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Every year we enjoy looking into the Chinese zodiac signs and we do some guessing about what the new year will bring. Last year we did some guessing about the supply chain vs the Year of the Tiger!!

But before we start making predictions, what is the Lunar Calendar? The Gregorian calendar is what we use in the Western culture, but things are different in the Eastern cultures. Many Asian communities follow a lunisolar calendar, in which the months are lunar but years are solar. The Lunar New Year will begin on a different day on the Gregorian calendar every year. This year Lunar New Year’s Eve is January 21 and the new year begins Sunday, January 22.

The Chinese zodiac gives us a 12-year cycle, with different symbolic animals representing the years. Last year was the Year of the Tiger and this year, 2023, is the Year of the Rabbit!! Persons born in this year are born under the sign of the Rabbit, and the Rabbits are assigned certain personality traits.

What is the personality of the rabbit… and am I one?

Your first question might be… am I a rabbit? The birth Years of the Rabbit include 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 and 2023, so if you were born in any one of those years you are definitely a Rabbit!

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be peaceful, avoiding arguments, criticism and change. Rabbit people are also viewed as highly intelligent and tenacious, but they can fall prey to jealousy and pessimism. Actual rabbits are timid, shy, curious, and high spirited and they are affectionate as pets.

Will we be lucky this year?

We asked Google what is predicted in the Year of the Rabbit, and the answer was: “In Chinese culture, the Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity. 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. With a little bit of the Rabbit’s gentle determination and the Water flow, we can accomplish great things in 2023! The Year of Water Rabbit is very positive, full of opportunities and good luck. It’s the perfect time to focus on building strong relationships and finding inner peace.”

What about people who were born in the Year of the Rabbit? Will this be a lucky year for Rabbit people? The predictions say that the luck will be average with no big fluctuations. March, July and December will be lucky months and they will perform well in their career and experience a small increase in wealth.

How do we Celebrate the Lunar New Year?

Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival, is celebrated by nearly two billion people worldwide. The Lunar New Year Celebrations take place from January 20 through February 15, 2023.

Traditionally it’s a time to honor ancestors and deities, and the celebrations involve family reunions, parades and fireworks. While based on the Chinese calendar, Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Korea, Singapore, Mongolia, Tibet and Vietnam and in Asian communities around the world. 

More than just the beginning of a new calendar cycle, Lunar New Year represents reunion and rebirth, marking the end of Winter and the start of Spring. An interesting story about the celebration is offered at cnet.com. “According to one legend, a monster would emerge from under the Earth at the start of every year and eat villagers. Since the monster, Nian (Chinese for “year”), was afraid of bright lights, loud noises and the color red, they were used to exile the beast — and all have become associated with the holiday.”

So wherever there is celebration of the Lunar New Year there will be bright lights, loud noises and the color red. Across Asia, red and gold symbolize good fortune. Many people wear red during Lunar New Year, and children often receive red envelopes stuffed with money. Families will hold feasts, thoroughly clean their homes and visit shrines to honor deceased relatives. One of the features is a Lantern Festival, held on the first full moon of the year to mark the end of the New Year season. The first full moon will be on February 5^th.

What events are happening?

There are very big, spectacular parades in Los Angeles, New York City and in San Francisco.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles presents the 124th Annual Golden Dragon Parade, taking place from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday, January 28. It will feature floats, marching bands, entertainers, dragon dancing, stunning outfits, martial art performers and more. It takes place along North Broadway in Chinatown.

The Chinese New Year celebration in San Francisco is one of the largest in the world. The Grand Parade will be held on Saturday, February 4^th. More than three million people watch this parade every year. There are more than 100 parade entries. These include participants marching down the street with flags, lanterns, and drums. 

New York City’s annual Lunar New Year Parade is on February 12, 2023. The parade heads down Mott and Canal Streets to Chatham Square, and like the other parades, it will feature dragons, lanterns, drums, martial artists and a whole lot of fun.

We hope our AMS family can find a perfect way to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit!!

In June of 2020 we published a report on a march for justice that took place at AMS where our employees determined to make their voices heard with regard to the killing of George Floyd. It was a painful time, and yet important to recognize that we – human beings – are growing and evolving with regard to racism and racial discrimination. We want no more of it! No more racism, discrimination, prejudice, and no more license for law enforcement to take a life because that life is worth ‘less’. We insisted “Black Lives Matter” and made our feelings known.

AMS is a B Corporation, and as such we are firmly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. The world has changed and continues to change, humanity has evolved and continues to evolve, and we are so very grateful to play a role in this evolution. We enjoy a diverse workforce, and we benefit from it. We believe in equity and inclusion and we make sure our business practices match our beliefs.

Perhaps it’s hard to realize that in Grandmother’s childhood this country fought a battle against racial segregation, Black codes, Jim Crow laws and incredible injustices. Some very great battles for our humanity took place well within the lifetime of today’s elders and we very much need to remember these battles and honor the leaders who stood up against a system that was clearly inhumane.

On Monday, January 16, 2022 we pause to honor and give thanks to Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who gave his life for the upliftment of his People. There is information at History.com on the life of Dr. King. Here follows a brief quote:

“Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist and Baptist minister who played a key role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. King sought equality and human rights for African Americans, the economically disadvantaged and all victims of injustice through peaceful protest. He was the driving force behind watershed events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, which helped bring about such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and is remembered each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday since 1986.” Read more HERE.

Dr. King and those who marched and stood with him changed the world. The Montgomery Bus Boycott took place in Montgomery, Alabama, as a protest against segregated seating (i.e., you go to the back of the bus). The boycott took place from December 5, 1955, to December 20, 1956, and is regarded as the first large-scale U.S. demonstration against segregation. Thank you Rosa Parks!

