From our Commander:

The Department Executive Committee meeting has been pushed back to 27 Feb at 13:00 due to slight department complications. Zoom registration or check in, at 12:30.

Due to the Current COVID situation, the Department of New Mexico's Mid-Winter conference has been cancelled.

Per the Governor:

Gentlemen, I want to begin by thanking each of you for your service to our county and continued service to others. I lack the words to thank you for the valued contributions that each of your organizations make and am so grateful to each of you for your understanding of the stakes of this pandemic when it comes to protecting the health and safety of New Mexicans. I truly enjoyed having the opportunity to connect with you earlier this week.

I have conferred with other staff at the governor's office and would like to share the following guidance as to the way veterans organizations can safely operate during this pandemic.

• 1. Organizations must follow all restrictions detailed in the order (attached) . In particular the organizations must adhere to item 9 on page six which reads as follows:
1. (9) Any business that is not identified as an "essential business", "close contact business", "food and drink establishment", "house of worship", "indoor recreational facility", "outdoor recreational facility", or "place of lodging" may open provided that the total number of persons situated within the business does not exceed 25% of the maximum occupancy of any enclosed space on the business's premises, as determined by the relevant fire marshal or fire department.
• 2. Paid staff and volunteers that conduct the regular business and operations of the respective organization must operate following COVID Safe Practices for office settings which entails the following:
1. a. Adhere to Required COVID-Safe Practices for All Employers.
2. b. Adhere to maximum occupancy and staffing limits per the State's Public Health Order.
3. c. If establishment also operates a space that provides in-person services to the public, adhere to Adhere to Required COVID-Safe Practices for Retail Establishments.Utilize signs, stanchions and/or floor decals to support 6-foot social distancing, including one-way traffic and separate entry/exit wherever possible.
4. d. Maintain a schedule of stringent daily cleaning and sanitizing. Clean and sanitize shared workstations between shifts.
5. e. Restrict use of communal dishware and provide single-use items in break rooms and cafeterias.
• 3. While the canteen or bar areas must remain closed there can be meetings or support groups that use the various facilities that your organization has including outdoor spaces provided that:
1. a. Per the public health order, these groups must be no more than 5 per an enclosed space in accordance with the mass gathering restriction in item 9 of the public health order.
• (9) "Mass gathering" means any public gathering, private gathering, organized event, ceremony, parade, organized amateur contact sport, or other grouping that brings together more than five (5) Individuals in a single room or connected space, confined outdoor space or an open outdoor space. "Mass gathering" does not include the presence more than five (5) individuals where those individuals regularly reside.
1. b. They must adhere to social distance requirements when meeting.
2. c. Per the public health order, they must wear a mask or face covering when in public see item 12.
• (12) Unless a healthcare provider instructs otherwise, all individuals shall wear a mask or multilayer cloth face covering in public settings except when eating or drinking.