Commitment to excellence
Goodwill Industries of Akron received its seventh consecutive Three-Year Accreditation award from CARF, The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission. Goodwill was recognized with the highest level of accreditation possible for Employment Services, Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation Services, Employee Development Services and Community Employment Services. Donald E. Galvin, Ph.D., president and CEO of CARF says, “Goodwill Industries of Akron demonstrates quality rehabilitation programs, measured by rigorous standards.”
Do it for the needy, if not for the government
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is looking for people to help those with special needs—such as low-income taxpayers, disabled persons, non-English speaking and older taxpayers—to prepare and file tax returns, perform clerical work, publicize VITA’s free service, and other jobs. Hours are flexible, (2 to 4 hours weekly through April 15), and the environments (libraries, community centers and churches) are nicer than your usual federal office. “The time commitment is brief and the personal satisfaction is great,” says Taxpayer Education Coordinator Rachel Ragan. For more information, call (513) 684-2828.
Hard copy
While news hounds feed frenetically on the tidbits of Clinton’s peccadilloes, Connie Bloom, owner of Remember Me Biographies, is busy documenting the not so infamous people who hire her to write and typeset their life stories in a hardbound biography that comes complete with photographs. “Grandpa’s tall tales and grandma’s gentle recollections are their greatest legacies,” Bloom says, “and these are things that fame and money cannot buy.” There is, of course, a price for this—between $1,500 and $2,500, which is considerably less than the bill Clinton will ultimately receive. How to reach: Remember Me Biographies, (330) 836-0918
Even number crunchers need to get out
In a recent Accountemps survey, CFOs at companies with more than 20 employees were asked: “How important is networking with other professionals in your field or industry in furthering your career?” Eighty percent of the 1,400 respondents said networking with others in their field has been instrumental in their professional success. Here’s how it broke down:
- Very important: 41 percent
- Somewhat important: 39 percent
- Somewhat unimportant: 13 percent
- Not at all important: 6 percent
- Don’t know/no answer: 1 percent
Trades labor shortage
The Akron-Canton chapter of The American Subcontractors Association will address the labor shortage in the construction industry at its meeting on from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, at Tangier Restaurant. Association leaders and trade instructors from vocational training departments of participating school districts will be guest presenters at the event. Call (330) 753-9958 for more information.
Learning curve
The Western Reserve Small Business Development Center for Women is offering no-cost business counseling for women, and a variety of classes ranging from financial statements, accounting software and information systems to business communications, marketing, financing and government procurement. For course and counseling information, call (330) 972-5592.
Teaming up
The Employer’s Resource Council, which is based in Cleveland and serves all of Northern Ohio, has launched a new “dream team” of 20 firms that offer discounts on a wide range of human resource management services, including technology, financial and environmental. Each provider has a market presence in Akron and Canton, and services the ERC’s entire 22-county region. To get the discounts, all you need is a membership in the ERC. For information, call the ERC at (216) 696-3636.