The March on Washington happened a mere 60 years ago. It was a massive protest, taking place in August of 1963. At this inspiring time some 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. to draw attention to continuing inequalities faced by African Americans. It was also the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

We can thank President John Kennedy for what came next. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It was proposed by President Kennedy and it survived strong opposition. It was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, and it was followed by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, and that recognition was a moment of pride. He went on to expand his fight for justice, including economically deprived people and opposing the war in Vietnam.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, an event that sent shock waves reverberating around the world. There are many people alive today who were shocked and grieved and joined in the mourning. He was only 39 years old.

There was one more battle that had to take place, and that was the battle for a federal holiday honoring his life. It actually wasn’t until the year 2000 that every state in the Union finally observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day. You can read about that battle HERE.

We hope that during this federal holiday honor will be given to Dr. King and those who fought with him. At AMS Fulfillment we will use this time of remembering to dedicate ourselves to creating a world where diversity is enjoyed and appreciated, where no one is excluded and where fairness and equity is the bottom line.

Thank you Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for your inspiring legacy.

We’re heading into 2023 and it seems a very significant time to look back and look forward. We thank AMS’ CEO, Jay Catlin, for agreeing to talk with us about fulfillment, the supply chain, and all related to the changes we have lived through since January 2020.

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Question: Thank you, Jay! Our first question has to do with the past two years. Never before has the supply chain and the work of a 3PL company been more significant to the well-being of the people of this country! What was it like for you at AMS Fulfillment? We know you suddenly had to protect your employees as essential workers, you had to respond to your clients and the changes they were experiencing, and you were also just beginning to develop a bi-coastal presence. What are your strongest memories of this exceptional time? 

Jay: The past two years have been an amazing bonding experience for AMS as a company. It was an exceptionally busy and trying time for everyone, from the executive team to the executors who make things happen for our clients every day in fulfillment operations. COVID-19 was such a disruptive force as the unknowns of this disease stunned populations across the planet. As mentioned, AMS was just getting started on officially becoming a bi-coastal operation with the acquisition of our long-term east coast fulfillment friends at EchoData (now AMS East). Our plans to become “As One” were hampered by travel restrictions keeping us from being on-site and together, but that was just part of the challenge we overcame as a company.

My strongest memories of this exceptional time have to do with how we responded to our employees in terms of their safety while at the same time meeting the needs of our clients who experienced some tremendous growth in their eCommerce businesses. We put our people first by respecting and supporting their own personal decisions about health and safety, as well as their home lives with so many families having their daily routines impacted by children and elders needing care at home. Thankfully we had a good number of employees who were ready and willing to step up for our clients…and for those who stayed on-site, we went above and beyond to ensure we were operating in a safe space. The steps we took were exceptional and I am so thankful to my leadership team for going the extra mile, innovating, monitoring, and ensuring our people were as safe as they could be.

Our valued clients were also extremely appreciative that AMS stepped up and delivered during this busy time. We know our actions helped our clients survive the economic challenges that were brought about by COVID-19… and by stepping up during this crazy time, we preserved jobs and supported lives that were connected to our amazing client base. As the dust semi-settled over that two-year period, AMS has emerged much stronger as a company because of how we came together for our employees and our clients. Company culture means everything at times like this and I love how it was enhanced as a result of this tremendous challenge.

Question: Now could you talk with us about what you see looking forward to? It appears we have come through the pandemic, the supply chain has suffered and struggled but held up and kept providing for the people, in the stores and online, and most people got their Christmas packages delivered! What are your hopes and dreams for AMS in the next years, how has the company strengthened, and what are you anticipating?  

Jay: Thankfully, COVID-19 isn’t “front and center” at the end of 2022, and supply chain constraints (and costs) are trending in the right direction. Inflationary pressures are present for sure, but there is resiliency in the US economy and hopefully, the pressures will subside in 2023 and beyond. At AMS, we are focused heavily as always on continuous improvements in what we do and how we do it, and 2023 is going to be a fantastic year for our existing clients and for new brands that are coming aboard.

I’m excited about the advancements and investments we are making in automation that will expand to more facilities on both coasts. Our focus has been to employ automation that is flexible enough to meet the needs of our eCommerce and B2B clients across multiple verticals, and we’ll be taking this to a new level in 2023. On top of automation, we are focused on shoring up our best practices in all that we do, both operationally and administratively.

AMS East and AMS West are operating “As One” with nearly all our clients getting fulfilled within our WAMS platform, which allows us to use the tools we have developed across all client activity. Continuous improvements as a business come about through efficient and effective communications across all departments, and my leadership Team is doing a great job laying down the cadence to ensure we’re doing just that! Fulfillment is a crazy complex business, as we work to deliver operational excellence to a large, diverse, and multi-channel client base.

There are dozens of success factors that must come together to make it all happen, but in my mind, it hinges on communication, both internally and with our valued clients. AMS understands what it takes to succeed in fulfillment, with centuries of combined experience amongst our leadership team and 20+ years of making it happen as a company. I am so proud of what we’ve built together to support our employees, our clients, and commerce in general across the US and the globe.

Question: And you have one more thing to be proud of! During all these challenges and changes AMS has been a B Corporation, having made a commitment to your employees, the community, the environment, and your clients as having a stake in your decisions. You were able, as a company culture to keep your commitment to Be the Change. Could you give us your thoughts on upholding this commitment?

