Triangle Business Journal Story on RLCB Call Center, 5 Jobs for Blind Employees

Excerpted from the Triangle Business Journal. Pictures and the full story are available online at the Triangle Business Journal site.

The Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind, which these days goes by the name RLCB, is doing its part to create jobs for the blind, thanks in part to a new contract with a 72-year-old national nonprofit.

RLCB has hired five sight-impaired workers in an expansion of its Raleigh call center operation to service the new contact with the National Industries for the Blind.

“With the jobless rate among the blind now running at about 70 percent, any job created is substantial,” says agency spokeswoman Sharon Giovinazzo.

The call center, which employs around 15 and contracts with a number of business clients for short-term jobs,was tapped by the Alexandria, Va.-based NIB to handle national calls for SKILCRAFT products sold to federal agencies and the U.S. Department of Defense [through the AbilityOne Program/JWOD]. The center will also handle customer fulfillment, including
catalog requests and distribution of brochures and sales collateral, under the deal.

Rep. Jim Moran Says NIB and AbilityOne Mission Needs More Support

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), whose congressional district includes National Industries for the Blind's headquarters in Alexandria,VA visited NIB's offices Thursday, October 28 as to meet with members of the leadership team and staff. Moran said he was impressed with the mission to provide employment opportunities for people who are blind. He added that the program, which is self supported by the sale of SKILCRAFT products and services through the AbilityOne program needs more Congressional support to ensure the intent of the Javits Wagner O'Day Act (JWOD) is being followed.

Attending Moran's visit were Jim Omvig, Vice Chairman, The Committee For Purchase From People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled and Jim Kesteloot, a new member of the Committee for Purchase who was sworn in October 27, 2010. Kesteloot is the former CEO of the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind.

NIB invited Moran's Republican opponent for a visit, which will take place on Friday morning, October 29, 2010.

U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett Support IB Express AbilityOne Base Supply Center Employees at Fort Detrick, Maryland Event

(pictured left: Kevin Lynch, CEO NIB (center) and Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (right) at Ft. Detrick AbilityOne Base Supply Center Celebration

Fort Detrick, MD – Today, the employees of the IB Express AbilityOne Base Supply Center (BSC) were joined by U.S. Representative Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD-06) and personnel from Industries for the Blind – Milwaukee at an event to thank the community of Fort Detrick for their support and to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center program.

Rep. Bartlett and National Industries for the Blind (NIB) President and CEO Kevin A. Lynch praised the work of the AbilityOne Program and the IB Express BSC during remarks at a short program at Fort Detrick.

“AbilityOne has an unmatched record of success fulfilling their mission of creating a job for every person who wants to work regardless of their disabilities,” said Rep. Bartlett. “In addition to a paycheck, AbilityOne Base Supply Centers and IB Express provide our neighbors who are [blind or] disabled ... with the dignity, confidence and self-worth from doing work that is respected and appreciated in our community. I am particularly grateful for AbilityOne’s tireless support to find meaningful work for our servicemen and women who volunteered to serve in our Armed Forces and were disabled as a result of injuries they suffered while they were working to protect us.”

U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) also had words of praise for the employees of the IB Express BSC.

“Congratulations to the terrific men and women of the AbilityOne Program, who provide such exceptional service day-in and day-out to the Fort Detrick community here at the Base Supply Center. Your outstanding work ethic and customer service skills go a long way toward making the Fort Detrick Base Supply Center a virtual one-stop shop,” wrote Sen. Mikulski.

There are 140 AbilityOne BSC facilities located at federal and military installations throughout the United States that provide employment to 300 Americans who are blind or severely disabled. More than 40,000 blind or disabled people are employed through the sale of products and services through the AbilityOne Program.

“IB Express supports the mission and the service men and women of Fort Detrick. It also supports the livelihood of the men and women who, through civilian service support our military,” said Lynch. “IB Express and NIB personnel are proud to be included in supporting America’s Armed Forces.”

Also attending today’s event were Colonel Judith D. Robinson, Commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Detrick, and Eric Beale, Program Liaison, Committee for Purchase from People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled.

“Since 1952, IB-Milwaukee has been providing employment opportunities for people who are blind. Right now, we employ over 200 individuals at manufacturing facilities and BSCs around the country,” said Chuck Lange, President and CEO, Industries for the Blind – Milwaukee. “We operate 10 BSCs located on military bases around the country, and we are very proud to offer quality, value and convenience to our servicemen and women.”

About National Industries for the Blind
NIB’s (www.NIB.org) mission is to enhance the opportunities for economic and personal independence of persons who are blind, primarily through creating, sustaining and improving employment. NIB and 89 associated agencies serve as the largest employer for people who are blind by the sale of SKILCRAFT® products and services through the AbilityOne Program, established by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (JWOD).

U.S. Census Using Bags Made by Industries for the Blind Milwaukee

Read the entire story online: American Chronicle – 05/02/2010
By Bill Glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On Saturday, May 2, some 635,000 census takers in Wisconsin and across the nation will begin the task of going door to door to contact around 48 million households that did not return 2010 census forms.

"The bag serves multiple purposes," said Chuck Lange, president of the Industries for the Blind [Milwaukee]. "The census takers keep their papers, pens and pencils in there. And the bag identifies the census takers."

The organization also produced the binders that census takers will use. Those binders were manufactured in West Allis and in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Contact: U.S. Census Bureau

Industries for the Blind in Milwaukee and Kalamazoo, Michigan are members of the National Industries for the Blind. They produce SKILCRAFT and other products sold to the U.S. Federal Government and Department of Defense through the AbilityOne Program.

Annual Training Conference: Registration Up, Don't Miss This Exciting Event!

Registration for “AbilityOne: Generation Next, Strategies for the Future” is expected to exceed 2008 levels with more than 400 participants. NIB’s hotel block is quickly filling up so please register soon for the conference and hotel. The NIB/NAEPB Annual Training Conference is scheduled for October 21-24 in Kansas City.

Register your hotel room by close of business on Monday, September 27 to take advantage of the lower conference rate of $149/night (single or double). A limited number of government rate rooms are also available. Make your hotel reservations online or call 816-421-1234. No paper forms are needed.

Conference registration fees are $350 for NIB/NISH associated agency representatives or guests, and $249 for government agency representatives.

NIB has planned three informative and interactive days of meetings, presentations and networking. Download the current agenda to read about the exciting line-up of speakers and programs.

Our “future focused” agenda includes sessions on technology; government and defense procurement opportunities; and managing changing employee and customer demographics. On Friday, October 23 join us as we honor our Employees of the Year!

A general session on Friday morning will feature senior procurement executives from key organizations within the federal government, who will provide information about the future direction of their organizations and how these emerging trends may impact the AbilityOne Program.

The “Sourcing with the AbilityOne Program” panel, moderated by Scottie Knott, NIB Vice President, Operations, will include these panelists:

• 
  Elliott B. Branch, Executive Director, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (DASN), Department of the Navy



• David Drabkin, Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer, Senior Procurement Executive, General Services Administration, Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer



• Nancy M. Heimbaugh, Executive Director, Contracting and Acquisition Management, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia



• Ben McCarter, Assistant Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement) Iraq/Afghanistan, Headquarters Department of the Army, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology)



• Iris B. Cooper, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisitions, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Acquisition and Logistics.
  

Visit the Events page on the NIB website or use these links for Conference Registration; Hotel Reservations; and the Current Agenda. Bookmark this page to visit regularly for agenda updates or other new conference information.

For more information, contact conferences@nib.org.