The program is piloting a new language program in an attempt to boost participation in light of 12-hour shifts, which, according to Coordinator Amy Payton, have made it more difficult for members to attend class. I know that is a common refrain when we get together and ask local programs what some of their biggest obstacles are.

So instead of hosting a language class with minimal participation, the MinnTac LJC is turning to technology and Rosetta Stone in an attempt to meet its workers’ educational need in this area.

The LJC has purchased one Rosetta Stone Spanish program and are conducting an informal member survey on a second language. It has also purchased two new laptop computers on which Amy will load the programs. Members will be allowed to check the laptops out of the center for up to two weeks – just like one would check a book out of the library. If, at the end of the two weeks, there is not someone else waiting for a laptop, that member is free to extend for another two weeks.

The thought is that Rosetta Stone provides the program a new methodology to deliver the curriculum at MinnTac. Part of ICD’s mission is to explore those new methodologies, so it is encouraging to see the LJC being so proactive. The program is offering an in-house Spanish class this spring, so it will be interesting to see the results. According to Amy, if the demand for the Rosetta Stone is larger than anticipated, the LJC may consider purchasing additional packages and additional laptops on which to load the program.

I believe such outside-the-box thinking is what separates Career Development from other worker education programs. We at ICD applaud the dedication of all the LJCs and Coordinators in serving their members. Well done.

Until next time … Jerry.

Instead of hosting one national conference as it has done in the past, the BGA is borrowing from ICD’s playbook and shifting to a regional conference mode, hosting four separate “Good Jobs, Green Jobs” conferences in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Detroit.

As a conference convener, ICD is committed to spreading the word of the conferences on behalf of the BGA. ICD Staff will also be conducting workshops at each of BGA’s regional conferences, disseminating our grassroots approach of creating a new green economy through the use of Career Development training efforts.

Here is a description of the 2012 GJG Conference, in BGA’s own words:

From the manufacturing of solar panels and wind turbines, to updating commercial buildings and the weatherization of homes, to the production of cleaner, safer chemicals, the green economy is emerging in cities and towns across the country. This year, the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Regional Conferences will be heading to the states to bring the discussion of good jobs and a clean economy to our area.

This is a chance for all of us to meet with community leaders, union members, environmentalists, business leaders and elected officials together to discuss how our region of the U.S. is, city by city and block by block, building the foundation for a green economy.

The Conference will feature high-level keynote speakers, dynamic plenaries, and workshops at each of the four Regional Conferences, emphasizing local initiatives creating good jobs and a clean environment in a number of emerging clean tech sectors. Some of these areas include: clean energy manufacturing; green infrastructure and transportation; state and local initiatives; emerging green sectors like recycling, chemicals, water and agriculture; renewable energy and energy efficiency; and business, investments and new markets.

Join us for the nation’s leading forum for building a green economy and creating good, green jobs. Visit http://www.greenjobsconference.org/to find a Conference near you today.

For a printable conference flyer, click here.

Until next time … Jerry.

There is nothing like coming back after the New Year ready to take on new challenges and pursue new opportunities.

We know there are plenty of them – challenges and opportunities – awaiting us in 2012, and we resolve to work closely with all the sites and Local Joint Committees to help them meet their own challenges head on while also maximizing their opportunities.

In short, we want to help you keep whatever resolutions you may have for your program in the new year?

Out of curiosity, has anyone come up with any resolutions for their program in 2012? We’d love to hear them.

Until next time … Jerry.

We were recently asked by USW District 12 Director Bob LaVenture if we could assist in a local Women of Steel campaign to provide holiday cheer for veterans. Obviously, we were eager to help. Here is the result.

We are pleased to be able to announce the final four winners of the 2011 Tino Fulimeni Memorial Scholarship. We have verified the transcripts of our recipients and they have all been sent their scholarship checks of $1,000. Congratulations to the winners, their families and the Career Development Programs they represent.