Jay:  AMS has operated within a B Corporation culture since the beginning… long before we became an official B Corporation. Our plates are always full as a fulfillment company, with so many important tasks at hand each day as we operate on behalf of our clients. In a business like ours, it takes a firm commitment to stay true to our B Corporation values and give our time and energy towards the goals and objectives that are meaningful to our employees, our communities, and our planet. Our Team has been phenomenal in these regards… staying engaged, joining committees, volunteering, coming up with new ideas while we pursue existing projects. Our Clients have also been fantastic, as they have donated goods to worthy causes and shifted packaging to more earth-friendly alternatives. 2023 is going to be another busy year for AMS in Fulfillment operations, but we will continue to carve out time to pursue our B Corporation goals, including becoming Climate Neutral. We must stay true to our B Corp values, as we know that these pursuits strengthen our culture and give meaning to our careers beyond the paycheck!

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Thank you, Jay. We are ALL so proud of AMS. This has been an incredibly challenging time for the global citizenry, and it is simply wonderful to know that with the right attitude, the right care, dedication to service, and intelligent innovation we can come through challenges stronger, wiser, and true to our values. As you said, company culture was Enhanced because of these great challenges and that is inspiring. We’re SO PROUD of AMS Fulfillment!! Happy 2023 to ALL!! Let’s make it another great year.

Despite the changes brought about by the pandemic, 2022 was a very good year at AMS Fulfillment!

Vaccination Clinic

How did the year begin? Looking back we see the seventh successful vaccination clinic held by the AMS Safety Team. It was held on January 7th, and the total number of employees and members of the community taking advantage of this free clinic was 140 people. According to Marco Pelaez, VP of Operations, as of this clinic, 95% of AMS employees are fully vaccinated. Read about it HERE. Thank you Marco!!

Black History Month

As we moved into February, our focus was on Black History Month. We recognized that “Black history in the US began with a decision to deny the humanity of another human for the sake of extracting a profit.” As an organization we are dedicated to repairing that decision by honoring every human being. Read about it HERE. Also, as a B Corporation, in recognition of Black History Month, we recommended Valentine shopping at a Black-owned B Corp called SOKO. The story is HERE.

New Chief Financial Officer

More big news in February of 2022: Bobbi Booher joined AMS as our Chief Financial Officer. Bobbi is responsible for all Finance and Accounting matters at AMS. She also is tasked with overseeing Human Resources. Her previous experience makes her a tremendous advocate for the AMS workforce. And Bobbi is aligned with the B Corporation culture as well. Read about Bobbi HERE.

Warehouse Safety

In March the focus was once again on safety as AMS made a significant change to OSHA training. Matthew Warholy, Security & Safety Manager at AMS pointed out that the changes are simply common sense: “I realized that we weren’t providing equal resources for our Spanish speaking, and limited English speaking employees. This week we had our first OSHA Safety Walk in Spanish, and it was a huge success!” Read that story HERE.

Women’s History

March is Women’s History Month; Women’s History Week began March 7th and March 8th was International Women’s Day. We gave a special salute to the women in leadership positions at AMS Fulfillment: “In recognition of the Women at AMS, we asked the President of AMS West, Betty-Lou; our CFO, Bobbi; Carmen, our VP of Human Resources; and Maryanne and Zuleika, Client Services Directors, if they would be willing to tell us what woman in their life, whether historical, personal or professional, inspired and motivated them to achieve.” Their inspiring stories were published HERE.

Earth Day

April marks one of the most relevant, historic and important global commemorative days – Earth Day. AMS has a team focused on the environment and sustainability called the Green Team. In March the Teams from AMS West and AMS East made the following announcement: “The Purchasing Department has designed a Catalog of best options for our packing material and our COO, Daniel Butera, is working towards less wasteful shrink pallet wrap. Each meeting we are excited to bring ‘Being the Change’ to the table.” Our AMS Green Team is active, committed, and accomplishing things!! Green Team members: Daniel Butera, COO; Samantha Hicks, Senior Program Administrator; and Jeff Pierson, Acct. Manager Client Services contributed to an Earth Day Report. Read the Earth Day Rep

Single Mothers Outreach

In recognition of Mother’s Day, AMS featured an organization called Single Mothers Outreach in Santa Clarita. One of the things Single Mothers Outreach (SMO) does is assist individuals with job training. As one of the major job providers in the community, AMS provides the opportunity and welcomes the trainees. In addition, thanks to the commitment of AMS’ Betty-Lou Wiseman, we donate clothing and products to their store, Closet on Main. SMO offered the following: “Not only have the products donated by AMS become a pillar to the success of our store, but also a source of joy for our moms. Saturday the 7th we will be hosting a brunch and each mom will receive a beautiful goodie bag with amazing products donated by AMS.” Read the full story HERE.

Pride Month

June is PRIDE MONTH! AMS Fulfillment strives to create a corporate culture that is truly inclusive, and eager to give respect to voices that have been historically excluded. We have a stronger company and a happier family because of the diverse talent, diverse backgrounds, and diverse experiences of our teams today, and we intend to continue on that foundation and improve whatever needs improvement as we go forward. Read the Pride Month story HERE.

Classes Begin Again

In June the AMS Learning Center opened back up to classes after having been closed due to the pandemic. In early 2020 the Advance My Skills Learning Center classes were put on hold out of concerns for employee safety with only the most essential warehouse safety training continuing. Now we are returning to the classes. With that return there is some excitement as follows: “ESL (1A/Beginning) is at full capacity! We are not accepting any new applications and interested employees will be placed on a waiting list. We are excited for our Spanish speaking Employees to start their English learning journey with College of the Canyons Summer Session 2022, right here at AMS Learning Center. Read the story HERE.

