PRLA Restaurant & Lodging Matters Winter 2021

6 • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Winter 2021 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE As the Biden Administration settles into the tough assignment of governing our restless nation, I think of the experiences 2020 brought to us in the leadership of PRLA. I see clear parallels on the matter of equal and equitable representation of a constituency diverse in its needs and desires. For us at the PRLA, our challenge centered around the closures forced by mitigation actions. Beginning immediately in March, we continued to appeal to Gov. Wolf's team through our advisory team on behalf of PRLA members. We countered the Wolf Administration with common sense editorials, press releases and media interviews that garnered for us 1,369 media mentions and more than nine billion media impressions last year. We fully considered legal challenges only to quickly understand that none could affect prompt relief for our operations. We fought for you, our constituents, on all fronts. What we did not do is fight amongst ourselves. I'm very proud of that fact. Immediately upon the first Executive Order in March, divergent opinions regarding compliance with the Order were made clear. As a trade association whose role is to advise our members, we consistently published and promoted information related to compliance. We could not, and would not, advise businesses to break the law. But we fully understood and appreciated that compliance was a business decision that each operator had the ability to make for themselves. I am also proud of the fact that we created opportunities for our members' many voices to be heard. Melissa Bova and the team worked tirelessly to create proper platforms for operators to make their plights and situations known, even if their legislative proposals and demands were out of step with official PRLA guidance. Tempering potential risk to our industry's reputation with careful safety protocols we executed 12 legislative roundtables across the state which drew 143 legislators and their staff as participants and safely conducted three high impact rallies, in person, culminating on November 18 in Harrisburg. Our group is dynamic, passionate, and persuasive. Individuals’ voices will always be given the platform they merit. Though our durable strength lies in our unity, we will always respect the right of our member businesses to independent thought and action. May this year bring us successes and joys denied to us in 2020. May this year bring us successes and joys denied to us in 2020. Bill Covaleski Founder, Victory Brewing Company Downingtown