Camp shows young women a world of opportunities Read more: The Daily Tribune News - Camp shows young women a world of opportunities

by Matt Shinall

9 days ago | 558 views | 0  | 9  |  | 

SKIP BUTLER/The Daily Tribune News Above, Ansley Brinson was the first young woman at the MAGIC Camp to drive the telescopic forklift provided by the Yancey Brothers Caterpillar dealership. Below, Georgia Power engineer Randy Todd helps Starla Parker line up her materials for her welding project.

Stephen Lawlor with the Yancey CAT training department explains the forklifts controls to the students who would later drive the machine and move a pallet around the Cass High School parking lot. SKIP BUTLER/The Daily Tribune News

Amanda Brinson, from left, Xandria Southern, Nick Lumpkin with Yancey CAT and Hannah Thomas perform a safety inspection on the forklift before students are allowed to operate it. SKIP BUTLER/The Daily Tribune News

Georgia Power engineer Randy Todd helps Starla Parker line up her materials for her welding project. SKIP BUTLER/The Daily Tribune News

MAGIC volunteer Euharlee Mayor Kathy Foulk, left, works with student Courtney Rediger in one of Cass High’s welding booths. SKIP BUTLER/The Daily Tribune News

No one pulled rabbits from a hat or sawed an assistant in half at MAGIC Camp last week, but young women from nearly every high school in the county were exposed to new skills and experiences in the diverse field of construction.

Mentoring a Girl in Construction Camp began here in Georgia just a few years ago and has since made its way across much of the nation. During its first week in Bartow County, 16 girls spent five days learning industry safety standards, which were put to the test with hands-on instruction in carpentry, electrical, welding and heavy-equipment operation.

"This is to bring awareness to these young ladies that there are opportunities for them in the construction field," said Georgia Power Project Relocation Coordinator Janet Queen. "We haven't done a real good job of letting them know that they have a place here, too. You know, some of the highest paid jobs in Bartow County are in the construction field. We know the economy is slow right now, but these jobs are coming back and we want to have a workforce that is prepared and ready.

"We need to be training these students so that when the jobs are here, they're there to fill them and they don't have to leave Bartow County to work."

Renee Connor founded the camp five years ago, transformed an idea into a growing nonprofit and has enlisted the help of industry leaders. In Bartow, MAGIC Camp partnered with Georgia Power and the Bartow County Board of Education to operate out of Cass High School.

"We actually started the camps in 2007. We had one camp in Gwinnett County, Ga., and it has grown from one camp to 25 this year all across the U.S. We started with six little girls and now we're actually doing three camps in the state this year," Connor said. "For companies like Georgia Power, it's about workforce development. For schools, it's about getting students interested in taking classes, but for me, it's all about the girls. If I can get one of them an opportunity they had no idea about, that's what it's all about.

"Right now, there is a skilled labor shortage in welding. ... And the girls have no idea the money they could make. A lot of government contracts now are being tailored to minority-owned businesses, which include women-owned businesses, and they have to set aside so much of those contracts to give to those businesses and these girls have no idea -- they will after this week."

Cass High Construction Teacher Jerome Black was on hand during the camp, but each day, a new guest instructor participated in lessons to introduce campers to successful women employed within the construction field.

"We try to use the instructor from the school, but we try to bring in a woman that is certified in that trade area every day to team teach. It's just better to bring in successful women that do it every day," Connor said. "We have a speaker every day this week to talk to the girls from a different area of construction. We had a mechanic come in [Wednesday] from the [Gerdau] steel plant, and she is in the Air Force Reserves and she's closer to their age so they could see younger women in the field."

Connor, a member of the National Association of Women in Construction, owns Precision Tapping, a firm specializing in pressure tapping -- a method of connecting to a pressurized pipe without an interruption of service. Other professionals on hand during the week included Journeyman Carpenter Dottie Myrick, a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.

"We're working with these girls trying to give them the basics of what we do as carpenters. We made toolboxes out of plywood the other day. ... And today, we're out there teaching them to weld -- and they're doing a very good job," Myrick said. "It's a pleasure to be a part of [MAGIC Camp]. I was asked to come out and do carpentry on Tuesday and I just had so much fun on Tuesday, I've been back every day since.

"There's nothing these young women can't do. ... For these girls, there's so much that's open to them. They can do anything they want to do, carpentry, welding, engineering, anything. And this is a good way to show them that they can do it and they can learn to do it."

