Before we jump into the news for this month, I need to ask for your feedback.
We would like to know more about the current state and needs of our Sections, and you will be the best to inform us. Please set aside 10 minutes to complete the survey that I have linked below by April 16th. The feedback you provide will allow us to make enhancements to existing resources and be more informed as we work to develop new resources and tools to help you in your role as a leader of an AWS Section.
Darrill A. Gaschler Sr. Manager, Sections and Student Chapters American Welding Society® P: 305-443-9353 x260 | E: dgaschler@aws.org
Now, onto the news...
In The News This Month
1. AWS Celebrates National Welding Month 2021
2. AWS Launches a New Recruitment Campaign: Take the Torch
3. WEMCO Excellence In Welding Awards - Apply by 4/30!
4. AWS Section Solutions Conversations - Next Up: 4/28
5. Updates from AWS Foundation and AWS Education
1. American Welding Society Celebrates National Welding Month 2021
Welding careers play an integral role in keeping people safe and advancing the quality of life across the globe, yet participation in the skilled trades continues to decrease. Please join the American Welding Society throughout April as we celebrate National Welding Month and the people and jobs that make our industry essential with influencer takeovers, membership giveaways, special promotions on AWS products and services, and much more.
2. American Welding Society Launches a New Recruitment Campaign
The global welder shortage is a growing and well-known phenomenon. And to help foster the next generation of welders, the American Welding Society is proud to announce a new membership initiative — Take the Torch.
Don't forget that the 2021 WEMCO Excellence in Welding Awards Nomination Form is open through April 30th. There is a Section category, and self nominations are welcomed!, so please do let WEMCO know about your Section, and join the likes of the AWS Los Angeles/Inland Empire (2019), North Texas (2018), and Mobile (2017) Sections - and others - as a WEMCO Excellence in Welding Awards winner!
4. AWS Section Solutions Conversations
Reminder to join us on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 11:00-11:30AM EST OR watch the recording at your convenience.
Welding Helmet Prizes for Competitions and Section Student Nights
The American Welding Society Foundation is providing red or black auto-darkening welding helmets, courtesy of Jackson Safety, to be used as prizes for welding competitions or as door prizes at AWS Section student events.
Requests must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the event to allow time for processing.
100% Matching Program
The AWS Foundation Board of Trustees has approved the 100% matching program through 2021. All donations to new or existing scholarship or grant endowments will be matched at 100%.
A minimum contribution of $10,000 will establish a Section Scholarship that awards $1,000 per year.
A minimum contribution of $50,000 will establish a Section Grant that will award $5,000 per year for a local welding education or training institution.
Transfers from Section Investment Accounts (SIA) to new or existing endowments are also eligible for the 100% match.
To learn more, or to establish a scholarship or grant, contact John Douglass at jdouglass@aws.org – ext. 212
District Scholarship Selection Process
As a reminder, District Scholarship applications will be available for all Districts to view in April or May. An email will be sent to the District Directors and Section Chairs with a link to access the scholarships for upcoming District Conferences at that time. If someone other than the District Director or Section Chair needs access to review the scholarships, the District Director or Section Chair should submit the name and email address to Whitney Minor (Districts 1-11) at wminor@aws.org or Nazdhia Prado (Districts 12-22) at nprado@aws.org.
Scholarship Selection Best Practices
To avoid conflict of interest, selection committee members should not participate in the review or selection of a scholarship if he or she:
Is an applicant
Is related to an applicant
Works directly with an applicant
Is an instructor, teacher, group leader, or mentor of an applicant
Has written a letter of recommendation for an applicant
Has any other type of personal relationship with an applicant
AWS Education Update
Take an AWS course from the comfort of your own home!
Visit us at awo.aws.org to learn more about the above offerings as well as our in-person seminars.
Extra! Extra!
For those who want more...
Don't Forget About the AWS Section Toolkit!
Resources like those noted in this newsletter, and so much more, are ready for you in the AWS Section Toolkit. While you're there; bookmark it!
What Are Other Sections Doing? See For Yourself!
The Upcoming AWS Section Meetings page was created to make AWS Section meetings and events more visible and more accessible than ever before. Click over to review the page and learn how you can join the AWS Connecticut Section for a presentation on Heavy Equipment Repair by Albert Moore on March 9th or join the AWS Iowa Section on March 19th for "ISO 3834 Review and Accreditation Process" with Jeff Hesse and AWS Past President David Landon.
More events are being added each week, so bookmark the page, share it with others, and check back often to see what is going on around the Society.
Want your upcoming meeting or event to be added to the page? Simply select the "Have your meeting/event added to the list of Upcoming Section Meetings" option the next time you submit a request via the Section Request Form.
One last request: Please share this with your fellow Section leaders to ensure they stay up-to-speed on all Section-related news.
About this email:
Each month, I will distribute an electronic newsletter to all active Section Officers and Section Committee Chairpersons (who have a valid email address in our database).
The goal of distributing these newsletters is to effectively communicate important details we want you to be aware of.
I encourage you to discuss these details with your Section’s leadership team to ensure everyone is up-to-speed on all relevant news coming from AWS Headquarters as well as a feature on recent successes from some of your colleagues in the field. Reviewing these details as a team is a great way to promote and foster a strong line of communication among Section leadership as well as within your Section.
American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36th Street, Doral, FL 33166, United States, 8004439353