IAWP Chapter Act iv i ty

One of the major benefits of member-

ship in the International Association

of Workforce Professionals (IAWP) is

the enhancement of individual skills,

knowledge, and proficiency of mem-

bers through life-long education. One

of the two programs offered by IAWP

is the Workforce Professional Develop-

ment Program (WPDP).

The WPDP is a competency-based

testing program that includes a series

of study guides and examinations de-

signed to measure and recognize an

individual's knowledge of workforce

development programs. The program

consists of four modules that cover the

following topics: (1) History of Work-

force Development, (2) Unemployment

Insurance, (3) Labor Market Infor-

mation, and (4) Business and Job

Seeker. The program gives workforce

professionals an opportunity to en-

hance their knowledge and career

growth. Upon completion, the member

becomes a part of an exclusive group

of individuals that have achieved the

designation of “WPDP Master.”

So why complete the program? In this

day of specialization, most employees

engaged in the workforce arena are

able to acquire only a limited under-

standing of programs and functions

outside of their normal job responsibil-

ities. By enhancing your awareness of

these programs, you will be developing

skills and an understanding that will

assist with your career growth.

Did you know that the IAWP offers fi-

nancial support to members for educa-

tional opportunities through various

grant programs? There is the IAWP Pro-

fessional Development Memorial Schol-

arship Fund, which was initially estab-

lished from seed money provided by

friends and family of Past International

President Jim Mulcahey who wanted to

honor his memory and assist members in

their professional development. All you

need to be is a full paying member, and

in return, if found eligible, you will re-

ceive a one-time grant to be used towards

either the WPDP or the CWS.

There are also other opportunities out

there to enhance your knowledge as a

workforce professional and many other

scholarships through the association to

fund a portion of that education. All you

need to do is take that initiative and ap-

ply. For more information, visit the In-

ternational website:

www.iawponline.org.

Become a Workforce Professional

Development Program (WPDP) Master

By Yvette Quevedo

October 2014

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

December Jump Start 2

How to Be a Good Advocate

2-4

Accepting Nominations for International Office

4

2015 IAWP Educa-tional Conference Call for Concurrent Work-shop Speakers

5-9

Top Ten Reasons to attend 2015 IAWP Educational Conference

10-11

IAWP Membership Information

12

IAWP Membership

Application

13

IAWP’s Service Pro-ject for 2014-2015

14

IAWP Bulletin Board 15

COUNTDOWN

2014-15 Administrative

Theme:

“Collaborating for Innovative Solutions in the 21st Century”

December 10th deadline is fast ap-

proaching!! Why not get a “Jump

Start” on sending in those annual

dues?

The annual awards process has the

opportunity for chapters to capture

membership awards, which include a

monetary incentive. Chapters which

submit early transmittals of 2015

members will be divided into the fol-

lowing categories:

the most new members (large, me-

dium, small chapter)

the highest percentage of renewals

(large, medium, small chapter)

ELIGIBILITY

All of the members must have been

recruited or renewed during the cur-

rent membership year. The IAWP Ad-

ministrative Office must receive the

transmittal, including corresponding

dues, no later than December 10. All

materials submitted must be in Eng-

lish.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

The Operations Manager determines

the three categories (large, medium and

small) annually by dividing IAWP’s

chapters into three equal groups based

on reported previous year’s member-

ship.

NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS

Submittal of IAWP transmittals and

corresponding dues.

RECOGNITION

One winner in each category

(subcategory) will be recognized.

TANGIBLE

Each winning chapter will receive one

credit of $50 for the educational portion

of a registration package to that year’s

IAWP International Educational Con-

ference.

Page 2

December Jump Start By Stephanie Stephens

October 2014

How to Be a Good Advocate By Guest Blogger Dan Ignaszewski, Director of Government

Relations and Development, the Amputee Coalition

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Information on the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

(WIOA) (replaces WIA) at

www.doleta.gov/wioa/

At the Amputee Coalition, we advocate for the limb loss community on policy issues

and also encourage and empower amputees to advocate for themselves. The Ampu-

tee Coalition works on a variety of issues, including adequate insurance coverage

for prosthetic devices, Medicare and Medicaid, funding for research and programs

that help the limb loss community, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compli-

ance, Social Security disability benefits, veterans’ issues and reasonable travel pro-

cedures for amputees, among others.

This article is meant to provide insight and tips on how to be a good advocate for

yourself, your cause and your community. Advocacy is the process by which an indi-

vidual or group aims to influence policies or practices; it is, by its very nature, the

art of standing up for yourself to make a positive difference in your circumstances.

You can advocate for your personal life on many fronts, and you can also work with

groups to advocate for the larger community by getting involved in policies and reg-

ulations at the local, state or national levels.

