News

The AMS Green Team meets monthly to discuss ways and means of reducing the impact on the environment of our actions and our decisions. We recently published a report on AMS’ efforts with regard to reducing our carbon footprint. That report can be viewed HERE. In this blog we will continue the reporting by sharing some of the recycling projects that are being discussed in the Green Team meetings and indicate where there is progress. 

The Recycling Program 

*Employee standup meetings are discussed. Several employee and supervisor meetings are scheduled, added to the ‘All Hands Agenda’. In these meetings there was discussion of incentives for employee participation. Some ideas are to give the funds received for recycled cans back to the employees in the facility. Another suggestion is Green Team Walks with a drawing for the site with the best recycling performance – including gift cards or prize room cards. 

*Waste bin SOP training is ongoing in all AMS facilities. Plans are in place to include this training in weekly stand-up meetings.

*Green Team members are verifying that all buildings have properly color-coded waste bins/labels/plastic & weigh log. These need to be at each weigh station. 

* The Green Team discussed recognizing a monthly or quarterly recycling champion. The champion would be featured on the website and in email marketing. The program would start with Green Team Representatives.

*The team plans to schedule a driver to recycle cans/bottles. They also need to get reports on plastic bail weight so pick-up can be scheduled when the weight is high enough. 

*The team plans to write another client communication about the recycling and how clients can participate.

*A plan is in place to create a link on Invoices and on Quick Books to “Green Team Efforts.”

*Adding a “Green Team” page to the AMS website is in discussion. 

*Green Team is calling for updates on the ongoing back of warehouses cleanup project.

*The team discussed efforts ongoing in the Pennsylvania warehouse. They did find a company through which to recycle pallets of printing materials, warranties, paper, envelopes, older corrugate and DVD cases. A recycling company has also been located for recycling plastic bags and auto bags. There is a plan in place to transfer plastic from the Delaware warehouse to the Pennsylvania warehouse for pick up and recycling.

*Improvement at the WIT facility reported regarding breakroom waste – employees are on right path. 

*In the Delaware facility waste bin clusters are ordered and in place, and the employees are educated with regard to sorting and recycling.

Recycling via Purchasing Department  

*AMS is recycling pallets and the pallet pick-up is successful with reimbursement received. 

*AMS has acquired a compactor to efficiently fill the dumpsters therefore requiring fewer pickups.

*Purchasing has arranged with a sustainable packaging product vendor to do a warehouse demonstration. 

*AMS needs approval from UPS for biodegradable stretch wrap.

*AMS has purchased and implemented an Organic Waste bin.

Thank You Green Team

The AMS Green Team is a volunteer group of employees with members from all warehouse locations as well as management. We very much appreciate their efforts and compliment them on the amazing progress they have made. We are so proud to be able to serve our clients with sustainable packaging and recycling. We are also pleased to serve ecommerce shoppers in their efforts to go ‘green’. Thank you AMS Green Team.  

Many of us at AMS have experience with breast cancer, either having survived it ourselves or we have a family member, friend or co-worker who is engaged in treatment or is a breast cancer survivor. Also, some of us have lost loved ones to this disease and we take the conversation seriously when Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes along.

What would AMS like to convey with this blog? If you have not done so in a while, please schedule your screening. Regular screening is vital, starting at age 40 or earlier if it’s appropriate for your personal breast cancer risk.

More than 700 women in the US are diagnosed with breast cancer every day. This means that one in eight women in the US is diagnosed every year and 2.3 million women worldwide. About 30% of early-stage breast cancers eventually metastasize and spread to parts of the body away from the breast so early diagnosis is absolutely vital.

Men are affected by breast cancer as well. According to breastcancer.org, about 2,710 men in the US are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and about 530 are expected to die from the disease. October 17 to October 23 will be Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week.

During this month there will be breast cancer walks and other events to raise awareness and encourage screening. But regular screening is just one of the ways of dealing with breast cancer. We would like to mention what the CDC says are actions one can take to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer. [Read the entire article HERE].

How to Reduce the Risk

“Many factors over the course of a lifetime can influence your breast cancer risk. You can’t change some factors, such as getting older or your family history, but you can help lower your risk of breast cancer by taking care of your health in the following ways—

*Keep a healthy weight.
*Be physically active.
*Choose not to drink alcohol, or drink alcohol in moderation.
*If you are taking, or have been told to take, hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives (birth control pills), ask your doctor about the risks and find out if it is right for you.
*Breastfeed your children, if possible.
*If you have a family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, talk to your doctor about other ways to lower your risk.

