IFB Beat – Week of December 12, 2022

Quick Links:

News to Know
– Year-End Update on Compensation and Bonuses
– IFB Solutions Holiday Celebrations
– Winston-Salem Employee Mattress Sale
– Congratulations to IFB Solutions 2022 5S Champions
– Staff Campaign Update

Programs and Services
– Volunteers Needed in Winston-Salem Location
– See what S.E.E. is Doing!
– Adult Support Group Meetings:

Community Low Vision Centers
– CLVC Item of the Week
– CLVC Item of the Month

Insider Corner
– New Song from Oryan Battis
– Moonwalkers’
– NFB Newsline Holiday Ads
– Listen to Your Children
– Connect with Faith Harding, Insider Corner Editor

Community Connections
– From the Tech-VI list owner: Just in time for the holidays!

HR and Opportunities
– Winston-Salem – Mobile Mammography Unit
– Have FSA funds left over from 2022?
– Open Positions

Support Group Zoom Meeting Links

News to Know

Year-End Update on Compensation and Bonuses

For many years, IFB has been able to offer company-wide gainshare bonuses because we have had a positive bottom line. Unfortunately, in fiscal year 2022, we lost money due to large increases in material costs and supply chain disruptions that kept us from delivering products on time and earning the associated revenue. We are very sad to announce that there will not be companywide gainshare bonuses this year.

Despite our financial challenges, we are glad that we’re able to offer 2.5% wage increases that are currently being rolled out. This, along with the pre-Thanksgiving Christmas bonus, our upcoming ham distribution on December 15, and Christmas celebrations and activities happening at our manufacturing locations in the coming weeks, is our way of celebrating the season and your hard work as we finish this first fiscal quarter.

We’re also pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has authorized a small retirement contribution of 1% of your annual wages this year. Please note that more information about exciting changes to our retirement program will be shared after the holidays.

We have a lot of work to do in fiscal year 2023, which started October 1^st, 2022, to ensure we return to profitability. Our Board of Directors is very supportive of you, our employees, and wants to ensure return to companywide gainshare bonuses. They have just established the measures for fiscal year 2023.

We are confident that the measures are obtainable, with a focus on:

• Delivering on our promises to customers
• Continuing to improve production efficiencies on our military contract business
• Increasing sales across our BSC retail and e-commerce business
• Reducing supply chain disruptions through proper inventory management and control

As we start to see improved reporting out of D365, our new resource planning system, the executive team will be able to offer increased real-time transparency on our progress against financial and mission goals. Knowing where we stand in real time will help us all make course corrections to ensure we are able to pay companywide gainshare in 2023.

We appreciate the hard work you are all putting in to achieve both mission and financial results.

Sincerely,

IFB Solutions Executive Team

 

IFB Solutions Holiday Celebrations

ALL LOCATIONS: Continuing our annual tradition of a festive holiday ham! At each location, regardless of other holiday celebrations, hams will be distributed on Thursday, December 15.

ASHEVILLE: Get ready to have a ton of fun celebrating this holiday season! On December 15 employees will be treated to Christmas lunch from Boxcar Grille. Prior to lunch there will be several door prize drawings. 6:00 am employees will have lunch at 11:30 and 7:00 am employees will have lunch at 12:30. Hams will be distributed at the end of the day.

WINSTON-SALEM: In lieu of a luncheon this year, we are excited to announce we will be celebrating the holidays ALL DAY on Wednesday, December 21st!!! Festivities will include holiday music, cookies & hot chocolate during your regularly scheduled breaks, and giftbags for EVERYONE! At the end of the day, we’ll have prize drawings and 3 contests: best Ugly Sweater, best Santa Claus, and best Dressed Elf.
Winners will receive a $100 VISA gift card, but you must be present to win! So get ready to have a ton of fun celebrating this holiday season with your IFB friends and coworkers! (If interested in participating in any of the contests, please let your supervisor know by December 19).

LITTLE ROCK: Get ready to celebrate the holidays with our annual Christmas potluck party, held on Friday, December 23 at 12 noon. There will be a Christmas costume contest, and everyone will vote for their favorite costume. Prizes will be given to the 1st and 2nd place winners.

 

Winston-Salem Employee Mattress Sale

IFB Solutions is clearing out inventory of commercial mattresses – this is a great opportunity to purchase a mattress made by your colleagues at a great price. Supplies are extremely limited and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and holds cannot be made. View the complete listing and details here.

To purchase: stop by the workstation (cubicle) of Mendy Hunt in the customer service area or call 336-245-5646. Payment is due at time of purchase, and mattresses must be picked up from the IFB Solutions Warehouse at 6180 Indiana Avenue on Thursdays in December (no delivery or disposal of old mattresses available).

