News

The date was July 26, 1990, and the law was called the “Americans with Disabilities Act.” This law prohibited discrimination based on disability. Let’s pause for a moment and reflect on the difference this law made in the lives of individuals with disabilities. We can only be grateful for the opening of the door to civil and human rights that occurred with the passage of this Act (the ADA).

What is Disability Pride? We went to the Americans with disabilities website [LINK] for their definition: “Disability pride is defined as accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness, and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity. Disability pride is an integral part of an inclusive crusade and, furthermore, a direct challenge to systemic ableism and stigmatizing definitions of disability.”

The opposite of pride is shame, and sad as it is, there was a time when a person with a disability would be looked upon as “less than” or “broken” to the degree that they would feel shame. We are grateful that the ADA acknowledged the discrimination and offered respect and rights to individuals with disabilities. The article goes on to say… “It’s a time to recognize and celebrate the history, achievements, and struggles of people with disabilities. The ADA, a landmark civil rights law, prohibits discrimination based on disability, and Disability Pride Month is a way to honor its impact and promote disability culture and visibility.”

The History

Many of us can remember the ‘Capitol Crawl’ image referenced in this upcoming quote. Through the brilliant actions of activists, the public became aware of something as simple as ‘access’ for individuals with disabilities. From Wikipedia [LINK] we read:

“On March 12, 1990, over 1,000 people marched from the White House to the U.S. Capitol to demand that Congress pass the Americans with Disabilities Act. Upon arrival, about 60 activists, including eight-year-old Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, physically demonstrated the inaccessibility of public spaces by getting out of their wheelchairs or setting aside their mobility aids and crawling up the Capitol steps in an act of civil disobedience that later became known as the Capitol Crawl. Police then arrested 104 activists for unlawful demonstration, many of whom were in their wheelchairs.”

Imagine that!! Children abandoning their wheelchairs and crawling up the steps of the Capitol. It happened and it had a profound impact. The activists, who were arrested (amazingly), actually achieved a profound change in our thinking and our culture. Today there are ramps for the wheelchairs and curb cuts in the sidewalks plus a whole lot of other means of assisting individuals with disabilities.

It was President George H. W. Bush who eventually signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. This Act prohibited discrimination in employment, public accommodations, transportation, government services of state and local governments and telecommunications. As pointed out by the activists, these protections were very much needed.

More About the Why

Once again we ask… why was there a need to not only protect people with disabilities from discrimination, but to uplift them as well, and change the way a disability is perceived? We went to Wikipedia for an answer as to the Why:

“Disability Pride Month celebrates people with disabilities, their identities, their culture, and their contributions to society. It also seeks to change the way people think about and define disability, to end the stigma of disability, and to promote the belief that disability is a natural part of human diversity in which people living with disabilities can celebrate and take pride. It is a chance for people with disabilities to come together and celebrate being themselves, no matter their differences. It is also a chance to raise awareness of the challenges they still face every day to be treated equally.”

Yes there is a reason for this commemoration and at AMS Fulfillment we join in to celebrate the fact that individuals with disabilities are now able to enjoy equal civil and human rights. May it continue and may every individual with a disability take pride in themselves and celebrate Life in all of its diversity.

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What day is Summer Solstice in 2025? We’ve been loving the long hours of daylight, and we know the longest day is coming right up. To answer our question, here is Google’s response: “The summer solstice will occur on Friday, June 20, and it will be both the longest day and shortest night of 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).”

We would like to look into how Summer Solstice has been embraced in past years. The Latin word for the sun is Sol and the ‘stice’ means to stand still. So from the name we can conclude that the sun stands still when it reaches its highest point in the sky. This moment has been celebrated by different cultures for a very long time, and the people of those ancient times had rituals and traditions, recognizing that this hour of this day signals both Stillness and Change… and… it tells us that the natural world is governed by cycles. Summer solstice signals to the people the next cycle – the growing season – and that is worth celebrating.

The Stonehenge Monument

What is actually going on? The earth is tilted on its axis toward the sun and the sun is tracing its highest path across the sky. This reality has astounded human beings for a long, long time. We went to the Eugene Parks Foundation [LINK] for information a famous monument to the Summer Solstice… Stonehenge.

“One of the most iconic monuments associated with the summer solstice is Stonehenge in England. This prehistoric structure, believed to be over 4,000 years old, is aligned with the solstitial sunrise. Each year, thousands of people gather at Stonehenge to witness the sunrise, as the sun’s rays line up perfectly with the Heel Stone and the central Altar Stone, creating a breathtaking spectacle. The alignment suggests that the solstice was significant to the builders of Stonehenge. The reason behind the significance remains unknown, but it could be related to agricultural practices, religious beliefs, or social structures of the ancient civilization.”