Staying healthy throughout your life will lower your risk of developing cancer, and improve your chances of surviving cancer if it occurs.”

How to do a Self Exam

Most changes in the breast will be detected during a self-exam. Detailed instructions and illustrations can be found at this link [HERE]. We will offer brief overview below.

*Standing in front of a mirror, shoulders straight, arms on hips look to see if there are any changes in size, shape, color. If you see dimpling, puckering, or bulging you will bring this to your doctor’s attention. If there is redness or a rash, or swelling, this too is a signal to see the doctor.
*Raise your arms and look for the same changes.
*Check for any watery, milky, or yellow fluid.
*Lie down and check for lumps or abnormalities. We recommend going to the linked page above for illustrations on how to do this.
*Finally, stand and do the same process of checking for lumps or abnormalities.

What to do if you find a lump? Don’t panic. There are numerous causes of non-cancerous breast lumps including normal hormonal changes, a benign breast condition, or an injury. But don’t hesitate to call your doctor if you’ve noticed a lump or other breast change that is new and worrisome. 

For women under 30, pregnant or breastfeeding, an ultrasound test is the first imaging test used to evaluate a lump. For women over 30 both an ultrasound and a mammogram are recommended to evaluate a lump. If there is need for further testing, the additional imaging would be an MRI or MBI (molecular breast imaging). Your doctor may also recommend a biopsy.

Take Part in the Pink Ribbon Events

During this month there may be a number of campaigns and programs in your area, conducted by groups ranging from breast cancer advocacy organizations to local community organizations to major retailers. The goal of these events is to support people diagnosed with breast cancer, including metastatic breast cancer, and to do fundraising for research. The Susan G Koman events are listed HERE.

The secondary goal of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to do what AMS is doing – educate employees and friends about breast cancer risk factors and offer a reminder to go ahead and do the screening. We care about the health and wellbeing of our employees and their families as AMS is a family too. 

AMS Fulfillment, with the help of GHD Ltd., has completed their inaugural 2022 baseline Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG) inventory. This inventory provides AMS with a robust data-focused foundation for managing the company’s Greenhouse Gas emissions. The inventory also helps AMS reduce future emissions with strategies to help the company reach its goal of being net zero by 2050.

Given the increased scrutiny of carbon neutral targets and climate action plans, GHD Ltd. often advises that organizations follow a Greenhouse Gas Management Hierarchy when developing actions and strategies to achieve the carbon neutral goal. The GHG Hierarchy was first published in 2009, with a focus on tackling significant and ‘at-source’ carbon emissions and avoiding jumping straight to a carbon offset solution.

The recommendation is that AMS follow the GHG Management Hierarchy, with AMS adding any future planning GHG emission reduction goals. The desired result is measurable and meaningful reductions in emissions, in absolute terms, before relying on offsets. This approach ensures that organizations are effectively managing and mitigating controlled operations before turning to offsets.

This GHG Mitigation Hierarchy includes (from high to lower priority):

1. Energy management. Enhance energy management oversight including monitoring of energy / GHG data collection and calculation.
2. Warehouse/Offices audit – electrical/gas.
3. Energy efficiency. Identify and implement energy efficiency and conservation measures to avoid and reduce energy demand through a portfolio of short-, mid-, and long-term opportunities.
4. Emission reduction. Look at opportunities such as asset electrification to further decarbonize.
5. Once feasible energy conservation measures have been exhausted or are otherwise constrained by technology viability or financial or market availability, look to deploy renewable energy supplies either through self-generation (e.g., on-site solar) or purchased through market mechanisms with the appropriate environmental attributes (e.g., Renewable Energy Certificates, Guarantees of Origin).
6. Use carbon offsets to offset residual emissions to achieve net zero status.

As a B Corporation, AMS is unique among fulfillment services, strongly committed to energy conservation. Many changes have already taken place in the AMS warehouses and offices with regard to lighting and heat, electrification of equipment and extensive recycling. Efforts are ongoing to monitor energy usage. AMS Fulfillment is following the GHG Management Hierarchy with the goal of meaningful reductions on the way to zero emissions.

We’re entering another one of the beautiful seasons of our Mother Earth. What better thing to do this Saturday than visit a National Park near you!! It’s free to visit a National Park on September 23, as it’s National Public Lands Day. Take your camera, take the kids and go see something beautiful. You can search for a National Park near you at this link. [HERE]

What is Public Lands Day? The organization that created and leads this commemorative day is the National Environmental Education Foundation. They work in partnership with the National Park Service and other agencies. It’s a day when volunteers by the hundreds of thousands go in to help restore and preserve public lands. That includes national parks, but also includes rivers, green spaces and lands that are publicly owned. This year is the 30^th year Public Lands Day has been celebrated, and the theme is “30 Years of Care and Community.”

