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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 [email protected] and
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
Continued from Page 3
Countdown Page 5
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October 2014
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Countdown Page 7
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Page 8
October 2014
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Countdown Page 9
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Page 10 October 2014
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Countdown Page 11
Continued from Page 10
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected].
FOLLOW US
ON
Centennial Books for sale!
ONLY $20 Now taking orders through the Administrative Office Email: [email protected] or [email protected] or call 888-898-9960