IFB Beat – Week of September 25, 2023

A Message from the Editor

Below, find more tips for a safe and productive workplace, sign-up for an educational presentation on Medicare resources and extra benefits. If you participate in support groups, make sure to read about the upcoming changes. Mark your calendar for the FEMA Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System and read about how IFB crushed our quality audit!

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

– Tips for a Safe and Productive Workplace Part 10
– What’s Happening on the Floor: Quality Audit Update
– Adult Support Group Meetings
– CLVC Item of the Week

From Our Community

– Insider Corner

HR and Opportunities

– Medicare / Medicaid Resources
– New Job Openings

Support Group Zoom Meeting Links

 

New this Week

Tips for a Safe and Productive Workplace

IFB Solutions has put several processes in place to keep everyone safe at work. We have been sharing these tips weekly and would like you to please adhere to these rules. In the September 5 edition we shared reporting unsafe practices and accidents. This week we shared ways to travel safely on the manufacturing floor. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe!

• When walking, stay to the right of the aisle and keep moving to avoid a collision while in the aisle way.
• No open toes or open heeled shoes allowed on the production floor. (Including the aisle ways)
• Exit routes, fire extinguishers, electrical panels (inside and outside) and aisles shall be kept clear at all times.

Thank you,

Angela Jordan Director of Safety and Environmental Health

 

What’s Happening on the Floor: Quality Audit Update

IFB, thanks for your time and commitment to our quality system. As you all know, we had our 2nd surveillance audit in July with audit observer Bill Tarazewski and he was very impressed with our teams and our commitment to quality and our quality system.

This is a once-a-year audit in support of our QMS (ISO 9001:2015) registration. Our registration is required for most of our government contracts. Our Quality Management System (QMS) requires that we all follow established guidelines for the manufacturing of our products. It also requires that we track employee training, product quality, on-time delivery and requires us to make decisions that support the health of our company.

It is awesome that both the Winston-Salem and Asheville Facilities completed the surveillance audit with no findings. This is a great accomplishment, and it requires a team effort. Asheville Facility Quality Control supervisor Arnicia Jackson states, “As a team we are obligated by working together to achieve important goals for IFB Solutions and our stakeholders. I believe all employees are dedicated to our mission by working together to attain good work ethics and a commitment to excellence.” Winston-Salem Facility Quality Control supervisor Paul Quesenberry states, “Each day, every employee has a commitment to our mission. Its our job and responsibility to support each other and instill a culture of teamwork to accomplish the strategic goals for IFB Solutions.”

Keep up the good work IFB as we continue to follow our quality policy: “The IFB Solutions’ team serves the mission of the organization through delivering on our promises to our stakeholders. We are committed to executing on our strategic plan, satisfying all applicable requirements, and driving continual improvement at all levels.”

At S.E.E. After School, there is time to relax with a game of UNO. It is also a great time to practice social skills of taking turns, encouraging others, kind teasing, staying positive whether winning or losing, having polite conversation, following the rules of the game, plus brushing up on Braille or large print numbers/colors. It is a fun way to maintain orientation skills of finding the draw from and in play stacks of cards; holding a handful of cards and picking out one card from the draw pile or your hand improves your motor skills.

 

Adult Support Group Meetings:

Support Group Updates and Changes:

Message from Assistive Technology Support Group President Mike Mote: Hi all. Starting this month, we will be offering a different format for the AT support group monthly meeting. We will be recording our podcasts, and will be making it available to those interested in listening via their favorite podcast platform. We are doing this to accommodate our schedules, as all of us are busy. The meeting is now a podcast until further notice. It will be available on the third Thursday of each month on the podcast platforms.

Starting on October 11, Blind Ambitions support group will meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 12:00-12:45 in TADS room. If you have any questions contact Shonn Redmond at sredmond@ifbsolutions.org or 336-245-5672.

Starting on October 25, the Sight Adjustment support group will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 12:00-12:45 in TADS room until further notice. If you have any questions contact Sight Adjustment support group president Brian Ballard.

Upcoming Support Group Meetings

• Monday, September 24 Guide Dog support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.
• Tuesday, September 25 Glaucoma support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.

 

CLVC Item of the Week:

Tek Pal TV Only Remote for $25.00
This large button remote control is palm-sized and features lighted buttons. This remote is very easy to see and use. The simplified design is for working with a television without a separate cable or satellite box. The pearly white color makes it stand out amongst other devices, like other remotes, telephones, or diabetes monitors. This remote is great for low vision users and people who want an easy remote without confusing or small buttons.

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. 

Ready for Anything: Elevate Your Emergency Preparedness Game!

Emergency Preparedness Month Webinar: Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) is excited to announce a webinar for National Preparedness Month.  This webinar will provide the DeafBlind community, family members and service providers the tools and resources they need to prepare for emergencies and disasters.

The webinar will focus on: Overview & Disasters and The Power of Adaptive Technology in Emergencies.  ASL interpreting and captions will be available on zoom.

Event Details:

• When: Wednesday, September 27 from 2-3:30pm EST
• Audience: DeafBlind individuals, their families, and professionals who support them
• Cost: $25
• Free Registration: DeafBlind participants are eligible for complimentary attendance to this training session. In order to receive this special offer, please contact HKNC at pld@hknc.org to receive a coupon code that entitles you to FREE Registration to this training.
• Credits: ACVREP & CRC CEU credits

For questions or to register contact pld@hknc.org or Janice Hanvey at 516-393-7733.

 

FEMA: Nationwide Test Of The Emergency Alert System

FEMA, in coordination with the FCC, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall. The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at 2:20pm ET on Wednesday, October 4. The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.

The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.

FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.

The purpose of the October 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is October 11.

This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN). All wireless phones should receive the message only once.

WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.

https://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=b17534

 

 

HR & Opportunities

REMINDER: Medicare / Medicaid Resources

IFB Solutions is partnering with White Oak Benefits to provide our employees with an educational presentation and resources on Medicare Basics and Extra Benefits that you may be able to receive. If you’ve been on Medicare for years or are new to Medicare there are ways for you to reduce costs, get benefits like grocery cards, and get more money back in your social security check as well as many other benefits. Micah Lutz from White Oak Benefits will be presenting to all employees that have Medicare about how they can get the best coverage and most benefits possible and how White Oak Benefits can be their trusted advisors for Medicare going forward.

White Oak will be onsite:

• Asheville: Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 11:00AM
• Winston: Wednesday, September 27, 2023; 11AM, 1PM, 2PM

If interested contact the HR department.

 

New Job Announcements

For all 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 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)