The organization lists a number of ways to get involved and the first is… visit a National Park for free. The second way is to take part in a volunteer work project. The third is to enjoy the health benefits of being outdoors, and the fourth is… to leave no trace when you visit. At this National Park Service website there are a number of helpful links for Parks visitors including one where you can tell the story of your visit. [HERE]

The following statement of purpose is from the organizer’s website:

“Celebrating 30 Years of Care and Community, NPLD has joined people across the nation in the care and celebration of our public lands. From humble beginnings with one federal agency, two sites, and 700 volunteers, NPLD has grown into the largest single-day volunteer event for public lands.

“As a signature event of the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), NPLD fosters a strong connection between people and the environment, educating and cultivating environmental stewards. It’s also a “Fee-Free Day” where entrance fees are waived at national parks and public lands. With support from federal and state agencies, corporate sponsors, and nonprofits, NPLD ensures resilient natural spaces for generations to come, encouraging volunteering and environmental engagement.”

There are more than 400 National Parks available to everyone, every day. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite. So… if our readers are so inspired… go and check out how the Fall season is coming on in a National Park near you.

AMS Fulfillment is a B Corporation, committed to the environment as a stakeholder in the business. We believe in being earth-conscious and feel we have a special responsibility as a fulfillment company to push for earth-friendly practices. Our volunteer Green Team works diligently to recycle, preserve, conserve and care for our shared environment. Read about AMS’ purpose over profit [HERE].

We hope you can go outdoors this weekend and enjoy!!

The purpose of our AMS Newsroom is to communicate with employees, clients and friends about things that may be of interest. We talk about what is going on at AMS, what is going on in the communities we operate in and what’s happening in the world we share. News is global and news is local, and news can inspire us to dream of a better world. All of this as we try our best to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

The International Day of Peace is celebrated on September 21 around the world. It is also called World Peace Day. It is a commemorative day established by the UN in 1981, first celebrated in 1982. The UN answers the question, “Why do we mark International Days,” as follows:

“International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool.”

The website goes on to say about World Peace Day: “It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The day is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and people.”

The UN Peace Bell

On the 21^st of September every year, the UN Peace Bell is rung at UN headquarters in New York. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from around the world. The inscription on the side says, “Long live absolute world peace.”

Over the years the Secretary Generals have called for peace in their own way. In 2005 Kofi Annan called for the worldwide observance through a 24-hr. ceasefire and day of nonviolence. In 2006 he rang the peace bell for his last time and asked once again for a ceasefire. The next year Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a 24-hr. cessation of hostilities and a minute of silence to be observed around the world. In every year that followed the bell has been rung and a message given by the Secretary General.

Last year UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, “Peace is needed today more than ever. War and conflict are unleashing devastation, poverty, and hunger, and driving tens of millions of people from their homes. Climate chaos is all around. And even peaceful countries are gripped by gaping inequalities and political polarization.”

His comments certainly ring true. How can we help bring an end to war and conflict? Does it help to pause for a moment of silence on September 21 and say a little prayer for an end to war? Well, one thing for sure… it doesn’t hurt.

We invite readers to visit the UN website and enjoy a video called “Peace begins with me.” The article describes the video as follows: “The poem pays tribute to the strength and resilience of communities affected by conflict as well as those who help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods.” Link HERE.

Peace is not just the absence of conflict but also the presence of justice, equality, and respect for human dignity. These are our AMS B Corp values. Everyone deserves to have and find peace. We encourage readers to pause for a moment in the busy day today, September 21, to imagine a better world with justice, equality and respect for human dignity. Peace begins with me. 

Here’s a little gift for all of us – Youtube video of a beautiful song HERE about peace. 

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of August: Alex C., Maria G., Graciela G., Dilsa Z., Cirino B., Paola A., Kriste L., Paul S., and Kajuan W.

In the fulfillment industry, employees directly serve the company’s clients, making their efforts vital to the growth and success of the business. At AMS Fulfillment we appreciate and value our employees, and we respect and invest in them. Every month we see our employees working hard with such outstanding dedication and we are continually impressed by the results they produce!

Congratulations to this month’s winners! All Winners will receive an Employee of the Month Certificate, T-Shirt, and Quarterly Celebration Lunch! 

