WE’RE REOPENING (Phased with restrictions, but it’s better than nothing!)

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Hello Members!!!

I’ve missed you so much! Thank you so much to everyone who has continued to support us over the last few months – you really helped us pull through!

The future of the workplace (and the world) is evolving before our eyes. As we adjust The Space On Main to allow proper distancing and implement new policies around contact tracing and sanitation, we recognize that collaboration and human connection will be more important than ever. We are eager to reopen our doors to our members, and will be able to do so Monday, June 8th!

In order to open safely and carefully, we are implementing new guidelines (see below) so read on to familiarize yourself with what returning to The Space will look like for you. Please continue to read our emails carefully and stay tuned for frequent updates as guidelines evolve. I will be at The Space by 8am on Monday to take agreements and to answer any questions.

YOUR TO-DO LIST (Your keys won’t work until these are completed.)
#1 Complete the mandatory VOSHA training and email a completed certificate to thespaceonmain@gmail.com.
#2 Complete the mandatory member agreement, showing that you understand and agree to the requirements of using The Space On Main.
#3 EVERYDAY, you will need to check-in by going to the Member Check-In button on thespaceonmain.org website and then clicking Member Check-In. Search your name, enter your PIN (set on your profile), agree to the statement, and click the Check In button.

In order to keep everyone safe, failure to follow these requirements and those listed below will result in a suspension of membership until COVID is no longer an issue.

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS
Mask on at all times. No exceptions.
• For the time being, all of us in the space will be wearing a mask. No exceptions. This is based on State of Vermont and public health guidelines.

• If you have a video call, we recommend taking it at home.
• If you do not have a mask, please let Monique know ahead of time and she will locate a donated cloth mask for you.
Symptom Checking
• Members must take their temperatures prior to entering the building. If you do not have a thermometer, Monique will scan you (no contact).
• No one may enter The Space On Main if they have symptoms of illness.
• No one may enter if they have recently been in contact with someone who is symptomatic or has tested positive for COVID-19.
Members Only
• As much as we love guests, The Space will have a members-only policy.
• Unfortunately, this includes our four-legged friends.
• Stay tuned as this policy will change as soon as we feel it is safe to do so.

Distancing
• Work from home applies whenever possible.
• Members must maintain a 6’ distance apart.

Sanitation
• Disinfectant is provided on each floor with paper towels. (Until they run out, we also have wipes.)
• Each member will be required to clean their space before and after use.
• Members must practice frequent hand-washing.

PHYSICAL CHANGES
Kitchen
• 1 person allowed in the kitchen at a time.
• No on-site food prep.
• Members must bring their own drinking vessels (e.g. coffee thermos, water bottle).
• Our water fountain will be taped off.
• Unfortunately, we will not be sharing coffee at this time, but The Local Buzz, Bliss Village Store, and Vittles Espresso would love your business.

Main Room
• All workstations will be separated by a minimum of 6’; all furniture will be separated by 6’ or removed.
• Doors and windows will be opened to promote airflow as possible and permissible.

Phone Booths
• We ask that you use the provided disinfectant to wipe down tables before and after use. Please leave the door open when you are done.
• We were awarded a grant which will be used to purchase 3 soundproof ROOM booths which should be here in the next 4-6 weeks!

Room Reservations
• We are allowing for reservations of the Meeting Room on a members-only basis and only one person is allowed in the room at one time.
• The Conference Room is not usable by groups at this time.
• Event Space use may be arranged on a case-by-case basis as it can allow for 6′ distancing.

ALL USE BY RESERVATION ONLY
• It will be required for everyone entering the space to have a reservation, with a maximum stay of 4 hours (including members with dedicated desks).
• This will allow us to monitor the amount of members in the space at any given time and provide a proper contract tracing record in the case of an exposure risk.
• Each floor will be equipped with several disinfectant spray bottles.
• A benefit of this reservation system is that members will be able to log on, see how busy the space will be, and determine use based on personal preferences.
• Please be sure to leave The Space as close to 5pm as possible each day to allow us to clean the building.

Aside from Dedicated Desk members, all members will be assigned the Common Area membership (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm). Once we are able to remove restrictions, people can upgrade to Night Owl membership. We will not be allowing Day Passes at this time. This does not apply to Sustaining Sparks – you are staying in your membership level. Thank you for your support!