New VP of Marketing

In July AMS welcomed our new Vice President of Marketing, Sarah Smith. Sarah has more than 16 years of marketing experience, with over five years specifically in the eCommerce & fulfillment industry. AMS CEO, Jay Catlin extended his greeting! “We are so excited to be adding Sarah as our very first seasoned marketing professional to the Sales & Marketing Team at AMS!  It’s a true Team effort at AMS within this department, and Sarah is already becoming a fantastic contributor and collaborator.  Welcome aboard Sarah!” Read about it HERE.

Promotion – VP for WAMS

In August we announced that Ken Shaw has been promoted to Vice President of Product Management for WAMS. Ken’s new role is leading the Product Management team including all things related to WAMS going forward. This includes all order processing and integration systems such as WAMS, Warehouse Services, InOrder, ProShip, SluPaq, etc. Congratulations Ken! Read more HERE.

Donation to LA Children’s Project

Toward the end of August AMS donated a forklift to Lost Angels Children’s Project (LACP). This donation allows young trainees to get into the task of learning the necessary repairs to make the forklift operable, and once repaired it will be used to train and certify the students. LACP is an organization that helps disadvantaged youth by teaching them how to work on classic cars and learn other skills that are transferrable into industry. We are so happy to help them succeed and help open doors and opportunities that improve their quality of life. Read more HERE.

Veterans Day

November 11th is Veterans Day and we truly appreciate and value the Veterans among our employees. Our annual message was written to recognize and appreciate those in the AMS workforce who are veterans. As an employer we are aware of employment issues that veterans face after discharge from service. We look for ways to help those who are returning to civilian life, making veterans an important part of our workforce development programs. One of the biggest challenges faced by service agencies is helping homeless and vulnerable veterans find and keep good jobs. This is where our employment practices and workforce development can come into play. And we are proud to have a long history of hiring veterans in need. Read the salute to our military HERE.

Thanksgiving Giving Tradition

In November and December AMS continued some of the most enjoyable community involvement and that involvement has long been a tradition. Betty-Lou Wiseman agreed to share her stories of how the employees of AMS were inspired and the Thanksgiving program became an established part of the AMS culture. Betty-Lou talked about a 15 year history of giving Thanksgiving meals to families in need. “Fifteen years ago, AMS started working with the Youth Activity League in Val Verdes to help at risk youth get jobs at AMS.  We started by interviewing 12 students (16), we coached them on how to write a resume, how to dress and be confident in their interview. We hired over 10 students and continued working with Deputy Rooney from the YAL program to keep the tradition going.” From this beginning, other ways of helping the youth led to a long and beautiful relationship of AMS with families in need within the community. AMS leadership and employees started contributing to a Thanksgiving program, dedicated to feeding the families in need. Read the inspiring story HERE.

Adopt a Family

Not only does AMS look after Val Verdes families for Thanksgiving, we also have a 12-year history of giving Christmas gifts. In December Betty-Lou continued her story as follows: “AMS supporting the Youth Activity League’s families for Thanksgiving was just the beginning. After a successful giving tradition to the Val Verdes community, we decided to continue with the giving spirit by adopting families for Christmas. Working directly with Deputy Rooney who identified families that were in need, our journey began in this holiday tradition.” Read the full “Adopt a Family” story HERE.

“Adopt a Family” concludes our year in review! The AMS culture is focused on the employees, the community, the environment and the clients. It is inspiring when Business focuses on Being the Change we want to see in the world. AMS is unique in the world of fulfillment as a certified B Corporation.

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of November: ALEJANDRA R., MARLEN L., NORMA G., NANCY ALVA C., ROBERT S., GABRIELLE F., RAMAESH N., and TYRONE S.

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.

All Winners will receive an Employee of the Month Certificate, T-Shirt, and Quarterly Celebration Lunch!

ALEJANDRA R., Inventory Receiving Specialist I (10/26/2015)
HQ Warehouse, CA

My nomination for November Employee of the Month is Alejandra! She always goes above and beyond the call of duty. I see her putting extra hours in when we really need it. She is always looking to help out others and is a great team player.

MARLEN L., Operations Lead (08/15/2016)
WIL, CA

I nominate Marlen for Employee of the Month. Marlen went above and beyond during Black Friday to help with leading nine active accounts. She had no problem adjusting to different schedules as well as leading the training lots of new employees. Even with lots of pressure and tons of volume Marlen kept a smile on her face and always had a positive attitude. Thank you, Marlen, for all that you do for AMS and our employees.

NORMA G., Operations Associate II (10/30/2018)
WIT, CA

Norma is my choice for Employee of the Month because she does and incredible job in the main shipping area of our business. We never have problems getting orders out and she is an amazing person to work with. Her smile and happiness to do her job well is seen by all and she is a wonderful part of our WIT2 team.

NANCY ALVA C., Operations Associate II (02/10/2022)
LIV, CA

I am nominating Nancy for November Employee of the Month. She has been a very dedicated employee that is a pleasure to work with. I can count on Nancy to accomplish whatever I ask her to do. She’s the only one that picks, packs and ships for a client here at AMS and she will immediately ask if she could help in any other areas when she has completed all her tasks with her assigned client. Her attendance, dedication and knowledge are outstanding and could always count on her. Thank you, Nancy!!!!!

ROBERT S., Maintenance Lead (09/11/2019)
Facilities, CA

Robert gets my nomination for Employee of the Month because he is an amazing boss! He works hard alongside his team every day and just an all-around good guy.

