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President's

August Newsletter

Crystal Baker Ability President

I was reminded recently of an important symbol of the BSA Wood Badge course I took this year, the Kudu horn. Lord Robert Baden-Powell was a soldier, writer, and founder of the world scouting movement. Legend says he first encountered the Kudu horn at the Battle of Shangani, where he discovered how the Matabele warriors used it to quickly spread a signal of alarm. The Kudu horn is rooted in African history and was commonly used to summon members of a community to village meetings, as well as to communicate danger. 

Later in his life, when Lord Baden-Powell was developing the Wood Badge adult training course, he incorporated the Kudu horn, using it to open each course. Members, you have sounded your Kudu horns to raise alarm, and we have responded. 


Key takeaways from our Career Differentiator Series thus far are to brand yourself through a personal website, always have your resume ready and current, ensure your 30-60-90 day plans are not generic, and building a network and connections both inside and outside AT&T is crucial. From the special discussion on job accommodations, communication is of the utmost importance. Ultimately the final decision of an amicable accommodation lies between you and your manager. From the special discussion on benefits and Ability’s programs, know you have resources, free resources, available to you.


Ability is sounding our Kudu horn back to you, to call you into a very special village meeting on August 28. Rick Welday, EVP & GM of Enterprise Markets will sit down with Jamie Barton, SVP of Global HR and Labor Relations to discuss the evolution of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and how our job accommodations policy works within the law.


Registration is open now.

You can pre-submit your questions using the Broadcast link

kudu horn

Figure 1 Kudu horn, South African, late 19th century, The Met

Green Table, 4th Thursday of the month from 1:00PM-2pmCT

Grief & Trauma Support Call, 2nd Wednesday of the month from 12:00-1:00PM CT

Ann Marie Roger’s Mindful Pause, every Monday and Friday from 9:00-9:15AM CT

Vivek Kashyap’s Weekly Mindfulness Meeting, every Thursday from 2:00-3:00PM CT

Caregiver Support Call for Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 1st Wednesday of the month from 11:00AM-12:00PM CT

Neurodiversity Support Call, 4th Friday of the month from 1:00-2:00PM CT

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