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SAMTEC SIGNAL
COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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At the Lakes Samtec Cares Costa Rica Agricultural Greenhouse Learning & Development/TigerTalk Autism Awareness Ramadan and Holy Month Traditions Security Hints & Trips Habitat for Humanity Vietnam STRONG Positivity and Mindfulness in the Workplace Nathan Robertson: Endurance Hunter 100 Nancy Schellenberger: Big Heart for Small Lives KNOW Homelessness My WW: New Features (Samtec Discount for USA)
Tessie is hiding somewhere in this newsletter! Once you find Tessie, email samtecsignal@samtec.com, and let us know her location. Everyone who finds her will be entered in to a prize drawing!
LAKES PROPERTY
About 15 months ago the facilities group recognized that the New Albany lakes property was in need of some attention. Invasive trees were overgrown, dams and asphalt path in need of repair. The property was quickly becoming unsightly and undesirable for Associate use. As the project unfolded it kind of took on a life of its’s own. We worked with nature specialists and landscape architects to determine both short and long term best actions. The mission is to create a vegetative environment that is native and which will attract and promote similar wildlife. We have found that this is something our associates really embrace and enjoy.
AT THE LAKES
Leah Baumann is currently a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Science at Indiana University. Leah is our Environmental Intern this summer at Samtec New Albany and has been developing a few projects that involve the Bill’s Five Lakes property on the campus in New Albany. She is passionate about wetland and freshwater nature areas for most of her college career, and is enjoying the opportunity to work in the lakes area this summer.
American Yellowwood
Oak e t i Wh p m a Sw
n rica am e Amornbe H
Leah created a compilation of photographs and facts about the incredible wildlife that can be found when strolling around the lakes. This will provide associates and visitors with a comprehensive guide, to learn more about the wildlife supported by this ecosystem and how they can be identified. She also included the conservation status of each species, which helps to emphasize the great importance of conserving and preserving nature areas like Bill’s Lakes. Leah also identified the18 different tree species (seen to the right) with arboretum signs that were placed next to the newly planted trees. This will help those walking in the lakes area to identify native Indiana trees. It is important to plant native trees in the area and ensure that invasive species are not present in order to best support the ecosystem and attract native wildlife.
“One of the coolest things for me is that I have been able to observe Eastern Box Turtles, a protected species, on the lakes property. These turtles reach maturity at 10 to 20 years old and can live for over 60 years, and some have been known to live for over 100 years!”
n tum Au liance ry Bril viceber Ser
ess ypr C d Bal
n ster Ea dbud Re
e apl M gar u S
e Tre p li Tu
e Pin e t American Yellowwood hi Cladrastis kentukea n W r e t Swamp WhiteaOak Quercus bicolor 3 s E American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry 14
ay eetb a g Ma
ay eetb olia w S agn M
an eric ore m A cam y 2S
Amelanchier x grandiflora
i Eastern Cercis canadensis 9 Sw Redbud nol Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum
Flowering Dogwod Sweetbay Magnolia
k Oa r Bu
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum 2
River Birch
Betula nigra
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum 25
3
ch 6 Bir Acer rubrum r e v i R Tulip Tree Liriodendron tulipifera
n rica wood e Amellow Y
6
1
Red Maple
e apl M d Re
4
r eda C d Re n r Magnolia virginiana 6 ste Ea Cornus florida
Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa
g erin d w o o Fl gwo Do
1
e apl M ver Sil 1
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
5
Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
7
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Blackgum
Nyssa sylvatica
Total
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SUMMER 21’ RECIPIENTS Samtec Cares received over 70 requests and granted almost $630,000 during the Summer 2021 Grant Cycle to the following nonprofit organizations to assist in fulfilling their missions. The Samtec Cares Grant Program was created to positively impact and assist charitable organizations within the communities where our employees live, work, and play. We have focused on the areas that are particularly important to our employees. Samtec encourages involvement at each of our locations around the world, and we routinely host donation drives and invite non-profits into our various facilities to encourage participation. Being a good corporate citizen of a community carries with it responsibility. Since the majority of Samtec employees come from surrounding towns and cities, Samtec plays a big impact in this role as we look to improve the quality of life for our employees when they leave work for the day.
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Areas of Focus:
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
To better the places where Samtec operates, we look for organizations that improve the quality of life for our employees and neighbors.
HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
Our goal is to support the health of communities and aid organizations that assist those in need.
ARTS & CULTURE
We support organizations in our communities that provide unparalleled creative arts experiences and opportunities.
Align Southern Indiana - alignsi.com Allow the oversight of the Kindergarten Readiness program; a comprehensive tactical plan to ensure all students are ready for Kindergarten in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott and Washington Counties.
CASA of Floyd County - casafloydcounty.org Expand its advocacy program by supporting a volunteer capacity-building initiative to give a voice to the most vulnerable children who are thrown into an overburdened child welfare system.
