MD Voice Column- Edition 1

Dear members and visitors of the French-American Chamber of Commerce New York,

First of all our thoughts go out to those affected by the current COVID-19 crisis.

The communities here in New York and the Tri-State are directly impacted by the virus and its consequences. I would like to ensure you of the support of the Chamber.

Let me start by reminding everyone of the safety measures once more that everyone needs to take and the directions we need to follow:

-Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

-Stay home when you are sick

-Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

More information is available from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the NYC Health Department.

As a direct consequence, I have decided to temporary close the FACC NY offices and have asked everyone to work from home for a while. In the meantime, the team and I continue to work (from home) and will continue to provide services to our members. Yes, different services, but we will be here to support our members and Exchange Visitors.

How will we do this?

First, members will have free access to a number of webinars we are putting together to keep the community informed of the current situation from a financial, HR or business perspective. Stay tuned for a revised program that will be announced shortly.

Second, the exchange visitors and their host companies continue to have direct communication with the team who can provide the latest updates on the government decisions related to the J1-visas and exchange programs status.

Be assured we want to go above and beyond and continue to serve our unique community with quality in the these difficult times.

Feel free to comment, question, challenge us as we all learn how to face an unexpected situation.

Stay tuned and most importantly, stay safe,

Isabelle Estebe

Managing Director,

FACC New York