Company News and Highlights

February 3, 2021

Series: What B Corporations do for the world #16

In our weekly B corps series we check in on what B Corporations are thinking about and talking about in their commitment to ‘B the Change’. This week we found an article entitled “Purposeful Transitions: Careers, Workplace Practices, and More”. The headline recalled to mind a very inspiring and purposeful transition at AMS when our CEO, Ken Wiseman, transitioned to the role of Chief Workforce Development Officer.

Ken played a vital role in AMS becoming a B Corporation. He was the driving force behind AMS’ commitment to hire individuals with disabilities, serving as Chair and Board Member on the SCV Mayor’s Committee for Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. At the same time he worked within the community to hire men and women who had been incarcerated, he worked with organizations supporting the hiring of individuals who are homeless, and single parents. As a result AMS today benefits from a very diverse workforce.

Through Ken’s efforts, AMS developed a relationship with SCV College of the Canyons and began offering free education and training on the AMS campus, so that the workforce could advance their skills and grow within the company. A crowning achievement in workforce development was AMS’ collaboration with the college in developing the first nationally certified Logistics Apprenticeship.

In 2019 Ken retired as CEO and moved to a more purposeful role. At the time he said, “My professional time will be more focused on the myriad of employment hiring and training programs we are doing with the County, State and various agencies to continue to provide employment opportunities to those struggling to enter or re-enter the workforce.”

And that is what he has done. Even in 2020, with the world seemingly turned upside down, Ken’s efforts at maintaining a diverse workforce, and educating and training that workforce, have continued.

This week’s featured article talks about the challenges B Corps have faced for the past year, and covers how to be purposeful and ‘B the Change’ while making the transitions demanded of us.

Purposeful Transitions: Careers, Workplace Practices, and More

“The COVID-19 pandemic has touched each one of us in varying ways — human, economic, social — and to varying degrees. We’re staying distanced from our colleagues, but making virtual visits to their homes and families. We’re avoiding social gatherings, but are always connected by close-at-hand technology. We’re finding it hard to focus amid global turmoil, but still motivated to accomplish the tasks with meaning.

“Even amid divisive events, the past year has reminded us of our common humanity and collective power. As shared in this article by Anthea Kelsick and Ben Anderson of B Lab U.S. & Canada, realizing the global vision of an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic system will require Certified B Corporations to work together and demonstrate proof of stakeholder capitalism at scale.”

Read the full article HERE.

February 2, 2021

LA Ports Impacted by COVID-Related Labor Shortage

In a previous blog, we spoke about the coronavirus vaccine. We stated that the list for distribution priority is as follows: Healthcare personnel; Workers in essential and critical industries; People at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness due to underlying medical conditions; People 65 years and older.

In a recent article published by KTLA, the question was asked… “Is it time for essential workers to be eligible for the covid vaccine?” The question is being asked due to a Port slowdown, with dockworkers not going to the job site due to infection, or being isolated after contact, or awaiting test results, or simply fear of exposure.

The article states, “According to the International Longshore Workers Union, 694 dockworkers have reported COVID-19 infections as of Jan. 17, a dozen have died and hundreds are taking virus-related leaves.”

A second news report in supplychaindigital.com went into even more detail with regard to the slowdown issues:

“Volume at the Port of Los Angeles is expected to be up an average of 88% YoY in the first two weeks of 2021 — a sign that swelling imports have yet to let up. However, the increase in import volumes has not been met with increased human resources, operating capacity or assets. Labor shortages due to the pandemic, chassis shortages in Southern California caused by increased “street dwell” times, and delayed vessel arrival contribute further to the ongoing congestion. In short, increased volume without increased capacity creates a bottleneck not easily resolved.” Read the full article HERE.

Speeding up the availability of the vaccine to essential workers might help to resolve some of the labor issues, but recent news reports reveal that we are still facing delays. According to a recent KTLA report, “On California’s current vaccine plan, health care workers and residents of long term care facilities are prioritized first, then those 65 and older, along with education and child care staff, emergency crews, and food and agriculture workers. Next up would be people working in transportation and logistics, critical manufacturing, industrial, commercial, residential and sheltering services, followed by the homeless and incarcerated.”

California’s Governor Newsome recently announced a pilot website, called MyTurn, that lets Californians sign up to get notified when they’re eligible for the vaccine. Click HERE for more information on the Governor’s plan.