American Heart Association - heart.org Support infant CPR and choking relief training materials and support, providing 1500 new families with these lifesaving skills at three hospitals in Floyd County Indiana. American Red Cross - redcross.org/kentucky Fund a much-needed new Emergency Response Vehicle, a critical part of the American Red Cross disaster response fleet, for our Kentucky and Southern Indiana Region. Best Buddies International - bestbuddies.org/kentucky Expand programming to three new chapters during the 20212022 school year. 1,600 individuals will participate in inclusive programming, creating one-to-one mutually beneficial friendships.
Catholic Charities of Louisville - cclou.org Provide culinary arts job training to those facing barriers to employment, including lack of skill and opportunity and criminal history, and all students will graduate with food safety manager certification. Cerebral Palsy Kids Center - kidscenterky.org Support core program services of physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies; mental health support from our pediatric psychologist; and, therapeutic interventions provided by their feeding clinic.
Bridging the Gap Learning Academy - bridgingthegapla.org Support learning and academic development programming during out-of-school time for children in underserved communities in Louisville, KY. Cars for Moms Meet the transportation needs of disadvantaged single mother families by providing dependable vehicle to them at greatly reduce costs and by helping them maintain the cars as well.
City of Jeffersonville - jeffersonvilleart.com Create the NoCo Artmobile, a mobile art studio, that will deliver quality artistic instruction and enrichment in local neighborhoods and schools. Community Foundation of Crawford County - cf-cc.org Preserve and restore the historic Marengo Big Springs Old Town Church to its original purpose as a community gathering house.
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Dare to Care - daretocare.org Support the Kids Café program at Parkway Baptist Church in New Albany, IN which provides meals to 350 kids per week. Dark Enterprises - teachcyber.org Support Indiana teachers and schools in preparing to teach cybersecurity at the secondary level.
Leadership Harrison County leadershipharrisoncounty.org Create a Sexual Assault Examiner Nurse (SANE) program in Harrison County that will provide 24hour on call services for victims of sexual assault or abuse.
Falls of the Ohio State Park - fallsoftheohio.org Support unique engagements designed to let the community experience the outdoors in new and impactful ways.
Have a Heart Foundation - haveaheartclinic.org Provide specialty cardiovascular services for the underserved population: those with the highest risk, the most need, and are the least able to afford health insurance premiums and/or co-pays. Historic Preservation Society of Scottsburg historicscott.com Purchase equipment to host live events at the theater in Scottsburg which will also include performances from home schools and Scottsburg High School. Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana soinhomeless.org For data support that will enhance staff effectiveness to better support homeless communities and service provider partners in Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties.
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LifeSpan Resources - lsr14.org Purchase new wheelchair-accessible vehicles to provide transportation services for medical trips including critical care like dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation and rehabilitation. Nativity Academy of St. Boniface nativitylouisville.org Create a Family Resource Center that will offer agency referrals, emergency food and clothing, employment assistance, health screening and counseling services. Nomad Church Collective - nomadchurch.org Develop The Outpost, a community gathering place designed to minister to and build relationships with the poor and marginalized. Norton Healthcare Foundation NortonHealthcareFoundation.com Support the free support services and resources for those facing cancer in our community at the Norton Cancer Institute Pat Harrison Resource Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Open Door Youth Services opendooryouthservices.com Provide the comprehensive mental health curriculum Seven Challenges, targeting youth with substance abuse histories within a long-term residential program. Prosser Career Education Center - prosser.nafcs. k12.in.us Purchase athletic mid-field decal stencils, striping machines/painter and turf mowing equipment to educate and train students on the care and management of turf and the operation of the equipment used.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul - svdplou.org Provide wrap-around family support services through food security, after-school programming for children and counseling services for more than 70 families a year to help them obtain housing and stay permanently housed. Sojourn Church - sojournchurch.com/new-albany/ Transform the grounds of the former Silver Street School into a welcoming, safe, and enjoyable park for the Uptown Neighborhood of New Albany. The Center for Women & Families - thecenteronline.org Provide quality supportive services to victims of intimate partner violence and sexual assault living and working in Jefferson County, Kentucky, and Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana. The Exodus Road - theexodusroad.com Support the undercover work of our volunteer DELTA operative team and purchase equipment/technology needed for collecting and analyzing evidence on cases of human trafficking.
Province of Our Lady of Consolation franciscansusa.org Renovate and expand the Mary Anderson Center Gallery at Mount St. Francis, Indiana which was founded in 1989 by local artists and friars. Refuge for Women - refugeforwomen.org Create a new Refuge for Women Emergency Housing location in the Louisville area that will provide temporary shelter to women survivors, or those at risk of, trafficking, exploitation, assault or violence.