Stonehenge captures the sunrise and it does so every solstice. But Stonehenge isn’t the only ancient celebration of the arrival of Summer. In ancient Egypt the solstice coincided with the annual flooding of the Nile. The aforementioned article tells us the following: “The flooding of the Nile was seen as a divine gift, replenishing the land and ensuring the survival of their civilization. Celebrations included offerings to the gods and rituals to honor the life-giving waters.”

The Maya and Aztec civilizations also celebrated the solstice in a profound way. The pyramids were constructed in alignment with the Summer and Winter Solstices as well as the Spring and Fall Equinoxes. Quoting from the article as follows: “The pyramid at Chichen Itza in Mexico, for instance, was designed to produce a serpent-like shadow during the summer solstice, symbolizing the descent of the feathered serpent god, Kukulkan. These events were celebrated with feasts, dances, and ceremonies to ensure agricultural fertility and cosmic harmony.”

How Do We Celebrate?

For those of us living our lives in cities, the Solstice is simply enjoyed as a long day of sunlight and the beginning of Summer. While we don’t have a contemporary celebration, some Native American communities do. “Many Native American tribes have rich traditions surrounding the summer solstice. The Sioux hold the Sun Dance, a ceremonial gathering that involves dancing, singing, and prayers to honor the sun and to seek spiritual renewal. This event is a time for communal bonding and reaffirming connections to the land and the cosmos.”

Let’s conclude with one more beautiful thought… the Midnight Sun! Imagine enjoying sunlight all night long! “In Alaska, the summer solstice is celebrated with a midnight baseball game called the Midnight Sun Game. The game starts at 10:00 pm and goes well into the next morning, without the need for any artificial light. The Midnight Sun Game has been played since 1906!”

Happy Summer AMS

Wishing all of our AMS employees, clients and friends a Very Happy Summer! Here we go! It’s the growing season, and our gardens are ready to enjoy. It’s also the season for outdoor fun, trips to the lake or river, hikes in the parks, baseball games with the kids… Summer is here!! Enjoy!!

Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in America by celebrating the day when the enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas learned that they were free. The shameful part of the story is that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed two years earlier, but in Texas the enslaved men and women had not been informed of their freedom.

The enslaved human beings were kept in slavery for two more years after the emancipation. June 19^th was the date that General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and announced the freedom of the enslaved. That event is worthy of Celebration!!

How Juneteenth Began

We went to the website of the University of South Florida [LINK] for some inside information on what started the Juneteenth holiday.

“Dating back to 1865, the holiday commemorates the day when 250,000 slaves in the state of Texas, which became the last bastion for slavery during the final days of the Civil War, were declared free by the U.S. Army.

“As soon as the following year, local festivities were organized in African American communities to celebrate and remember the significance of that day, June 19. The celebrations continued year after year.

“In the 20th century, as African Americans from Texas and neighboring states spread throughout the country, so too did Juneteenth celebrations. In 1980, Texas became the first to make it a state holiday. Shortly thereafter, other states followed suit, along with organizations and businesses across the nation hosting events and educational opportunities dedicated to commemorating the significance of this day.

“In 2021, the day became a national holiday.”

Juneteenth Became a Holiday

From Google we read the following: “Juneteenth is considered the oldest African American holiday and is a significant symbol of freedom and the end of slavery in the United States. It is celebrated with various festivities, including parades, picnics, historical reenactments, educational events, and cultural performances. Juneteenth became an official federal holiday in 2021.” 

It was President Joe Biden who signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. It was signed on June 17^th, 2021. Prior to that, Juneteenth had been celebrated across the US and particularly in Texas. There was a push for recognition by activists, and their drive for a national holiday was successful with President Biden signing the Act into law.

When Did Slavery Actually End?

We might wonder why the enslaved men and women in Texas were not freed with the emancipation proclamation. Apparently the so-called ‘owners’ did not inform their slaves, so the enslaved did not know they had been freed. As we look into it, we see that slavery did not end in other areas across the US as well. The emancipation proclamation did not accomplish the task. It took an amendment to the constitution, which Congress passed in 1865. Wikipedia [LINK] explains it to a degree:

“In the Civil War period, slavery came to an end in various areas of the United States at different times. Many enslaved Southerners escaped, demanded wages, stopped work, or took up arms against the Confederacy of slave states. In January 1865, Congress finally proposed the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution for the national abolition of slavery. By June 1865, almost all enslaved persons had been freed by the victorious Union Army or by state abolition laws. When the national abolition amendment was ratified in December, the remaining enslaved people in Delaware and in Kentucky were freed.”

We’re grateful that the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. History tells us that the exception, “as punishment for a crime”, was abused, and that too was something we had to change. It took many years, as we worked to remove the stain of slavery from our culture. The Juneteenth celebration allows us to show our gratitude to African Americans for enduring the long and hard battle to end something that should have never begun.