AMS’ employees are essential workers, and they do face increased risk when coming to work. We have taken every step possible within the warehouse environment to protect our employees and our efforts have increased their confidence and safety.

AMS VP of Logistics, John Bevacqua, offered his viewpoint as follows: “It’s unfortunate that we seems to have delays in getting the COVID vaccine to our most vulnerable including the essential workers that are keeping what’s left of our economy up and running. We continue to see very high numbers of infections and many of those are the essential workers. Those working in the logistics, transportation and manufacturing sector should be coming up sometime this month provided the supply is adequate.

“The transportation industry is struggling as the ocean vessels are delayed getting into the ports. Costs have tripled for Ocean and over the road OTR transportation. Many freight forwarders are taking advantage of the situation by driving their rates above peak. I’m hoping to see some relief in the Port congestion, but probably not until end of first quarter. Meanwhile, while inventories holdings become lower and transportation costs continue to rise, we can expect shortages for certain products and consumers will begin to feel it with their wallets.”

AMS supports all efforts to protect the lives and health of essential workers, and we join with the Longshore Workers Union in urging the availability of vaccines for dockworkers.

January 28, 2021

A Proud Moment for Diversity and Inclusion

Young women of today can see a fairly wide-open landscape when looking at the work environment and professional life that awaits them as adults. If they look back as well as forward, they will celebrate the battles their grandmothers faced, fought and won on their behalf.

When today’s grandmothers were in their teens, the education and career choices were limited by a culture that only a few generations earlier had denied women a vote, or the right to own property. Today’s grandmothers didn’t see many women doctors or judges or professors or presidents – they didn’t even see female ministers of churches.

Young women who reached adulthood in the 1960’s and 70’s were encouraged onward by a revolutionary spirit called the ‘women’s movement’ or ‘women’s liberation’. At the same time another revolutionary movement was taking place. These decades saw the rise of ‘Black liberation’ or ‘Black nationalism’ coinciding with the civil rights movement.

Today’s young woman, as she chooses her career or life work, knows that she has the human right to equal opportunity and equal pay. Today’s Black Americans, whose ancestors suffered enslavement across Western world, know that they have the human right to equality in all areas of life. As we look back we see a great deal of progress in overcoming the injustices of the past, but our world today tells us that there is still a distance to go.

For the reason of fairness and human rights, B Corporations put a high priority on diversity and inclusion. At AMS we want a diverse workforce not only because of past injustices, but because we see and we enjoy the many benefits of diversity in our own company culture.

The 2020 election took us to a historical ‘liberation’ achievement that honors the struggle of both women of the past and Black freedom fighters. The achievements of Vice President Kamala Harris are celebrated by all who are committed to diversity and inclusion, no matter which political party we may support.

AMS joins with other B Corps to say… we are proud that the American culture has taken another step forward with regard to eliminating prejudice, discrimination and racism.

January 25, 2021

Series: What B Corporations do for the world #15

In our weekly B corps series we report on the ‘good for the world’ ideas that are being discussed by various B Corporations. As we know, now is the time when people come up with new year resolutions, and so it comes as no surprise that taking care of one’s personal health is on the mind of B Corps. But how do we do that amidst a pandemic?

The past year has seen so many changes that affected our health habits – persons who previously worked out in the gym could no longer do so; persons who previously would run or walk for fresh air and exercise found themselves restricted. For many, including those who are working from home, an active and healthy lifestyle became more difficult.

AMS warehouse employees are essential to the survival of the US economy and as a result they face exposure every day. In our Safety Blogs we have outlined all of the protections installed and required at AMS, and we are doing well at reducing exposure. Even with all of our protections, our employees have more reason than most to pay attention to personal health and building a strong immune system.

A healthy diet is extremely important and so is supplementing the diet with various nutrients and vitamins. And, although it’s not often discussed, stress can really be detrimental to the immune health. The CDC is offering some very good and comprehensive information on coping with stress, and that information is linked HERE.

The B Corporation articles that we are featuring this week offer tools and ideas on how to develop healthy personal habits in conjunction with ‘good for the world’ business health. We hope you enjoy this week’s articles.

Identify and Commit to Habits That Nourish Your Professional and Personal Lives
Gain Focus and Clarity for 2021 with This Holistic Planning Tool

As we head into 2021, some of the shock, change, and trauma of 2020 is behind us, but uncertainty, ambiguity, and challenge remain significant. Setting goals for how we want to work and live has never been more important, but in this current context, goal setting looks different. It’s more powerful to commit to habits that compose the professional and person you want to be than to pin down specific outcomes for the quarter or year.

