MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Super Bowl XLII is now one for the history books! I hope you had an exciting weekend rooting for your team and maybe you had the opportunity to enjoy Chef Paul Short’s “Super Bowl Snacks on a Stick” featured last week on Channel 3’s “Live at Five Cooking Tips” segment. I also hope you had the opportunity to switch from the football game to see Tim Jacobson on the Channel 27 5:30 p.m. newscast to talk about “College Goal Sunday” designed to help students learn more about financial aid. Yes, football season is over but we’re only in Week Three of our season. Things are going strong!

Last week’s “Focus the Nation” event kicked off a promising discussion about global warming and what we can do here at MATC and at home to fight for a better environment.

Overall, nine Wisconsin technical colleges put together Focus The Nation “teach-ins” and awareness activities. Nationally, the effort involved more than 1,700 schools, colleges and community organizations. James L. Gibson, educational director for WTCS, wrote us a note of thanks for our part in bringing the MATC community aboard. We can all be proud of our efforts and our commitment to the future.

Thanks to the MATC Focus the Nation team headed by David Shonkwiler, including Barb Anderegg, Bill Bessette, Geoff Bradshaw, Jackie Dahlke, Debbie Derr, Tom Fleming, Paul Harrison, Tom Kaminski, Pam Larson, Wes Marquardt, Paul Morschauser, Jeanette Mowery, Jonathan Pollack, Nancy Reinhardt, Malcolm Robertson, Terry Ross, Janet Sperstad, Ken Starkman, Ken Walz and Terry Webb.

On the legislative front
Some of the news from the Wisconsin legislature is hopeful. Last week, state senate democrats unveiled an ambitious economic development package called “Wisconsin Invests Now” that would include significant new resources for technical colleges and our students.

Highlights of the package include a $5 million annual Incentive Grants Program to provide skills training and funding for high-demand and emerging occupations. In addition, the plan would increase financial aid for technical college students by $1.3 million, a 10-percent overall increase when added to new funding included in the 2007-09 Biennial Budget.

While this is a great proposal for technical colleges, it is not likely to pass the assembly. Still, it should spark interest and discussion about our funding needs and the importance of supporting technical colleges and our students. Remember to let your legislators know the importance of the services we provide for our community. Watch for more news here and on the WTCS website as discussion continues.

Celebrate Career and Technical Education month
As I mentioned last week, February is Career and Technical Education month. MATC is home to Local 27 of the Wisconsin Association for Career and Technical Education (WACTE), an organization open to anyone interested in working to support career and technical education in our state. In addition to advocacy and raising funds for student scholarships, WACTE offers several professional development opportunities. This month, WACTE will hold an annual conference in Steven’s Point on February 28 and 29. Registration is open to members and nonmembers alike and is a great opportunity to learn more. For more information, see the WACTE website. Our local chapter will be holding a hot cocoa and popcorn day this month. Check Matters and the organization’s website for updates.

Keeping those New Year’s resolutions
Let MATC help you keep your New Year’s resolution to stay healthy. Appointments are open for the Employee Health Assessments to be held at each campus between February 11 and 21. Fill out a comprehensive health history and learn about your cholesterol, blood pressure and other factors in your overall health. You also can take a break from stress this Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Stress Reduction Workshop in room 142B at Truax. Get a massage from the MATC Massage Therapy students or learn about “Laughing Yoga.”

Thanks to Health and Wellness Coordinator Cindi Rutten and all who are helping us stay healthy at MATC. For more information, see the Health and Wellness website.

MATC Marvels
A national award has been given to a CD recorded by the MATC Electronics Club. The Cajun French Music Association awarded Valse a Deux Temps by The Cajun Strangers, the 2007 Prix Dehors de Nous Award for best Cajun album produced outside Louisiana. Recorded by Terry O’Laughlin, electronics program director, during three nights in room 155, Valse a Deux Temps was remixed and mastered at Paradyme Studios and locally released in early 2007. Swallow Records, the largest Cajun music label in the world, then picked it up for national release. Our faculty and students procured, refurbished and set up the equipment to create the recording space. Congratulations to the Electronics Club and Terry for their unique role in this project and to the band who also received a 2007 Madison Area Music Award for this CD.

Machine Tool program instructor Alden (J.R.) Colvin is the first MATC instructor to take and pass the rigorous Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) certification exam for safety. The MSSC has developed a new training program for manufacturing workers, supervisors and others. MATC and Moraine Park Technical College are partnering with the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin to offer the program that includes certification in four areas: safety, maintenance awareness, quality and continuous improvement, and manufacturing process and production.

At the close of the Focus the Nation event, we heard Melissa Etheridge’s song “I Need to Wake Up.” A few of the lines serve as a great reminder that we must always push forward:

“…I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out…”

Bettsey