|
IMAGE ARMY RESPONSES:
…I
instruct at Eastern
Wyoming College (EWC) where I got my start many years ago…
Some of the important things I feel I’ve done to improve the
“Image of Welding” and always with safety in mind include:
- Assisting
with “ on-the-job training” for Job Corp students in
Nebraska’s Panhandle.
- Started
a SkillsUSA-VICA
chapter at EWC. (The club recently finished production of “waterfowl
habitat nests” for the Wyoming Game and Fish.)
- I
am a CWI/CWE and also maintain (as do all EWC welding
instructors) current welding certifications.
- I
speak to high school students statewide on welding careers
and the importance of furthering one’s education to stay
on top in the work force…
- Through
instruction I model safe welding practices, proper
techniques, and good work habits along with promoting
character development
- I
encourage students to proudly express all aspects of their
welding abilities whether it is industrial or artistic.
- I
am involved with the Scottsbluff Valley Street Rod
Association where I assist other members with the welding
aspects of their project cars and ensure safe and proper
techniques to turn out “show winning” cars.
- Most
importantly, I truly love welding and teaching welding that
excites others to ask questions on what I feel to be an
amazing process!
~
Russell Pontarolo, Wyoming
I
recently received the winter issue of The
World of Welding. I
read through the Image
Army Responses. I
think it is a great endeavor and worthy of praise.
I feel it is extremely important to develop and foster
these ideas. To
this end, I find it troubling that so many of the responses were
from convicts.
If
the drive is to create a better image of welding and to promote
this image to students and young people, then are convicts the
best solution? I
encourage these people to continue to do their best and wish
them no ill will. I
think the programs they are involved in are great and their
instructors worthy of praise.
However,
I have spent most of my teaching career guiding students away
from crime and preaching the ills of criminal activity.
Most importantly that there are no benefits to these
activities. I find
many of the responses I read to be counterproductive.
I don’t believe they send a positive message—the
message of staying out of trouble and staying in school.
I
have several requirements for my students while in my class.
Primarily, that they are drug-free and stay out of
trouble while enrolled in the program.
Many of my students are at-risk students.
Many have been in and out of trouble earlier in life.
I work with these students to learn a skill and better
their futures. Welding
provides a way for these students to build a lifelong career.
It is up to them to get there.
Hard work, dedication and commitment are all needed.
Staying out of trouble, out of jail and in school are
requirements for this to occur.
The
welding program that I run has helped dozens of students over
the years. Through
our scholarships, we have sent many students to Hobart for
advanced welding training.
These students all made the commitment to better
themselves. Best of
all, they earned these scholarships by themselves, through hard
work. This is the
true image of welding that needs to be fostered.
Dedication and commitment has their rewards!
Respectfully,
~ Brian
Bird,
Jardon
Vocational School /
Hazel
Park High School, Michigan
EDITOR’S
NOTE:
I
believe that our intention to portray the “Image of Welding”
by publishing some personal messages was misinterpreted.
We did not wish to place criminals on a pedestal.
Rather, we intended the message to be… this is what could
happen to you if you do not stay in school and obtain
training or learn a skill. These people are saying… “If I had received
welding training when I was young, I would NOT be here.”
They were wishing to deliver the message to young people
to stay in school, get training, so you can earn a living and
stay out of trouble. I
do believe that some criminals can be rehabilitated.
This is not to say that what they have done in the past
is not wrong.
I
had a rather lengthy conversation recently with a “civilian”
welding instructor who was teaching at a prison.
One of his comments indicated that many of the people in
his prison are there, not because of some horrendous crime, but
because of a DUI conviction.
(Not to glorify consumption of alcohol, but merely to
make a point that DUI laws in many states are extremely
stringent and are filling our prisons.)
In his opinion, these are not “hardened criminals”
and will be very productive citizens as soon as they are
released because of the training they are receiving while
incarcerated. Those
people are landing immediate jobs upon release because they have
been rehabilitated, are not a “threat” to society and
well-trained welders are in demand.
Keep up the good work you are doing!
And thank you for taking time to write.
~
M. Baker, Editor
Brian
Bird Responds:
I
wonder how many people who have lost a loved one to a drunk
driver would share your feelings about “hardened
criminals”???? I know I don’t.
Would it be “horrendous” if it were someone you knew?
~
Brian Bird.
What have I done to improve
the image of welding? Glad you asked! After being in the welding industry for over 20 years working
at Maine-Oxy in
Waterville, Maine, I have gained a great deal of valuable
knowledge!
The one thing that I love to do is work with schools in my sales
area. The main topic, Oxy-Fuel & Welding Safety.
I have several schools that have me in at the beginning
of the school year and do have extensive safety training! Upon
completion of the training, and passing a written test, we issue
a certificate for the student which can be of great help when
looking for employment! Safety First!!