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Alex C., Account Coordinator I (06/22/2015), HQ Admin, CA

My choice is to nominate Alex because of his exceptional growth and adaptation. He has managed the greatest tool… “go with the flow.” He prevents emotions in client service with a pleasant grin and a happy attitude while handling many accounts. His enthusiasm and eagerness to learn have grown in recent years, making him an excellent team member and the point of contact for a few clients. He has a good rapport with many departments and is always prepared to help and find a solution to problems. I am excited about his future at AMS. He possesses various traits that will make him move forward, including determination, teamwork, honesty, and, most importantly, he cares.

Maria G., Operations Associate III (11/25/2015), HQ WH, CA

We are nominating Maria for August Employee of the Month because she is kind, generous, reliable, friendly, helpful, always smiling, helping others, and working hard. Just a few of the many ways to describe the person she is. She continuously does her best to assure the job gets done right. She is what all AMS employees should always be. Thank You Maria!

Graciela G., Operations Associate II (03/07/2022), LIV, CA

Graciela is my number one choice for Employee of the Month in August because she hit an amazing 500 orders in one day and has hit that quantity or came close to it several times this month. Wonderful job Graciela – thank you!

Dilsa Z., Janitor I (06/20/2018), WIL, CA

We are nominating Dilsa this month because she has gone above and beyond to make sure we work in a clean and safe environment. Dilsa is always glad to support her coworkers in whatever is needed to get the job done. She is always very kind and dedicated to her daily routine. She takes her job very seriously. She is a pleasure to work with and a true asset to the Williams team. Dilsa is our Employee of the Month!

Cirino B., Operations Associate II (05/22/2013), WIT, CA

Cirino did an amazing job on a big project we had for one of our clients and we definitely want to nominate him for Employee of the Month for August. He really took charge and did a great job. Cirino is a pleasure to work with and always reliable.

Paola A., Talent Acquisition Specialist (08/09/2021), WIT HR, CA

I recommend Paola for Employee of the Month. One of the most appreciated qualities that Paola displays is an exceptional attendance record. She has demonstrated a strong commitment to responsibilities by consistently arriving on time and rarely taking any unscheduled time off. This level of dedication sets an excellent example for colleagues and also ensures that our team functions smoothly and efficiently.

Moreover, Paola is always willing to go the extra mile when it comes to taking on additional work. She exhibits a strong work ethic and a proactive attitude, readily volunteering to assist colleagues or take on extra tasks to ensure that our projects are completed successfully and on time. Paola demonstrates an eagerness to learn new skills and take on new challenges. Her ability to balance regular responsibilities with a willingness to take on additional tasks is commendable and reflects dedication to the success of our department and the company.

Kriste L., Operations Lead I (08/16/2019), New Holland, PA

Kriste is a very hard worker and she is my choice for Employee of the Month. When she trains you for a job you can call on her anytime and she will be right there. Kriste will answer any questions you have, and if she doesn’t know the answer, she will find out for you. Kriste will work any place she is needed with no questions asked. She definitely deserves the nomination, and we thank her!

Paul S., Inventory Supervisor II (10/08/2018), Churchman’s, DE

We would like to nominate Paul for Employee of the Month. Paul has received the title before but he should be recognized yet again for his skills, work ethic, and leadership. He continually displays what it means to be a great leader. He is a “first one in, last one out” type person. He goes above and beyond to get the job done, always looking out for his team, supporting them, and building them to be stronger in their abilities and skills. Regardless of how busy he is, Paul never shies away from an opportunity to help others. He put all of this on display recently during the month of August when he successfully led his team through a very hectic and challenging month with a heavy workload.

Kajuan W., Operations Associate I (09/12/2022), Newark, DE

Kajuan (Okie ) is our nominee for employee of the month. Okie is one of the forklift operators in the building, but he is helping in other ways, wherever he can. He takes responsibility for our safety zone sheets daily and is always willing to take on extra roles. He is helpful to his peers and is constantly pushing himself to be better. He has made major improvements, really paying attention to detail and giving it his best efforts. Okie works hard and does it all with a sense of urgency. We really appreciate all you do for this building Okie and we are glad you are a part of our team. Thanks for all of your hard work!

** ** **

To all of our Honorees, please know that whatever role you play, you are the reason for our success. Congratulations and Thank You! Keep up the great work!

At AMS there are many Hispanic men and women in our workforce, and we appreciate them and their heritage very much. They are vital to our corporate culture. So, the question arises… how can we begin to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Let’s start with learning about that heritage.

