IFB Beat – Week of October 2, 2023

A Message from the Editor

Fall is fabulous! This October’s edition is packed with celebrations, resources, fall activities and more. Did you know October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month? Learn more below. And last, if you’re at the Winston-Salem or Asheville Facilities, get ready for fun, food and prizes at the company fall picnic!

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week!

Anastasia Powell

IFB Solutions Communications Manager

apowell@ifbsolutions.org | 336-245-5698

Quick Links:

New this Week

– Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month
– Winston-Salem and Asheville Facility Company Picnic Details
– Tips for a Safe and Productive Workplace Part 10
– Adult Support Group Meetings
– CLVC Item of the Week

From Our Community

– Insider Corner

HR and Opportunities

– Benefit of the Month
– Coming Soon: Annual Performance Reviews
– Fall Presents: World Mental Health Day
– New Job Openings

Support Group Zoom Meeting Links

 

New this Week

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Observed each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees. ODEP has chosen “Advancing Access and Equity” as the theme for NDEAM 2023. NDEAM en Espanol aqui.

The workplace is an important part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and IFB Solutions remains steadfast in its mission to provide employment opportunities, training and support services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Meet Derick Graham IFB Solutions Sewing Machine Operator!

“My name is Derick, and I am blind. I’ve lost the ability to see but haven’t lost my vision. I see a place that encourages me to do better every day.” Watch his story here: https://youtu.be/YkXuGJgtHSQ

 

Winston-Salem and Asheville Facility Company Picnic Details

Winston-Salem Facility: October 5, 12:00-3:00

The Winston-Salem  planning committee is really excited about this year’s fall picnic and have LOTS of great activities planned…from pie-throwing to cornhole to karaoke! We’ll also have Chick-Fil-A boxed lunches for everyone and lots of other fun things including door prizes, snow cones, popcorn, bingo, photo booth, and more. Two GRAND prizes will be given out at the end of the event that you won’t want to miss!

Employees will exit through the lobby to the administrative parking lot. Each department will head to lunch at a different time avoid traffic jams – please talk to your supervisor for your group’s time. For administrative employees, please join the line for lunch at 12:45pm.

Parking will not be available in the administrative lot, and as a reminder, parking is not available in the shipping and receiving area, the former Annex, or at the Food Lion. Here is a view of available parking.

For manufacturing employees, please remember and plan accordingly for a workday early dismissal from the company picnic on October 5. Dismissal will be at 3:00pm and all employees will be paid for the remainder of the scheduled workday. For all those to which this applies, please schedule your transportation accordingly.

Asheville Facility: October 5 11:30- 1:00

The Asheville Facility team is really excited about this year’s fall picnic! We have LOTS of great door prizes, cornhole, badminton, frisbees, photo booth and football. We’ll also have Box Car Grill providing lunch, hamburgers, and hot dogs with banana pudding for dessert. GRAND prize will be given out at the end of the event that you won’t want to miss!

Graphic: Tips for a Safe and Productive Workplace

Tips for a Safe and Productive Workplace

Free At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits: You can now get four free at-home by ordering via the CDC’s website here or calling 1-800-232-0233. These at-home tests can be used whether you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines and can give results within 30 minutes without requiring lab drop-off. Take an at-home test: If you begin having COVID-19 symptoms like fever, sore throat, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, or At least 5 days after you come into contact with someone with COVID-19, or When you’re going to gather with a group of people, especially those who are at risk of severe disease or may not be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.

 

Adult Support Group Meetings:

Support Group Updates and Changes:

Message from RP Support Group President Diana Soto: The guest speaker for this meeting is our awesome CEO and President, Dan Kelly. Let’s welcome him by gracing the group with your presence.

Upcoming Support Group Meetings

  • Monday, October 2 AAA Committee meeting from 12:00-1:00 in TADS Room.
  • Tuesday, October 3 VIPS Club meeting from 12:00-1:00 in TADS Room.
  • Wednesday, October 4 RP support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room
  • Come ready to share your life experiences with RP.

 

CLVC Item of the Week:

Steam Inhaler

Steam Inhaler for $59.99
Why steam inhalation? This Steam Inhaler provides natural, safe and effective therapy to help relieve symptoms due to allergies, bronchitis, colds, flu, laryngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis and more. Some of the features are: soft, flexible mask, extension tube, variable steam control, drain tank, aromatherapy tank, convenient indicator light, measuring cup, internal water chamber and a five foot power cord.