~
James E. Boivin CWE/CWI, Maine
O.K., I
recently read an article about a man who turned his life around
by taking welding classes in prison.
I wish to applaud this individual for the effort he has
made to "go straight" if you will.
However, if we are trying to build an “Image Army”
let us not forget those out there who are "straight"
and cannot afford the opportunity to get the same training as
this individual did.
Have you tried
to buy the bare necessities needed to weld, with minimum wage?
I'm not much for betting, but I'll bet there is at least
10 kids out there who would benefit from weld training to every
person who receives it free from the prison system.
I'm not asking the world to stop educating those who have
gone wrong. I have
yet to meet a person who hasn’t done something that would be
considered illegal.
You want your army? Find those out there who care. I don't make $50 an hour like your example.
I make enough to scrape by.
I know many in this field who can hold their own with the
best of them. However, finding those $50 an hour jobs is
next to impossible. In this world of finding the cheapest labor
to get by, it is difficult to imagine why any person would want
to get into the profession of welding when ten bucks an hour is
the top of the pay scale in many places.
Many
are asking, "Why would I want to put all that time, effort,
and money into learning a skill when the guy who is welding next
to me was hired to be my "helper" so he could learn to
weld enough to "get by" in this industry.” This "get by" attitude is what is killing
this industry.
Remember, some of these
products being welded out there can destroy lives because of low
skill.
How would you like the next
aluminum boat you fish in to be welded by a person who is trying
to learn? Hope you
can swim.
~
Doug Streeton,
Streeton Welding, Kansas
EDITOR’S
NOTE:
On an average,
companies are offering Hobart Institute graduates, immediately
upon completion of training,
$14.18 per hour. Many companies are adding to this salary
with benefits packages and per diem benefits (for those
requiring travel). The
“cream of the crop” is being offered $20.00 per hour to
start. These wages
seem very “fair” for young people with little or no
on-the-job experience. Companies are waiting in line to hire trained, “Hobart”
students who have good work ethics and we cannot train enough to
meet the demand. Unfortunately,
however, there are still companies out there who “get by”
offering $10.00 per hour. We
at Hobart Institute believe the old adage, “You get what you
pay for!” And we
believe training “pays for itself” in a very short time.
I am writing to thank you for
accepting me into the “Image Army.” The certificate I received is beautiful and your
correspondence as well as the certificate has motivated me to
continue striving for excellence in welding.
I took the certificate to the shop and shared it with the
students. They were
proud and so was my instructor, Mr. Frank Ruffillo.
I told them that is proof that when we put our good foot
forward toward industry and trade fellowship, that people will
recognize your efforts and help you when your positive and your
motives are sincere. Being
in prison, we all have our share of negative paperwork with our
names on it; however, our actions and choices brought that
about. (Editor’s
note: He has now
been released from prison.)
It is the same with positive recognition.
You have to work for it and make choices in that
direction to attain it. The certificate not only serves me or is a symbol to say,
“Hey, look what I have,” but rather, in a positive way, it
affects everyone who looks up to me.
It promotes a desire to give service: “Render more
service than that which you are rewarded for, and you will soon
be paid for more than you render!”
So I will continue to promote a
positive image for welding. The students feel my excitement so they become excited as
well; and what better way to motivate others than to be
motivated yourself. Welding
is fun! I am grateful to be a member of the “Image Army” and
I’ll always support Hobart.
~ N.
Doggett, Michigan
Image Army
Ideas:
- Professional
attitude in the following:
2. Distinguish
between welding operators and skilled welders
~
R. Mracek, North Dakota
I am very grateful if you will share my opinion with others by promoting
the IMAGE OF WELDING.
When I was with Willbros Nigeria LTD for one year of Industrial
Training, one day a helper in
welding section came to me and requested for my help.
He told me that he wanted to put in for argon welding,
but a welder who refuses the argon training explained to him
that argon is a dangerous gas that kills the reproductive cells
of a man after welding operation.
I asked him if he believed that story, he said he is
afraid since welders are afraid of the gas.
What
I did was to lecture them about argon gas in the safety meeting.
I explained all about argon gas to their understanding,
letting them know that argon is a noble gas and it definitely
did not create any problem in human health, provided you are
well protected with hard materials including a welding jacket
during the welding operation. I helped them understand, what
really causes problems to welders, is lack of protection of
sensitive parts of the body such as the reproductive organ from
arc radiation and rays infrared and ultraviolet respectively.
These are in welding arc and may damage part of the eyes
and skin.
After that
meeting many took courage and passed the training. Many
are now “big guys” with children and money. Many still visit
me, based on that wonderful lecture and encouragement.
I wish to inform people out there not to let ignorance
deprive them of their own rights. Be smart and learn from others
what you do not know.
Thanks.
~ Jonathan K O Marvin
|