Continued on Page 3

Countdown

Every day, you have opportunities to be an advocate. Whether it’s calling a service

provider to try to reduce your monthly payments, dealing with travel issues with

flight or baggage delays, or even addressing your healthcare and insurance needs—

you always have an opportunity to stand up for yourself. It’s important to know how

to be your own advocate, so that you can ensure you are treated fairly and appropri-

ately and that you are getting the device(s) or service(s) that you need. Regardless of

whether we’re talking about healthcare, insurance, service providers or any other

arising issues that may require advocacy, it’s important to remember a few very im-

portant things . . .

Be Prepared and Take Notes!

When you call a company regarding a situation you’re facing, make sure that you

can take notes on a computer or notepad or have someone take notes for you if

you’re not able to.

Start with the date at the top of your notes, so you can reference it later if need-

ed.

Have bills, letters or resources in front of you, so you’re prepared to discuss your

situation with all of the applicable information.

When you first talk with someone, he or she will likely give you his or her first

name. Write it down. It’s always helpful to be personable in a conversation, and

when you can use the person’s first name, it creates a connection. If you ever get

disconnected or need to have subsequent conversations, it also helps to be able to

look back at your notes and say, “I spoke with so-and-so on this date.”

Take notes throughout the conversation regarding important points that you

make and the response you receive from the person on the other end; this will

help you refer back to things, if needed, and can provide a recap if you end up

needing to speak to a supervisor or another party.

Don’t Get Frustrated, Be Polite

When dealing with a difficult situation, you’re often passionate, invested and want a

resolution quickly, but the first person you talk to may not be able to help you. This

is not unusual. When you call an insurance company to resolve issues about your

coverage, the first person that you talk to may not be aware of the device or service

you need. Don’t let that faze you. It’s important when seeking answers to be firm and

direct, but as courteous and pleasant as possible.

The first person you talk to regularly works with a lot of upset people. When you’re

pleasant and respectful in your request, you will often find that those first points of

contact will want to help you more than if you had approached them in a combative

way. “Thank you for your help,” “I really appreciate everything you’re doing for me”

and “You’re making my day” are all phrases that will likely elicit a positive response.

You will usually get further with them than if you are disrespectful or combative.

Be Firm, Be Reasonable and Work to Ensure Your Needs Are Met

Make your case, explain your situation and tell them what your expectations are.

For example, if you’re calling the cable company after an increase in your monthly

bill, tell them that you are looking to reduce your payments to a specific number that

Page 3

Every day,

you have

opportunities

to be an

advocate.

Continued from Page 2

Continued on Page 4

The Encourage 5 Campaign asks IAWP members to urge five people to attend the 2015 International Conference in Savannah, GA and to encourage five people to join IAWP.

you’re comfortable with or that you were previously paying. Then, work with them

to get to that figure or negotiate a rate that is reasonable and meets your expecta-

tions.

If you’ve spent some time with the first point of contact in trying to resolve the is-

sue, and he or she is still are not able to resolve the situation to your satisfaction,

respectfully ask if you can speak to a supervisor. A polite way to do so is by saying,

“I really appreciate your help and understanding, but if it’s possible, I would like to

speak to a supervisor to see if he or she might be able to help me a little more.” You

will often need to go through some of the same points that you made with the first

person you talked to (this is where your notes and patience continue to play a key

role). Restate your expectations and ask how he or she can help you through your

situation.

For more information about the Amputee Coalition, what we provide, what we do

and how you can make a difference for people with limb loss, visit our website at

amputee-coalition.org or like our Facebook page at facebook.com/AmputeeUSA.

ing the nominee will be allowed the

required time off. If leave is not al-

lowed, but use of vacation leave is

approved, the nominee(s) should

include with the nomination a state-

ment they will use such leave to at-

tend meetings;

5. Have financial means to attend

board meetings, some chapter con-

ventions, and the annual Interna-

tional Educational Conference; and

6. Have ability to plan, organize, and

delegate authority for the satisfacto-

ry accomplishment of IAWP activi-

ties demonstrated by the nominee’s

employment position or accomplish-

ments in the IAWP.

Please send by email all letters of nomi-

nation as well as suggestions of people

who may be willing to serve, to Ray-

mond Cabrera, Nominating Committee

Chair at onthegoray@aol.com and

rcabrera@edd.ca.gov

Deadline: January 15, 2015

Required Criteria for Internation-

al President, President-Elect, Vice-

President, and Secretary-

Treasurer

1. Have continuous IAWP member-

ship for the last five years;

2. For President, President-Elect,

Vice President, and Secretary-

Treasurer has attended and partic-

ipated actively in at least one re-

cent international conference;

3. For President, President-Elect and

Vice President – Have served as

one of the following: chapter presi-

dent, international officer, interna-

tional district director, internation-

al committee chair, coordinator or

liaison;

4. Hold a position that will allow free-

dom to travel to Board of Directors

meetings, some chapter confer-

ences, and the annual Internation-

al Educational Conference If em-

ployed, will require a letter from

the appropriate supervisor indicat-

Page 4

IAWP is Currently Accepting Nominations for International Office By: Raymond Cabrera

Nominating Committee Chair

October 2014

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October 2014

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Page 12 October 2014

B E C O M E P A R T O F A N OU T S TA N D I N G G RO U P O F W O R K F O RC E P RO F E S S I O N A L S

Countdown Page 13

The 2014 Ebola outbreak is the largest Ebola outbreak in history and the

first in West Africa. The current outbreak is affecting multiple countries

in West Africa. The outbreak does not pose a significant risk to the United

States. The CDC is working with other U.S. government agencies, the

World Health Organization (WHO), and other domestic and international

partners. The CDC has also deployed teams of public health experts to

West Africa and will continue to send experts to the affected countries.