GABRIELLE F., Account Manager I (02/21/2022)
New Holland, PA

Gabby is my nomination for our November Employee of the Month. She has really grown in her position as an Account Manager. She is a very hard worker, willing to help her peers in any way needed. She is dedicated to supporting her clients and working with operations to be successful. It is a pleasure working with her and we appreciate her being a part of the AMS family.

RAMAESH N., Operations Associate I (10/31/2022)
Newark, DE

I would like to give my nomination to Ramaesh for our Employee of the Month. Maesh has recently been hired into the company and he continues to push every day to be even better than the day before. We can count on him every single day to show up and give his absolute best. He has been there to help train his co-workers and help with all kinds of problem solving around the warehouse. WE are grateful to you Maesh for everything you do.

TYRONE S., Operations Associate I (06/13/2022)
New Castle, DE

Tyrone is my choice for Employee of the Month because Tyrone is an A+ player. He’s SUPER reliable. He is the definition of a “Team Player” as he always volunteers to help any area when volume is high. He will not walk by an Associate without asking them if they need help. No matter what. We could do without his singing in the Aisles; but that’s another topic. We need more like Ty on our Team. His Hard work & dedication should be recognized!

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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!

December is the most festive and joyous season in all 12 months with celebrations across various cultures around the world. Here in the US the celebrations begin with Hanukkah, followed by the Solstice, then comes Christmas and it’s followed by Kwanza. The celebrations are cultural and religious, involving gatherings of family, enjoyment of food and Gratitude.

Hanukkah

In 2022 Hanukkah began on December 18 and it continues through the 26^th. The holiday is celebrated in Israel and in Jewish communities across the US and worldwide. It commemorates the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Referred to as the Festival of Lights, it takes place over eight days. The dates vary as the holiday is based upon the Hebrew calendar.

The holiday customs and practices include lighting the Menorah (a nine-branched candelabra) for eight nights, playing dreidel, giving gifts, celebrating with Hanukkah music. Families gather and eat delicious foods including fried potato latkes and jelly donuts (sufganiyot). Hanukkah has begun and will be celebrated through Solstice and Christmas, ending on December 26^th.

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice comes next, and although it is not celebrated with meals and gifts in the US, it is recognized as a very significant day and celebrated by many cultures around the world. December 21 marks the longest night of the year, and the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere. The Winter season begins and the light also begins to return.

The word solstice comes from the Latin word sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). At the solstice, the sun appears to pause and stand still in its daily path (as seen from Earth) before reversing direction. In some ancient cultures this day has been celebrated for thousands of years. China and Iran are two examples. In the US the longest running celebration is the Hopi Soyal Ceremony. Hopi people of Northern Arizona celebrate the Kachinas (Hopi spirit messengers) returning the sun to the world.

Christmas

Christmas, on December 25th, is one of the world’s most important holidays and a major celebration in the Christian calendar. For many, Christmas is a holy day, honoring the birth of the infant Jesus, recognized as a light unto the world. Religious events take place on Christmas eve and Christmas day, and non-religious events as well, celebrating friends and family and gift-giving in many American households.

Christmas is a much-loved holiday across the US with people traveling, giving gifts, hanging up decorations, getting together with family, cooking all kinds of holiday food, playing Christmas music, and celebrating love and appreciation for life and family. It is celebrated in many different ways in different cultures, but suffice it to say this is the time for giving joy to one another. It is worth noting that, while most people think of Christmas Day as December 25th, for some 260 million orthodox Christians, they mark the birth of Christ on January 7th in line with the Julian calendar.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa celebrations begin on December 26, and continue for seven days, through January 1. Kwanzaa is a relatively new festival, created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966. The holiday celebrates family, culture, and African American heritage. Modeled after the first harvest celebrations in Africa, Kwanzaa is an alternative to traditional Christmas festivities. It allows the African American community to celebrate its own rich history and cultural practices.

The name Kwanzaa comes from a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits.” The lighting of seven candles is significant to the celebration, recognizing Kwanzaa’s seven guiding principles: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. During the holiday period, people enjoy family, African culture in songs and poetry, and gathering together for food and companionship.

As we enter the celebration time, we wish for Peace on Earth and Happy Holidays to ALL.

Each year, out of respect for and appreciation of our clients, AMS makes a charitable donation to better the world. For the second year we have made our donation to the Rainforest Trust, and specifically the Rainforest Climate Action Fund.

The Rainforest Trust purchases and protects the most threatened tropical forests, saving endangered wildlife through partnerships and community engagement. The goals of the Rainforest Trust are to save endangered species, protect our planet, and engage people in the conservation mission.

The vision of the Rainforest Trust sees a future where half of the Earth’s lands and waters are protected, providing refuge for wildlife and stabilizing the climate. Deforestation and habitat loss is the number one cause of extinction and also is responsible for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, so protecting tropical forests is critical to stemming biodiversity loss and climate change.

An Inspiring Example

This year we would like to share a story about one specific forest that the rainforest climate action fund has been investing in. This success story is a hard-fought battle for the Peruvian Amazon. From the org’s website we read the following:

The Peruvian Amazon is the second-largest swath of the Amazon, after the Brazilian. It covers nearly 60% of Peru’s landscape and is the life force for everything around it, including 12,810 species. These forests are home to hundreds of Indigenous communities, who rely solely on this land to survive. The local benefits are obvious, but the Peruvian Amazon is also vital in the global fight against climate change as one of our planet’s most important carbon stores, containing over 49 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalents.

Despite its critical importance, this landscape is under significant threat from agricultural development. Slash-and-burn deforestation is rampant, resulting in uncontrollable wildfires that burn for weeks at a time releasing millions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere, putting the future of the planet in jeopardy. Deforestation rates are the highest in decades, driving species out of their habitat and leaving countless people with no refuge.

