Section News - February 2021

In The News This Month

1. Have Your Meeting Featured + HQ Support for Online Meetings

2. AWS New Member Welcome - Feb 2021

3. AWS Section Solutions Conversations

4. Education & Training Update

5. Foundation Update

Here's the news we would love to see you put to good use this month, Section leaders.

And please do note that the 2021 WEMCO Excellence in Welding Awards Nomination Form is now open. 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!

Thank you for your continued support of the AWS.

And please do let me know if there is anything we can do for you at any point. 

Most sincerely,

-Darrill

1. Have Your Meeting Featured + HQ Support for Online Meetings

NEW - Upcoming AWS Section Meetings page!

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 Detroit Section on February 11th for "Freaking Out in Resistance Welding", a presentation by AWS Life Member and RWMA Chairman, Don DeCorte, or join the AWS Columbus Section on February 16th for “COBOTS in the workplace". 
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. 

Additional Online Meeting Support from AWS HQ:

Zoom Accounts
AWS HQ wants to ensure our Sections have easy access to an online meeting platform to facilitate effective online meetings/events. 

Request access to an AWS-provided Zoom account via the Section Request Form. 
We are happy to provide training and/or technical support to get you comfortable with Zoom. Just email Darrill and let him know how he can help. 

Content for Virtual Meetings

Know you need to hold a meeting but not sure what to rally people around?
AWS Marketing has 7 pre-recorded webinars available for you to use at aws.org/webinars OR tap into the AWS Speakers Directory, which features 74 individuals who have expressed interest in providing presentations for AWS members. Some speakers, like AWS President Bob Roth, have provided pre-recorded presentations, which are accessible from their Speaker Profile.

*Access the AWS Speakers Directory by logging into your AWS Member Account. Once logged in, click the District/Sections button on your Member Account dashboard, and then click the "Find Speakers" button. 
Need help with the AWS Speakers Directory or want to be added as a Speaker? 
Email Darrill. 

Additional content, such as "What's new in the Updated Edition of AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020 Structural Welding Code - Steel" presented by Dr. Richard Campbell, can be found on the AWS YouTube channel. 

2. AWS New Member Welcome - Feb 2021

To help our newest members learn more about their AWS member benefits we have launched a quarterly webinar series to provide an overview of what AWS members receive. While new members are the target audience, long-time members are welcome to attend.

This online event hosted by AWS staff will provide an overview of AWS Individual Membership benefits, how to navigate the AWS Member Portal, and how to access several features.

Click below to register:

https://aws-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EiOzfp3NSGaHXc5TmEDzIg

3. 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. 

• February 24 – Updated Topic: Best Business Practices of Treasury Management for Sections; Guest Presenter: Ilya Gekhman
  Click here to join us on 2/24 at 11:00AM EST

Visit the new AWS Section Solutions Conversations page to find recordings of past  Conversations. 

4. Education & Training Update

2021 Seminar & Exam Schedules

Certified Welding Inspector, 9-Year Recertification, Certified Radiographic Interpreter and Certified Welding Part B Schedules are now online!

Visit us at awo.aws.org/instructor-led-seminars/seminar-exam-schedule/ to learn more and register.

*Want your Section to support - and benefit from - an upcoming Seminar & Exam that is scheduled to come to your area? 
Complete the AWS Section Agreement Form to express your interest.

Upcoming Professional Development Webinar

Aluminum Welding for Fabricators, Inspectors & Engineers: March 30 – April 8

Is welding aluminum difficult or just different? This live webinar addresses that question and provides you the information needed to confidently work with aluminum. By the end of the course, attendees will be able to identify aluminum properties that affect its use in welded structures; design, fabricate, and inspect aluminum weldments; and explain how to properly qualify aluminum welding procedures and welders.

Visit us at https://awo.aws.org/professional-development/ to learn more, register, and check out our other titles!

5. AWS Foundation Update

Deadline March 1^st for National, District, and Section Scholarships Applications.

The deadline to apply for National, District, and Section Scholarships is March 1^st. More than $1.5 million in scholarships will be awarded. Visit www.aws.org/scholarships to learn more or go directly to scholarship.aws.org to apply.

On-Demand Webinar Covers Scholarship Application Process

If you have ever wanted an in-depth presentation on the AWS Foundation Scholarship to share with students in your area, look no further than the on-demand presentation Understanding the AWS Foundation Scholarship Application Process. Scholarship Program Administrators Nazdhia Prado and Whitney Minor discuss the different types of scholarships available and provide a detailed look at the various components and requirements of the application, providing helpful tips along the way. The webinar can be viewed here or at www.aws.org/webinars.

Welding Workforce Grant Application – Deadline April 1st

Grants up to $25,000 are available for secondary and post-secondary education/training institutions to enhance and improve welding programs. Schools must be both AWS Educational Institution Members and SENSE Registered to apply. The first application deadline of 2021 is April 1st. Learn more at https://www.aws.org/workforcegrant.

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.

Learn more and submit a request at:

https://www.careersinwelding.com/helmet-request-form/

Requests must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the event to allow time for processing.

Scholarships for Educators – Deadline April 1st

Scholarships are available for welding instructors and educators for continuing education or professional development courses. The deadline to apply for National and District Educator Scholarships is April 1st. Learn more at www.aws.org/educatorscholarships.

Don't Forget About the AWS Section Toolkit!

Resources like these, and so much more, are ready for you in the AWS Section Toolkit. While you're there; bookmark it!

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.