The Vintage Fire Museum - vintagefiremuseum.org Equip the fire safety education center where people can learn about fire hazards and can experience the decisionmaking that goes into safe exiting in case of a fire. Waterfront Botanical Gardens - waterfrontgardens.org Create the Courtyard of the Leslie Botanical Classrooms that will be used as an outdoor location for environmental education and a unique setting for events.
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SAMTEC COSTA RICA AGRICULTURAL GREENHOUSE Samtec Costa Rica has its own agricultural greenhouse! Starting this year, in the Samtec Costa Rica dining room, Associates enjoy agricultural products produced within their facilities. This idea was born in November 2020 as a project to take advantage of the physical space available in the surroundings of the company and achieve self-sufficiency of agricultural products for the Associates. After analyzing the planting area, the products to be cultivated and the sustainable management of the greenhouse, the project was approved and the construction of 100 square meters was carried out for the cultivation of tomatoes and lettuce. The greenhouse is a modular structure covered in antiaphid material (anti-predator defenses). It consists of 3 planting cradles for lettuce and 80 tomato pots, which provide a weekly harvest of 180 heads of lettuce and 40 kilos of tomatoes. The structure has an automated irrigation system and dosing tanks for the fertilization of the product. In addition, it was built using techniques free of agrochemicals in a protected environment in harmony with nature. We thank Samtec for proposing and making this project a reality.
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Autism AWARENESS Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States today. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people with autism learn, think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently.
“BARRY PLANS ON BECOMING AN ENGINEER” Sophia Johnson, Samtec Microelectronics “My son Barry is 17 yrs old, and has autism spectrum disorder (Asperger’s syndrome). He is a wonderful young man. He is home schooled due to severe social anxiety and many ticks that affect people on the spectrum. Barry is an honor student and plans on being an engineer and a game developer! He doesn’t call me mom, he calls me Pink.”
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Famous people on the spectrum SATOSHI TAJIRI You may not know the name Satoshi Tajiri, but we’re willing to bet you would recognize Pokémon, Tajiri’s most famous creation. Satoshi Tajiri has stated that he is on the high-functioning end of the Autism Spectrum. He has confirmed on more than one occasion that he has Asperger’s Syndrome. But, as a general rule Tajiri chooses not to talk about his diagnosis in public. Rather, he prefers that his many accomplishments speak for themselves. TIM BURTON Is Tim Burton — the beloved director behind such films as Beetlejuice, Alice in Wonderland, Edward Scissorhands, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to name but a few. Though Burton has neither confirmed nor denied his place on the Autism Spectrum, his former long-time partner, Helena Bonham Carter, seems to think autism makes perfect sense. According to Carter, she experienced an “a-ha moment” while researching an autistic character for a film. “Autistic people have application and dedication. You can say something to Tim when he’s working and he doesn’t hear you. But that quality also makes him a fantastic father, he has an amazing sense of humor and imagination. He sees things other people won’t see.” DAN AYKROYD As a child, comedy legend Dan Aykroyd was expelled from two different schools before anyone realized that he had mild Asperger’s Syndrome. Since his diagnosis, Aykroyd has been vocal and honest about his experiences on the Autism Spectrum. According to the Oscar-nominated actor and writer, Asperger’s even helped Aykroyd develop his famous Ghostbusters character. SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS On a list of the greatest living actors, Sir Anthony Hopkins would almost certainly be included. The actor, who won an Oscar for portraying Hannibal Lector in The Silence of the Lambs, has been diagnosed with high-functioning Asperger’s Syndrome (though Hopkins hasn’t said at what point in his life he received the diagnosis). When talking about the way being on the Autism Spectrum affects him, Hopkins says, “I don’t go to parties, I don’t have many friends, but I do like people.”
“WE LIVE BY THE MOTTO; AUTISM IS DIFFERENT, NOT LESS.” Ryan (Samtec New Albany) and Jennifer Curtis “We have an adult son with autism. My wife was a teacher of students with special needs. Kyle was one of her students. He was in the Kentucky foster care system due to severe abuse and neglect. My wife, Jennifer, fell in love with Kyle on the first day of school when he climbed up into her lap and said, “I wub you.” She asked me to come meet him, and it didn’t take long for me to bond with him as well. We began taking the classes to become certified foster and adoptive parents for KY. During this time, Kyle started visiting our home on weekends. Despite his Autism, he was so easy to love. I guess he was just looking for love and a safe “forever” home. We adopted him when he was 9. Now he is 29. He is a blessing to anyone who meets him. This photo was taken at my niece’s wedding in Georgia. Kyle was a groomsman. After he graduated from high school, my wife quit working in the public schools to stay at home, and care for Kyle. She is able to keep him active in learning and practicing skills in the community in order for him to become more independent. With my schedule at Samtec, working 3, 12hr shifts gives me more time at home with them. He is a great son, not without his challenges but we all have challenges. We live by the motto that autism is different, not less.”
