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CTA members tell their
stories: part 4
Legally blind in
Hamilton Ontario wants to telework. I am not presently doing any
type of teleworking but the idea of it is perfect for my situation. I am a
legally blind person who is far from being totally blind. My only real draw
back is that I cannot drive with my vision. I have various tools (computers,
scanners CCTV's etc.) at home which enable me to see things and perform
duties as a normal person would. Unfortunately most employers are scared
away soon as you mention a visual disability and my resume seems to make the
other pile. In short teleworking would be an ideal situation for someone
such as myself who would not have to depend on a drivers license to make a
living. I have a vast self taught knowledge of computers and software being
able to provide numerous people with technical support with computer related
problems. I absolutely love the world of computers. For me to spend 12 hours
a day on the computer is a walk in the park. I am searching for professional
training in computer technical support and networking but am not sure what
avenues to take that would best suit my situation. Perhaps you could
enlighten me somewhat and set me in the right direction. I would absolutely
love a career in computers. Please help if you can. B.
Marek
Freelance teleworker
collaborating book for managers of telecommuters. I
am a freelance writer in the US, collaborating with Bill Fenson, President
of the National Employment Counseling Association, on a 'tips' book for
managers of telecommuters. Along with historical info, statistics,
terminology, etc, the bulk of our information will come from managers of
telecommuters. We are talking to executives and front line managers who will
share their successful or not-so-successful experiences supervising
telecommuters. Sharon Hill De Scribe,
607-724-4294
Quebec company's
dispersed teleworkers save office space. We're 100% telework
corporation. No office space. I'm in Lévis, my assistant is in Charlevoix
(150 km from me), my IT manager's in Gatineau, my Marketing manager lives
and work south of Montreal... 15 people altogether plus 10-15 freelancers
working from home. I works great for us since we are an Internet company
which is required to run lean... We've grown since Mars 1998 that way and
are not ready to confine ourselves into an office... Ghislain
Parent, General Manager, Showbizz.net
corp
Senior executive and
CTA member from Newfoundland works with dispersed team. I have
been a member of The Canadian Telework Association for several years and
enjoy keeping up on the news relating to Telework in Canada and around the
world. I was first introduced to the concept of Telework in 1996 when I
registered for a one year course offered by the College of the North
Atlantic, Newfoundland, Canada. This course was conducted from a distance
utilizing the communication tools available. (computers, Internet, email,
phones, and faxes). Upon graduation from this course in 1997, I spent
several months attempting to find a "niche" in the telework field
that would allow me to work from home utilizing the training and tools I had
been given. Eventually, I made contact with a gentleman in Nevada, USA who
was starting two new companies online that I felt would be a success and
would allow me to work from my home office at a job that I would enjoy.
This gentleman had created two companies, one
complimenting the other. The first company is FIIFA, First International
Investments Finders Association http://fiifa.com
and it is the exclusive Finder for the second company, Dalli International
Marketing Inc (DIMI)....a marketing and advertising company that offers its
services to buyers and sellers who wish to advertise their property for sale
without paying any up front fees. FIIFA finds the items for sale and DIMI
advertises those items on its showcase website.
On March 22, 1999 I signed up as the first member of FIIFA and to date the
membership has grown to over 5000 members worldwide. Membership is free and
anyone over 18 years of age can become a member. To get a better
understanding of what FIIFA is all about please visit http://fiifa.com/aboutfiifa.html
FIIFA allows its members the opportunity to earn Finder's Rewards working
from home. DIMI has also grown extensively and to date approx 1900 items are
being advertised for sale on its website. To get a quick overview of the
types of items being offered please visit http://www.dalli.com/int.marketing/admin/overview2.html
The reason I am contacting you regarding
those companies is to relate how both companies are being operated
exclusively through telework. Both are virtual companies and everyone
associated with them works from their homes utilizing the technology
available today that allows this to happen. From the CEO who lives in
Nevada, to myself as the Senior Vice President of FIIFA and VP of DIMI, to
the many FIIFA Vice Presidents situated worldwide to the Associate
Administrators who assist us in the day to day operations for both
companies... everyone works from a distance. There are no physical offices
where people come to work each day (other than the home offices of the
people involved). Not one of the people involved have met face to face but
we have built a complete network of people who work closely on a day to day
basis around the world from as far away as New Zealand........ Currently
we have VP's representing FIIFA in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China,
Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Shanghai, New
Zealand, and various US states. To meet our Vice Presidents for FIIFA please
visit http://fiifa.com/vp.html and
follow the links. This worldwide network of people use the Internet, email,
ICQ, and FTP to work together on a daily basis to ensure both companies are
kept in operation. Telephones and faxes are used on a very limited basis due
to the high costs of utilizing those forms of communications on an
international level. Viola Benson, Sr.
VP for FIIFA and VP for DIMI, Newfoundland, Canada
IBM exec
sees telework as viable program. At telework since
1992, working remotely from either home (or at locations other
than my primary office) continues to be a significant
productivity and work/life balance advantage to the company and
personally. I'm an advocate of formal telework programs, based
either on the nature of the business and business strategy or it
being a very visible optional program for employees. George
Postalian, CIO, IBM Global Services, Markham Ontario
See
dozens of other telework stories in our telework
story archives
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