And it’s important that these habits speak to both the professional and personal elements of our lives, which are more interconnected and interdependent than ever. To that end, consider what habits you want to build — and/or continue, or stop — throughout all the elements of your work and life this year.

Read the full article HERE.

Action for Good: How Pairing Exercise with B Corp Advocacy Helped Me Get Through 2020

Last summer, I challenged myself to educate family, friends and peers about Ontario’s Certified B Corporation movement. While I already do this in my volunteer role with B Local Ontario (BLO), I was eager to do more through my personal social media. So I took on a experiment to shine a light on Ontario’s 125 B Corps.

I leveraged my favorite social media platform — Strava — to spread the word. With every exercise I recorded, I would feature an Ontario B Corp (name, blurb, and location), and cross-share the activity onto my Instagram stories. So far, I’m happy to say that I’ve been able to shed a meaningful spotlight on 15 B Corps for a wide range of people.

Read the full article HERE.

January 21, 2021

Questions and Answers on COVID-19 Vaccines

We’ve been waiting and it won’t be long… the COVID-19 vaccines are becoming available. A few weeks ago Pfizer requested emergency use authorization, followed by Moderna. The Food and Drug Administration has approved emergency use of the first COVID-19 vaccine and distribution has begun.

There is a great deal of information on the vaccines available online, and rather than reprint that information, we will provide links at the end of this article and offer a general overview of what our research has gleaned.

Because the initial supply is limited, the Centers for Disease Control is directing the first doses to certain high-risk health care personnel, as well as residents and patients in long-term care facilities. This means, in keeping with CDC recommendations, it is not being offered to the general public as yet.

The list for first distribution is as follows: Healthcare personnel; Workers in essential and critical industries; People at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness due to underlying medical conditions; People 65 years and older.

AMS Fulfillment has not yet heard if our essential workers are included in the early distribution, but we did find the following information in the online documents:

“Workers in essential and critical industries are considered part of America’s critical infrastructure, as defined by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency. Current data show that many of these workers are at increased risk for getting COVID-19. Early vaccine access is critical not only to protect them but also to maintain the essential services they provide U.S. communities.”

We know that the vaccine is a new one (novel) and it is used to trigger an immune response. As a result, persons receiving the vaccine may have mild side effects. In Phase 3 clinical trials, the most common side effects reported were fatigue, headache, muscle pain and joint pain. These side effects occurred in under 10% of the test subjects and they have been reported to be short lived and happen within the first few days of receiving the vaccine.

Is there anyone who should avoid taking the vaccine? From what we have found, the current CDC recommendation is that if you ever had a severe allergic reaction to an injectable medical product, you shouldn’t get the vaccine. We have also read that there is no data on how the vaccine affects women who are pregnant or lactating, and as a result if you are pregnant or nursing an infant you are advised to wait and take the vaccine later.

We encourage everyone to get vaccinated when they become eligible because it is a key step in saving lives and ending the pandemic. We recognize this is a personal decision, and that people have questions about the vaccine. The following links lead to extensive information from the FDA and CDC. Many questions are answered in these documents and we encourage readers to look through the information and find the answers from the experts.

Find information from the FDA HERE.

Find information from the CDC HERE.

The CDC offers a fact sheet on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

January 20, 2021

AMS Learning Center adds ‘Wall of Justice’ Mural

Ken Wiseman, AMS’ Chief Workforce Development Officer, offered some inspiring words on the mural installation “This ‘Wall of Justice Mural’ memorializes and reflects our pledge towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity. Pause to look at it now and again, as its images and words represent the best of AMS moving forward.”

Across the US, January 18th was designated as the day in which we honor the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was 35 years ago, in 1986, that the first federal holiday honoring Dr. King was held, designated as the first Monday in January. On the MLK holiday, many Americans evaluate the progress we have made as a culture and as a system with regard to racism and discrimination.

At AMS, on MLK Day, employees gained approval to install a very special mural on the wall of the “Advance My Skills” learning center. The learning center was created and equipped several years ago for use in offering free college and trade school classes to all AMS employees, and is a space that employees consider their own.

The AMS Leadership Team made the following announcement: “In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, we are pleased to announce the approval of the “Wall of Justice” mural, which will be put up in the Advanced Learning Center. We hope this mural helps all of us recall the commitment we have made towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity.”