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RAMADAN HOLY MONTH TRADITIONS Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. Samtec has many Associates who celebrate Ramadan, but most prominently at our Samtec Malaysia facilities.
NEW MOON
The new moon determines the start of Ramadan
FASTING
Fasting reminds you of the importance of self-control and the suffering of the poor
PRAYER
Throughout the 30 days of Ramadan, prayer is performed 5 times per day
FAMILY
Ramadan is an opportunity for togetherness while fasting, prayer, and, after the sun sets, meals
PURPOSE Muslims focus their mind on prayer, purity, spirituality and charity
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Eid marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadhan, which, is the month where Muslims observe fasting and abstinence as a form of sacrifice and penance. During the month of Ramadhan, adult Muslims are not allowed to partake of any food or drink or physical intimacy from sunrise to sunset. Smoking is also prohibited during these hours. They are also tasked to give alms and pray. All this is with the aim of building a stronger relationship with Allah. Muslims begin the day with “sahur” which is a meal before the break of dawn and that will be the only meal of the day until the time to break the fast. The act of breaking of fast begins with partaking in water as well as dates (mainly because dates provides the body with a quick and easily digested amount of sugar) before partaking in other foods and drinks. Uniquely to Malaysia, Ramadhan is celebrated with certain unique traditions. RAMADHAN BAZAAR The street food activity increases during the month of Ramadhan especially for malay delicacies. Employees are often released earlier than the normal hours to allow for them to prepare for the breaking of fast. Out of convenience, many will go to the various Ramadhan bazaars (temporary approved street food market) searching for their favourite meals. Popular choices such as bubur lambuk, chicken satay, chicken biriyani rice, cakes and snacks are the main fare although different state delicacies like laksa Johor or laksa penang can be found if you happen to be in those states. The most popular foods at such bazaars are usually the syrup flavoured drinks, fresh juices and various desserts.
BUBUR LAMBUK Bubur Lambuk is a rice porridge containing minced beef and dried shrimp, basic spices consisting of clove flowers, lawing flowers, cumin, cinnamon bark and others. By tradition, this is a staple diet for muslims to eat when breaking fast. This porridge is easy to make and is cooked in the mosque and distributed to the congregation, the poor and needy for free. ZAKAT Zakat is an obligation in Islam to make contributions towards the less fortunate. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and is intended to redistribute wealth between the rich and the poor as well as cleanse the wealth of those who pay zakat. The Zakat Fitrah is a small amount that must be paid by all Muslims every year without fail, regardless of age, gender, or wealth. It is commonly paid during the holy month of Ramadhan as they are obligated to pay this before the start of Eid prayers. The rate for zakat fitrah is equivalent to the value of a bushel of rice weighing 2.7kg. If the payor is able to pay even more, they are highly encouraged to do so.
TARAWIH PRAYERS Aside to the obligatory 5 calls of prayer in a day, many Muslims in Malaysia perform an additional terawih prayer. It is a special prayer session on a nightly basis during the entire month of Ramadhan. This is in line with the objective of the month which is to strengthen one’s belief and relationship with Allah
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WE ARE AMTEC TRONG
VIETNAM STRONG
On July 13th, the Vietnam government gave notice that employees must not leave the companies in which they work except by proven emergency. Since then, Vietnam associates have been LIVING onsite due to government imposed COVID regulations (and anticipate staying through August). After a few weeks, a period of rest and recovery was provided; OT was minimized and contactless sports were organized to help associates relax and recharge. Samtec Vietnam organized a football competition along with over 25 mini games and received enthusiastic feedback from Associates. There was a lot of participation and many prizes including prizes for “The Most Impressive/MVP Associate”, “The Most Inspiring Associate”, “The Most Encouraging Associate” and many more The VN team has maintained STELLAR performance levels in spite of the physical and mental challenges of being away from their families. Once again, we sincerely thank Samtec Vietnam Co Ltd and all Samtec Associates who participated and supported the competition! Samtec Vietnam is truly #SamtecStrong
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SECURITY HINTS & TIPS SOCIAL ENGINEERING RED FLAGS
The prevalence of phishing scams is at an all-time high. Because you are the key to preventing a cyberattack within your organization, it is important to question the legitimacy of every email you receive. Below is a list of questions to ask yourself about any links or attachments on the email that may help you realize that you are being phished. Are there hyperlinks in the email? Hover over any links and check the link address. Does it match the website for the sender exactly? Did you receive a blank email with long hyperlinks and no further information or context? Does the email contain a hyperlink that has a misspelling of a well-known website? (Such as Microsoft) Is the sender’s email from a suspicious external domain? (Like micorsoft-support.com rather than microsoft.com) What about attachments? Did the sender include an email attachment that you were not expecting or that makes no sense in relation to the email’s context? Does the sender ordinarily send you these types of attachments? Did the sender send an email with a possibly dangerous file type? Files with a .TXT extension are typically safe, but beware, files can be disguised with a different type of file extension. If you notice anything about the email that alarms you, do not click links, open attachments or reply. You are the last line of defense to prevent cyber criminals from succeeding and making you or your company susceptible. Stop Look Think - Don’t be fooled! The Samtec Security Team
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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY We had 3 build days available for Samtec Associates to volunteer; Thursday, August 11 through Saturday, August 13. Many Associates volunteered and we asked one Associate each day about their experience. Pat McWilliams, an engineer, volunteered on Thursday. Isaac Wernert, a controls engineer, volunteered on Friday. And Kalynn Hentrup, an inventory clerk, volunteered on Saturday. Their responses are below.