At the US Census website we find the following: “People who identify with the terms “Hispanic” or “Latino” are those who classify themselves in one of the specific Hispanic or Latino categories listed on the decennial census questionnaire and various Census Bureau survey questionnaires – “Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano” or ”Puerto Rican” or “Cuban” – as well as those who indicate that they are “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.”

“In the survey questionnaire, the Hispanic-origin question obtained write-in responses of Hispanic subgroups other than the major groups of Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Ricans. Persons with other Hispanic origins (e.g.,Salvadoran, Nicaraguan, Argentinean) were able to write in their specific origin group. The Census Bureau’s code list contains over 30 Hispanic or Latino subgroups.”

Hispanic is an Ethnicity

What the census is trying to say is that the Hispanic culture is not based upon race or country of origin, but it is considered an ethnicity – an ethnicity that includes persons from Mexico, parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America who speak Spanish as their primary language. But culture is more than language. Culture includes all things in common: what we enjoy eating, what arts we enjoy including music and dancing, what religion we tend toward, how we choose to dress, what our traditions are, what recreation we enjoy, how close we hold our families, our various heroes and histories and so forth. Hispanic culture itself is diverse and the histories differ.

Celebrating Independence Days

For information about this year’s recognition we went to the US Dept. of Education. They point out the following: “The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” There’s a lot to celebrate and appreciate during this month, which begins September 15^th and ends October 15^th.

Hispanic Heritage Month began 53 years ago, in 1968, with a week-long observance. At that time, President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill and issued a proclamation about the contributions made by people of Hispanic descent. He pointed out that it was time for the important role of Hispanic individuals in the United States to be recognized. Nearly 20 years later, under President Ronald Regan, the week was expanded to Hispanic Heritage Month.

The US Department of Education lists the following schedule and weekly focus:
September 15: Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off Day
Week of September 19th: Jobs and the Economy 
Week of September 26th: Climate  
Week of October 3rd: Education and Investing in HSIs  
Week of October 10th: Mental Health and Wellness 
October 15: Last Day of Hispanic Heritage Month

What AMS Offers

Are we doing anything at AMS to embrace our Hispanic employees? In addition to the free, on-campus higher education, skills and management training classes we offer to employees, AMS has always offered ESL classes from beginning to advanced. We want our Spanish language employees to have easy access if they choose to learn English as a Second Language. AMS also offers Spanish Learning for Leaders and we conduct our safety walks in English and Spanish so that all of the safety measures are clearly understood.

We hope you will check your local calendars for special events surrounding Hispanic Heritage Month in your area. There are likely food festivals near you and Independence celebrations and parades. Have fun and Enjoy some wonderful food and beautiful music and artistry!!! (The LA Mexico Independence Day parade took place on the 10^th – video linked HERE.)

And finally, Thank You to our Hispanic employees for bringing your beautiful culture with you into the workplace. Diversity makes us stronger, smarter and better!

Feliz día de la independencia!!!

It’s time for another offering in our B Corp Series. In this series we feature outstanding B Corporations, sharing information and inspiration on how they serve to B the Change.

On the bcorporation.net website the featured article this week is about a B Corporation that has been an incredible example of what business can do to create positive change and really push the system in a way that can create a better world. The business that is featured is one we’ve all heard of and admired – Patagonia.

Patagonia is a company that sells outdoor clothing and gear, and it has recently celebrated 50 years in business! The company became a B Corporation in 2012 and it adopted benefit corporation legislation to embed purpose in its governance structure.

What has Patagonia done to become a shining star in the B Corp Community?

Speaking in 2012 the founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, stated the following about what being a B Corp would mean. “This B Corp thing allows us to have a way that I think the values of my company can continue, even after it’s sold and it’s way down the line… and I’m pretty excited about that.”

As we can see, from what he said, the company had its values and he made a legal commitment to keep the values high, even after his departure. Ten years later he made another impactful decision… he transferred the company ownership to a Trust, with the commitment that all the profits would be directed toward fighting climate change. About the decision, he said, “Truth be told, there were no good options available. So, we created our own.” We published a blog here at AMS on the forming of the Trust linked HERE.

New Model of Capitalism

What Patagonia is doing with the B Corp community is called a “New Model of Capitalism.” What is this new model of capitalism and how do B Corporations demonstrate this model? The new model is people before profit. The old model of capitalism is profit above all. For many years we have seen what it means to seek profit at the expense of the environment and the community, or at the expense of the workforce. The new model places the environment, the employees, the community and the clients as stakeholders in the business decisions.

When AMS makes a decision, the questions must be asked… how does this decision impact employees; how does this decision affect the environment; how does this decision impact the community and how does it affect the clients? The new model involves taking action to reduce the company’s negative impact on the environment, taking action to make employees safe and enjoying benefits such as free education. The same thing could be said for the community and clients – take action to meet their needs.

