It all started with a small Facebook group of 20 combat veterans sharing their interest in barbeque and cooking. Before they knew it, this handful of rib enthusiasts had expanded into a burgeoning non-profit organization aimed at helping as many veterans as possible. Vets Rolling Smoke & BBQ is a non-profit organization whose goal is to raise awareness for military veterans suffering from combat depression, PTSD, and isolation.
Isolation is something that many combat veterans suffer from, which also encompasses PTSD and combat depression. The cycle repeats as the isolation leads to further depression and depression leads to continued isolation. Vets Rolling Smoke & BBQ was a Facebook group created by Garry Hodges to combat this isolation and give veterans a public forum to discuss and display their passion for BBQ. What began as a group of 20 friends slowly turned into over 1000 members. Garry realized this was the perfect opportunity to reach out to those in need and transformed the Facebook group into a non-profit organization. Currently, the organization does charity events to raise money for veteran families, take on sponsorships for equipment, raffles, and events, and enters competitions to help members grow their skillset and open themselves up to conversations they usually wouldn’t have. Veterans suffering from depression and PTSD lack confidence in themselves. It’s a journey to rebuild themselves from scratch and if BBQ is the way to facilitate growth and build confidence, then this is the place to be. While the group's goal is to raise awareness, the silent mission is to lend a helping hand to veterans that are suffering and pull them out of their isolation. One such inspiring story happened a few years ago. Garry was at home, unable to sleep from insomnia when he gets a call. He doesn’t know the caller personally but knows they’re a veteran. The man explained that a few months prior he had been sitting in his living room, preparing himself to drink the equivalent of three bottles of pills to end his life. He had written a note, prepared his will and everything. He logged on to Facebook one last time and noticed a friend had tagged him in a group called Vets Rolling Smoke & BBQ. He saw that there was a competition coming up and, seeing that it was open to all contenders, decided that he would enter for the heck of it. Why not, right? Well, he ended up winning the competition. For the first time, he made a post on Facebook to celebrate his success and saw an outpouring of support for him. Ultimately he ended up reconnecting with his ex-wife, made an effort to get back into his daughter’s life, and stabilized his life. All because Vets Rolling Smoke & BBQ exists. While it may have started out with humble beginnings, there was some trial and error in the process. As the organization was growing, they realized that they needed credibility to bring in more members and sponsors. They decided to enter a BBQ competition to help grow their name. Unfortunately, they got smoked and realized that the world of briskets and ribs was bigger than they had imagined. They steadily honed their craft and won first place in ribs by the third event. Within the first year, they finished with three or four trophies, giving the organization the credibility and experience needed to start branching out. More people that wanted to help started joining alongside new cooks, organizations, and professionals pledging to step in and assist. Currently, Vets Rolling Smoke & BBQ enters around 20 events each year and welcomes any volunteers that are interested. While their ribs are prestigious, volunteers of all skill levels are welcome. You don’t have to know anything about cooking or BBQ, so long as you have a passion to help and the willingness to work on a team. The same can be said of donations. Anyone can donate, whether they be product donations for charities or financial donations to sponsor the teams or for charity events. IntegriTel has decided to take the first step in helping this powerful organization achieve its goals and donated to its cause. Vets Rolling Smoke & BBQ has impacted so many lives, we’d like to give back however we can. If you’re interested in volunteering or donating, their website has more information to direct you further. If you want to come out and meet the team, they are attending charity cookoffs and professional events around the year, so pop into the Facebook group to see when the next event starts. Thank you to every veteran for your service and if you’re looking for a place to rebuild and connect, look no further than Vets Rolling Smoke & BBQ. Here, nobody cooks solo because veterans are never alone. Small and medium business IT is similar to the IT of larger organizations, but with the added difficulty of tighter finances. A full IT team may not be in the budget, but you can create a comprehensive checklist that anyone in your organization can fulfill which covers critical data, potential security risks, and prevents cyber attacks. This may sound like a miracle solution, but it's simply an efficient IT checklist. Initial IT Setup ChecklistSetting up your IT infrastructure is a similar process to setting up an office relocation plan. Of course, if you've already set up your IT infrastructure then you can ignore this step, otherwise, these are the first few points to prioritize. The checklist should cover:
IT Infrastructure and StabilityWhile new equipment is enticing, if you don't know how or where to install it, it's a moot purchase. It's not uncommon for a small business to grind to halt for hours or days as employees attempt to install a new service or software "just like we had at our last job". Your last job probably had a dedicated IT department. Here, it's all hands on deck with some people knowing more about some aspects of your IT than others. Additionally, some small businesses make the mistake of purchasing equipment in their office based on similar equipment used at home. Home use and work use are not the same, despite some people's insistence. You have to ensure that the equipment you purchase is suitable for a business network environment. Create an infrastructure checklist that covers:
Preventing Security Threats Through SoftwareSoftware licenses are valuable assets for your company. Installing software is simple, but it's even easier to forget that it's there. Similarly, it's easy to forget if you have a service contract, what it includes, if you should renew, and when the renewal date is. Picture a situation where you forgot to renew your domain name. Despite numerous emails, it slipped your mind due to your high workload. Although domain names are cheap, they're the identity of your business. Slipping up leaves the domain name open for squatters or opportunists to grab and hold over your head for a hefty price. To avoid situations like this, you should standardize the processes for purchasing, licensing, renewing, and updating. Someone should be responsible for it and keep everything documented somewhere easily accessible. Without a system in place, you open yourself up to potential cyber threats or network security issues. Other items to consider are:
Protecting Sensitive Data With The CloudThe cloud offers customizable solutions for your small business that lets you scale your infrastructure and keep up with growth both rapid and slow. The cloud is perfect for small businesses because it's fast, affordable, and flexible. Sadly, it isn't all rainbows and sunshine. Before shifting to the cloud, you need to consider some critical questions, which includes:
The Importance of CybersecurityUnfun fact: 46% of all cyber attacks are targeted at small businesses. Why? Because odds are you have a much smaller or possibly non-existent IT department that isn't fully equipped to deal with security threats. With every new technology you adopt, the need to have cybersecurity vigilance grows. Your IT security checklist should at least cover:
How to Use Your IT Checklist EffectivelyCombining all of this together, you get a complete IT checklist that covers all of your small business technology needs. Running through each of these points may be overwhelming, but if you compartmentalize everything further, you'll have a simplified four step plan.
