American Associations Week (AAW) was held June 15-June 18, 2020, as a free, week-long virtual education and advocacy event to help inform policymakers and urge Congress to support the association community. During the week, we highlighted meaningful ways that associations strengthen society and provided programming and resources to amplify these messages and mobilize stakeholders to help inform members of Congress. Individual sessions are listed below and are accompanied by links to replays of each event. The tools and resources we developed are still available for your use, at the Downloadables button above.
Why American Associations Week and Why Now?
Associations of all sizes, varied functions and disparate industries comprise Section 501(c)(6). More than 62,000 501(c)(6) organizations across the country play a critical role to provide education and professional development for America’s workforce, create product and safety standards for everything from food packaging to new building construction, define and advance standards for professional certification and codes of ethics in a wide range of professional fields, organize community assistance programs and respond in times of greatest need, such as after natural disasters or catastrophic events such as the current pandemic.
Now, more than ever, we must demonstrate to Congress the nonprofit association community’s positive impact on American economy and society. Associations, along with businesses, other nonprofits and workers across the country, are reeling from the devastating health, safety and financial effects of COVID-19. As associations and 501(c)(6) organizations were left out of a flagship relief program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), we are without access to critical means of financial aid.
The next major legislative package to provide additional COVID-19 relief could be the last bill of its scope – at least before the November elections. As this may be associations’ last chance to gain access to the PPP and secure other much-needed relief, AAW offers the opportunity to mobilize our community at just the right time.