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Why did you volunteer for Habitat for Humanity? Pat: We signed up to try to give back to the community. Isaac: I signed up to help a great cause and be part of something greater than me. Kalynn: I signed up for habitat humanity because I’ve always been a person that likes to do what I can to help others I usually give blood at our blood drives Samtec hosts. I’m not able to contribute a lot of money to the community at this point in my life but small things make a big difference. I also was interested to see if I could learn any technical skills as I’ve never done any carpentry or built anything. I thought it would be cool to help build a house.
Do you think previous construction experience is necessary to contribute as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity? Pat: No, previous experience is not needed. It does help if someone on the team has some experience to help move the work along more quickly but the contractors help as much as you need and explain how to do the work that is required. Isaac: Absolutely not. I grew up in the building industry so I started at a very young age when I couldn’t do a lot. There is always a way for anyone to contribute no matter your skill level; carrying boards, cleaning up, getting tools or nails for someone, etc. Whatever you comfort level is, there’s no shortage of ways to help. Kalynn: Absolutely not, like anything it would be an advantage and put you ahead of the game but they are super patient and willing to teach you everything. They’re very skilled at what they do and demonstrate/teach very well.
How did the professional contractors on-site explain how to safely complete the tasks at hand? Pat: They did a great job and also let you do as much as you want but did not push you to do more than you were comfortable doing. Isaac: The onsite professionals were great people and awesome to work with. They gave you as much responsibility as you were comfortable with and would show/demonstrate what needed to be done. If you needed help or further instruction they patiently provided whatever you needed. Kalynn: They worked alongside us, showing us how to perform a task, asking us to help them do/complete a certain task. We all worked together and it felt like a team effort. No one felt like they were pressured in to doing too much work. It felt like we all worked together to accomplish the tasks quickly and it was awesome to see how much we got done in the small time period.
Would you recommend other Samtec Associates sign-up to volunteer for upcoming HFH build days? Pat: I would recommend this, for sure. It is a very rewarding experience and it is also a good opportunity for possible family building time! Bring your wife or kids with you it will be a memory you guys will never forget. Isaac: Yes, you will be glad you did. People like Donna and her daughter will be forever grateful for the time and effort that’s put into these projects. Kalynn: Yes because it gives a sense of fulfillment by helping others and seeing the difference you can make. Just from the small group that volunteered Saturday, we accomplished so much. With a few extra hands I can’t imagine how much work we could get done in just a short six hours! The time really does fly by and it doesn’t feel like work which I know a lot of people are afraid of.
Positivity and mindfulness IN THE WORKPLACE These 10 tips will help you create a more positive and friendly workplace. Small actions add up to major changes! Keep a smile on your face and try to be flexible. When you model friendly work habits, you’ll encourage others to follow your example. Here are 10 ways YOU can increase positivity in the workplace:
4. TAKE TIME TO THINK BEFORE RESPONDING If something isn’t going your way, take the time to calm yourself down before firing off an angry email or confronting a coworker face to face. Taking a deep breath and deciding on your next move in a calmer fashion will help keep your workplace positive.
1. CHANGE HOW YOU THINK OF YOUR JOB Psychology Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California has focused her research on how employees can increase their happiness in the workplace. One method of gaining positivity is for employees to think about the reasons why they do their job. “Unhappy employees can improve their work life by adjusting their mindset to a ‘calling orientation,’” says Lyubomirsky. This means connecting your work with personal goals and aspirations.
If you want to live a meaningful life, then you have no room for long-lasting negativity. You must make sure you do whatever it takes to allow positivity into your life.
2. SPREAD GRATITUDE Workers who are thanked regularly for their hard work are happier. Thanking coworkers spreads positivity. Take the time to write a thank-you note or an email to someone who has helped you. Be sure to send a copy of your note to their boss. 3. FRIENDLY GREETINGS Take the time to smile and say hello to your coworkers. Make eye contact. Don’t go overboard or you may come off as fake, but simply putting a smile on your face will brighten someone’s day.