Yes, we celebrate Juneteenth at AMS, and yes, we do so with immense respect for the descendants of those who were enslaved. We’re grateful that Juneteenth gives every American the opportunity to celebrate the fact that the end of slavery finally did come. History shows us that we have the power to change the culture as we rise to a higher level of consciousness. We have the power to correct past wrongs and honor every human being, knowing the reality that we are One human family. Black history is American history. Happy Juneteenth to every American!

We wondered… how can we possibly tell the employees who are Dads and the clients who are Dads and all of the readers who are Dads… how can we tell them how highly we value them as Fathers and Father figures?

For our message we settled upon a poem written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The most famous love poem of all time is for You, Dad!!

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.

“I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

“I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.”

The Role of the Father

It goes without saying that the role of Father is equally as vital to the child as is the role of Mother. Father is most often pictured as serving in the role of protector and provider. He is also a guide, an inspiration, a friend, a supporter, a leader, a comforter, and an example for his sons and daughters.

The story of the first Father’s Day points toward the father as provider – it was held to commemorate the lives of 250 fathers who died in a mining accident. The Farmer’s Almanac [LINK] tells the story:

“Some attribute the first Father’s Day observance to the 1907 Monongah, West Virginia mining disaster that killed 361 men—250 of them fathers— and which left more than a thousand children without a dad. Grace Golden Clayton, whose father was killed in the tragedy, suggested a service of commemoration to the pastor of her local Methodist chapel. But it never really caught on as an annual observance.”

The story goes on to talk about the efforts of a woman named Sonora Louise Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington. She was raised by her father as a single parent. To commemorate the life of her father, she brought the idea of a National Day of Recognition of Fathers to the YMCA. It was well received, leading to Spokane holding the first Father’s Day celebration on June 19, 1910. What followed was a long and sustained effort by Ms. Dodd to persuade the government to create a national holiday. The article goes on to explain:

“Undeterred, Dodd took her mission on the road and spoke publicly to fathers to gain their support. But she was met with hard criticism. According to The Spokesman-Review, they laughed at her and said they didn’t want a Father’s Day. “A national fishing day would be better,” they told her.

“The effort to formally recognize a day for fathers met with even more hurdles over the years. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge urged states to observe the day nationwide but refused to issue an official proclamation for the holiday, and by the 1930s there was an effort to combine Mother’s Day and Father’s Day into a single “Parent’s Day” holiday. Even the newly formed “Father’s Day Council,” made up (and funded by) of members of men’s clothing retailers, couldn’t get the holiday recognized by 1938, only succeeding in getting calendar makers to mark the third Sunday in June with tie and pipe illustrations. And the general public had no interest in buying cards or gifts for dad that he probably didn’t need.”

A Senator Intervenes

Finally, Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine spoke some sense, saying: “Either we honor both our parents, mother and father, or let us desist from honoring either one. But to single out just one of our two parents and omit the other is the most grievous insult imaginable.”

Thank You to Senator Smith for speaking the Truth! The role of Father is equally as vital to the child as is the role of Mother, and as the Senator indicated, omitting the Father is not going to be allowed!! We’ll go back to the article for the rest of the story:

“More than 50 years after Dodd’s initial efforts, Father’s Day was recognized as a holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June by President Lyndon Johnson’s Executive Order in 1966. But it was still not officially recognized as a federal holiday until six years later, in 1972 when, during his re-election campaign, Richard Nixon signed an official proclamation setting Father’s Day permanently on the third Sunday in June nationwide.”

Happy Father’s Day to every Dad, every Step Dad, every man waiting to be a Dad, every Father figure… you matter a whole lot… maybe more than you know. We hope you have an amazing day with lots of love coming your way!!

There are some wonderful commemorations in June… such as Father’s Day, commemorating and honoring our beloved Fathers. We also see Flag Day, honoring the patriots and the US flag, Eid al-Adha commemorating sacrifice, Juneteenth commemorating the end of slavery and the Summer Solstice, which is both a promise of change and a celebration of light. All of these are worth thought and appreciation of what is being commemorated and experienced anew.

Sometimes we need reminders of our high points and our cultural growth.

June is also Pride Month and we are well aware of what Pride represents in this case. We would like to acknowledge it without giving way to the corporate marketing that diminishes it. Pride is the replacement for shame. It means a lot to overcome being shamed for being you.

Pride Month commemorates a significant cultural correction and an elevation of human consciousness. We’ll go over the history of what it was that needed correction and how the correction was achieved.

Let’s Look at the History

Google tells us that ‘Pride’ “…commemorates the Stonewall Riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The riots, sparked by a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City, ignited a wave of resistance and marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.”

Moving forward to the History website [LINK] we need to take a look at the struggles that came before the Stonewall Riots:

“The roots of the gay rights movement go back to the early 1900s, when a handful of individuals in North America and Europe created gay and lesbian organizations such as the Society for Human Rights, founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago in the 1920s.