Available items:

• Universal Bed Frame for All Sizes ($25)
• TWIN Boxspring ($99), Commodore Mattress ($150), and Extra Firm Mattress ($175)
• FULL Commodore Mattress ($175), Standard Firm Mattress ($175), and Extra Firm Mattress ($175)
• QUEEN Boxspring ($99) and Standard Firm Mattress ($185)
• KING Standard Firm Mattress ($225) and Extra Firm Mattress ($275)

Mattress descriptions:

• Commodore: pillow top (can be rotated, but not flipped) with qulited ticking in “Toast” color. 3″ foam topper for comfort.
• Standard Firm: traditional innerspring (can be flipped) with quilted ticking in “Toast” color. 1.5″ of foam is built in for comfort.
• Extra Firm: same as standard, but with firmer springs.

Questions? Call Mendy Hunt at 336-245-5646 or email at mhunt@ifbsolutions.org (note purchases cannot be made over email). For full details, see flyer here: http://ifbsolutions.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IFB_WS_EmployeeMattressSale_Flyer_FINAL_12-4-22.pdf

 

Congratulations to IFB Solutions 2022 5S Champions

We are very happy to announce Asheville as our 2022 5s Champions!

The Asheville team has done a wonderful job in adopting the principles of the 5s initiative that encourages a clean and organized work environment. 5s encourages “Lean” principles, Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize and Sustain that support efficiency and teamwork throughout the workplace in all areas.

We began the 2022 fiscal year with a lot of variation between our locations during our 5s audits. As the year progressed, we were seeing steady improvement in all locations. This led to a tight race for the championship. In the end Asheville was declared the winner due to never falling below a 90% score. We are proud of all our IFB Solutions teams and are ready to begin a new year with the first 5s audits coming soon!

 

Staff Campaign Update

The Staff Campaign 2023 sponsored by Salem Benefits Group is almost over. We appreciate everyone who participated. Just a reminder, if you continue your enrollment for 2023, please stop by and get your branded water bottle. Also, everyone who participated will be entered into the drawing on December 15 to have a chance to win gift baskets.

 

Programs and Services

Volunteers Needed in Winston-Salem Location

Do you love to work out in the gym and familiar with various equipment? If the answer is yes, this volunteer opportunity is for you!

The Winston-Salem facility is re-opening the exercise room very soon. The updated space will include incredible new equipment thanks to a generous donation from Allegacy Credit Union. We are looking for volunteers who are sighted to teach employees who are blind and visually impaired how to navigate the room, learn equipment button functions, practice safety in the space, and more.

The time commitment for volunteers will be one hour a day during first and second breaks for one week (Monday – Thursday). If interested, contact Anastasia Powell at apowell@ifbsolutions.org or X5698. Thank you!

(Please note, we are still determining the exact date for reopening and hope to announce soon).

See what S.E.E. is Doing!

The second stop for S.E.E. After School Winston was Japan in our Christmas around the world journey. We made origami paper cranes to hang on the tree while listening to “Ode to Joy” and eating pocky and puffed corn snacks.

S.E.E. After School Winston journeyed to Mexico on our third day of Christmas around the world. We made a poinsettia by stacking foam craft pieces, enjoyed eating tamales, and listened to “Felis Navidad”.

 

Adult Support Group Meetings:

• Monday, December 12 NFB board meeting from 12:00-1:00 in TADS Room.
• Tuesday, December 13 Transportation support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.
• Thursday, December 15 Assistive technology support group meeting from 7:00-8:00 via Zoom (link at end of newsletter).

 

Community Low Vision Center

CLVC Item of the Week:

 

Echo Dot (4th Gen) Smart speaker with clock and Alexa for $49.95 and up.

Meet Echo Dot with clock – Our most popular smart speaker with Alexa. The sleek, compact design delivers crisp vocals and balanced bass for full sound.

 

CLVC December Item of the Month:

Echo Show 10, Up to $240. Alexa can show you even more – With a 10.1″ HD screen that is designed to move with you, video calls, recipes, and shows are always in view. The speakers deliver premium, directional sound.

 

Insider Corner

New Song from Oryan Battis

Oryan Battis is back with another song, “Sky Walking’”. From his clear intention on developing his music skills, known as “music over everything,” he’s been able to ascend toward his greatness. Support a fellow coworker’s craft by listening here.