The commitment referred to is one made following the AMS March for Change, organized by AMS employees in response to the killing of George Floyd in early June. Following that shocking and painful event, there was a strong desire within the AMS family to do something to bring about change; to bring an end to the racism and race-based prejudice and discrimination so damaging to us all. In a speech to the marchers, Ken Wiseman, AMS’ former CEO and current Chief Workforce Development Officer, spoke about working harder, with a stronger commitment to create opportunities and shed our biases, both conscious and unconscious.

When employees returned to their work locations after the march, they had the commitment of AMS ownership, the executive team and everyone in attendance to achieve even greater diversity goals. Three months later a second meeting with employees was held in which Ken spoke about the ambitious initiatives that AMS has undertaken in order to keep the promises, including: an ongoing Diversity & Inclusion Breakfast, increased learning opportunities, role-playing with employees to confront bias, an up-skill matrix development program, registering career objectives, 90 minute lunch meetings, ‘Share Our Journey’ opportunities, and an Empathy, Respect, Trigger and Action plan.

The Wall of Justice mural contains images of marchers and the following quotes from the signs carried at the March for Change:

- Some knew the value of education by having it. I knew it’s value by not having it. – Frederick Douglass
- It is never too late to give up your prejudices. – Henry David Thoreau
- Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- There was one of two things I had a right to: liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would have the other, for no man should take me alive. – Harriet Tubman
- Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization. – Mahatma Bandhi
- Men build too many walls and not enough bridges. – Joseph Fort Newton
- Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong. – Muhammad Ali
- If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but he who causes the darkness. – Victor Hugo
- Harmony creates equality. -Jon Luvelli

January 19, 2021

AMS Joins the Meals-On-Wheels Love Run

Few things matter more to a culture or community than caring for the senior citizens. This past year has been a time of great challenges for America’s seniors and we are thankful for organizations that have stepped up to meet those challenges. For AMS, Senior Concerns is an organization doing a great work in our community and we not only support them in their fundraising efforts, but we have been personally involved as volunteers as well.

Coming up soon, in February, Senior Concerns is holding a month long virtual event to raise funds in support of their Meals on Wheels program. It’s called the Love Run! In the past the Love Run was not a virtual event, but this year requires an adaptation… a virtual RUN! Participants can run or walk a half marathon, 10K, 5K or One Mile race from wherever they are, any time during the month of February, and then log their time and distance online. They’ll also be able to see how they stack up to the other Love Runners. Click HERE for Love Run info.

This year AMS will team up in the Love Run with David and the Catlin Family at the Gold Sponsor level. David Catlin, one of the founding owners of AMS, along with his wife Linda, has long been involved with Senior Concerns. David served on the Board and he and Linda have dedicated time and energy to the organization out of concern for the Seniors in need in our community.

Senior Concerns is now delivering more than 4,000 meals a week, and their efforts have never been more vital to the lives and well-being of homebound seniors. In addition to freshly prepared, nutritious meals, they are also delivering nonperishable household essentials – things like shelf stable food, hard to find cleaning products, paper goods and personal care items. And, perhaps even more importantly, the team of volunteers who deliver the meals is providing a social connection for homebound seniors.

Meals on Wheels is but one of many quality-of-life programs offered by Senior Concerns. It is a private, non-profit organization that has served the community since 1975. The organization serves with a focus on frail and special-need seniors, caregivers and families. All Senior programs are offered without regard for the ability to pay. Read more about the organization HERE.

Andrea Gallagher, President of Senior Concerns, had this to say about her hopes for the Love Run: “Our Meals on Wheels program has never been more needed than it is now, and our hope is that the virtual Love Run will be embraced by the community. We are grateful to the Catlin family and AMS Fulfillment for participating and for their ongoing support.”

We encourage all readers to join in the February Love Run, and help this outstanding organization continue to serve a vulnerable community. We have all been negatively impacted by COVID-19 this past year, but none more than our Seniors. Click HERE to join and run during the month of February.

January 14, 2021

AMS’ safety record is no accident: Workforce safety Series #16

In our first safety blog of the new year, we will look into ‘Lost Time Injuries’ – what are these injuries and what are we doing at AMS to avoid them.

The definition of Lost Time Injuries is as follows: In the United States, a metric, designated by OSHA, is used: DART. This stands for Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred. As the term implies, this refers to any injury or illness that results in someone being unable to work a full shift, being restricted from their normal work duties, or needing to be transferred. A more general lost time injury definition is: a work-related incident that results in a worker being unable to return to work. Other similar terms include “lost time incident,” “lost time case,” and “lost time accident.”