Students attending the camp graduated Friday, taking home projects completed throughout the week. The day they learned carpentry, participants built a toolbox. When learning the basics of electrical wiring, campers built a lamp. In the welding shop, girls made a garden ornament from bolts and washers.

Every high school in the county was represented except Excel. At least two of the students involved, Samantha Meyers and Chelsea Maggard, hail from Cass and will have an opportunity to continue under Black's instruction.

"I think it's a phenomenal program for the young ladies opening their eyes to what is available to them in their future, not keeping them down to what people might think is traditional for a lady," Black said. "Hopefully, it will help me get a few more in my class."

Windsor, Ontario casting call for construction opportunities video

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

Windsor’s women in construction group is seeking female skilled tradespeople to participate in an upcoming video promoting career opportunities in the industry.

Christine Prymack, operations and communications manager at the Windsor Construction Association said the initiative is being undertaken in conjunction with the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board and the Greater Essex County District School Board.

Targeted at girls in Grade 10, the video is to be produced by students from one of the schools. Slated for completion next fall, the video will be aired at various schools.

“We’re not necessarily looking at any particular trades in terms of participation in the video,” Prymack said. “But preferably, these would be trades where some post-secondary education is required.”

The women in construction group would like to see interviews conducted at jobsites, in order to best demonstrate the diversity of the industry.

In an allied undertaking, members of the group also are looking into providing mentors for women graduating from post-secondary institutions and entering the construction industry.

Mentoring is one of the key goals of the year-old group, established with the blessing of the boards of both the Windsor Construction Association and sister Heavy Construction Association. Providing networking opportunities is another top priority.

The group now has more than 80 members, representing a broad cross-section of the local construction industry, including contractors operating in the heavy and industrial, commercial and institutional sectors as well as subcontractors, company owners, architects, engineers, and suppliers. Upcoming events include a golf outing and dinner Aug. 16 at the Woodland Hills Golf Club and a networking evening in the fall.

On an ongoing basis, the group is involved in efforts to raise funds for Hiatus House, a local women’s shelter. That initiative is being undertaken in conjunction with the city of Windsor’s building department.

Women interested in participating in the video or other group functions should contact Prymack by e-mail.

Retrieved from: http://dcnonl.com/article/id50593/--windsor-ontario-casting-call-for-construction-opportunities-video

From Vancouver Sun: Tradeswomen getting it done

But the same can't be said of GVHBA president

 

BY PETER SIMPSON, SPECIAL TO THE SUN MAY 19, 2012

 I am a useless husband. Just ask my long-suffering wife, the lovely Carolyn.

There are seven power tools nestled in our garage. Five of them sit unopened in their original packaging.

The compressor and nail gun combo Carolyn bought me for Christmas many years ago still has the bow on the box.

Another is a circular saw, opened and used once. Problem is, the one time it was used was when a friend tried to show me how to safely operate it and promptly nicked his finger. Back in the box, quickly.

Grinder, orbital sander, reciprocal saw, drill. All in their sealed cartons, all with expired warranties.

One would think the CEO of a prominent home builders' association would be one of the handiest guys around, what with all the rubbing-elbows contact I have with builders, renovators and tradespeople. Well, I am not handy. Not at all.

I mean, really, does the president of the Canadian Medical Association know how to save lives? Geez, come to think of it, I believe he does know how to save lives, so bad example.

Anyway, a couple years ago I tried using a mitre saw to cut a piece of baseboard trim. I had to adjust a thingamajig gizmo to set the angle of the cut. What a frustrating experience that turned out to be.

I cut the trim, cursed, then placed the two miscut halves gently on the work table. I cut a second piece, cursed louder, then tossed those two pieces, javelin-like, into the far reaches of the garage. I pulled the plug on the @%#*&$! saw and walked calmly into the house. Carolyn, as is her wont, just shook her head and wandered off into another room, where I could still hear her laughing.

I told HGTV celebrity contractor Bryan Baeumler that story at the home show last fall. He also laughed, but didn't offer a shred of constructive advice. I think he was probably laughing at me, not with me.

A while back, the association's Renovation Council members built a wheel-chair ramp for a mom and her adult daughter, both of whom had mobility challenges. My wife and I showed up to help. The guys assigned a task to Carolyn, but they told me to "just stand over there and don't get in the way."