Patagonia already had B the Change ideals and lived by them. The higher purpose of the corporation was strengthened by the legal commitment to be a B Corporation. A similar statement could be made of AMS, as AMS was very much committed to being ‘green’, having a diverse and appreciated workforce, being a benefit to the community and to clients as partners. The B Corporation commitment strengthened an already existing culture. It comes with the reward of being a part of the exemplary B Corp community.

Do companies have to put all their profits into an environmental trust? No – Patagonia is a shining star. At a recent B Corp Champions Retreat, where Patagonia was honored, the company’s President Jenna Johnson answered that question:

“We don’t need everyone doing the exact same thing and even at the exact same scale. All of us really passionately living into what we bring into this world as we co-create a new model of capitalism together is how we’re going to be successful at it.”

The full article is linked HERE.

Happy 50^th birthday Patagonia!

We would like nothing more than to publish a hopeful, helpful, uplifting blog on the subject of suicide prevention. But is this a subject we can feel hopeful about? How can we help to prevent suicide? Surely the answer has to be found in communication, empathy, and sincere care.

September 10^th is designated “World Suicide Prevention Day” by the World Health Organization (WHO). We know that with regard to suicides per year, the number is high. The WHO tells us that currently there are more than 700,000 suicides per year worldwide, and we know that each suicide profoundly affects many more people.

The organization set a theme for the day: “Creating Hope Through Action is the triennial theme for the World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021-2023. This theme serves as a powerful call to action and reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and that through our actions we can encourage hope and strengthen prevention.”

The purpose is presented: “The 10 September each year aims to focus attention on the issue, reduces stigma and raises awareness among organizations, governments, and the public, giving a singular message that suicides are preventable. By encouraging understanding, reaching in and sharing experiences, we want to give people the confidence to take action. To prevent suicide requires us to become a beacon of light to those in pain.”

Surely every one of us wants to be that beacon of light.

Data shows that higher rates of suicide can be found among military veterans after discharge, with veterans 1.5 times more likely to die of suicide, and female veterans 2.2 times more likely. Data also shows higher suicide rates among American Indian and Alaska Native people, followed by Black and Hispanic people. In the years following the pandemic, suicide among Black people increased by 19.2% and Hispanic people 6.8%.

Something significant to note and remember is that in 2022 the government introduced a new crisis number – 988 – for callers who are suicidal or experiencing a mental health emergency. The call goes to a crisis counselor at a local crisis call center.

How to Help

The WHO didn’t offer recommendations on how to help but we found a list at the CDC of actions that friends, families and employers can learn from. They call it “Strategies to Prevent Suicide.”

The first set of strategies makes absolute sense: 1) Strengthen economic supports, 2) Improve household financial security and 3) Stabilize housing. For so many people financial insecurity and fears can lead to giving up hope. These fears can be at the root of suicidal thoughts.

The next set of recommendations makes sense too, for families, friends, employers and communities: 1) Create protective environments, 2) Reduce access to lethal means among persons at risk of suicide, 3) Create healthy organizational policies and culture, 4) Reduce substance use through community-based policies and practices.

These next recommendations apply to the medical establishment, communities and employers: 1) Improve access and delivery of suicide care, 2) Cover mental health conditions in health insurance policies, 3) Increase provider availability in underserved areas, 4) Provide rapid and remote access to help, 5) Create safer suicide care through systems change.

There are seven sets of strategies, and we won’t outline all of the recommendations here. Readers can visit the CDC for the full article. We would like to list a few more that touch us: 1) Teach coping and problem-solving skills, 2) Teach parenting skills to improve family relationships, 3) Identify and support people at risk, 4) Provide therapeutic approaches.

We understand that possibly the isolation of the lockdown increased desperation and thus suicides. That experience certainly was traumatic and led to loneliness, economic distress and fear. As a result of what we have been through, it seems vital to focus on communication and some of the other recommendations that just make sense.

Help from AMS

At AMS we do all we can to help employees who are either suffering themselves, or have a family member who is in need. We seek to create a supportive environment, with healthy organizational policies and culture, we train supervisors for mental health awareness, and we provide access to help through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Through the EAP, offered free to employees and their households, help is available. AMS employees have access to EAP licensed mental health professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and this includes eligible dependents. The EAP also provides financial tools and resources, help with work/life balance, help with substance use and other addictions, and help with dependent and elder care resources.