AMS has an amazing record with regard to these injuries, with very few occurring over the past several years. We have experienced only 5 lost time injuries over the last 3-years. The average for our industry for a population of 300 warehouse employees would be close to 36 lost time injuries over the same time period.

Matthew Warholy, AMS’ Security & Safety Supervisor, had this to say about our safety record:

“Lost Time Injuries not only hurt the employee involved, but AMS as well. Insurance rates increase of course, but other employees have to fill in where that employee is now missing. It’s a negative chain reaction.

“This is precisely why we have our monthly OSHA safety classes. When a participant is done with the class, they become a safety advocate for AMS. They learn emergency procedures, warehouse safety, how injuries happen and how to avoid personal injury by paying attention.

“Since most injuries happen from a lack of attention, the OSHA safety class is actually a positive chain reaction. The OSHA class minimizes the risk for the employee and AMS.”

As further incentive, AMS holds a drawing in each warehouse to reward employees for every month that lost time injuries are avoided. Every injury-free month brings an increase in the rewards, so when December comes around, and there are no injuries, 12- $100 gift cards are in each drawing, for each of AMS’s four West Coast facilities!

According to Samantha Hicks, Sr. Administrator, HR, the most often occurring lost time Injury is muscle strain. How do you work to prevent such strain? In a previous blog we heard about an adaptation in the workstation that served to keep an employee from having to bend over due to his being taller than average. We also know that reducing repetition through job rotation is effective in reducing injuries. So, solutions come with training and also with ‘paying attention’ and adapting.

Samantha explained that, “AMS’ goal is to get the employee back to work as soon as they are medically able, and if necessary provide the opportunity for reasonable accommodation, modified, or alternative work under the ADA. Studies show that the longer you are off work, the harder it is to get back to your original job and wages.”

Readers can view our previous safety blogs HERE.

January 13, 2021

Series: What B Corporations do for the world #14

In our weekly B Corporation blog series, we visit the various news and opinion articles written about or by B Corporations. We’re a part of the B Corp community and like any community, we enjoy seeing what’s on the mind other businesses committed to ‘B the Change’. In this first week of the 2021, not surprisingly, there is conversation reviewing the past year with a focus on resilience, hope and gratitude.

As a company that is essential to the economy and supply chain, what AMS focused upon during 2020 was safety, diversity and community. We published 15 weeks of blogs describing the safety measures that AMS has taken in order to protect our workers from exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Our hope has been that sharing our experience will help guide other fulfillment companies and warehouses in how to stay safe. AMS employees take a risk, and they are compensated with bonus pay. We protect them in every way we can.

We have also placed a strong focus on diversity. After employees organized a march in protest of the murder of George Floyd, we committed to improve and to do more. We are a diverse fulfillment company and we consider our employees vital to our success – we are a corporate family.

Our third focus has been on helping the community in which we live. We know that many of our neighbors are struggling to feed their families, and we’ve done our best to help them with donations of food and gift cards.

This week we’re publishing two articles in which B Corporations talk about their year. The first article covers what was discussed in a virtual gathering of B Corps and the second is about systemic change and the role of B Corporations in bringing it to pass. We hope you enjoy!

Meeting the Moments of 2020 with Resilience and Gratitude
B in Community Event Highlights

Messages of gratitude and love launched the recent B in Community event, a year-end celebration for Certified B Corporations in the U.S. and Canada. In honoring all that B Corp leaders have been through in 2020 — working separately to keep businesses afloat, adjusting to shifting supply and demand, protecting frontline workers, and more — the virtual gathering offered the community a time to reflect and regroup before the calendar turns to 2021.

As members of a business community founded on the power of connections, B Corps have an opportunity to lead the way toward a more resilient and inclusive economy that works for all people and protects the future of the planet — stepping up to meet the moment.

Read the full article HERE:

A Business Community of Hope and Resilience Amid Crises: 2020 B Corp Year in Review
The Lessons and Events of 2020 to Carry Us Forward Into 2021

The events of 2020 revealed the resilience and hope that can be found in community, even during times of crisis. When the COVID-19 pandemic rattled the global economy and exposed systemic inequalities, business leaders and people around the world faced a new reality and an uncertain future. When the ongoing killings of Black people led to racial justice rallies and calls for real action, companies offered support and promise for change.