Rainforest Trust began investing in the protection of the Peruvian Amazon with our partner, Center for the Development of an Indigenous Amazon (CEDIA) over 25 years ago. Working together, Rainforest Trust and CEDIA have embarked upon a multi-year, multi-project journey to prevent deforestation to the benefit of communities and wildlife.

Empowering Local Indigenous Communities

CEDIA’s approach focused on empowering local Indigenous communities to gain legal rights to their land, thus preventing commercial land developers from obtaining the land and destroying their forest home. “One of our organization’s founding principles is that every acre legally secured for a strong and well-organized Indigenous community is an acre secured for conservation. More than one hundred communities titled in the frame of our joint work with Rainforest Trust, proves this idea right,” said Dani Rivera, CEDIA Project Director.

So far, we have protected nearly 14 million acres through several large-scale projects—an area larger than the entire state of Maryland. Many of our endeavors are still ongoing; we are currently working to protect an additional 1.6 million acres.

Please enjoy the conclusion of this story, plus more stories and beautiful images HERE at their website.

Happy Holidays from AMS!

AMS Fulfillment is so pleased to be able to help in these battles for our Earth. As a certified B Corporation we celebrate the inspiring successes of Rainforest Trust and the Rainforest Climate Action Fund, and we are proud to contribute on behalf of our clients. We believe that donating to this fund may be the most effective tool we have, at this time, to fight climate change and create a healthier future for our planet and all who inhabit it. We are confident that our clients, our employees, our community and our investors join with us in concern for the future of our shared world.

In mid-November we published a blog entitled “Caring for the Community: Culture Matters.” In this blog we talked about an AMS tradition of giving to some valued friends in the Val Verdes community. In the blog our much-loved President of AMS West, Betty-Lou Wiseman, offered her memories about a 15-year AMS Tradition of feeding families on Thanksgiving. Betty-Lou talked about a partnership with the Youth Activity League in Val Verdes that began with AMS helping the League by training and hiring at-risk youth.  

From this beginning, other ways of helping the youth led to a long and beautiful relationship of AMS with families in need within the community. AMS leadership and employees started contributing to a Thanksgiving program, dedicated to feeding the families in need. Feeding the families became a 15-year joyful privilege for the AMS family that stayed steadfast even through COVID. This year AMS provided turkey and fixings for 80 families. This event has become a tradition of our corporate culture. 

Below is the continuation of the story. AMS is giving gifts this year as we have done for 12 years. Betty-Lou talks about the gift-giving below. 

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AMS supporting the Youth Activity League’s families for Thanksgiving was just the beginning. After a successful giving tradition to the Val Verdes community, we decided to continue with the giving spirit by adopting families for Christmas. Working directly with Deputy Rooney who identified families that were in need, our journey began in this holiday tradition.  

The families supplied us with a form that listed their children, clothes sizes, shoe sizes and what they would like the AMS Santa to bring them for Christmas. We reached out to our employees and they put together teams to adopt a family along with those who wanted to take on a family themselves. A few days before the event the gifts would start piling up in the offices where the wrapping began.  Along with the gifts for the children we put together a holiday meal coupon from Vallarta and a little something for the parents. Packing the gifts in the AMS van and cars we were off to meet the families.  

The most impactful story to me that I can share is a family who was part of our adoption asked for braces for their daughter who has Down syndrome. The braces would help her to learn how to walk.  I took this challenge on getting the prescription for the braces, worked with the company in Oregon and received them a few days before our giving event.  

This one little bag made the entire giving group cry with tears of happiness. This family has become part of my family every year forward. There are many more stories that go with this, a child getting their first bike, warm boots to wear, a winter jacket and plenty of gifts to put under the tree.  

The AMS family meets Val Verdes families at a time when giving is so important. Everyone walks away from this event with love in their hearts. The tradition will carry on… 

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This year’s Adopt a Family is well underway, and we expect to meet with Val Verde families, old friends and new, with their Christmas gifts once again. Thank you to Betty-Lou Wiseman, Samantha Hicks and Erica Martinez for your dedication and efforts in support of families in our community. 

Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10th — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.

2022 Theme: Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All

This year the UN begins a year-long campaign to promote and recognize the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, December 10, 2023. This year-long campaign seeks to shift the needle of understanding and action towards greater knowledge of the universality of the UDHR and the activism associated with it.

In the decades since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, human rights have become more recognized and more guaranteed across the globe. It has since served as the foundation for an expanding system of human rights protection that today focuses also on vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and migrants.

Read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights HERE.
To visit the UN website for more information, click HERE.

How can AMS promote social justice activism?

By Samantha Hicks, AMS Senior Programs Administrator

We are in a time where consumers, people who are buying products actually care a lot more about what they’re buying and who they’re buying. Consumers and businesses can have an impact on supply chain norms by refusing to purchase unethical products.

We are a social enterprise, and we empower and engage every single person to have the power to take action to make our company truly a force for good, from the breakrooms to the boardrooms.  Activism is a relative thing. So you’re going to your edge. All of our edges are going to be different. But the point is to stretch ourselves to go further. So for some people, it might be joining a protest. For another, it might be speaking out in a meeting where they wouldn’t otherwise speak out. And for others, it might be engaging in their local community in a way, or arranging to meet with their employees, to share what they really care about. 

We hope to really inspire a desire for the people at our company to find their voice, to find their power, to understand the influence that they have both inside the business and outside of the business, and also finding ways to transfer the power to enable them to take action on those things that they have a desire to be advocates for, activators for or activists with. 

We are B Corp Certified, we are proud to be certified. But we also hope for a world in the future where certification has no significance, because everyone is upholding the core values.