We want nothing more than to help prevent suicide by learning the warning signs, offering help, and listening and caring. As said in the beginning, surely the answer to prevention can be found in communication, empathy, and sincere care. Employees are encouraged to contact HR for more information on EAP. We care.

It was 65 years ago, September 9th, 1957, when the Civil Rights Act was passed. What does this mean to AMS Fulfillment in 2023? Let’s look at the historical picture, and then look into the progress.  

Most of us see the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as the one affecting the right to vote and forbidding discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as race in hiring, promoting, and firing. The 1964 Act strengthened the enforcement of voting rights and the desegregation of schools. What did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 do?

The Civil Rights Act of 1957 protected voting rights and established the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice. It was President Dwight Eisenhower who signed the Bill. Interesting to note that this was the first civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, which would have been the Civil Rights Act of 1871.

We asked Google, what was the reason for the Civil Rights Act of 1957. “Partly in an effort to defuse calls for more far-reaching reforms, President Eisenhower proposed a civil rights bill that would increase the protection of African American voting rights. By 1957, only about 20% of black people were registered to vote.”

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 prohibit? It made it clear that no one was allowed to threaten or coerce or attempt to intimidate or interfere with the right of others to vote.

Now that we have glimpsed the historical journey of voting rights, let’s look at the non-discrimination rights. “Title VII is a provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination in virtually every employment circumstance on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, or national origin. In general, Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees.”

So there we have it – the ongoing journey of human beings becoming more human.

AMS Fulfillment joined this ‘higher standards’ journey upon its establishment more than 20 years ago. We became a B Corporation seven years ago because it fit for us – we very much appreciate the requirements set by the B the Change organization toward fairness and a just and equitable world.

Non-discrimination was written into law in 1957 and 1964 and law goes part of the way. The rest of the way has to do with realizing that by applying a higher standard, a negative can become a positive.

The B Corporation says, we want Diversity in our workforce as that makes for a stronger and better, and happier workforce. We want Equity in our hiring, promotion and business practices because equity is simply being fair and impartial. Thirdly, the B Corporation says, we want Inclusion. What could inclusion mean other than we want to include rather than exclude, and we take steps to do so.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is referred to as DE&I. AMS has added another word – Justice. JEDI: Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. What does JEDI mean? It means what it says… we want a just world, where things are fair, no one is discriminated against, and where we include all who want to be included. We want to B the Change.

In 2023 we are able to look back and see the gradual changes in the American culture, politics, education and businesses over the years. We are so grateful to see the shifting of the culture, moving from inhumanity to human respect. Of course at AMS we celebrate the Civil Rights Act of 1957. It was a step in the right direction and there was progress achieved because of it. And the progress continued as the people marched and lobbied and required change!

The Library of Congress website offers information from the time period: “The NAACP’s legal strategy against segregated education culminated in the 1954 Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. African Americans gained the formal, if not the practical, right to study alongside their white peers in primary and secondary schools. The decision fueled an intransigent, violent resistance during which Southern states used a variety of tactics to evade the law.”

You can read the full article HERE:

Let’s be the change we wish to see in the world and start where we are.

The first Friday of September is National Food Bank Day, and that commemorative day has passed. We’re going to celebrate it anyway, belatedly, as food banks, pantries, soup kitchens and shelters come from the best part of us – our kindness, care and respect for our fellow human beings. And there is one more reason to talk about food banks now as pantries and shelters do need our help.

As we all know, grocery prices are at an all-time high and these high prices affect low-income families heavily. Demand at food banks is increasing because of this. And the high prices make it harder for food banks to buy food to meet their needs as well.

According to Feeding America, “…more than 46 million Americans, including 12 million children and 7 million seniors, rely on food pantries and meal programs to feed themselves and their families.”

Donations of nonperishable and unspoiled perishable food from homes and businesses help stock the shelves at food banks, soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters. In doing our research we were happy to see that California now requires supermarkets to give away, not throw away, food that is unsold but fine to eat.

Food pantries and food banks typically provide free food for people to prepare at home. Soup kitchens and shelters provide prepared food to those in need. These non-profits are often affiliated with faith-based organizations and rely heavily on volunteers. Some households may turn to food pantries only in times of emergency, but other households use food pantries on a more regular basis.

What food items are needed the most? The following list is from Feeding America.

“Basically, any food that is “shelf-stable” or nonperishable – you can keep it in your pantry and it won’t go bad. And remember, only donate food that hasn’t reached its “sell-by” date yet. Specifically, food banks often need items like: peanut butter, canned soup, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned stew, canned fish, canned beans, pasta (most prefer whole grain), rice (most prefer brown rice).”