All memberships have been set to auto-renew on June 15, 2020, including memberships that were paused. Moving forward, memberships will auto-renew on the 15th of each month (something we’ve been wanting to do for reporting purposes). Anyone who was on a Night Owl membership has been switched to a Common Area membership.

To make your reservation:
1. Log in to the membership site or the Proximity Space app
2. Click Reservations
3. Click Coworking Stations (bottom of the list)
4. Click Book Now*
*bookable only by members with Dedicated Desk or Common Area memberships
Email thespaceonmain@gmail.com with any difficulty signing on or viewing resources.

I can’t wait to see each of you in person again! It has been too long! <3
Monique

COVID-19 VT Stay Home, Stay Safe Order

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Dear Members, Sustaining Sparks, and Community Members,

This is a difficult email to write, but The Space On Main will close its doors at 5pm today in response to the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order. All doors will be locked, all memberships with door access will be paused, all cameras will remain on, and the security system will be armed. I will be in touch with future updates as things change.

I apologize if this adversely affects your ability to work remotely. I will be opening up the WiFi network in order to provide access to those who might find it helpful on Main Street during these times.

I am working on ways that supporters can continue to support The Space On Main during this time as we will need assistance in order to make it to the other side. For example, I would like to leave Sustaining Spark memberships active, but please let me know if you would like yours paused. If you are in the position to do so and would like to donate, please visit https://thespaceonmain.org/donate.

I will continue to offer online programming on behalf of The Space On Main – webinars in online tools, leadership, and other topics that people can attend from the comforts of their home. Code for UV and groups that have been using our Zoom account can continue to do so remotely.

I hope that you are able to continue working and stay safe and well during this time. If you would like a member Zoom call, I would be happy to set that up!

Please do not hesitate with any questions or concerns,

Monique

URGENT UPDATE Coworking During this Period of COVID-19

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Hi Everyone,

Many coworking spaces in Vermont, and across the country, are struggling this week to decide how to proceed, while protecting the health and well being of our community, and keeping resources available and accessible.

For the time being: The board and I have decided to keep The Space On Main open to current members only. I would like to ask that everyone pick one work area, leave a piece of paper with your name on it at that space, and stick to that work area. Visitors are not allowed in the building, this includes friends, spouses, housemates, children, and dogs. I am very sorry about this as one of the best and most beautiful things about The Space On Main is the sense of openness and commitment to being a community-friendly environment. I ask you to strictly abide by these rules until further notice in order to make it possible for us to keep The Space On Main open and available for you to “get to work”.

While you are at The Space On Main, please maintain extremely careful personal and workplace hygiene, and honor social distancing guidelines: stay 6 feet away from other individuals, do not hug or shake hands, clean any shared items before and after using them, including: cooking utensils, coffee mugs, pens, etc. I appreciate how clean and tidy you all are everyday, but for now, cleanliness is no longer just polite, but essential. Remember to clean your desks and chairs everyday before you leave, and please clean shared kitchen items thoroughly as soon as you are finished using them. I will do my best to keep cleaning supplies well stocked. There are currently wipes and disinfectant on the far booth (please return supplies there after use).

If you or a family member are feeling ill, or have recently been in an environment which would put you at high risk for transmitting illness – please stay home.

You can learn more about current mitigation guidelines in Vermont, and about COVID-19 generally at the Vermont Department of Health’s website or by calling 2-1-1: https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/infectious-disease/2019-novel-coronavirus

I will be working from home as much as possible, but am only a two minute drive from The Space. Please text/call/Slack me if you have an urgent issue, run out of wipes, or the bathrooms need to be restocked. My cell: 802-222-1909

Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Stay safe and well,

Monique

Update in Response to COVID-19

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Hi Everyone,
The following message has been shared to Facebook and the website, but I also wanted to make sure that all of our registered members received this as well:
“Anyone in a position of power or authority, instead of downplaying the dangers of the coronavirus, should ask people to stay away from public places, cancel big gatherings, and restrict most forms of nonessential travel.” (The Atlantic, Cancel Everything) In light of COVID being declared a pandemic, The Space On Main is cancelling all of its large public events until further notice and will be providing remote options for smaller gatherings such as Code for UV and our business planning course. The Space On Main will continue to be open to serve members who work remotely and will allow, but discourage use of the Event Space and Conference Room for those organizations who have pre-existing reservations. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes, but believe it is our responsibility as a community organization to do what we can to lessen everyone’s exposure to COVID. Also, if you are an employee who has been pushed into remote work by your employer and need assistance to acclimate, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Stay safe,
Monique