To  enjoy a podcast from bcorporation.net on how a business can be a force for good – click HERE.

Every year during this season of giving, we look for a B Corp gift guide in order to promote some of the excellent products produced by B Corporations. On the bthechange.com website we see that the theme for this year is “Give Something Greater.”

As we know, “greater” refers to the integrity of the businesses making these products. We can be comfortable purchasing these products, knowing that B Corporations respect the environment by using sustainable materials. We also know that B Corps do not exploit labor but instead provide healthy environments and fair remuneration. With a B Corp we not only are purchasing a beautiful gift, we are giving something greater – respect for life and humanity.

In our list this year we are featuring gifts organized in the following categories:

• Gifts for less than $25
• Gifts for your employee teams
• Gifts for families
• Gifts for a cozy home
• Gifts for nature lovers

We are posting a link to the page, a brief description from the website, some info on what the items are and the price range.

8 Small Gifts for Less Than $25

A B Corp Gift Guide of Small Items That Make a Big Impact

“Whether it’s a gift for the folks who touch your everyday life — educators, delivery people, fitness instructors, neighborhood baristas, hair stylists, and others — or a stocking stuffer for a family member, these thoughtful items from Certified B Corporations cost less than $25. Get a few to have on hand for the people who brighten your days throughout the year.”

The gifts include a makeup bag, some delicious-looking coffee, a leather-bound journal, milk chocolate bars, a wellness drink mix, some very cozy crew socks, lip butter and a bamboo cutlery kit. Click HERE to check out these products, all priced at under $25.

14 Gifts for Employee Teams

A B Corp Gift Guide to Show Appreciation for Your Colleagues

“While it’s important to show appreciation for colleagues throughout the year, the holidays are another opportunity to celebrate their contributions to your company’s success and impact. We’ve rounded up some products and services from Certified B Corporations that make great gifts for employee teams.”

The gifts include some very nice water bottles and notebooks, a laptop stand, Ashwagandha Latte Mix, delicious looking chocolate, a book, a workshop, an employee appreciation kit, a daily planner and a few more, with a wide variety of prices from $15 to $290. Click HERE to see this wide variety of products.

10 Thoughtful Gifts for Families

A B Corp Gift Guide with Ideas for Busy Parents and Children (Plus Pets!)

“Find helpful everyday tools and alternatives to plastic toys with these gift ideas for the whole family. Many of the 10 products and services from Certified B Corporations focus on providing quality items and creating quality time for busy and conscientious families.”

Here we find a ‘nature-dyed’ apron, a good-looking sling bag, cute stuffed creatures, pet treats, a snack box, shampoo, a meal subscription, skin crème, a course in learning, a natural dye T-shirt kit, and more, from $15 to $300. Click HERE to check out these innovative products.

14 Gifts for a Cozy Home

A B Corp Gift Guide for At-Home Relaxation and Comfort

“Treat friends and family who prefer time at home to hustle and hubbub with heart-warming items made for relaxation and comfort. The items below can level up the hygge factor at your loved ones’ abodes. These gifts for a cozy home come from Certified B Corporations and are made with the planet we call home in mind too, thanks to materials and practices designed to minimize their impact on the environment.”

We start out with a Gratitude gift bag, a nice-looking espresso maker, a variety of hot chocolate mixes, a body care bundle, a glass water filter pitcher, a sateen sheet set, a holiday gift box, a crew neck shirt, crew socks, a set of mugs and more. These prices range from $7 to $269. Click HERE to check out these products.

15 Gifts for Nature Lovers

A B Corp Gift Guide for Those Who Love the Great Outdoors

“For the outdoor enthusiasts, sustainability devotees, and climate conscious loved ones in your life, we’ve pulled together ideas from 15 Certified B Corporations that care for the planet we all depend upon. As part of B Lab U.S. & Canada’s “Give Something Greater” focus for this year’s B Corp Holiday Gift Guides, these companies, products, and services are selected for their commitment to climate justice and the people who create the items.”

This is a very interesting collection of gifts, beginning with an insulated water bottle, a zero waste gift box, some delicious-looking coffee, comfy slippers, gift the planting of a tree, adult surf and yoga camp, a book, a hoodie, recycled ocean plastic gift set (very pretty) and more. From $3 to plant a tree to $2000 for the yoga camp. Click HERE to check out these unique offerings.

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of October: DEBORAH H., SAMANTHA H., HELEN P., MARIA L., JOSUE M. & CRISTIAN L., DONIECE H., KASSIDI T., and PAUL S.

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.

All Winners will receive an Employee of the Month Certificate, T-Shirt, and Quarterly Celebration Lunch!

Deborah H., Operations Associate III (July 2019)
HQ Warehouse, CA

I would like to nominate Deb for Employee of the Month because she continues to take on new challenges and learning opportunities. Moving from Picking to the Returns department this past year, Deb has learned the credit memo process and numerous In Order functions. In the past two months Deb has been assisting the Inventory team with cycle counts, short ship reports and tray verification. Deb has also begun attending the Excel classes to broaden her skill set. Deb shows great attention to detail and a true desire to learn more about our systems and how they work. This past month Deb took lead role in addressing missing items to facilitate filling orders during their peak season sale. Thanks, Deb, for all your enthusiasm!

Samantha H., Sr. Human Resources Business Partner (September 2011)
AMS Office, CA

I would like to nominate Sam for employee of the month because it seems to me that Sam does as good a job as anyone in the company month after month. Sam embraces any task that is added to her plate and does is with 100% passion. Her love for the company and what we stand for being a B-Corp shows how dedicated she is. I have worked many a project with Sam and she is organized and thorough, success will definitely be part of her world!

