IFB Beat – Week of February 27, 2023

Quick Links:

News to Know
– Updates to IFB Solutions Profit-Sharing Plan
– February is Low Vision Awareness Month

Programs and Services
– Winston-Salem Red Cross Blood Drive
– Winston-Salem Second Harvest Food Bank Volunteers Needed
– VIPS 2 Minute Table Topics
– 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

Community Connections

HR and Opportunities – Job Postings

Support Group Zoom Meeting Links

News to Know

Updates to IFB Solutions Profit-Sharing Plan

IFB Solutions contributes to a “profit sharing plan” on behalf of eligible employees. Only IFB can contribute to this plan, and it is separate from any individual retirement plan you may have. Eligibility information is at the end of this update.

Effective February 1, the IFB Solutions management team changed the oversight of IFB’s Profit Sharing Plan from Southern Pension Company (SPC) to Newport Retirement Services through First Citizens Wealth Management.

Previously, SPC mailed eligible employees a paper statement with limited information twice a year, and withdrawals were only possible at two periods during the year.  With Newport through First Citizens, you can now access your account at any time and see:

• Account balance
• Changes based on market performance
• Your vesting percentage, based on your years of eligibility
• And a variety of other information

You can also execute a withdrawal (when you separate from the company) through this portal and download documents for tax and legal purposes. Please note: paper statements will no longer be mailed.

Eligible employees who want to immediately get started can visit www.firstcitizens.com/retirement and follow the instructions outlined here.

For employees who prefer to access by phone, you can call 855-593-7279 and follow instructions outlined here.

For employees who have questions and/or need additional assistance, representatives from Newport through First Citizens will be on-site at the Winston-Salem, Asheville, and Little Rock facilities the week of March 20, 2023 (additional details coming soon). For employees not at these facilities who would like to speak directly with a representative from Newport through First Citizens, please contact Newport at 855-593-7279.

Questions? Contact Ciara Frenette at cfrenette@ifbsolutions.org or 336-245-5644.

Full eligibility requirements:

• Must be 21 years old
• Must have completed one year of employment (from your hire date)
• Work at least 1000 hours in that year

You will be eligible to participate in the plan when the requirements have been satisfied, you will enter the plan on either January 1st or July 1st , whichever comes first.

• Example: Sally was hired on May 5, 2021, and has worked at least 1,000 hours on her anniversary date (May 6, 2022). She becomes a plan participant on July 1st, 2022.
• Example: Henry was hired on September 10, 2022, but only worked 800 hours in his first year of employment. Henry met his 1,000-hour requirement on February 5, 2023. He will become a plan participant on July 1, 2023.

How is my service determined for purposes of Plan eligibility?

• Year of Service: You will be credited with a year of service when you have worked one full year since your hire date, and you worked at least 1,000 hours.
• Plan Year: The Plan Year begins on January 1st and ends on December 31st.
• Employees become fully vested or have full ownership of the money in the plan, following 6 consecutive years of being eligible. IFB Solutions management makes decisions on an annual basis regarding contributions to the plan as a whole; the contribution last fiscal year was in December.

 Vesting Schedule:

• Less than 2 years of service = 0% vested
• 2 years of service = 20% vested
• 3 years of service = 40% vested
• 4 years of service = 60% vested
• 5 years of service = 80% vested
• 6 years of service = 100% vested

Questions? Contact Ciara Frenette at cfrenette@ifbsolutions.org or 336-245-5644.

 

February is Low Vision Awareness Month

1. Visual impairment is unequally distributed across age groups. More than 82% of all people who are blind are 50 years of age and older, although they represent only 19% of the world’s population.
2. The leading cause of vision loss and blindness among the elderly is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and the effects of this could lead to Low Vision.
3. The vast majority of patients with low vision can be helped to function at a higher level with the use of low vision devices.
4. Low vision services and procedures do not cure the vision problem once and for all. Instead, they utilize a person’s remaining vision to its highest potential.

People diagnosed with an eye disease or condition that causes visual impairment may not know where to start to find the right services. Take some time this Low Vision Awareness Month to spread the word about the great customer care IFB Solutions provides through the Community Low Vision Center. Read more about the Community Low Vision Centers and there resources!

Meet Shonn Redmond a staff member at the R.G.S. Community Low Vision Center in Winston-Salem NC.