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Try to be as nice as possible in your dealings with coworkers, clients, and customers alike. Especially in a demanding, fast-paced workplace. Do your best, and don’t beat yourself up when you make mistakes. 5. CELEBRATE MILESTONES It’s nice to have birthday parties at work, but it’s even better to celebrate positive work milestones. Whenever a project is going well, have a little celebration. This will help to spread workplace positivity even further. Recognize fellow employees for their efforts. People work harder when they know that their contributions are valuable. 6. TRY TO STAY ORGANIZED You’ll find that your attitude toward work improves when you have a clean, organized workspace. Knowing where everything is will help you get your work done more efficiently. If you’re always digging for important papers on your desk, you’ll be stressed out and more likely to snap at a co-worker. This also applies to your computer files. Be methodical when you set up your organizational system.
How our Associates spread positivity: Ben Cooper New Albany I do my best to stay positive on a daily basis…being positive isn’t a feeling. It’s a decision that I make every day. Then I also decide that holding it in greatly diminishes the benefits…so, even though it makes me feel silly sometimes, I broad cast it out and try to add a little positivity to other people’s day. Jon Shogren Colorado FSE Jon wears different outfits and hangs backgrounds to add some fun to the Samtec Central sales team conference calls.
7. ENGAGE IN FUN ACTIVITIES Take a little time to enjoy yourself at work. Take breaks to go out for a walk or jog. Ideally, take a work friend with you and spend the time building personal relationships. Playing games with coworkers can bring a fun spirit of competition that increases positivity. Take your department out for a trivia night or a movie. 8. LISTEN TO EVERYONE’S IDEAS Employees are happier when they feel that their thoughts and contributions are valued. When you are working on a project, be sure to ask others for their take on the situation. Create an environment where people are less worried about territorial workplace behavior and more focused on collaboration. Too many bosses neglect this part of managing a workplace, and resentment can spread.
CAD group Costa Rica A group in Costa Rica engaged in some teambuilding by using recycled materials to create a AT-AT Walker, StarWars model!
9. GIVE YOURSELF ACHIEVABLE GOALS Small, achievable goals can keep you motivated at work. Create some for yourself or for your workgroup if you are a supervisor. Setting the bar too high often leads to disappointment when the goals aren’t met on time. Give yourself and your employees little rewards for accomplishing these goals.
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Nathan Robertson THE ENDURANCE HUNTER 100 ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT
Nathan Robertson has been with Samtec for over 15 years and is an Intergration/Process Development Engineer for GCT. He assists with the process design and manufacturing of GCT products. This consists of working with process engineers to help solve problems, working with internal/ external customers to design and build products, and managing R&D projects. Nathan recently completed a 100 mile trail race within 31 hours and shares about his experience below. The race is called The Endurance Hunter 100 in northern Georgia and is a 100 mile race with 22k feet of elevation gain and a 35 hour time limit to complete. It took me roughly 30.5 hours straight to complete the race and I finished in 13th place out of 40 total runners. Almost half of the runners did not complete the race. I started training to do a 100 mile race about 1.5 years ago. I had originally signed up for a race last summer and it ended up getting cancelled due to Covid 19 just three weeks before the race was scheduled. With some help from friends, I attempted to set up and run my own 100 mile course on the Knobstone trail. I ended up making it 80 miles in 24 hours before quitting. It did not take long until I started having some major regrets about quitting. Specifically, when I asked my kids what they thought about it, and they said, “Well, you didn’t even finish.” Needlesss to say, that wasn’t acceptable. I started training for this race in late November. My training consisted of running 5-6 days a week with at least one of these runs being a longer trail run. I gradually worked my mileage up to between 50 – 60 miles per week and sustained that for roughly 5-6 weeks. I trained all winter regardless of the weather. I had 20+ mile training days in 5” of snow, torrential downpours, flooded creeks, single digit temps,
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and everything in between. I ended up not running at all the last 2 weeks before the race because of a minor leg injury. I was worried this may keep me from finishing the race, but it actually did not cause any issues at all. I started the race at 7am Saturday morning and finished 1:30pm the following day. The race has 9 aid stations roughly 10 miles apart throughout the course that are intended for refueling. My good friend Jeremy Wooldridge (Samtec, Director of GCT) met me at these aid stations along the way and made sure I had all of the food and hydration I needed for the miles ahead. The most important part of a race like this is to maintain sufficient hydration and calorie intake. A person can digest between 200-300 calories per hour, so it is important to be replenishing at that rate throughout the entire race. I consumed mostly electrolyte powders, stroop wafels, and Cliff Blocks during the race. Towards the middle of the race I was having a hard time digesting the food and found myself sitting down and dry heaving on more than one occasion. This definitely slowed me down, but I was able to pivot, and find other easier to digest food at the aid station like pickle juice, coke classic and Ramen noodles. Another challenging part about this race aside from the elevation gain was the rain and stream crossings. There were between 20 and 30 different stream crossings, and it rained for a solid 5 hours near the beginning of the race. My feet were wet the majority of the race which led to a decent amount of blistering. Another big challenge was sleep deprivation. By 5am, I was literally falling asleep while I was running. I was swerving all over the trail and it was miracle that I did not fall. As soon as the sun popped up, I found a new boost of energy that was able to carry me to the finish line. Jeremy met up with me and ran the last 14 miles. It was great to have help getting me through those last tough miles.