 

Moonwalkers’

Shared by: Toni Frazer

Walking is such a fundamental action, we strive to accomplish it before we learn how to talk. Since you have the balancing act on two legs mastered, ever wished you could move faster? Well, Moonwalkers has a solution for you. Lace up and check them out here.

 

NFB Newsline Holiday Ads

Shared by: Joyce Mintz

NFB-NEWSLINE just added new holiday ads for the 2022 shopping season. This year we will have the usual ads from Target, plus we have added Best Buy, Dollar General, CVS, and the Home Depot Holiday Buying Guide. Be sure to check your local store for current pricing and availability of items, as they may change throughout the shopping season.

To read these holiday ads using the telephone access method, press five from the main menu for NEWSPAPERS in a DIFFERENT STATE, and then press five again for HOLIDAY SHOPPING ADVERTISEMENTS. Please note that Best Buy is only available using the telephone access method.

To read the holiday ads using NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile, select ALL PUBLICATIONS from the INFORMATION SOURCES menu, then search for Dollar General, CVS, or Home Depot.

For the web access method, login and go to WEB NEWS ON DEMAND, choose ALL PUBLICATIONS ORGANIZED ALPHABETICALLY and brows for Dollar General, CVS, or Home Depot.

Tell a friend about NFB-NEWSLINE, or better yet, help them sign up by calling (866) 504-7300 or visiting www.nfbnewsline.org. Give the gift of print through access to news and information with NFB-NEWSLINE. As always it is free to use and free to sign up!

 

Listen to Your Children

An Ireland based mother of five was inspired by Australian model Amber Luke, who tattooed her eyeballs a vivid blue. The mother tattooed her right eye blue and despite some headaches, she tattooed her left eye purple that same year. Disregarding the fact Amber Luke went blind for three weeks after and regained her vision, this mother thought she would be fine. Now, she is developing cataracts with the potential of going blind. Her seven year old daughter warned her about having this body modification done, but her mom didn’t listen. Read article here.

 

Connect with Faith Harding, Insider Corner Editor

Hello family, you will never know how valuable vision is until it’s gone. Believe me. Take care of your sight, health, and well being. have anything you want to share? Email me and we’ll add it.

Have a wonderful week!

Faith Harding

FHarding@ifbsolutions.org

Community Connections

From the Tech-VI list owner: Just in time for the holidays!

Here is a wonderful adaptation of “a Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. The narrator along with each character is voiced by a different speech synthesizer, many or all of which you might recognize. As an example, the character Ebenezer Scrooge is voiced by one of the British Eloquence voices. This piece also has music and soundscapes.

Check it out: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2zczncdhxkdcxb1/a_synth_Xmas_carol.mp3?dl=0

 

 

HR & Opportunities

Winston-Salem – Mobile Mammography Unit

On January 24^th & 26^th 2023 the Mobile Mammography Unit will be here for mammogram screenings. Please contact Benefits Administrator, Ciara Frenette at cfrenette@ifbsolutions.org or X5644 by Friday, December 23^rd to sign up.

 

Have FSA funds left over from 2022?

List of eligible FSA expenses: https://www.fsafeds.com/explore/hcfsa/expenses?take=100

List of eligible Dependent Care FSA expenses: https://www.fsafeds.com/explore/dcfsa/expenses?take=100

IFB wants to make you aware that your FSA card may be used for over-the-counter medicines and much more!

First aid kits

• Aspirin or other pain reliever (over the counter)
• Diabetic monitors, test kits, strips, and supplies
• Crutches, canes, walkers or like equipment (purchase or rental)
• Covid testing/at home Covid test kits
• Allergy & sinus medicine (over-the counter)
• Cough syrup/cough drops
• Antibiotic ointment & Antacids (OTC)

Open Positions

Customer Care Coordinator- McGuire AFB

Education and work experience:

• Must have high school diploma or GED.
• No experience required.

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=53282&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=53283&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

Zoom Meeting Links

Adult Support Groups Zoom

https://ifbsolutions.zoom.us/j/99498078576?pwd=ODJzK0sxcXZrME9yN25YRTdiNXBSQT09
Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576
PASSWORD: 92638
One tap mobile
+13017158592,99498078576# US (Germantown)

13126266799,99498078576# US
+(Chicago)

Dial by your location.
877 853 5257 US Toll-free
888 475 4499 US Toll-free
Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576

 

Assistive Technology Support Group Zoom

https://ifbsolutions.zoom.us/j/94434630872?pwd=aXFYSHYyWkh1SE1tWDNOdDIwVURwUT09

Meeting ID: 944 3463 0872
Passcode: 924496

+13017158592, 99434630872, #, # US (Germantown)

+13126266799, 99434630872, #, # US (Chicago)