The final four winners are:

Christopher Engel

• Christopher Engel, Michigan City, IN; son of Diane Engel, USW Local 6787, USW/ArcelorMittal-Burns Harbor;

David & Brian Gutelius

• Brian Gutelius, Crete, IL; son of David Gutelius, USW Local 9231, USW/ArcelorMittal-I/N Tek & I/N Kote;

• Darren Hamilton, Cortland, OH; grandson of Harry Sundbye, USW Local 1200, USW/REP-Canton;

Maya Wilson

• Maya Wilson, Baltimore, MD; daughter of Reginald Murray, USW Local 9477, USW/RG Steel – Sparrows Point.

This foursome joins our previously announced winners – Chelsey Ditmore, Zachary Heiser, and Mikhail Privalov – as our 2011 Tino Fulimeni Memorial Scholarship winners.

One final note on the Tino Fulimeni Scholarships: I urge all programs to encourage and publicize this opportunity to the membership. It takes literally two minutes to fill out the application and, in this economy, we know every dollar counts.

In other news,  we’ve recently been made aware of the retirements and departures of some long-time Local Joint Committee members. Two stalwarts from the USW/Allegheny-Ludlum-Western Penn. Program have decided to retire. Co-chair Joe Palumbo is retiring on Dec. 31. He served on the committee for 14 years and will be missed. From the same program, Laurie Davis is also retiring, effective Jan. 1. She will be replaced by Betty Ament-Myers. And from the USW/Goodyear-Gadsden Program, Bren Riley, who served USW Local 12L as vice-president, was recently elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Alabama AFL-CIO. He has been replaced by Rick Clifton. Congratulations to Bren on his election. We know he will serve the working people of Alabama well.

Wherever the holidays take you, travel safe.

Until next time … Jerry.

Not long ago you may remember we announced a new national partnership with the University of Phoenix, where ICD-eligible Steelworkers could receive 10% off tuition rates, plus have the potential of earning experiential credits.

For clarification, the tuition reduction also applies to those Steelworkers already enrolled in Phoenix courses. We have learned since the announcement that there are a number of Steelworkers to whom this pertains. That’s certainly an added bonus that we are happy to extend to all participants.

In order to help provide more context and relevant information for you about our relationship with Phoenix, we have partnered to host three webinars. We are offering them at three different times, for convenience sake, but you only need attend one.

Below are the links to each of the three webinars. Clicking on the link of the webinar you would like to attend will allow you to add it to your calendar.

Thursday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m. Central Standard Time

Thursday, Dec. 1, 4 p.m. Central Standard Time

Monday, Dec. 12, Noon Central Standard Time

As a reminder, if there are any national educational providers with whom you would like ICD to pursue similar partnership agreements, please contact Program Director Stephanie Stalmah at (219) 738-9029 or via email.

Until next time … Jerry.

Until next time … Jerry.

As always, ICD Program Specialists are available for site-specific training opportunities by request, but our last regional training event of 2011 is Round II of the Targeted Professional Development Workshops, scheduled for Dec. 7-8 at the USW/BF Goodrich-Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Learning Center.

For those of you who are unaware, Round II of TPDW focuses on Leadership, Communication, Delegation and Working with Committees and Support Staff. The training will take place over a day and a half. As always, there will be plenty of opportunity for you to network with fellow program staff and colleagues. The training will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 (lunch will be provided) and from 9 a.m. to noon on Dec. 8.

ICD has reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn Tuscaloosa. To reserve a room at the negotiated rate of $102 per night, call (205) 722-0360 and ask for the ICD block. For flight arrangements, keep in mind Tuscaloosa is only a 45-minute drive from Birmingham.

If you have any questions about TPDW, or want to register, please contact Program Director Stephanie Stalmah by phone at (219) 738-9029 or by email.

Hope to see you there!

Until next time … Jerry.

I am happy to report that we have verified the transcripts of three of our seven winners and can announce them today, including, fittingly, a winner from Tino’s local, 1104.

