June 14 - 17, 2015
Savannah, Georgia
IAWP Retirees, Are they really dinosaurs? NO!
They are not extinct or endangered…Make use of them!
Alphrena Prince (OH)
This retiree session presented by Val Moeller was designed to discuss ways that the retirees could assist local chapters and promote the IAWP. Ms. Moeller started the presentation by stating that there are 83 retirees attending this conference, which is approximately 1/3 of the total attendance. Retirees play an important part of this organization, so how can they help out?
There were a number of suggestions offered; become mentors to the local board members; take ownership of writing the awards or conduct a workshop for the local chapter on the awards process; make yourself available. Retirees have TIME! It was also suggested that the retirees take care of local education conferences or negotiate the conference site contract for local conferences. Market IAWP…conduct a “lunch and learn” to provide an opportunity for the retirees to discuss with potential new members the benefits of joining IAWP.
There was some time spent discussing the issue of retirees holding on to the traditions of the past. The younger generation don’t understand the traditions or see value in some of the practices. Retirees are slow to evolve and let go of what has always been done. If we want to keep this going, promote different types of activities to attract the younger generationrestructure to attract more people.
Continued on page 3
Flash / Page 3Meet in the Middle for 2018
Ann Seifert (MN)
IAWP members have an opportunity to meet in the middle of the USA in 2018. The cities of Des Moines, Iowa and Cincinnati, Ohio both want us to hold our 2018 conference in their city the week of June 17-20.
Des Moines invites us to meet downtown at the Embassy Suites. The single/double rate for a 2 room suite is $165 with a $10 charge per day per extra guest. Internet services and airport shuttles are free. A cooked to order breakfast and complementary evening reception with hors d’ oeuvres and alcoholic drinks each night is included. Valet parking is $19 valet and self-parking will be $8.
The restored and historic Hilton Netherlands Plaza is the chosen meeting site in Cincinnati. Single/double room rate is $139 and will be available from June 15-23, leaving plenty of time for site-seeing both before and after the conference. Internet services are complementary and $32 round trip airport shuttle service is available. There will be off-site self-parking for at $20/day. The hotel has a pool and fitness room as well as in-room coffee makers.
Be sure to vote for your choice at the Wednesday business meeting by using the BLUE ballot provided in your registration packet. NOTE: Dates on the ballot are WRONG. BOTH sites are available the week of June 17-20, 2018.
Flash / Page 7The Workforce Professional Development Program
Your Ticket to Greater Professional Success
Charles Patterson (CA)
Are you looking for a promotional edge in your next interview? Perhaps you have already promoted but seek additional leadership tools to help others traverse that same path. Or maybe you just desire to continue increasing your knowledge and understanding of the greater workforce landscape. Whatever your goal, I encourage you to join the growing number of professionals who have and are pursuing the goal of mastery of the Workforce Professional Development Program today!
The journey to WPDP certification is not a long one and easily fits whatever your schedule and current commitments because the entire program is online and accessible 24/7. Four modules, four units per module, and up to three years to successfully pass all tests. You can do it! How long are the tests, you ask? 25 questions, drawn from the study guides with a passing score of 75%. “But what about the cost?” Far less than your local community college course, I dare say. $10 will purchase the study guide for each unit along with one opportunity to test your knowledge of that unit. That’s an affordable price to continue your educational journey and gain that additional leadership competency for your next promotional opportunity. Wait, there’s more! Members can also apply for a WPDP scholarship of $50!!! That means for as little as $110 you can become a certified WPDP master and begin the process for certification as a Certified Workforce Specialist! And at next year’s International Conference in Buffalo you can add WPDP to your name badge and tell everyone you did it!
Here is a small sample of the sort of questions that await you as you go through the WPDP testing process. From the Labor Market Module came this question:
“What does OIS stand for?”
a)Occupational Information System
b)Other Industry Standards
c)Overpayment Investigation System
d)Opportunity Investment Service
From the History of Workforce Development:
“When was the first public unemployment insurance program established?”
a)1800
b)1723
c)1900
d)1893
From the Business and Job Seeker study guides:
“The H-1B program allows an employer to temporarily employ a foreign worker in the U.S. in a ___ occupation”
a)Manufacturing
b)Standard
c)Specialty
d)Firefighting continued on page 12
Page 12 / FlashContinued from page 11
And from the Unemployment Insurance study guides:
“… is a component of state UI operations that involves prevention, detection, investigation and recovery of benefit overpayments.”