Helen P., Operations Associate II (May 2021)
LIV, CA

I would like to nominate Helen for Employee of the month because she always comes to work with a smile and a positive attitude that affects everyone around her. She is one of our fastest and most accurate B2B pickers. Helen will always help out when she is needed by another department. We are very happy and thankful for her daily contributions to our B2B department.

Maria L., Operations Associate II (June 2022)
WIL, CA

I would like to nominate Maria for Employee of the month because she goes above and beyond with her work. She joined our receiving team and has been with us a short time but picked up on the process very quickly. She is always willing to help out in other departments when receiving is slow. She is a happy energetic person and always willing to help anyone who is in need. Maria is also very detailed and every time something is incorrect in the locations or product is wrong, she brings it to our attention so it can get fixed. We are so grateful to have Maria as part of our receiving and inventory team.

Josue M., Operations Supervisor I (July 2016)
Cristian L., Operations Lead I (January 2021)
WIT2, CA

I would like to nominate a Co-Team for Employee of the Month because during our slow time the last few months Josue and Christian’s department stayed busy and efficient. They both are always willing to go above and beyond to get the work done. Both are a real joy to work with and a great part of our WIT2 leadership team.

Doniece H., Operations Lead I (April 2021)
New Castle, DE

I would like to nominate Doniece for Employee of the Month because she has recently moved to a new client/position in New Castle and her growth has been tremendous. Her skill set has been put to the test and she continues to learn and excel in everything required of her. She also does this with one of the biggest smiles and most infectious laughs! Dee has always had a great work ethic, but these past couple months have really shown how far she can go, and I can’t wait to see her continue to climb here at AMS. She has the knowledge, the drive and the personality that is going to carry her onwards and upwards! We are truly grateful to have her on our team.

Kassidi T., Exact Staff Newark (July 2022)
Newark, DE

I would like to nominate Kassidi for Employee of the Month because she has been great from day 1! She immediately picked up the shipping and picking process. She was training her coworkers and leading by example in no time. She is now coming up on finishing her hours and getting hired on, she continues to do her best and learn all she can while still teaching others she works with. She takes on extra responsibilities, whether it is motivating people in her shipping station, or learning new clients and different shipping methods. She stays late in the evening and makes sure all the orders get out the door. Whatever it is, Kassidi is willing to learn it and help whenever she can. We all appreciate her and are glad she is part of our team here in Newark.

Paul S., Operations Supervisor I (October 2018)
New Holland, PA

I would like to nominate Paul for Employee of the Month because he has shown a great deal of dedication learning new tasks to support other departments. He is very flexible in helping support other East Coast divisions as well as supporting our second shift. Thank you, Paul, for all you do!

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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!

How can we respectfully and with gratitude recognize and celebrate Native American Heritage Day and Native American Heritage Month? Simple answer: We can act in such a way that future generations will be thankful for what we have done to uplift the human spirit.

Some things we can do: Take note of where we are, what land we are on, and make ourselves aware of the Native Americans who lived on the land long before us. What is their name; what is their story; where did they live and how? What was their culture and what is their art?

Land

Quite possibly the land you’re on was occupied, managed, and maintained by Indigenous people and tribes. Land is sacred and important to all of us — whether we know it or not. Learn about the land you’re on. Honor the people who were there before you and respect the environment.

Art

It’s enjoyable to learn as much as you can by viewing Native American art. An Internet search can take you a number of artists and art galleries. An enjoyable website featuring contemporary artists can be found HERE. The Denver Art Museum was one of the first art museums in the U.S. to start collecting Indigenous art, and as a result, their collection is both extensive and enlightening. You can view some of their beautiful collection HERE.

Stories

Once again, an Internet search of YouTube can take you to a wealth of learning. One can find documentaries of the history, music, chants, dances, and stories posted by individual “You-Tubers.” There is so much to learn – how they lived, what they experienced, what life is like right now. This documentary, “The True Ancient Origins Of The Native Americans | 1491: Before Columbus | Timeline” is an excellent one. You can find it HERE.

History

If you’re ready to learn more you can visit the website of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. There you find a very thorough history of how the holiday came to be, who was involved, when Native Americans became U.S. citizens and much more. It is an interesting picture of our culture as we slowly began to make changes and grow in our humanity. The first paragraph reads as follows:

“For almost one hundred years, Americans both Indian and non-Indian have urged that there be permanently designated by the nation a special place on the calendar to honor the contributions, achievements, sacrifices, and cultural and historical legacy of the original inhabitants of what is now the United States and their descendants: the American Indian and Alaska Native people.” You can read the full article HERE.

Proclamation

Another website with lots of information is Whitehouse.Gov. Here you can read A Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month, 2022.

“During National Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate Indigenous peoples past and present and rededicate ourselves to honoring Tribal sovereignty, promoting Tribal self-determination, and upholding the United States’ solemn trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations.

“America has not always delivered on its promise of equal dignity and respect for Native Americans. For centuries, broken treaties, dispossession of ancestral lands, and policies of assimilation and termination sought to decimate Native populations and their ways of life.  But despite this painful history, Indigenous peoples, their governments, and their communities have persevered and flourished. As teachers and scholars, scientists and doctors, writers and artists, business leaders and elected officials, heroes in uniform, and so much more, they have made immeasurable contributions to our country’s progress.”

The above paragraphs set the tone for the proclamation which you can read HERE.

We hope that all of our readers will enjoy watching, viewing, listening, learning on this Native American Heritage Day and Month!

Photo Credit: Andrew James