“Following World War II, a small number of groups like the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis published gay- and lesbian-positive newsletters and grew more vocal in demanding recognition for, and protesting discrimination against, gays and lesbians. In 1966, for example, members of the Mattachine Society held a “sip-in” protest at Julius, a bar in New York City, where they demanded drinks after announcing that they were gay, in violation of local laws against serving alcohol to gays and lesbians.

“Despite some progress in the postwar era, basic civil rights were largely denied to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people—until one night in June, 1969, when the gay rights movement took a furious step forward with a series of violent riots in New York City.”

The Stonewall Riots

That’s kind of amazing… civil rights denied to you because of your preference for a partner of the same sex. There was justified resistance to this awful, discriminatory mind-set, and it manifested in the historic Stonewall riots. Once again from the History website, we read:

“As was common practice in many cities, the New York Police Department would occasionally raid bars and restaurants where gays and lesbians were known to gather. This occurred on June 28, 1969, when the NYPD raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan.

“When the police aggressively dragged patrons and employees out of the bar, several people fought back against the NYPD, and a growing crowd of angry locals gathered in the streets. The confrontations quickly escalated and sparked six days of protests and violent clashes with the NYPD outside the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street and throughout the neighborhood.

“By the time the Stonewall Riots ended on July 2, 1969, the gay rights movement went from being a fringe issue largely ignored by politicians and the media to front-page news worldwide.”

Culture Matters

We don’t need to examine the cause of the shaming of gay and lesbian people that existed at that time, as we know and accept its origin. As a result of belief systems, condemnation of gay and lesbian people was deeply ingrained in the culture. How did we overcome it? How was that inhumane prejudice overcome? It came with the people realizing… wait a minute… in a just world everyone should have both the human right and the civil right to engage in consensual intimacy with another adult.

Pride Month is not just an opportunity to sell rainbow flags. It is a whole lot more than symbols. It took a journey into the human heart and an elevation of consciousness to recognize the cruelty of casting ‘shame’ upon millions of persons for being their authentic self. Pride is the absolutely correct response to the twisted culture of judgement and prejudice. It remains the correct response today. Please enjoy Pride Month, with gratitude that we can celebrate the growth and evolution of our culture into one aligned with human rights for everyone, everywhere.

AMS Fulfillment (“AMS” or the “Company”), an industry leading provider of omnichannel fulfillment services to digitally native consumer brands, announced today that it has hired Greg Morello as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. AMS is a portfolio company of Fort Point Capital (“Fort Point”), a Boston-based lower middle market private equity firm focused on investing in and growing business services companies.

Greg joins AMS with a wealth of experience in the omnichannel 3PL industry, with 20+ years of leadership expertise building, growing and transforming businesses.

Most recently, Greg led the growth of a private-equity backed fulfillment company, Whiplash, and sold the business to a Fortune 500 company in 2021. Previously, Greg was the co-founder of Concentrek, Inc., a non-asset based transportation management company, where he had responsibility for the start-up’s growth strategy and sales. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a passion for and commitment to building customer-centric companies and creating opportunities for their employees, positioning him perfectly to lead the next stage of growth at AMS.

Commenting on the appointment on behalf of the Board of Directors and Fort Point, Christina Pai noted the strong alignment between Greg’s prior experience and the tremendous opportunity set ahead of AMS. Pai stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Greg to AMS. His proven track record of scaling logistics businesses that support dynamic consumer brands will be invaluable for AMS. We are confident that his strategic vision and leadership will continue to accelerate our efforts for organic and acquisition-led growth.”

“I am excited to lead the next stage of growth at AMS Fulfillment,” said Greg. “We have significant opportunities ahead, given our integrated suite of omnichannel capabilities and commitment to all of our stakeholders as a Certified B Corporation. The Company is extremely well positioned to be the go-to partner for premium brands seeking to delight their customers and reach new heights in their own growth journeys.”

About AMS Fulfillment

AMS Fulfillment is a full-service outsourced logistics provider offering order management, warehouse and inventory management, reverse logistics and other value-added, complex fulfillment services to fast growing consumer products companies primarily in the beauty/cosmetics, apparel, and premium accessories sectors. To learn more, please visit amsfulfillment.com.

About Fort Point Capital

Fort Point Capital (“Fort Point”) brings a management-led, growth-oriented approach to private equity investing, targeting fragmented sectors of the business services industry. Founded in Boston in 2011, Fort Point partners with founders and management teams to accelerate growth and performance by providing resources to help expand teams and establish infrastructure, enhance service offerings, access new markets, and support strategic add-on acquisitions. Fort Point fulfills its commitment to management, employees, and shareholders by employing a repeatable process to drive durable value, as evidenced in over 50 acquisitions since its inception. Fort Point Capital is currently investing from FPC Small Cap Fund III. To learn more, please visit fortpointcapital.com.

