Byesville Rotary learns Mid East exploring new programs

Pictured: Shana Fair, Byesville Rotary President; Dan Coffman, Director Mid-East CTC Buffalo Campus, displaying artist’s rendering of Vet Assisting and Animal Care class building; and Becky Brunner, Speaker Chair and Mid East CTC staff member.

  

Byesville Rotary learns Mid East exploring new programs

Dan Coffman described Mid East’s efforts to identify new program offerings that would increase employment opportunities for local students. He explained the goal of Mid East Career and Technical Centers is to provide programs that offer as many hands on/customer service opportunities to students as possible.

Coffman passed out copies of “The Buffalo Bulletin” as an example of the “real business life” opportunities Mid East likes to offer students. The “Bulletin” is a publication that meets professional standards. Articles are written by staff and the publication is then designed and printed by Mid East students.

Coffman explained that the first step Mid East took to identify potential new programs was a survey of students. The survey identified 5 possible programs. Mid East chose two programs–welding and veterinary care and assistance—and, with permission of the Mid East Board, began to explore the possibilities of establishing the programs at Mid East.

A welding program would require Mid East to build a 500 square foot facility. Ideally, Mid East would like to start a class of 24 juniors in the fall of 2016. Mid East is working with Pioneer Pipe, a company in Marietta with a need for welders—to develop the program. Current discussions include plans to offer up to 5 student apprenticeships at Marietta Pipe. Students would attend classes in the morning and work at Marietta Pipe in the afternoons. One big challenge is getting students transported to Marietta.

Coffman pointed out that this type of hand- on program helps teach young people a hard lesson—a person can earn a good living if he/she is willing to work hard. If a student perseveres, he/she will graduate with certifications in 7 areas of welding, a diploma as well as 1 year experience as an apprentice.

Coffman stated that the survey also indicated that there is a need for a program focused on animals at the Buffalo campus that is not duplicated at partner schools. Mid East is in process of designing a totally new program that would focus on skills needed at a veterinary office such as dealing with small animals, dog grooming, and doggy day care. Ideas being discussed and explored are partnering with local vets, classes dealing with large animals, developing apprenticeships with organizations such as the Wilds or the OSU extension.

Byesville Rotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting.

 

Byesville Rotary provides 175 families with Xmas food baskets

Byesville Elementary students show off their donations.

Secrest students ready to load their canned good contribution. 

Brook students with their donation. 

 

Meadowbrook High School students collecting their contributions in the school cafeteria.

 

Shana Fair, Byesville Rotary president, shared the final details of the club’s Christmas food Basket service project with club members. Food baskets were provided or 175 families living in the Rolling Hills School District. This meant the club provided food for about 700 children and adults.

Fair stated that the Rolling Hills Schools did a great job with their canned food drives. She reminded club members to thank the staff, students and parents donated the bulk of the non-perishable goods provided in the food baskets.

Each of the schools held a canned good drive. Students at Meadowbrook High School held a competition among 4^th period classroom. Each classroom was challenged to collect enough canned goods to fill in the doorway of the classroom. The winning classroom partnered with the students at Brook and combined the canned goods collected at Brook with the cans the high school class collected. Byesville Elementary held their drive in conjunction with their Literacy Night. Secrest Elementary and Meadowbrook Middle Schools also made donations to the food basket project.

Fair thanked club members who solicited donations from local businesses and community members. The club also held a successful fundraiser in October by collecting funds at the intersection of Main and 2^nd streets in Byesville. Fair also thanked Jan Wilson who wrote a Rotary to help with funding. Funds raised from these efforts were used to purchase the non-perishables and the turkeys included in the food baskets.

Byesville Rotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting.