I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Hobart Institute... for having high standards and for promoting welding in an honorable way. I am a welding instructor at Center of Applied Technology North in Severn, Maryland. I have been welding for more than twenty years and teaching for three years. We must continue to promote welding in a positive way and have the employees perform their responsibilities to the best of their ability, in order to maintain respect for the welding field.

I teach ninth through twelfth grade and I constantly motivate my students to be and do their best in the welding program. I have a variety of speakers visit my classroom (from welding engineers to underwater welders) in order to expose my students to the various opportunities that are available in the welding field. My students are very proud of what they do and they demonstrate it in many ways. We have welding contests each week and many students are involved with SkillsUSA and welding competitions at the state and local level.

We are glad that the AWS has promoted a product line of "American Welder" gear that has been very popular with my program. Welders in many cases are portrayed as dirty rod-burning guys who melt steel together. I have come up through the ranks and have seen things from rough unsafe shops to teaching high school welding and I have always been proud and still love to see a quality weld or metal creation come together.

On a negative note, some of the students who graduated from my program visit me and say that their employers are not concerned with quality and they don't practice safety as we did in our program. We must, as a unique group, stick together and promote welding as a proud American tradition. We need to see a few commercials on television, helping both young and old, male and female, to understand what we do and how welding affects everyone's life each day. ~ A Thankful Welder, Rick A. Stein, Maryland

Comments worth repeating came during a recent visit to HIWT from former grad, Keith Marcum. Keith is currently a supervisor at Phoenix Tank Services, A Division of Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors, Inc.: It is a benefit to a company to hire recent graduates of Hobart Institute and pay them well. These welders have not developed any bad welding habits. They can then acquire the job-specific knowledge your company wishes to provide. By paying them well, the company is able to develop a more stable workforce, saving money over time. ~ K.M.

I am interested in a welding and welding engineering career. I want to combine my interests in welding, automotive, construction and motorsports and feel Hobart has what I am interested in and can help me further my welding education and become a budding entrepreneur. I appreciate "The World of Welding" very much and find it very informative.. as a learning tool also. Thank you ~ Mike Dever, Ohio

I just finished reading the Spring 2002 supplement to "The World of Welding" ["Image of Welding"] I'm an aide at Dillwyn Correctional Center in Virginia, in the welding class. As of this date [March 16, 2002] we have very successfully graduated 28 students who have the basic welding skills in SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, oxyacetylene cutting and welding, and carbon arc cutting and gouging. With every confidence, these ex-felons can get out and perform as well or even better than those who have never been incarcerated. All that is needed is someone who is willing to give these welders the opportunity to prove they are not a bad risk.

If prisons across the nation have trade programs and employers are willing to give ex-felons a second chance, the pool for trained personnel is never ending. We have been able to hire three of our students as aides. We pride ourselves on teaching the students to take our job when a vacancy opens. ~ Stephen B., Virginia

I would like to thank the Hobart Institute... for giving me more information. I am writing to thank you for the magazine... that has really motivated me in many ways. I have gained respect for the course I am pursuing as a future career... Keep up the good work that you are doing. ~ James Boadi, Ghana

I work for the City of Los Angeles. I've been a welder for 30 years. I'm 48 now and have been attending... community college for the past 4 years. My goal is to receive an A.S. Degree in welding technology. With this and my years of experience, I want to pass my knowledge to those younger and eager to learn. ~ Edward Hinojosa, California

Over the years, HIWT has made it possible to broadcast welding technology worldwide with much encouragement. Congratulations! I'm a finalist welding student at A.T.T.C. and have in mind to enroll in your school to fulfill my desire. ~ Sandy Baah, Ghana

In 1990 a report from the Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce was published entitled "America's Choice, High Skills or Low Wages". The commission chair was Ira C. Magazine, co-chair was William E. Block of the Block Group and former Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Labor. It was a pretty good report. The publisher was the National Center on Education and the Economy.

A number of similar studies and predictions have been done in the last 30 years, all basically saying the same thing....there is a critical shortage of skilled labor in the U.S., and not much is being done to change that. Is it not strange that congress doesn't seem to be aware of that...until it gets publicity that might affect votes. You [Phil Pratt, HIWT President] have finally done what all of us should have done years ago, in knocking on doors and asking questions in D.C. Thanks! ~ M. A. Godley

Your "Mad as Hell" article was great. We must have industry folks continuously pounding on the doors of our legislators telling them about how the skill shortage is effecting their business. I know other folks are doing the same, but I often wonder if Washington hears the message. Even now, officials at the US Department of Education are asking questions about the value of career-technical education at the high school level. Some propose that it should be eliminated. Keep the message out in front. Sooner or later someone is going to actually take action and not just pay lip service. ~ Bob Bowermeister, Ohio Dept. of Education

I would like to thank all those who have helped me in my quest to be a self-reliant person. I am a former grad. I never struck an arc before I came to the place that has given me my life as it is today. I have too many people to thank and that is why I am thanking all at your fine institution at one time. Some are gone but memories don't fade very fast; after all, it's been 10 years now and they say you have to love what you do for a living. I have come, basically, full circle. I am back to what I believe; no one person controls my destiny but myself. I have just started my own shop and I'm already behind. Imagine that, in the time of a recession! Once again, I am thanking one and all. Keep up the good work. ~ Kurt Knipp, K2 Welding

Use of cognitive psychology and muscle movement is a great aid to our teachings at the local technical college where I assist. I will apply these techniques to our class curriculum. [World of Welding, Winter 2001/02] ~Steven Paul Thomas, Georgia

I was "Mad as Hell" to learn that there were simply too few welders and welding engineers to meet the current and future needs of the United States manufacturing base. I was also sad to learn that my fellow welding students in the States are refusing to utilize the great opportunities that have been laid out for them. We welding students over here [Ghana] are hard-working and we also understand the nature of welding, yet we don't get a quarter of such opportunity as our fellow [students] in the States are getting.

I am, therefore, using your reputable medium to appeal to Mr. Pratt, the Board of Directors of HIWT, the AWS and other organizations based on welding to please see to reduce the amount covering a program at HIWT to enable us, the international students, to also enroll, since we are all capable of helping to rebuild and improve the real image of welding, not only in the States, but in the whole world.

Anyway, more grease to your elbow, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Kratzenberg, Mr. Pavone, and all those who embraced the idea to improve the reputable image of welding.

My congratulations go to Dien Tran and Mark Flowers! ~ William Kyei Baffour, Welding Student, Accra, Ghana

I took my students to the AWS student night at Miller Electric in NJ on April 8th 2002. My students and I were very impressed with Mr. Phil Pratt's presentation. I have some students that are more excited about the welding industry and their future as welders. On behalf of Glen Mills Schools I would like to thank the President and the Hobart Institute for a great motivational evening. ~ David L. Vinson, Welding Instructor

We enjoy receiving "The World of Welding" each month. I put the copy in the classroom after I read it and the students do read your articles. I have used some of your information in my class lectures on occasion. ~ Jerry Smiley, New Mexico