Byesville Rotary learns the Guernsey Co. Opportunity Center is not just about jobs

Pictured: Joe Waske, Byesville Rotary President, Sue Thomas-Sikora, Manager and Marie Schockling, Program Co-coordinator from Guernsey Co. Opportunity Center, Rich Dair, Speaker Host.

Readings for Sept. 28 meeting: September Rotarian--

• President's message
• Rotary Stories, p. 48.

Established in 1998, the goal of the Guernsey County Opportunity Center is to get people re-employed and back to work. Sue Thomas, Manager of the Center, pointed out that the Center provides “…a one stop spot” for people seeking jobs to begin their search.

The Center works with both job-seekers and employers. An important responsibility for staff members is to provide support services to job seekers. The services offered are aimed at meeting a variety of needs such as customized training programs, help writing resumes both paper and on-line, sponsoring job fairs, and wage subsidy programs.

People who are actively looking for work are offered support services to help provide for basic needs and to reduce emotional stress while the job seeker looks for re-employment. These services include referrals to child care providers, transportation assistance, and referrals to other agencies providing help to provide basic needs.

A second responsibility of the Center is to work with employers. Staff members work with businesses to provide on the job training for newly hired employees. They also work with at risk businesses to develop strategies to help the business avoid closing or downsizing. If a company does close, Opportunity Center staff works with both the company and employees to manage the closing process, to reduce harm to employees, and to help them find reemployment as quickly as possible.

The Opportunity Center is a fully funded government agency with a civilian advisory board. Services are offered free to community members. The Guernsey County Opportunity Center is located in the Willett-Pratt Center on the Zane State Campus in Cambridge. More information is available at 740-432-2381 or http://www.guernseyworks.com/

Byesville Rotary’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, September 28, at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Larry Miller, 740-439-2767.