Shonn has been a member of the low vision family for five years. He has low vision due to Glaucoma. Shonn is happily married with five sons. He enjoys family, bowling, and delicious foods! Waking up every day knowing his job makes a difference, Shonn states, “I love my job because I am able to regain self-worth in a community of people who believe that once they lose vision, they have nothing left.”

Stop by the CLVC and be assisted by our friendly staff of associates with low vision that understand!

 

Programs and Services

Winston-Salem Red Cross Blood Drive Hosted by AAA Committee

Raise your sleeve, and save a life!

Did you know?
Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. Your donations assist with heart surgeries, revitalizing accident victims, organ transplant recipients, and patients needing lifesaving procedures. So, will you raise your sleeve and save a life?

When: April 12, 2023
Where: Tad’s Room (Winston-Salem)
Time: 10:00 am-2:30 pm, Contact your supervisor to set up an appointment to donate.
Admin contact: Shonn Redmond at sredmond@ifbsolutions.org or X5672

 

Winston-Salem Second Harvest Food Bank Volunteers Needed

The AAA Committee is hosting another Second Harvest Foodbank volunteering opportunity on March 15th. If your open to helping others, providing service to your community, and have a big heart contact Shonn Redmond at: sredmond@ifbsolutions.org or X5672 to sign up.

 

Winston-Salem VIPS 2 Minute Table Topics

Love to talk and voice your opinions? VIPS is hosting its first annual 2 Minute Table Topics competition April 4th at noon in Tad’s room. Open to all Winston employees, enter to speak for your chance to win cash prizes for first and second place winners.

What are 2 Minute Table Topics?
You will be asked a random question. There are no right or wrong responses, just your opinion. You have two minutes to provide an answer. However the catch is these answers are structured with an opening, body, and closing.

Rules:
In order to compete, participants must attend one VIPS meeting for hands on experience answering Table Topics and sign up by March 21st.

Upcoming VIPS meeting Dates:
February 21, March 7, & March 21.

Contact Shonn Redmond or Chris Flynt in the Low Vision Center for more information. Light refreshments will be provided.

 

See what S.E.E. is doing!

S.E.E. After School Winston pulled out the mats for some yoga when we traveled to India where yoga was founded. Charity Hampton narrated a story adapted by Kim Shoffner in which she described how to do 22 yoga poses.

 

Adult Support Group Meetings:

• Monday, February 27 Guide Dog support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.
• Tuesday, February 28 Glaucoma support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.
• Wednesday, March 1 RP support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.
• Thursday, March 2 Sight Adjustment support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.

 

Community Low Vision Center

CLVC Item of the Week:

Electric Can Opener and Knife Sharpener for $19.95

This Electric Can Opener and Knife Sharpener was designed to accommodate larger cans (up to around 6-1/2 in. tall) and has a twist-off cutting lever that detaches from the base for easy cleaning.

 

CLVC February Item of the Month:

Desk-Top Talking Calculator for $13.85

Clear Female Voice and Big Display for Low Vision | This full function calculator features a giant 8-digit display and a clear, easy to understand female voice. Also features repeat, memory, auto power shut-off, and adjustable volume.

 

If you are interested in purchasing Low Vision Equipment through our Loan Program (3rd Party), please contact a Low Vision Coordinator for assistance. 

 

Insider Corner

Have a story, new article, app, or interesting fact you want to share. Email Faith Harding at fharding@ifbsolutions.org and we will post it.

 

Community Connections

Western NC Braille Challenge

The S.E.E. (Student Enrichment Experience) Program of Winston is hosting the Western NC Braille Challenge – a regional competition – at Tracy’s Little Red Schoolhouse on Thursday, March 2 from 9 AM to 3 PM. Students from all over western North Carolina in grades 1 to 12 will be here to compete in their age level with Braille skills of reading, writing, charts/graphs, proofreading, spelling, formatting, and speed/accuracy. Top scores from each age level will be sent to the Braille Institute in California. The top 10 students from each age level will be invited to compete in the national Braille Challenge in June. Braille on!

 

HR & Opportunities – Job Openings

For current openings, visit https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs?clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

For information about any employment opportunities with IFB Solutions please contact Brent Burkholder at bburkholder@ifbsolutions.org or 336-245-5611.

 

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)