There are food banks and pantries that stock flour and sugar, olive oil, dressings… foods that do not need to be refrigerated or frozen. And there are others that accept frozen and fresh food, so it’s a good idea to check the website or call to make sure what is accepted and needed.

Also check to see if donations of toiletries, baby supplies, toothbrushes, hand wipes and other similar items are needed. If you’re considering whether to donate items or cash, it can be cost-effective and empowering to donate cash. Nonprofits typically can purchase items they need in bulk, at a discount, and with less sales tax.

AMS Fulfillment has long been a supporter of the community through donations to food banks. We also get a great deal of enjoyment from special holiday food drives. The following food banks are our recommendations.  

Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, Valencia, CA

“In 2018, the SCV Food Pantry had over 23,000 client visits, averaging nearly 2,000 client engagements each month. Our goal is to help each person who comes through our doors. We serve the elderly, often on fixed incomes and faced with the choice of medicine or food. We serve working families who earn paychecks that cannot support their basic needs. We serve the injured, the disabled, the homeless, and the unemployed – we serve those living in uncertainty, looking for assistance and a better life.” Visit the website HERE.

CrossNet Ministries, New Holland, PA

“Food & Nutrition Programs: CrossNet Ministries seeks to provide access to food as well as to promote education and healthy living. CrossNet provides programs for free food/supplies at the Food Pantry, Power Pack Program, and Summer Lunches. CrossNet also offers assistance applying for SNAP, WIC and School Meals as well as cooking and nutrition opportunities.” Visit the website HERE.

Sunday Breakfast Mission, Wilmington, DE

“Sunday Breakfast Mission provides temporary emergency shelter, nutritious meals, and hygiene materials to assist you in your time of need. Individuals who stay with us through our temporary emergency shelter are known as “Overnight Guests”. We operate two shelters one for men and one for women, and women with children. Sunday Breakfast Mission serves the homeless, addicted and impoverished through Christ-centered programs to meet their spiritual, social and physical needs.” Visit the website HERE.

We hope you will consider donating to the food bank of your choice, knowing that there are families very much in need of your food contributions as grocery prices rise. And, as we appreciate food banks, let’s give a thumb’s up to AMS for its on-site food bank for the use of employees who need help with lunch. 

With gratitude for the human heart, thank you.

When Labor Day comes around it signals a lot of things. After Labor Day, AMS will enter its peak season, so it’s a ‘get ready’ signal. After Labor Day the seasons begin to change and we all know it’s a ‘here comes Fall’ signal. School is back in session, Halloween is around the corner, Thanksgiving will come soon.

Labor Day weekend signals it all, plus, it’s a 3-day weekend for some so that means doing something fun with family, or maybe ‘taking a break from labor’ as that’s what it’s about – the workforce – the laborers.

The Department of Labor website puts it this way: “Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.”

AMS Workers

This holiday is in recognition of the men and women who keep things rolling – who do the job. AMS has 633 employees with 528 working in our warehouses and 95 working in administrative jobs. The workers in the warehouse are the backbone of the company as they directly serve the clients. When the job is done right, and the clients are happy, the workers get the credit. They did it. Thank You!

The administrators are workers too. What would AMS be without its technology geniuses who develop the information systems. Thank you to them, and to the ones who do the accounting and sales and customer service and shipping. And thank you to upper management and the CEO. Running it all isn’t an easy job, and that’s an understatement. 

How the Holiday Began

The individual states recognized Labor Day first, before the federal government did. Oregon was the first state to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, and that was in 1887. That year four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September a legal holiday honoring the American labor force.

There is some disagreement on who first proposed the holiday for workers. Some show that it was Peter McGuire of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, but many believe that machinist Matthew Maguire, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research shows that Matthew Maguire proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. It was organized and conducted by the Central Labor Union. They held a second holiday the next year on September 5. Two years later 23 more states had adopted the holiday and President Grover Cleveland signed it into law making the first Monday in September a national holiday. This was on June 28, 1894.

People celebrated with parades and parties. According to the DOL, the first proposal for a holiday suggested that the day should be observed with… “a street parade to exhibit “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.”

We Thank You

Labor is the reason that Americans enjoy a higher standard of living and the greatest production in the world. “It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.”

Those sentiments are very true and well-spoken. At AMS we truly value our workers. AMS holds employees to be stakeholders in its business decisions. Employee safety is a #1 concern, and free training and education is offered to all employees. We want our employees to be happy with their employment, and able to advance because of it. B Corporations work to B the Change.