With the growing realization that things will not go “back to normal,” the effort to shape an economy that works for all stakeholders holds greater importance and urgency. During the turbulence of 2020, thousands of businesses in the Certified B Corporation community made decisions and changes with multiple stakeholders in mind — workers, customers, community, environment, and shareholders among them.

Read the full article HERE.

January 11, 2021

Getting to Know Our Diverse World

AMS Fulfillment enjoys the many benefits of a diverse workforce. Like many other B Corporations, we find that diversity stimulates growth and innovation as it strengthens and enlivens our corporate family.

The diversity of peoples and cultures and nature itself is the treasure of this world. When we see how people and things differ, it teaches us, broadens us and gives guidance to the wise. We human beings are anything but ‘the same’ and that is a very good thing. And so we begin 2021 by taking a moment to look at the ‘when and how’ different Peoples of the earth mark the new year and celebrate.

In our last blog we talked about Chinese New Year, which begins on February 12th. According to Chinese astrology, based on the Lunar calendar, 2021 is the year of the Ox. The celebration in past years has been a time when millions of people travel home, businesses close and even the ports close and shipping comes to a halt. This celebration is old and renowned.

In this blog we’ll look at how celebrations are done in Israel, Iran and India.

In addition to China, there are other cultures that do not celebrate the first day of January as the new year. Due to customs and traditions, their new year is marked on another day and month that sets them apart from the rest.

The first example is Israel and the Rosh Hashanah celebration.

Rosh Hashanah, translated as “Head of the Year,” is a time of rejoicing and introspection for Jewish people in Israel and around the world. It is the first of the High Holidays ending 10 days later with Yom Kippur. In 2020 the two-day Rosh Hashanah celebration started on September 18 and in 2021 it will begin on September 6th.

The celebration begins with the sounding of an instrument made of a ram’s horn, called the shofar. The horn is sounded to proclaim God as King of the Universe and to call the people to repentance and commitment to God. The shofar begins the “Ten Days of Repentance” which ends with the “Day of Atonement,” Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashana is an ancient celebration with many meaningful traditions. Special symbolic foods are eaten, like dates, leeks, beets and pomegranates. Each food holds special meaning. Ancient meaning is given to apples dipped in honey. The apples and honey are always on the table, as this food is a tradition dating back hundreds of years. The apples were believed to have healing properties, and the honey signifies hope for a sweet new year.

The next celebration in our diversity journey takes place in Iran – it’s called Nowruz.

For 13 days, beginning March 21, 2021, people in Iran and also in Afghanistan celebrate the Persian New Year, Nowruz, which means “new day,” or the start of spring. Nowruz is an ancient celebration, around 4,000 years old. The Iranian and Zoroastrian communities celebrate this festival. It falls on the day of the vernal equinox, when night and day are about the same length

It is celebrated with families coming together and giving gifts. Wearing new clothes is important as new things represent a fresh start. A major part of the holiday is a deep cleaning for about three weeks during which homes are tidied and cleared of clutter, which also makes way for a fresh start.

A table is set in the home to represent wishes for the New Year. The foods includes sabzeh (sprouts growing in a dish) for renewal, senjed (dried fruit) for love, seeb (apples) for health, seer (garlic) for medicine, serkeh (vinegar) for patience, somaq (berries) for sunrise and samanu (sweet pudding) for wealth. On the eve of the New Year, children wear costumes, bang on pots and pans and visit their neighbors to ask for sweets. The final day of celebration is spent picnicking in the open air and enjoying many different kinds of pastries.

India is the next place we’ll look for a new year tradition.

There is a wonderful celebration in India that millions of people enjoy called Diwali – the festival of light!! The celebrations last for five days, and in 2021 they will begin on November 4th. Diwali celebrations coincide with the New Year, usually held between mid-October and mid-November, depending on the Hindu lunar calendar.

Different cultures celebrate Diwali for different reasons. For Hindus, it is a celebration of good over evil, based on a story of Rama, the lord of virtue, returning to his kingdom after a 14 year exile. Similar to the Nowruz celebration in Iran, Indian people clean their homes, getting rid of the old, and they wear new clothes, give gifts and eat sweets.

It is also a tradition for families to have feasts and watch exciting displays of fireworks. In addition to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists take part in festivities, cleaning and decorating their homes. Children make clay lamps, called ‘diya’ to illuminate the house and bring good fortune.