Ebola cases in Sierra Leone (as of 10/8/14):

Suspected and Confirmed: 2,950

Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 2,593

Suspected and Confirmed Deaths: 930

HOW WE CAN HELP

Because IAWP has named the Sierra Leone Chapter our official Community Service Project for 2014-15, there are

two ways to help:

Urgent support for the Ebola outbreak

A suggestion was made that the best way to get help to the front lines is the United Methodist Committee on Re-

lief. They are on the ground in Sierra Leone, have a project number (181000) specific to their support, and 100%

of monetary donations go to the charity. To learn more, go to www.umcor.org.

Donate online at http://www.umcor.org/Search-for-Projects/Projects/181000

To donate by phone, please call 1-888-252-6174.

Donate by mail: United Methodist Committee on Relief, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1520, New York, NY 10115

Ongoing support

Because the country is so poor, hunger is a major problem. The World Food Programme is the world's largest hu-

manitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. In emergencies, they get food to where it is needed, saving the

lives of victims of war, civil conflict, and natural disasters. After the cause of an emergency has passed, they use

food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. WFP is part of the United Nations system and is voluntar-

ily funded. To learn more, go to http://www.wfp.org/countries/sierra-leone/overview.

To donate online: https://give.wfp.org/?step=country&lead_source=2014-wfp-donateheader&form_tag=2014-

wfpdonateheader (Select “Deliver food for families affected by Ebola”)

There are numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who are accepting donations

to help support the response to the Ebola outbreak. Many are church related so feel free to

donate through them if you’d rather. Here’s a link to a list of NGOs provided by the Center

for International Disaster Information: http://www.cidi.org/ebola-ngos/#.VBJVA_ldUus.

PLEASE have everyone document what they donate to Chapter Presidents so

they can include it in their next chapter report to their District Director. We

want to share what support the IAWP Family provided our Sierra Leone Chapter

in their time of need.

Page 14

I A W P ’s S e r v i c e P r o j e c t f o r 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5

October 2014

Countdown

Any Ideas? Suggestions? The Administrative Office would like ideas for new IAWP merchandise.

Contact Paige Stodghill

IAWP Administrative Office Acting Operations Mgr,

1-888-898-9960 or by email at paige2@bellsouth.net.

Page 15

IAWP BULLETIN BOARD . . .

Mark your calendars . . . 2014

October 31……….Countdown articles due in IAWP office for November issue

November 28 …..Countdown articles due in IAWP office for December issue

December 31 …..Countdown articles due in IAWP office for January issue

Workforce Professional editorial and advertising due in IAWP office

2015

January 1............Membership dues are due

January 8 .......... 102nd Educational Conference on-line registration begins

January 15......... International Officer nominations due to the Nominations Chair

January 30 …….. Countdown articles due in IAWP for February Issue

February 7.......... IAWP Educational Conference Speaker RFP due in Administrative Office

February 17….... President's Day IAWP office closed

February 27....... Countdown articles due in IAWP office for March issue

March 1............. (postmark by) Awards Nominations Due in the IAWP office

March 1............. IAWP Educational Conference speaker's proposals accepted or declined

March 15.......... March Membership Mania transmittals and dues to IAWP office

March 20-23..... Awards judging, Frankfort, Kentucky

March 31........... Countdown articles due in IAWP office for April issue

Workforce Professional editorial and advertising due in IAWP office

April 30.............. Countdown articles due in IAWP office for May issue

April 30.............. IAWP 2014 membership dues must be in IAWP office to avoid membership

benefits interruption

May 29………….. Countdown articles due in IAWP office for June issue

June 14-17....... 102nd Educational Conference in Savannah, GA

June 30............. Countdown articles due in IAWP office for July issue

Share Chapter/District

Events

As you plan your chapter and dis-trict events this year, please share your plans with the IAWP Adminis-trative Office. Those events will be posted in the Countdown and online in the Upcoming Events on www.iawponline.org.

Send all information via email to iawp@iawponline.org.

FOLLOW US

ON

Centennial Books for sale!

ONLY $20 Now taking orders through the Administrative Office Email: paige2@bellsouth.net or debbiec@bellsouth.net or call 888-898-9960