Nancy Schellenberger BIG HEART FOR SMALL LIVES ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT
As I write this I have a baby starling screaming at me for attention and an injured baby opossum licking its hands and washing it’s face after having a meal of scrambled eggs and puppy formula. I don’t recall a moment in my life that I wasn’t a total animal lover. Not just the cute and fuzzy warm-blooded kind but literally all of god’s creatures. I grew up in the country and had more animal friends than people friends. I remember my first rescue was a black bird that had gotten wet and its wings were literally frozen. I brought it in the house to warm it up and let it dry out. I was probably around 6 years old. The accomplishment of saving it and seeing it fly free was so rewarding. I was hooked. I’ve always had dogs, cats, and other domestic animals as pets and have enjoyed them. My belief is that wild animals should remain wild. They have a drive and sense of freedom they doesn’t give up willingly. Their natural instincts are amazingly engraved into their bodies and cannot be removed without completely breaking their spirit. Forward to 2008. I got a call from my dear friend Gail Farris (Samtec Marketing). Her mother found a baby squirrel all alone. It was so small it fit in the palm of my hand. It’s eyes were not open, and it was near death. She asked me if I wanted to try to help save it. I was determined to be successful. I immediately researched what I needed to do to keep this baby alive. Through trial and error, I found the best course for little Tucker. Each day she grew stronger and eventually was ready to go
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back into the wild. We introduced her to the outside world a little at a time. We showed her food sources, trees and provided support if she needed it. She stayed around for 4-6 months and eventually became the wild creature she was meant to be. I have since rehabbed 18 other squirrels. Two years ago, I received my first “bucket” of opossums. They were literally delivered to me in a five-gallon bucket. A dog killed the mother and they were inside her pouch. There were 9 little babies. I again researched what to do and worked quickly to get them hydrated and warm. Heat is always the first and most important component as most small animals cannot generate and hold their own body heat. They depend on Mom to keep them warm. Opossums are the cleanest creatures. Most people associate them with being dirty. They clean themselves like a cat and are even easy to litter train. They have the cutest smiles and carry very few diseases. Most opossums are immune to rabies. They eat mice, bugs, including ticks, and snakes. They are very docile and love belly rubs. They will even use a
hamster wheel for exercise. Some even come back into the cage after they were released just to use the wheel. No Kidding! The rehabilitation of wild animals may look like a lot of fun. It is rewarding but requires so much work, no sleep, is expensive and can be heartbreaking. Not all of them survive. The best place for these babies are with their mother. I have attached some websites about orphaned wildlife and when intervention should happen. A lot of people think they are doing to right thing but are literally kidnapping the babies from their mothers or taking them out of the wild when they are truly capable of taking care of themselves. Respecting wildlife can be tough given they sometimes take up residence near our homes or businesses. Their domain is getting reduced at an alarming rate so they are closer to civilization. A perfect example is the geese around Samtec and around the lake. They can be very defensive just as you would be of your family if someone appeared to be a threat. If you are not comfortable with their defenses, find another route so both you and the goose (or other animal) can be safe.
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NEW PODCASTS EPISODES! Two new Podcasts are now available! Currently there are 3 channels:
Improve You
Product Peep
• Simply aimed at a variety of topics centered around what it’s like working at Samtec • Can be to highlight interesting things employees are doing or working on • Discuss newly implement programs or policies (Samtec Cares and Covid-19 as an example) • Benefits or challenges associates may be facing or privy to (such as working third shift)
• Aimed at having conversations based on personal development • Great way to learn more about our leaders within the company • Aimed at capturing leadership tribal knowledge • Opportunity to learn new leadership or soft skills knowledge that can be applied in daily living. Learn from other’s experiences.
• Learn about our new products and future ventures! • See how customers are using our products in their end product • Understand what makes our products unique and innovative • Hear the process of designing and implementing the products from our Engineers • Get a glimpse of how we market and sell our products
New!
Samtec Life
LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW with Brian Fields
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KNOW Homelessness is a campaign local to Samtec New Albany, but we challenge Associates from all over the world to rethink and relearn what it means to be homeless.
