IFB Beat – Week of September 19, 2022

News to Know

A Special Message from David Horton, President and CEO, and Brenda Diggs, IFB Solutions Board Chair

Image of Dan Kelly, IFB Solutions Logo, Announcing Incoming President and CEO Dan KellyThe question of who will step into the role of president and CEO of IFB Solutions following my retirement at the end of this calendar year has been one of utmost importance. Our Board Chair, Brenda Diggs, and I are pleased to announce that Dan Kelly has been named incoming president and CEO. Dan will start in the role effective January 1, 2023 and will spend the next few months gearing up.

I want to share with you Bob Newell’s perspective as long-time IFB board member and chair of the executive search committee: “Throughout his career, Dan has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to creating opportunities for people who are blind to pursue their careers of choice. He is an exceptional professional and an inspiring individual.” Brenda and I couldn’t agree more.

When I joined IFB in 2001 as our controller, little did I know the honor I’d have to serve as its CEO since 2008. In September 2021, I announced publicly my plans to retire at the end of 2022. Our board promptly formed a search committee, who in turn utilized the services of the search firm Buffkin/Baker to initiate a national search that generated more than 50 applications from a diverse group of candidates. The search committee interviewed six exceptional finalists who were national in scope and shared a clear passion for the mission of IFB Solutions.

We are currently sharing this news outside our organization, with the media and folks in our industry. You can read the full press release on IFB’s website here.

Please join myself, Brenda, Bob, and the entirety of IFB’s board and executive leadership on congratulating Dan. I’m confident you’ll give him your full support as he takes the helm for the next chapter of our mission.

Sincerely,

David Horton, President and CEO, IFB Solutions

Brenda Diggs, Board Chair, IFB Solutions

 

Programs and Services

Come Join the Winston-Salem Facility Red Cross Blood Drive

Hosted by AAA Committee

During the past two years, our local and nationwide Red Cross donations has been at an all-time low. 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: October 26, 2022
Where: Winston-Salem Tad’s Room
Time: 10:00am-2:30pm.
Manufacturing and optical contact your supervisor to set up an appointment to donate.

Admin contact Anastasia Powell at: APowell@ifbsolutions.org or Shonn Redmond at: SRedmond@ifbsolutions.org
All participants will receive a Red Cross T-Shirt.

See what S.E.E. is Doing!

Justin and Meiko at the table with 12 bowls for cups, 2 plates for mancala, and marbles for stones

S.E.E. After School Winston learns to play the game Mancala. Each of 2 players moves the stones from cup to cup in their turn putting as many as possible into their mancala – a large cup to their right. The player with the most stones in their mancala at the end of the game wins.

 

Adult Support Group Meetings:

  • Monday, September 19 AAA Committee meeting from 12:00-1:00 in TADS Room.
  • Tuesday, September 20 VIPS Club meeting from 12:00-1:00 in TADS Room.
  • Wednesday, September 21 Diabetic support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.
  • Thursday, September 22 Blind Ambitions support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.

Community Low Vision Center

CLVC Item of the Week:

Image of book of jumbo print easy crosswords

Jumbo Print Easy Crosswords for $13.95. These large-print crosswords challenge solvers’ brains— not their eyes. Each puzzle takes up a full two pages, so both the clues and the numbers in the grid are easy to see and fill out.

The Low Vision center is a one stop shop! While you are purchasing Jumbo Print Easy Crosswords ask about our other large print and braille games!

 

CLVC September Item of the Month:

large print calendar

2023 Low Vision Print Calendar with BoldWriter Pen. Giant calendar easily shows each day of the month for $7.95. This 11 x 17-inch giant print 2023 calendar opens to a large 22 x 17-inch size – easily showing every month, weekday, and date.

 

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.

We invite you to participate in our third annual ABLS Writing Contest

The contest will run from September 15th to December 15th, 2022. Contestant entries can be any of the following: short stories, novel excerpts, poems, songs, fiction/nonfiction, auto/biographies, or something entirely different. Be creative!

Each submission will be judged on the following criteria: Clarity, Spelling, Grammar, and Creativity.

Each contestant’s entry has the potential to be added to our collection. We will notify you before it is published. The entry will be subject to proofreading before it is added. For the full details of the rules, prizes, and resources, please visit our Writing Contest page.

 

USA Takes the Bronze in Beep Baseball!

Shared By: Kim Shoffner

Blind Baseball has gained popularity internationally over the last seven years and is growing here in the United States. Lighthouse Guild of New York and other sponsors are showing their support for the newly formed Team USA, a team comprised of U.S. Blind Baseball Association participants aiming to compete in tournaments worldwide.

Team USA has just competed in the first WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup hosted by the Netherlands. The tournament made history as the first parasport event sanctioned by the World Baseball/Softball Confederation (WBSC). USA competed against teams from Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy – where the sport originated back in 2015.

I am thrilled to report that Team USA brought home the bronze by defeating Germany in the bronze medal game! One of Team USA’s starters, our very own Kiana Glanton, shared a powerful message about what Team USA means to her: “I’m most excited to compete in a sport where the playing field is leveled. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to compete safely and challenge myself athletically. We’re [people with visual impairments] always scared that we could get hurt, but with this sport, it is safe, and you can run as fast as you can and hit as hard as you can, build confidence, and I can push myself in a safe way.”

On behalf of Lighthouse Guild, we congratulate Team USA and all the teams for their accomplishments, and we look forward to the expansion of Blind Baseball in the years ahead

For more information about Beep Baseball visit: National Beep Baseball Association

 

What’s going on? Share news, articles, or anything you find interesting with us at the below email, and we’ll post it! Have an amazing week.

Faith Harding

FHarding@ifbsolutions.org

Hitting home runs together!

 

Community Connections

Blind Drivers Needed!

Now is the chance for someone totally blind to get behind the wheel of a real car and be totally free to drive!

Blind Power Company, Winston-Salem Twin City Lions Club and the Winston-Salem Police Department are providing this unique opportunity for the blind and visually impaired

Please mark your calendars for this event Friday, October 21, at the Carolina Classic Fairgrounds in Winston-Salem, NC, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. A free lunch will be provided.

For more information, please contact Chris, Anastasia or visit https://www.facebook.com/blindpowerco/.

Buckle up with us on this journey!

Get on the road of life and be the driver of your experiences! Wake up, take the blindfold off, and climb out the back seat because NO one can drive your luxury vehicle like you can!

Share with us how amazing your driving skills are by sending an email with what inspires you to fharding@ifbsolutions.org.

Job Announcements

Material Coordinator- Clemons

Education and work experience:

  • High School Diploma or GED Equivalent
  • 2 years’ experience in shipping and receiving

Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=48449&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=48448&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

 

Software Developer- Winston Salem

Education and work experience:

  • Associates degree or B.S. in computer related field required
  • 1-3-years’ experience or strong knowledge in:
    • Software development using C# or VB.NET
    • Mobile development
    • Web development using ASP.NET
    • Front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, JQuery, JavaScript
  • SQL Server
    • Reporting tools like SSRS
    • Source Control like TFS

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=48305&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=48306&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

For more information, please contact Brent Burkholder at 336 245 5611 or bburkholder@ifbsolutions.org.

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)