Happy New Year, Section Leaders! We're starting off the new year with a new approach to sharing the Section News. It is important for us to keep you, our Section leaders, up-to-speed on important news from AWS HQ. This format will allow me to more easily share news in an easy-to-digest way - and I hope you find that to be the case.
I'm eager to get your feedback, so please let me know whether or not this month's News is easier for you to use. A simple π or π will do.
And do let me know how I can help you with any other aspect of your role as a Section Leader. Looking forward to a strong year ahead. Thank you, in advance, for all you do to bring AWS to life at the local level - and beyond.
A new slate of AWS Section Solutions Conversations begins this month! Conversations are scheduled to take place on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 11:00-11:30AM EASTERN. All active Section Officers are encouraged to participate.
February 24 β Preparing for National Welding Month (NWM): How to Make the Most of NWM in Spite of Disruption
March 24 - Section Spotlight Section TBD β contact dgaschler@aws.org to express interest in having your Section highlighted.
April 28 (National Welding Month) β Preparing for the 2021 AWS Section Annual Report
May 26 β Getting the Most from District Conferences
June 23 β Section Leadership 101: Basic Training (Tools, Resources, and How-To)
July 28 - Section Spotlight Section TBD β contact dgaschler@aws.org to express interest in having your Section highlighted.
August 25 β Brainstorming for a New (Section) Year
September 22 β Marketing Your Section
October 27 β Section Leadership 201: Engaging Your Team
November 24 β Section Finances
December 22 βTBD based on feedback from Section Leaders. *Dates, times, topics and presenters are subject to change. Recordings of past Section Solutions Conversations are available in the Section Toolkit.
AWS Student Chapter Solutions Conversations will take place beginning in January, 2021. Email Evelyn Andino for more information about AWS Student Chapter Solutions Conversations.
3. 2021 Seminar & Exam Schedules
Certified Welding Inspector, 9-Year Recertification, Certified Radiographic Interpreter and Certified Welding Part B Schedules are now online!
*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.
4. AWS Foundation Update
Applications NOW OPEN for National, District, and Section Scholarships
Applications for National, District, and Section Scholarships are now open with a deadline of March 1st for scholarships to be used in Fall 2021. More than $1.5 million in scholarships is set to be awarded. Visitwww.aws.org/scholarshipsto learn more or go directly toscholarship.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 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.
The Careersinwelding.com Educator page includes links to numerous resources available to welding instructors, some specifically tailored to virtual learning. For use in the classroom, educators can download a poster and career cards to print on their own. To access all resources, visit https://www.careersinwelding.com/educators/.
JobsinWelding.com
Donβt forget to visit www.jobsinwelding.com if your company is looking to find a qualified candidate or if you are looking to find a new job opportunity. This AWS job board, through relationships with numerous job boards and distributors, offers direct access to over 88% of the welding jobs posted on the internet. Over 1,100 jobs are currently listed - no need to search multiple sites!
5. Content for Section Meetings and More
Online Meeting Platforms AWS HQ wants to ensure our Sections have easy access to online meeting platforms necessary to facilitate effective online meetings/events.
Easily request access to an AWS-provided Zoom account via the Section Request Form.
AWS Webinar Series = Easy Content for Virtual Meetings
Welding is the foundation of modern life, and our industry and members are essential. Get the inside scoop on the welding standards, certifications, seminars, workforce development activities and more that support our industry. Each webinar is 30-45 minutes and is jam-packed with tips, tricks and insights:
Introduction to AWS
Best Practices and Insights to Become a Certified Welder
Preparing for a Career as a CWI
Resistance Welding Process, Industry, Careers and Certification
Thermal Spray: The Industry, Technology, Applications and Careers
NEW! AWS Standards: Cracking the Codes that Protect Our Community
NEW! Understanding the AWS Foundation Scholarship Application Process
TIP: These videos are PERFECT content for an easy online Section meeting!
The first episode of 2021 is dedicated to AWS Student Chapters and how and why welding students should get involved. Our own Darrill A. Gaschler joined host Jason Becker, along with Cindy Galbavy and her Student Byren Stoner from the Helena High School AWS Student Chapter in Helena, Montana, and Lyle Palm the Chief Academics Officer at Workshops for Warriors - which also hosts an AWS Student Chapter. If you are or know any students in welding- and related programs, tell them to listen to this podcast and get the inside scoop.
Arc2Art: The Final Reveal of the Metal Maiden
2020 has been a challenging year to everyone, especially the welding community. We thought we should end things on positive note so let's take a look at one of our most favorite projects, Arc 2 Art. Watch as Stephanie Hoffman and Barbie the Welder created a metal sculpture based on Lady Liberty. The art project spanned over several months and took countless hours to create. The completed metal sculpture, named Metal Maiden by one of our followers, was unveiled last month via Instagram Live. Find links to both the live Instagram session and highlight video at aws.org/arc2art.
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 Sectionβs 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