Then there was the time we bought a new door lock, which I was sup-posed to install. I couldn't even get the darned thing out of the hard-plastic packaging. While I was looking for the heavy-duty scissors, I passed by the living room and, lo and behold, a hockey game was on the tube. Between periods, I resumed my scissor search only to find that Carolyn had finished installing the door lock.

I shouldn't have been surprised, given that my wife is the daughter of a university engineering professor, but it is somewhat worrisome that she now has the ability to change door locks in a flash.

When it comes to handy women, it appears my wife has lots of company. I met plumber Anne Fraser at the Vancouver Home and Design Show in September 2010. She had just launched Princess Plumbing and was exploring what more she could do to promote her business.

We chatted, then she handed me a brochure outlining her company's services. It was bold and to the point. "Princess Plumbing will provide fast, honest and reliable service in a non-intimidating manner, and at a price agreed upon - with no surprises."

Fraser also exhibited a sense of humour. Her brochure cheekily claimed: "You won't see your typical plumber's butt sticking out from under your sink." No photographic proof accompanied the claim.

In 2005, Fraser was a single mom delivering parts for an autobody company and living paycheque to pay-cheque. She realized her son was only going to cost more as he grew and she needed a steady career from which she could earn a decent living to support her family.

"Plumbing interested me, but I realized no company would hire me with-out experience, so I went on a waiting list at BCIT. After nearly a year, I was accepted. Six months later, I got a job with a small plumbing company doing service calls. The owner suggested I join the plumbers' union, where I could qualify for training and the resources I needed to complete my apprenticeship," Fraser said.

Fraser took a big chance starting her own company in March 2010, following on the heels of the 2009 downturn in the residential construction industry. But everything seems to be working out.

"It's only been two years, but I now have repeat clients, including women homeowners who feel comfortable having me work in the house. But most of my work comes from con-tractors in the renovation business," Fraser said. "I have a lot of tenacity, confidence and pride in my work. If I can't back up what I say I can do, I won't get more work from those contractors.

"I also have my gas-fitter ticket now, so I am able to expand my ser-vices to include the installation of on-demand hot-water heaters and rough-ins for gas appliances. I just finished a kitchen renovation that I am pleased with, but my greatest satisfaction is supporting my family on my own," Fraser said.

"And I am very happy that my entire family is proud of me."

Jessica Walsh-Garido is a 29-year-old married mom. She is also a skilled Red Seal carpenter.

"I have always loved working with my hands and fixing things. My step-dad, a carpenter, encouraged me to try out carpentry for a summer when I was 19," Walsh-Garido said. "At the beginning of my apprenticeship, I was given a laborious, dirty job and I loved it. I did scaffolding, including setting up the spectator stands for the Indy race in Vancouver. I got a suntan and I got in shape."

For a few years, Walsh-Garido worked on home renovation for award-winning contractors Mark and Miles Wittig of Basil Restoration. "I was exposed to all aspects of carpentry from formwork to framing to finishing. I also learned how to fix problems that someone else had created. It was an amazing way to go through my apprenticeship."

Now pursuing her joinery credentials, Walsh-Garido is working for Acorn Wood Designs, producing precision architectural millwork for builders, hotels, restaurants, etc. She said power tools have become an extension of her arms, and that she strives to constantly improve her skills.

Walsh-Garido's skills have also been put to good use around her family home. "Following the birth of our son, my husband and I bought a poorly maintained, postwar bungalow. Part of the basement was crumbling so we dug it out and constructed retaining walls. We then demolished a section of the house that was added in the 1970s. I built a small kitchen addition, providing an eating area, and a roof-top deck. It all made our home more livable," said Walsh-Garido.

"We went through the design and permitting process while I was on maternity leave. When we first met with the inspectors they wanted to speak with my husband, but when they realized I was the one actually doing the work, and that I had the answers to their questions, it went smoothly," she said.

"While I am busy renovating, my husband takes our son to the park. His renovation skills have improved and I am proud we can share the load when it comes to renovating our home, managing the household and taking care of our son. Soon we'll have more time to have fun together."

Walsh-Garido believes her skills stack up favourably against any other carpenter. "I don't walk away from a job until it looks the way I need it to look, and that it functions the way I need it to function. I have confidence in my skills, and I take pride and satisfaction in my workmanship."

