a difference.

May 2020 - CMSA Communicator