May 29, 2020

Samantha Mango:
I’m here with my guest, Nicole Vallance. Hi, Nicole. How are you?

Nicole Vallance:
I’m great. How are you doing today?

Samantha Mango:
I’m great. Thanks for being here.

Nicole Vallance:
Thank you for having me.

Samantha Mango:
So can you introduce yourself and let us know a little bit about your organization?

Nicole Vallance:
Sure. My name is Nicole Vallance. I am the president of the Callicoon Business Association. It is a business and community organization in the Hamlet of Callicoon, with the mission of promoting the Hamlet, to tourism, its businesses and fostering economic development.

Samantha Mango:
How has the daily operation of your organization changed since the COVID-19 outbreak?

Nicole Vallance:
Obviously we’ve all moved to working exclusively, remotely, relying heavily on email communications. Our committees have shifted to conference calling and Zoom meetings when it’s necessary. We’ve definitely scaled back the amount of meetings that we were having, obviously, because we have a pause happening right now. So a lot of things are not happening on the regular schedule. But as far as what we would normally be doing now, we do a lot of fundraising. We do a lot of marketing and promotion for the businesses and the business members. So we’ve shifted how we handle social right now. Typicall our social media platforms we use to promote business, services, events, and happenings around the town. And since so many of the businesses are closed right now, we’ve decided to take a different view on how we’re going to use those resources. A lot of them are focusing on people in the community who have been reaching out and really helping the few businesses who are considered ‘essential services’: getting their information out there. Making sure people know that they are open. Trying to look into the community for various stories of volunteers, helping out doing things for others. Trying to keep a message of hope! So we’ve just kind of shifted our messaging a little bit. As far as our fundraising, we’re a non-for-profit, so we do a lot of events and little fundraisers to develop our marketing budget. So that’s hit pause right now. Obviously, our members are largely small businesses…a lot of them are sole proprietorships, and they’re really struggling. So this is not the time to reach out for dues and things like that. Unfortunately our fundraisers aren’t happening, but we’re going to have to think about more creative ways, maybe doing digital fundraisers or maybe doing things where we’re raffling off gift certificates to our businesses to use after this passes, where a hundred percent of what we raise goes back into the businesses. And that’s that’s the kind of thing we’re trying to think about: creative ways that we can harness digital media right now. Because that’s where we’re all communicating most effectively, and how we can best serve our businesses.

Samantha Mango:
So what are some ways that people can help Callicoon businesses if they want to?
Nicole Vallance:
It’s been awesome! The community has actually been reaching out quite a bit to find out what they can do. I would say the ‘number one thing’ is for the businesses that are closed in any case, it’s the ones that are not, the essential services, would be to go to their websites. Many of them offer gift certificates. Purchasing a gift certificate is really, really helpful that this will pass and they will be open after and be able to give them some time, some type of income in this time that they’re closed was really incredibly helpful. Also if you’re able to eat “take out”, many of our restaurants are still offering curbside. Some are only doing Wednesday to Sunday. Some are doing Friday, Saturday, Sunday, some are still doing takeout all week. That’s, I mean, that’s, that’s a great way to support, support the community.

Samantha Mango:
Are there any positive experiences you’ve seen come out of this?

Nicole Vallance:
Yes!, Actually there’s been a huge amount of positivity! One of the things that the CBA has done as, as we’ve done our shifts that I didn’t touch on before was, is we are keeping in constant contact with a lot of various Sullivan County organizations. Our local town of Delaware, our County representative, our County offices, professional planning. SUNY Sullivan, Sullivan West, and many of the nonprofit organizations and Sullivan County to figure out what resources available: what food pantries are open. Who’s doing food delivery. Who’s reaching out to their neighbors, who’s delivering medications. And it’s really kind of been amazing, just the huge amount of volunteers that we’ve seen, and just the amount of community support: who wants to get involved, who wants to help grow, who wants to volunteer their time. This is the best thing that has been able to come out of. Just the way that neighbors have rallied together to support each other.

Samantha Mango:
Is there anything else that you’d like to add?

Nicole Vallance:
If you are looking to support your local small businesses: go to their websites. Many of them are offering gift certificates. That’s really the best way that you can help support the business that are not able to be open right now. Also if you’re able to donate money to any of the organizations that are providing meals or food staples to some of the pantries. I think would be the number one thing right now. The CBA is posting information on all of these resources as the lists are compiled. So you can find that on our “Callicoon NewYork” Facebook page, also on “Callicoon Business Association” Facebook page, or, Visit Callicoon on Instagram as well as the website www.visitcallicoon.com.

Samantha Mango:
Well, thanks so much for being here and I’m so glad that there’s ways to support Callicoon and our small businesses as a whole.

Nicole Vallance:
Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much for having me on, I really appreciate your time and thanks for getting our message out!