IKORCC Partners with Porter County Schools to Launch State Earn and Learn Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

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On August 24th, the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters alongside officials from the Indiana Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship (OWBLA), IKORCC signatory contractors, school officials, and community stakeholders formally recognized Porter County Career Center (PCCC), Portage High School, and Chesterton High School’s respective carpentry programs as newly certified State Earn and Learn (SEAL) Programs.

Porter County Career and Technical Center – signatory contractor partner – Tonn & Blank Const. representative Megan Wheeler

State Earn and Learn (SEAL) Program

The SEAL Program is now one of Indiana’s state-level pre-apprenticeship programs. SEAL is designed to deliver a work-and-learn experience for pre-apprentices along with both the skills and certifications that will make them more valuable to potential employers.

IKORCC SEAL programs are aligned to the Indiana Career and Technical Educations Next Level Program of Study. By utilizing the Carpenters Career Connections curriculum, students will also be earning an IKORCC Carpentry Level 1 Apprentice Certification that satisfies Indiana Graduation Pathway’s postsecondary readiness requirement.

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Carpenters Build Community at Indiana State Fair

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Nearly a dozen carpenters spent Saturday building something a little different than usual. Instead of constructing buildings – they volunteered to build community and relationships at the Indiana State Fair.

Saturday, August 7th was Carpenters Day at the Indiana State Fair. Volunteers spent the day building keepsake toolboxes with families, recruiting new members and forming community partnerships.

When visitors came to the fair, the first thing they saw was giant banners that said “Welcome to Carpenters Day”. Fair staff wore “We’re Hiring” buttons directing them to our career application. All day long, radio ads for the Carpenters played over the loud speaker and our ads were on the back cover of the State Fair program. The sky ride also had recruitment advertising on the back of the cars.

Volunteers for the IKORCC were phenomenal. They set up four tents, showcased a new “Now Hiring” truck and had a large presence on the busiest corner of the fair. Volunteers handed out recruitment materials and built over 600 toolboxes. You couldn’t walk anywhere at the fair and not see the IKORCC and UBC logo in the hands of kids and adults. Hammy the mascot also made a few appearances!

In addition to building toolboxes, volunteers also sold raffle tickets for a playhouse with proceeds benefiting Carpenters Caring. Carpenters Caring is a non-profit that raises money for IKORCC members in need. This year’s playhouse was built by our partners at Central Nine Career Center. Students in the construction trades class completed the project. Special thanks to these students and their instructor Frank Wormann for their help.

Volunteers raised nearly $600 for Carpenters Caring thanks to raffle ticket sales and plan to continue selling raffle tickets until the drawing in late October.

To view all photos from the event, click here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1esmj3cmm1qx369/AACQNHUnN78hqSh48noCKFaya?dl=0

To view a Facebook live video of the event, click here;
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=675898710474761&ref=watch_permalink

 

EST Todd Pancake Updates Members on COVID-19 & Vaccines

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Read EST Pancake’s signed letter to IKORCC members here:
EST Pancake on COVID Vaccines

Brothers and Sisters,

For the last 140 years, safety has been the solid foundation on which the United Brotherhood of Carpenters was built. On a jobsite our members know the importance of safety. Whether it’s our hardhats, safety glasses, or harnesses, we know that in order to keep ourselves, our brothers, and our jobsite safe that we must take every precaution to do so.

The Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters has risen to every challenge COVID-19 has thrown our way. From ensuring apprentice & instructor safety at our training centers, ramping up PPE on jobsites, and even building large-scale temporary hospitals, IKORCC members have proven to be essential and continue to provide a skilled workforce in tough times.

Although the world has adjusted to the “new normal,” the coronavirus is still ever-changing and evolving. As the number of contractors and end user’s safety requirements increase, we as a council must be ready to face a new challenge. The coronavirus vaccine is on its way to having full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by September 2021.

Now with more than 331 million doses administered in U.S, the vaccine has proven safe and effective against symptomatic infections, decreasing hospitalizations and death. More than 99% percent of Americans who have died from COVID-19 were unvaccinated. The science is clear – the vaccine saves lives.

As President McCarron said, “All of our jobsites have safety requirements – hard hats, specific PPE, or background checks. This is no different. This is a safety requirement so that all of us can work together and go home safe at the end of the day.”

We strongly encourage you to get educated on the COVID-19 vaccine, and ask your doctor questions. The choice is up to you. But, please understand that every day more of our end users are requiring a vaccinated work place.

It’s time we all step up to the challenge and continue to protect ourselves, our families, our community, and the future of the IKORCC by getting vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

Below you’ll find useful information about the COVID-19 vaccine and where you can get yours.

https://www.vaccines.gov/?gclid=CjwKCAjw9aiIBhA1EiwAJ_GTSvPrq_fnpv3_1F-BdTXxVvHJ7P_BCWgeXlfs6KTKAR5IQRFlbYMirhoC9D0QAvD_BwE

Fraternally,

M. Todd Pancake

Executive-Secretary Treasurer