New year, new you, right? It's 2023 and with the change of the calendar comes the promise that this year is different. You can do anything you set your mind to, whether that's hitting the gym and sticking with it or starting those cooking classes you've been meaning to attend. Or maybe this is the year you assess your phone system or lack thereof. How can you tell what works and what doesn't? Well, let's go over a few of the signs that it's time for a change. 1. Phone System Price Point ProblemsAre your current phone bills steep? Money is always a serious part of any business venture and should be considered carefully, especially at the start of the year when budgets are typically assessed. If the pricing is confusing or too high, you may want to start investing in new options. You should be able to accurately predict your monthly bill without any surprises. This is especially true of small business phone systems, where money is typically tighter and has to be invested carefully. A penny spent is a penny earned, but when your business is small enough, that penny could make or break your budget for the month. Take the time to carefully look over business phone system providers and the prices they offer. If the numbers don't add up or are far too high, keep searching until you find the right fit. 2. A Reliable Business Phone System Making phone calls all day long is exhausting, but it's made a bit easier when you know your provider and their services are reliable. Every provider claims to be your "one-stop-shop" that can handle all of your voice needs, but when calls drop or phone systems don't connect when they need to, you're left downstream without a paddle. If you catch a provider pulling the wool over your eyes, don't settle for second best. There are other potential partners out there with a better reputation or better way of handling issues. No more missed calls, no more absent support, just clear communication. 3. Variety is the Spice of VoIP Phone SystemsTelecommunications has come a long way with the advancements of cloud-based phone systems and communications technology. If your current VoIP phone system is offering the bare minimum then you're missing out on an ocean of features that could mean sink or swim in the future. A virtual phone system and video conferencing capabilities are a bare minimum that you should be utilizing in your daily operations. If your provider doesn't offer these services or offers ridiculous bundles to access them, you're better off looking for solutions elsewhere. 4. Limited Phone System SupportCustomer support is an essential tool for any business that offers specialized services. When you can't reach customer service, especially during an emergency, you're left with potentially long-lasting repercussions. Sure, you could consult their business phone system FAQs, but that doesn't always answer your questions. If your internet connection is down then you may not even be able to consult the FAQ boards. A direct line of contact is the quickest and easiest way to keep your systems running smoothly, but that only works if your provider is available for questions. If you suffer from slow business phone service providers, don't wait around for them to pick up the phone. Someone else is guaranteed to be faster somewhere out there. 5. The Dreaded C-Word: ContractsLong-term contracts are heavily weighted in the providers favor. Once you're locked in, you're subject to their terms. Trapped in a loop of requesting help desk services with no response? That's something you'll have to pay for the immediate future. If there are changes in your business, you should have the freedom to scale your services up or down while changing services along the way. A long-term contract essentially traps you in stasis for the duration, giving you exactly what's on paper, no more, no less. If you're already stuck in a contract, you'll just have to wait it out. If you're currently shopping around for a new provider, find someone that doesn't lock you into drawn out contracts or contracts with high cancellation fees. Small businesses especially are geared towards early growth, something that contracts hinder. Stay on your toes, there's more to business phone systems than meets the eye. The Best Business Phone Systems AroundFinding the perfect business phone system provider sometimes feels like finding a needle in a haystack. Everyone promises they're the next big solution, but actually following through is another matter entirely.
IntegriTel offers business phone system solutions that offer the customization and reliability you need to carry out your business without a problem. Whatever you need, from business phone systems to teams integration and live chat capabilities, we provide from start to finish. No hassle with rigid contracts, no missed calls or lack of support. When you need us, we show up. If you're looking for a small business phone system provider you can trust, IntegriTel is here to answer your questions. Contact us if you believe it's time to switch to a provider you can rely on to handle any of your telecom needs. |