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NOT 40 HOURS. 73 HOURS A WEEK. AT THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE, A PERSON WOULD HAVE TO WORK 73 HOURS A WEEK TO AFFORD A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT IN LOUISVILLE METRO.
Special Monthly Discount for USA Associates!* *Proof of employment required.
Digital: $4.50 per month Digital+Workshops: $10.00 per month Visit samtec.sharepoint.com then ‘HR Portal North America’, then click the ‘Perks’ page to learn more!
26 EXCITING WW APP FEATURES: 1. NEW personal assessment By answering in-depth questions about your habits, lifestyle, & goals, we’ll give you a view of your overall wellness & a personalized starting point for your wellness journey. 2. NEW weekly check-in Measuring your progress on the scale doesn’t always tell the whole story of your week. We’ll also check in on how you felt and what worked, and help you focus on the week ahead. 3. NEW progress report When you complete your Weekly Check In, we’ll analyze each component of your wellness & give you a comprehensive read out that measures your weekly success on and off the scale!
5. NEW “What’s in your fridge?” meal planner “What’s in your fridge?” helps you customize what you want to eat throughout the week by suggesting dishes based on what you have on hand. 6. NEW personalized recipe carousel Get ideas based on what you like to eat and how many SmartPoints® you have left! 7. New 5-Minute Coaching Wish you could get help for stress eating or stop beating yourself up if you overeat? Our new tool delivers bite-sized behavior change techniques for your busy life. 8. NEW updated activity dashboard Get a new way to view your FitPoints to help you move more and find workouts you love! 9. NEW science-backed sleep tools Learn simple sleep-better strategies and see how sleep plays a role in your weight-loss journey. 10. Water tracking tool Our most member-requested feature helps you keep track how much water you’re drinking!
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4. NEW digital Kickstart sessions These videos are designed to guide you through exactly what you need to have a successful first week! You’ll find them right in the WW app and in your inbox during your first four weeks!
11. Find foods based on your dietary preference Now you can sort by SmartPoints value (high to low, low to high), search by ingredient, recipe name, or restaurant, or filter by dietary preference. 12. Search by restaurant Takeout is where it’s at these days, and with our restaurant database, it’s super simple to find and track your favorites.
13. Celeb workouts with FitOn FitOn is a new digital fitness platform that creates a safe space for everyone to have the freedom to be fit. Their notable instructors, including Blogilates’ Cassey Ho, Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness, and multi-hyphenate Gabrielle Union, represent self-love, fun, body positivity, and being your best self—all while leading engaging and fun video workouts.
22. Recognition for milestones Lost 5 lbs? Reached a FitPoints goal? You’ve earned some well-deserved recognition. We’ll send you messages in the WW app when you accomplish milestones on your journey!
14. Barcode scanner A member fave! When you’re at the grocery store, you can scan the barcode of a packaged food to get its SmartPoints® value. Save it, make it a favorite, or track it on the spot, and view a list of all your scanned items for quick reference. 15. Sync to your activity device Sync your favorite fitness device to the app and it’ll automatically track your FitPoints for you! 16. Chat with a Coach Have a question about SmartPoints or myWW? Need help with the app? We’re ready to answer any question you may have! 17. Real-world advice from Jackie London Looking for lunch inspo? Need a little extra motivation to get through your day? WW’s Head of Nutrition & Wellness Jackie London is here to help in her recurring video series! 18. Create recipes Have a meal you eat regularly? The app has a Create Recipe feature that lets you save it and quickly track it any time. (No more typing in each ingredient separately.) 19. Find like-minded members on Connect Connect, our private, members-only community in the WW app, is a huge source of inspiration. 20. Join the Blue Dot Challenge Ever wondered what those blue dots are on your Journey tab? They represent days in the Healthy Eating Zone, which means you’re on the right track. See if you can earn a streak and post about your #bluedotchallenge success on Connect!
23. Your year in review Take a look back at all of your wins from the past year with your personalized Year in Review video. We highlight everything from your top-tracked foods to how many steps you walked. You can even share your video on social! Look for it in your inbox at the end of each year. 24. Meditate with Headspace Our partnership with Headspace brings mini moments of mindfulness to your wellness journey. Try exclusive, and free, meditations, just for WW members, right in the WW app! 25. Work out with Aaptiv Get access to Aaptiv’s equipment-free audio workouts in your WW app for those who prefer to listen rather than watch! Ideal for beginners because you can choose your intensity with workouts that meet you where you are! 26. Choose weight loss or healthy habits WW is about wellness for your whole life, that’s why on myWW+ you can choose whether you want to to lose weight or maintain your weight while continuing to build healthy habits.
22. Earn rewards for building healthy habits With WellnessWins™ you’ll earn Wins for building healthy habits. Trade them in for real rewards like products and cool experiences, all for free.
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