These scholarships would not have been possible without the generous donations from the following locals: USW Local 1104 (Tino’s local), USW Local 9231 (USW/ArcelorMittal — I/N Tek & I/N Kote) and USW Local 1055L (USW/Bridgestone Americas – LaVergne). We would also like to thank Robert Smith from Smith Education Associates and Denny Finnearty, President of Universal Fitness in Merrillville, IN, for their donations as well.

Finally, we would not have been able to award seven scholarships without the outstanding work by the Leon Lynch Learning Center (particularly Coordinator John Hartman and assistant Mac Gallegos) in coordinating and sponsoring their 2^nd Annual Leon Lynch Golf Outing in September. The event raised more than $2,000 for the second straight year.

OK, on to the business at hand …

The first three winners of the 2011 Tino Fulimeni Scholarship are:

• Chelsey Marie Ditmore, Hopwood, PA, daughter of Ricky L. Ditmore, USW Local 2227, USW/U.S. Steel – Irvin Works;

• Zachary Heiser, Lorain, OH, stepson of Tom McDermott, USW Local 1104, USW/REP-U.S. Steel – Lorain;

• Mikhail K. Privalov, Hartselle, AL; son of Keith Bradley, USW Local 12L, USW/Goodyear-Gadsden.

Congratulations to the winners and their families and the Career Development Programs they represent!

We look forward to announcing the final four winners as the transcripts come in.

Until next time … Jerry.

Today, I want to share with you a success story passed on to us from Angie Combs, the Coordinator at the USW/Veyance-Marysville Career Development Program.

After a period of inactivity, the program recently got going in earnest. The first customized class the LJC conducted was an HVAC class held at Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion, OH.

The group of 7 Steelworkers attend a four-hour class, twice a week, somehow fitting it in to their busy schedules – that’s true dedication to lifelong learning! According to Angie, all 7 passed their EPA exams on the first attempt. They are scheduled to complete the 112-hour class this December.

Please join me in saluting these 7 Steelworkers and the USW/Veyance-Marysville Career Development Program!

And, as a reminder, if your site has a story like this to share, please pass it along.

Until next time … Jerry

Pictured left to right – Back row: Phil Cannon, Travis Franks, Craig Combs, Instructor Vic Dutton, Instructor Ryan Simpson, Wayne Wolfe.

Front row: Carey Craft, Bob Laird, Tri-Rivers Industrial Maintenance Coordinator Ted Davis, Matt Shoemaker.

Our staff left with a twinge of sadness knowing this was the last of our four Summits. Each one seemed to build upon past successes. I was very impressed with the presenters and your response to them. And Philadelphia certainly was an outstanding venue. I’d especially like to thank Advisory Board Member Lew Dopson for his welcome address and presence on the first day of the
Summit.

As always, it was wonderful to see everyone. For everyone who had the opportunity to attend at least one Learning Summit, we hope you learned something valuable and that your program came away richer for your participation. Looking ahead to the rest of the year, there are still some training and professional development training opportunities available. As mentioned in a previous blog, we will be hosting a one-day pre-conference to the AAACE National Conference Nov. 1 in Indianapolis.

Beyond that, we will be hosting Round II of our Targeted Professional Development Workshop training in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Dec. 7-8. Contact your Program Specialist for more information on either event.

In other news, we are pleased to announce a new nationally negotiated vendor for Career Development Programs.  The University of Phoenix is a leader in online learning and adult education.  It offers a wide variety of degree and certificate programs as well as a schedule that fits the needs of working adults.

Working with the University  of Phoenix, we have been able to negotiate a 10% tuition reduction for any Career Development
participant.  This discount would be available to current or new students and is applied through a direct bill set up between the University  of Phoenix and the Career Development site.  If your site has students currently enrolled at the University of Phoenix, please contact Stephanie Stalmah in our office for information about receiving the tuition reduction.

For more information on Phoenix, go to our website and click on the programs and courses tab.

Until next time … Jerry.