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

From Our Community

Insider Corner

This section is edited by Faith Harding. Have something to share? Email Faith at fharding@ifbsolutions.org. 

Music Highlight

With a caribbean vvibe, enjoy this song by Oryan Battis, “Keep My Cool”. Sharing his journey in relationships, Oryan displays his growth within self and fatherhood. Listen here. Explore other songs by yours truly by visiting his Youtube channel.

Welcome to RainbowTarts!

Looking for an easy and affordable way to bring your favorite scents to your home? Look no further. We have wax melts, warmers, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and much more in a wide variety of scents. We’ll Braille products upon request at no charge and we ship to anywhere in the US by priority flat rate mail.

Visit www.rainbowtarts.com. Contact Carl Williams at 336-970-0650 or email info@rainbowtarts.com

RainbowTarts: Where everything makes scents!

Join Helen Keller Services for our Employment Training webinar series during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October!

This series covers strategies to build a diverse and inclusive workplace, the support of individuals who are DeafBlind, blind or have low vision, workplace accommodations, accessibility measures, and more.

DeafBlind, low vision, and blind participants are eligible for complimentary attendance to this training session. To receive this special offer, please contact them at pld@hknc.org or Janice Hanvey Administrative Assistant at 516-393-7733 to receive a coupon code that entitles you to FREE registration for this training.

Audience: Employers, Job Seekers, CRP’s, VR Counselors

Cost: $25*

Credits: ACVREP & CRC CEU credits

SCHEDULE (Wednesday’s in October 2-4pm ET)

  • October 11, 2023: The Power of a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce
  • October 18, 2023: The Journey to Successful Employment: A Panelist Discussion
  • October 25, 2023: Team Approach: Successful Strategies for Collaboration

Register now here and join us in celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

 

HR & Opportunities

Your Benefit of the Month

This section is a monthly feature supported by IFB Solutions Benefits Supervisor Ciara Frenette. Reach her at cfrenette@ifbsolutions.org.

Friendly reminder to use your 2023 FSA funds by December 31, 2023. You may roll over a max of $610 into 2024 for FSA eligible purchases.

Over the counter meds are also eligible expenses, stock up for the winter months! Want to check your health care account balances and submit receipts anywhere, anytime? There’s an app for that, download “My Plans by CBIZ”.

Navigate to https://www.fsafeds.com/explore/hcfsa/expenses?take=100&skip=200 to see a list of eligible FSA purchases. IFB will have 2024 FSA open enrollment coming soon, be on the lookout here!

 

IFB Solutions 2023 Annual Performance Reviews

Attention IFB Employees, it’s that time of year again! Annual Performance Reviews will open soon. Please be on the lookout for more detailed information. If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Livingston, HR Manager, at ext. 5694.

 

Fall Presents: World Mental Health Day

As autumn settles in with its cozy sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes, we turn our attention to an essential topic: mental health. October 10th marks World Mental Health Day, a global initiative initiated by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992. Moreover, October is dedicated to Depression Awareness Month. While we’ve come a long way in destigmatizing mental health, the need for this conversation persists. Mindfulness is a tool that can be used at work to aid in reducing stress at work and help improve focus and concentration. Below are some mindfulness tips that can be applied in the workplace:

  • Take short moments throughout the day. Don’t pick up the phone on the first ring… take a deep breath, then pick up the phone. Before sending an email, take a pause and breathe. Then send it.
  • At the start of a meeting, take a moment to look at your intention. What do I want to see out of this meeting? Resolve to listen and speak less.
  • When you feel frustrated or annoyed, pay attention to your breathing. Feel one breath… then the next. and repeat several times. An exercise like this can help you regroup and reframe your thoughts or actions to take a different approach.

As an employee of IFB, you can use Telus Health (formerly LifeWorks) as a resource to talk to someone if you need to. Please reach out to a team member of HR if you would like more information.

 

New Job Announcements

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

Quality Auditor – Winston-Salem Facility

Education and work experience:

  • High School graduate or equivalent
  • 1-3 years previous Quality Inspection experience preferred

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=73579&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=73580&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

Canteen Assistant – Expediter – Winston-Salem Facility

Education and work experience:

  • Must have high school diploma or GED.
  • Minimum of 1 year experience in customer service-related role

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=73586&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=73587&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

For information about any employment opportunities with IFB Solutions please contact Brent Burkholder at bburkholder@ifbsolutions.org or X5611.

 

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)