June is National Safety Month. We’re going to accept the challenge and start the month with our recipe for warehouse safety. We’ll explain what it takes to ensure the safety of our warehouse employees. AMS is fully committed to our employees as stakeholders in our business. We sincerely care about safety in our warehouses, and as a result, we have a very good record. That means what we’re doing is working.

Best Practices

We follow procedures as recommended by OSHA. Here’s how Google describes OSHA: “OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Labor. Its primary mission is to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for employees by setting and enforcing standards, providing training, and offering assistance. OSHA’s regulations cover a wide range of workplaces, including most private sector employers and some public sector employers.”

Our Safety Training

We fully train every new employee, and we also do monthly safety walks for current employees. Our training is in both English and Spanish. The focus of our training begins with pointing out potential hazards. Spills or wet floors are the cause of slips and falls, and accidents. Clutter in the aisles can cause falls and accidents as well. All employees are trained on what to do when coming across what are potential hazards. How do you handle the spill, what about debris in the aisle or workstation, how do you dispose of debris properly and promptly. Our first level of training will cover these things.

Of course employees are trained in the safety aspects of their specific jobs, whether it’s housekeeping, driving forklift, assembly and so forth. We train our employees in the correct ergonomic practices in order to avoid injury, whether it is repetitive movement or lifting a heavy object. Proper ergonomic positioning can prevent strain injuries.

We make sure all employees understand how to store materials safely… for example, don’t stack materials too high and create a potential hazard. Another essential training is in safe handling of chemicals, including proper labeling, storage, and disposal.

There are many things we cover in safety training, including emergency procedures. We have emergency plans for how to respond to a fire, how to safely evacuate and other procedures, and every employee is trained in these things.

Making the Environment Safe

How do people get hurt while working in a warehouse? #1 they could improperly lift a heavy item and experience a strain injury. #2 they could be walking from one area to another and slip and fall because of a spill of liquid on the floor. #3 they could be in a hurry and trip over some debris left in the aisle. #4 they could come into contact with a dangerous chemical that wasn’t properly labeled. #5 they could get hurt by falling materials that were stacked too high. #6 they could get injured by moving equipment. #7 they could get injured by broken equipment that wasn’t properly removed or labeled.

Training is important and all training should lead to a safe environment, with clean floors, uncluttered aisles, adequate lighting, and working equipment. Inspection and maintenance of equipment is absolutely necessary. Properly maintaining forklifts and conveyors can prevent accidents. Employees who need PPE, such as safety shoes, hard hats, vests and gloves are provided these items by AMS. Every warehouse must have fire extinguishers and first-aid kits in good working order with employees trained in their use.

Communication

There must be a clear communication channel in every warehouse for notification of emergencies. Evacuation procedures must be written and practiced in fire drills and evacuation drills.

Successful warehouse safety means that the company has a comprehensive approach to minimizing hazards and creating a safe work environment. This includes proper training of every employee, maintaining clear aisles, practicing safe lifting techniques and ergonomics, and correctly using equipment.

National Safety Month

Both the National Safety Council [LINK] and the Occupational Health and Safety organization [LINK] offer resources for the public at their websites.

“Join the National Safety Council in June for National Safety Month – the annual observance to help keep each other safe from the workplace to anyplace. Since 1996, NSM has provided free safety resources to highlight leading causes of preventable injury and death. Let’s make people safer this June and all year long!”

Do accidents happen at AMS? We are not magical, and yes, they do… but… due to our safety training efforts they are infrequent. In 2024 AMS’ lost-time injury rate was 23% lower than the industry average. This year injuries have been equally infrequent.

We are proud of our employees, and the care they show in preventing accidents of any sort. Hat’s Off to them for our excellent safety record, and of course the safety focus and training will continue, year-round.

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to the people and planet before Profit. We work to B The Change we wish to see in the world.

Let’s take Memorial Day seriously. To die on the battlefield, serving your country, is a most serious of sacrifices. It’s time to remember and honor the soldiers who made this sacrifice. Monday, May 26 is Memorial Day and as we live this day, we give thought as to how we might show respect – respect for the sacrifice of Life.

What follows is a suggestion we found online, and it certainly seems doable: “At 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day, a National Moment of Remembrance takes place. This is a one-minute pause for all Americans to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. It’s a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces and others who have died as a result of their service to the country.”

Memorial Day

We’ll begin with what Google tells us about the day: “Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May, a day to remember and honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. It’s a time for reflection on their sacrifices, and to remember those who gave their lives in service to the country. While it’s a day of remembrance and honor, it is not a day to express gratitude to current veterans; that is more appropriately done on Veterans Day.”

Google says not to express gratitude to current veterans, and pardon us, we will disobey Google. We are grateful to all of the men and women who have served; to those who did not die in battle, thank you for your service. We hope you have a meaningful Memorial Day.