Fraser and Walsh-Garido have inspired me to tear open the packaging protecting my power tools, plug 'em in, then rev 'em up. Well, almost. A wise antiquities dealer (Pawn Stars) said collectibles are worth much more if they are left undisturbed in their original packaging.

What a conundrum I face.

Peter Simpson is the president and chief executive officer of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association. Email peter@gvhba.org

more:http://www.vancouversun.com/Tradeswomen+getting+done/6649684/story.html#ixzz1vc69U2PW


Retrieved from: http://www.vancouversun.com/Tradeswomen+getting+done/6649684/story.html

Women and Work: This is What Real Women Working Look Like

By: Nancy Hiller

Posted: 02/21/2012 6:03 pm 

When I was 14, my mother took me to a dermatologist to have the row of warts on my right middle finger permanently removed. Two treatments were available. The doctor recommended the more costly, which would leave my hand unblemished. The less expensive option, burning the warts with liquid nitrogen, would cause scars.

"Oh, we're not worried about scars," my mother said. "Nancy's hands will be working hands." I'm not sure where she got this idea, especially considering that I spent more time translating Virgil and Plato than wielding a plane or hammer, but we went with the liquid nitrogen. I sometimes wonder whether her words influenced my early decision to become a cabinetmaker.

If I Had A Hammer

NATIONAL

If I Had A Hammer

BY

JANE LATOUR

 MARCH 30, 2012

ISSUE #

175

Women are part of almost every blue-collar workplace. They’re behind the scenes, alongside the men. They’re installing fiber optics for a telecom company, fixing Con Edison equipment in the “manholes,” behind the stage providing sound and lighting for Broadway shows, and on construction sites around the city. Almost five decades after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with its Title VII provisions for equal employment opportunity, and subsequent struggles through which women won the right to enter any apprentice program for the skilled trades — to become carpenters, electricians, painters and plumbers or join the fire department — they’re on the job. But their numbers are low, and consequently they remain invisible. And that’s a problem.

As long as women make up a statistically insignificant proportion of the blue-collar workforce, they’re all too often viewed as what groundbreaking carpenter Irene Soloway called “the creature with two heads.” As long as they are a tiny minority on any job, harassment and discrimination will continue. In the late 1960s and 1970s, the pioneers challenged stereotypes and broke barriers on the far frontier of feminism. Yet the persistence of discrimination leads directly to problems of recruitment and retention — posing a Catch-22 for women working in skilled blue-collar jobs. For Women’s History Month, I surveyed some of the women working in these jobs and some who paved the way for others. These firsthand reports tell us what improvements have been made and what still needs to change in order to extend the gains of the women’s movement to the working class.

Female firefighters

While the New York City Fire Department has made great strides since the days of litigating, demonstrating and other forms of outright opposition to females in the ranks, there are currently only 28 female firefighters in a force of more than 11,000. The good news is that more than 2,600 women have applied to take the test to become a firefighter, according to Regina Wilson, president of United Women Firefighters.

Firefighter JoAnn Jacobs was among the first group of 40 women to enter the department in 1982, and she has recruited, mentored and trained women in preparation for prior tests. “I think that the presence of women firefighters on TV shows and in commercials makes a difference,” she said. “It’s a visual cue to women. You only need one for a woman to see something that gets her thinking: I can do that, too. They’ve grown up seeing this. Young women are so much more physical and strong. And then their husbands and boyfriends are encouraging them. Men see women doing kick boxing and other things that are outside the conventional female stereotypes. Women have stepped out of the traditional roles and images and these things are all making a difference.”

Then again, stereotypes endure, as Eileen Sullivan, a pioneering tractor-trailer driver, can attest. “This woman cab driver assured me that she was qualified to drive because she was a laid-off tractor-trailer driver. I assured her I would be fine with her driving but was disappointed that she felt the need to point it out — until she mentioned how many women refused to drive with her and would order another cab,” she said.

Tile setter Angela Olszewski offers another perspective — about life inside her former union, Local 7, Bricklayers. “The union’s public relations apparatus regularly exploited my intelligence, aptitude and skills,” Olszewski recalled. “I appeared in union videos, newsletters and performed installation demonstrations. Ironically, at the same time my union appointed me to their Women’s Task Force in 2001, I was also begging my employer, the local, and my apprentice coordinator to be trained in the higher skill sets of my craft. In my former union, women are nothing more than a novelty and are not taken seriously.”