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So there we have it – a look at the beautiful diversity of the Peoples of the earth in how we all welcome a new year. May all of our new years be peaceful and rewarding.

December 30, 2020

Responding to the ‘New Poverty’

In the past two months, AMS employees have gone into their bank accounts and contributed generously to make both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays better for local families. Churches and organizations across Los Angeles contributed as well, as people have become aware of the ‘new poverty’ brought about by job losses and the COVID-19 illness and lockdowns.

News in December reported that Byonce was donating $5000 grants to people facing foreclosure. Reports a few weeks earlier pointed to lines of cars five miles long in Atlanta waiting to receive food donations from Tyler Perry Studios. We even watched Russell Brand on YouTube, working at a food bank and delivering bags of groceries in order to bring attention to an emerging crisis.

In order to understand the impact of the pandemic, we looked into one of the oldest, and most consistent caretakers of the poor and homeless – the wonderful Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen in New York City. The Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen has been around since 1982 in Chelsea on 9th Avenue and West 28th Street. We were fortunate to be able to interview a long-time volunteer with Holy Apostles, Donna Lamb.

Donna told us that they started seeing changes back in February when volunteers felt that they needed to stay at home due to the virus. The Kitchen had to suspend the volunteer program and employ staff, while asking administrators to pitch in on the floor. Employing chefs turned out well and things kept going.

Although the pandemic brought an end to indoor dining and many of the social services, the soup kitchen continued to provide hot meals for the people. Their Backpack Pantry Program provided food for soup kitchen guests, neighborhood children, and families with little access to food or the means to cook meals at home.

Donna explained that in the previous year they provided food for around 840 meals a week. In November of 2020 they provided enough food to prepare about 30,000 meals a week. This is a 3500 percent increase.

She said, “It has given me such joy, over the years, to volunteer at Holy Apostles. 2020 has brought such huge changes, but we have managed. What can we anticipate in 2021? I know that soup kitchens and pantries will need resources and I encourage everyone who can, to donate to an organization that serves the homeless or to a pantry that serves all who have need.”

For those who are doing well financially and not in need of food assistance or a stimulus, we hope you’re inspired to respond to the ‘new poverty’ and donate to meet increasing food and housing needs in 2021.

Happy New Year!!! Let’s make it beautiful.

Please enjoy an article from Grist.org: What California’s farmworkers can teach us during a season of giving.

December 25, 2020

AMS: Gifting ‘Green’ for the Holidays

Each year AMS says Happy Holidays to its clients with a gift of sweets or cookies for everyone in their office to enjoy. It has been an enjoyable tradition. But this year offices are not the same with so many working from home. This year we also have a deeper appreciation for our clients in that we have met the challenges together! We have climbed mountains together!!

Our clients know that we are a B Corporation, dedicated to serving them and more. Many have expressed appreciation that they can fulfil their products with a company that is focused on preserving the environment, caring for the community and advancing the education and training of their employees.

This year we have decided to make a contribution on behalf of our clients to the National Forest Foundation. It is exciting and a great pleasure to support our precious National Forests. Many of us have enjoyed these treasures at some point, driving, hiking or camping. Here below is a bit of information about our National Forests:

National Forests and Grasslands provide Americans with 193 million spectacular acres of wildlands.

*More than 9,000 miles of scenic byways to drive
*Almost 150,000 miles of trails to hike
*More than 4,400 miles of wild and scenic rivers to float
*At least 5,100 campgrounds in which to pitch our tents
*And 328 natural pools to swim in

All this and the chance to see elk and bear, ducks and deer, trout and trees, thousands of species of plants, and billions of stars in a midnight sky.

The National Forest Foundation, chartered by Congress, is the leading organization inspiring personal and meaningful connections to our National Forests, the centerpiece of America’s public lands. The NFF engages Americans in community-based and national programs that promote the health and public enjoyment of the 193-million-acre National Forest System and administers private gifts of funds and land for the benefit of the National Forests.

Working on behalf of the American public, the NFF leads forest conservation efforts and promotes responsible recreation. We believe these lands, and all they provide, are an American treasure and are vital to the health of our communities.

Regarding the contribution, AMS CFO Tony Shepherd offered, “AMS is proud to support the NFF on behalf of its clients, our employees, our community, and investors. For more information on the NFF, please visit their website at www.nationalforests.org.”

Happy Holidays to our clients! We look forward to working with you in the New Year!

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