The Origin of the “Day”

After the Civil War ended, the day to honor and decorate the graves of fallen soldiers came into being. It was originally called Decoration Day. It became Memorial Day in 1868 when a Union veterans’ organization, declared it to be a nationally observed holiday. The declaration was called the “Memorial Day Order”, and it was established to be held on the last Monday in May. The proclamation asks Americans to observe Memorial Day by praying, according to their individual religious faith, for permanent peace.

We visited the website of the government’s National Cemetery Administration [LINK] for their version of the story.

“In the waning years of the Civil War (1861–1865) and immediately afterward, communities in the North and South, Black and White, decorated soldiers’ graves with floral honors on springtime “decoration days.” The practice of strewing flowers on graves has been documented from Classical Roman times to western Europe in the nineteenth century.

“On May 5, 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a politically powerful organization of Union veterans led by Major General John A. Logan — issued General Orders No. 11 or the “Memorial Day Act.” This issuance formally established “Memorial Day” as a Decoration Day on which the nation would remember its war dead and decorate their graves with flowers.

“In subsequent decades competition flourished to claim when and where the first such gathering occurred — in one way or another. Recent scholarship, however, points to the ladies of Columbus, GA, who in April 1866 lobbied for a clearly defined Memorial Day on which to place flowers on the graves of Civil War dead.”

Permanent Peace

We are more than happy to take a moment, on May 26, at 3 pm to stand for one minute in silence, with gratitude for the sacrifices of soldiers in the Civil War and beyond. What wars have occurred since then? There was the Spanish American War of 1898, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, the war in Afghanistan, and the war in Iraq. We honor every soldier who died in these wars, and we most certainly pray for permanent peace on Earth.

In the media we see companies offering Memorial Day deals and using the phrase… “celebrate Memorial Day.” We would rather Remember the sacrifice and Honor the soldiers. War is a sad failure of governments to create Peace. Peace is the victory… choose Peace. ‘Celebrate’ Peace. Let’s recognize the sacrifices, honor the men and women who paid the ultimate price, and in our minute of silence, envision a world at Peace. How beautiful the thought!

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AMS Fulfillment is a  Certified B Corporation, dedicated to the people and planet before Profit. We work to B the change we wish to see in the world.

Businesses are becoming more and more committed to reducing their negative impact on the environment and this is certainly needed and appropriate. Customers are also increasingly concerned with buying their products from a company that is environmentally conscious. To put it plainly… people are taking personal responsibility for the health of the planet and that is good news, as well as timely.

At AMS Fulfillment we began, years ago, to find ways to be “green” and we have achieved much. In this writing we will point to the various things AMS has done to reduce our carbon footprint, and we can say with confidence, these efforts have been effective. As this article will demonstrate, we do the work, and our efforts make a difference. We will cover our recycling efforts, our use of sustainable packaging, the efforts we have made to “Green” our facilities, and the extraordinary commitment of our employees.

AMS is not ‘sustainable’ in order to market itself as such. AMS is sustainable because we… meaning all employees… want to change things for the better. We are invested in being “Green” and we take pride in what we do for ourselves, our clients and our shared Earth.

Recycling

AMS has been recycling and encouraging our employees to utilize the recycling bins for years. We provided the proper containers for all employees in the various facilities, so that they could take the first step in recycling their own cans, bottles, food and so forth. This has been a very successful effort, as our employees are very much aware of and in support of sustainability. As part of our overall recycling efforts, AMS employees collect, bind and save recyclable cardboard and other packaging, preparing it for re-use rather than the landfill.

With all of the recycling efforts, there remained one thing we were unable to recycle through our normal process… stretch plastic. We wanted to keep the stretch plastic we dispose of out of the landfill, and in the hands of a company that recycles plastic. This was a challenge for the AMS Green Team. They searched until they found a company that recycles clean stretch plastic in large amounts. The issue was how to accumulate the large amounts. AMS purchased containers and our employees accumulated the plastic on site at every warehouse. After the stretch plastic was accumulated, it was properly bound and stacked until it reached the amount required. Our employees are proud of AMS’ efforts to recycle and they assist in the effort in every way they can.

Sustainable Packaging

Several years ago AMS made the decision to promote and provide sustainable packaging for our clients.  We, and our clients, well know that choosing sustainable packaging can make a very positive difference both in recycling and landfills. Speaking with Veronica Lopez, AMS’ procurement specialist, we see that some years ago AMS undertook the research and the search to find sustainable packaging. Of course, the clients of AMS make the decisions on the packaging they want their products shipped within. AMS is proud to make sustainable packaging available to them and offer a variety of options. Knowing the negative impact of plastics, we do focus on reducing the use of plastics. Traditional packaging materials, as we know them – including plastic or styrofoam – are being replaced by recycled paper, biodegradable peanuts, recycled cardboard and even recycled air pillows.

Facilities

What has gone into “greening” our facilities? The logical first steps were to change the lighting in our facilities to LED energy-saving lighting and also to install motion sensors, which trigger the lights to turn off when things are quiet and come back on when people enter the room. George Romano, AMS’ Director of Facilities West Coast, spoke with us about what is going on within the AMS facilities to make us as “Green” as we can be.

The first thing George mentioned, is with regard to equipment such as forklifts and so forth. There was a point in time wherein this type of equipment ran on propane, but not anymore at AMS. Several years ago we began upgrading equipment from propane to electrical. Now we can say that 98% has been upgraded to electrical, and that little 2% refers to equipment we are temporarily using. Another thing George mentioned is that all thermostats are programmable, and exhaust fans and other economizers are used to reduce the need for air conditioning and heating. A third thing that George is proud of, is the fact that water dispensers are provided for employees, and this is Clean water, collected through use of reverse osmosis. We also provide all employees with AMS water bottles for them to use and reuse. And… it is worth mentioning that all pest control utilized in AMS facilities is environmentally friendly as well.

A final story demonstrates the fact that our employees are fully engaged in the efforts to make AMS as “Green” as is possible. According to George, AMS has a client that ships products to our warehouse inside of plastic bags. Seeing this, the employees decided to repurpose the plastic bags and use them for as long as they last. Only when they are no longer of use, will they be disposed of through recycling. For ideas and efforts like this (and more) we thank our AMS employees and make the point that sustainable fulfillment is not just the desire of AMS Management. Our employees are invested in sustainability and they make it real.

Transportation

AMS does not have a fleet of trucks. We do have a small number of vehicles which we maintain with the environment in mind. There are many different trucks delivering products to us, and what we do to save on energy is to unload the truck as quickly and efficiently as possible, keeping at a minimum the need for the truck to idle while waiting to be unloaded. Once again we have an example of AMS employees taking our “Green” efforts seriously and doing their best on behalf of our shared Earth.

Donations and Returns

One more thing very much worth mention is our efforts to help clients donate products that are on the warehouse shelves but no longer being sold. We have numerous relationships with organizations in the community that gratefully receive donations of product from our clients. This keeps the products out of the landfill and in the hands of people who can appreciate and utilize the products.

We also make the very best of returns that come in. If the product returned is in good condition and our client wants it to go back into inventory, that is where it will go. If the product can be fully repaired and our client wants it returned to inventory, we will do that. If the product cannot be returned to inventory but can be donated in the community, we do the donation, with our client’s permission. The very last thing we will do is send the return to the landfill. In this way we do our best with our clients’ returns.

Conclusion

We are aware of the issue of greenwashing by some companies, and we want to make it plain… AMS does not make false claims of sustainability. Our clients can truthfully tell their customers that the product they are purchasing is warehoused, packaged and shipped by a sustainable fulfillment company. It takes time, research, training, and effort on our part, and we are proud to put in the effort to be “Green”. We are fully conscious of our obligation, as a business and as human beings, to protect and care for our shared Earth.

Finally, has AMS Fulfillment been recognized for its sustainability efforts? The answer is Yes. We have achieved Carbon Neutral status with regard to our Carbon Footprint. We invite businesses to contact AMS Fulfillment for more information on sustainable fulfillment.

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When we pay attention to commemorative months it is because we feel the subject being commemorated is worthy of attention and some conversation. In thinking about mental health, the first place we go is to our desire to destigmatize mental illness. According to Google, “To “destigmatize” something means to remove the negative associations of shame, disgrace, or disapproval from it. It’s about changing the way something is perceived so that it is no longer seen as bad or unacceptable.”

Many of us have a friend or know someone who suffers from depression or anxiety, PTSD or some other mental illness or we may suffer from some issues ourselves. Of course we do not judge or condemn a person for mental illness any more than we do for physical illness. Instead we do the human thing; we see if there is some way we can help.

Can businesses such as AMS do something to help their employees deal with the reality of mental illness? Absolutely!! At AMS mental illness is destigmatized, and we are doing some things that we believe will help.

Mental Health First Aid Classes

One of the ways in which we feel we can help, is to offer a Mental Health First Aid class. AMS offers a number of classes to our employees that are not only free, but they are ‘paid’, taking place during work hours. We have been holding these classes for a number of years, in an arrangement with a local college. The following paragraph describes the Mental Health First Aid class:

Description: “Examines risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems and how to respond appropriately. Emphasis on mental health problems and crises for all individuals and environments with additional information on support and resources in the work environment. Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive a NCBH Mental Health First Aid Certificate.”

There are some excellent benefits to being trained in mental health first aid. Someone who is trained will be able to recognize early signs of a mental health issue and provide initial support. The trained individual will be able to offer a listening ear, provide basic emotional support, and help to find appropriate resources, such as the Employee Assistance Program.

Mental health first aid training in the workplace provides some vital benefits. First of all, it can increase employee well-being. We also see that it can reduce the stigma around mental health issues, and it can improve the trainee’s ability to identify concerns and support colleagues experiencing troubling issues. The bottom line is… mental health first aid training serves to create a more positive work environment.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)? It is a free benefit that AMS offers our employees. EAP is a voluntary and confidential service that is designed to help employees address personal or work-related problems that may be affecting their well-being and performance. The AMS EAP provides services like short-term counseling, referrals to specialists, and other resources, such as financial or legal advice. The EAP is designed to be a confidential and safe space for employees and their family members to get support.

The services provided are listed as follows: #1 Short-term counseling which addresses issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, or relationship problems. #2 Referrals to connect employees to specialists like therapists, financial advisors, or legal professionals. #3 With some EAPs, such as the one AMS provides, services also extend to employees’ family members. #4 Wellness programs are offered, promoting overall health and well-being. Employees can typically access EAP services through phone, video, online, or in-person sessions.

Monthly Activities Committee

AMS employees have joined together to create an Activities Committee which is focused on creating a fun and engaging culture. We consider all employees ‘family’, and we accept people for who they are, emphasizing that none of us is worth more than another. Being “different” doesn’t mean that an individual is worth less. In fact, every one of us is unique and special. That’s the truth.

Every month the Committee aims to do something engaging, and most of the time, raising money for a non-profit. Some recent examples are as follows: #February, Direct Relief for CA fire victims. AMS employees sent a positive message fortune cookie to their coworkers raising $1,373. #March, Mismatched Socks Day wherein employees wore mismatched socks to bring awareness to World Down Syndrome Day, in support of the son of one of our employees. #April, annual employee egg hunt and Earth Day community cleanup. #May, annual luminaria fundraiser, raising over $910 towards the American Cancer Society.

Some Key Facts

We will conclude with some statistics from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing [LINK] below:

Despite progress in mental health initiatives, more than 30 million people in the U.S. still lack access to comprehensive, high-quality care. These statistics highlight the ongoing need for Mental Health Awareness Month and the importance of bringing attention to this disparity: 

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.

1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.

1 in 6 U.S. youth have a mental health condition, but only half receive treatment.

50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.

In 2023, 20% of all high school students have seriously considered suicide.

Our Goal

At AMS our goal is to educate our employees and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness by encouraging conversation and fostering acceptance. We aim to highlight the importance of early intervention and access to treatment both in our Mental Health First Aid class and through the EAP, and by so doing, promote mental wellbeing and self-care practices for overall health.

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

To all AMS employees who are Mothers, to all of our clients who are Mothers, to all of our friends and readers who are Mothers… we wish you a wonderful day, lived in the knowledge that you, indeed, have created Life, and we honor you for that gift. Our salute includes all who are living the Mother role – adoptive mothers, step mothers, dads who are mothering… we honor you as well for all that goes along with creating Life.

Mother gives of herself. She gives food and shelter, love and care, time and attention, training and teaching, good-night kisses, honest conversations and life lessons.

Every one of us came from a Mother… so let’s just say to all AMS employees… happy Mother’s Day to you too. We will begin with a very meaningful poem by Rudyard Kipling:

Mother o’ Mine

If I were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

If I were drowned in the deepest sea,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
I know whose tears would come down to me,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

If I were damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

Motherhood

Many of our AMS employees have little ones, or teenage ones, at home and in need of care and attention. We know and appreciate the effort that goes into working and being a Mother. Up early in the morning to feed the little hungry ones. And then making sure all are cared for while Mom is at work. Then Mom comes into AMS and spends the day working in order to feed and house the family – the little hungry ones. Mother is exactly as expressed by Rudyard Kipling – the one whose love follows her children through all of their lives. She is deserving of a place of honor.

Two More Poems

We will conclude with two poems, the first a brief thought from Robert Louis Stevenson:

To My Mother
You too, my mother, read my rhymes
For love of unforgotten times,
And you may chance to hear once more
The little feet along the floor.

Mr. Stevenson knows he is and will always be, alive and well in the heart of his Mother, hence she hears his little feet along the floor.

Our final poem is a communication from a daughter to her Mother. The author is Sharlynn N. Manning. It’s a beautiful and truthful recognition that Mother offers hope, and things to believe in.

My Heart

She’s always been there for me.
Just talking to her can make me happy.
She tells me of the hard times she’s been through
In hopes that I won’t go through them, too.

She’s an independent woman of stature and grace.
She has beautiful eyes and a lovely face,
An audacious strength from deep inside.
In her I know I can confide.

She’s my guardian angel who’ll always be
A very special part of me.
She takes pride in caring for her kin.
She gives us hope and things to believe in.

If I didn’t have her there for me,
I wouldn’t be half the woman I turned out to be.

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All we can say is… to all Mothers from AMS Fulfillment… we wish you a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend and we honor your sacrifices on behalf of your children. Be well, be strong, and know you are Loved.