a)Overpayment Prevention Department
b)Expense Detention Unit
c)Benefit Payment Control
d)Benefit Disbursement Recovery
Gerri Jimenez did fine work in promoting the WPDP program to the attendees at yesterday’s workshop and I would not be surprised to hear that many of them completed an application before dinner. Theresa Austin also informed us that work is well underway to gain national accreditation for the WPDP program and to check back in the coming year for that news! Soon you will be able to gain recognition outside of IAWP that you are a skilled workforce professional, dedicated to educational growth and pursing workforce excellence! To each and every reader, everyone who has yet to take the WPDP program, I challenge you to go online today and sign up for the Workforce Professional Development Program. All you need to get started is awaiting you at
So after reading this, I hope you will find someone at your table or in the room who attended the session and ask “Were you in the WPDP session yesterday? Please tell me all about it!” Oh, and yes, I can hear you thinking “Well, what were the answers to the questions?” I guess you’ll just have to read tomorrow’s Flash…
And the Winner Is…
Angelia Bolton (IL)
This speed session presented by International Vice President Terri Pasternik discussed writing award nominations.
Terri created a training module for the Illinois Board in writing awards after becoming frustrated, as we all do, watching the same three chapters win all of the awards; but as with the lottery you can’t win if you don’t play or in our case write.
The IAWP awards program recognizes outstanding workforce professionals on the chapter/international levels. Awards are given in a wide variety of areas that cover workforce programs. Award nominations start at the subchapter/chapter level and winners on that level can compete in the international contest. Detailed information about the awards program can be found in Chapter 5 of the IAWP Administration & Organization Handbook.
There are two categories for awards recognition: Individual & Group awards, which include Citation, Workforce Service, Public Policy,Administrator of the Year, Award of Merit, Lifetime Achievement, and the Retiree of the year. As well as Chapter awards for Education, Communication, Chapter Development, Recognition & Marketing.
Continued on page 13
Flash / Page 13ChapterNightin Savannah
Suzanne Nichols(WA)
Thenight kickedoff with some good southern food. Everythingyou could imagine from fried chicken, ribs, brisket, and side dishes to tempt everyone. Don't even get me startedon the desserts. Wow! Bellies were full and the dancing began. What an evening! It was the perfectsetting as the Georgiasun set on the river, old and new friends caught up with one another. The staff was incredible. Many of us hit the floor dancing to the sounds of the 70's. Before I left for the evening I was entertained by Mary Navarro-Aldana (CA) who sang "Baby Baby", Cheryl Waters who sang Patsy Cline's "Crazy", and our VP Terri Pasternik (IL) who sang Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walking”. Savannah knows howto make you feel like family.
Page 14 / FlashAnother People Seen: Paige Stodghill (Staff) has been faithfully at her post collecting Moderator packets and CEU payments. Pat Thornton (CA) wore her pink bling cap styling as the “Rapper Chick”. Dave Slimp (OK) and Sher Longworth (CA) sneaking up on people and taking pictures. Maryann and her hubby (NJ) were seen spooning on the deck watching the ships go by. Mario (MX) speed networking and taking pictures with other chapter members. Linda Barnes (KY) sleepwalking throughout the day fulfilling her duties. Angela Royal (GA) distributing red tickets for the “Must be Present to Win” prizes.
FLASH Staff
The FLASH is published during the conference under the guidance and direction of the communications committee of the association. Items included in the publication do not reflect any official position of the Association.
This year’s staff includes:
Editor: Jenny Yarian-Scalpelli (IN);
Editor-in-Training: Pat Thornton (CA)
Layout Editor: Mary Kay Krisman (OH)
Contributors: Mikell Fryer (GA), Terri Pasternik (IL), Ben Takesh’ta (CA), Sharon Mike (MD), Vickie Zimmerlee (MD), Lanae Vetsch (MT), Angela Royal (GA), Misti Hodges (KY), Mary Rogers (KY), Chris Crawford (TX), Gerri Jimenez (NM), Alphrena Prince (OH), Tameke Goggins (GA), Grant Axtell (OR), Steve Corwin (OR), George Strait (TX), Ann Seifert (MN), Val Moeller (CA), Fred Ruibal (CA), Verna Wade (NC), Irma Kong (CA), James Thomas (CA), Charles Patterson (CA), Angela Bolton (IL), Suzanne Nichols (WA)
Research and Technical Advisors: Mary Ellen Miller (OH), John Habig (IN)
IT and AV Specialists: Paul Cornwall (GA), Robert Turner (GA), McKesson Stafford (GA), Anthony Sims (GA)
Circulation Specialists: Mary Ellen Miller (OH), John Habig (IN), Francetta Hines (OH), Lucely Tut (CA), Juanita Harbort (WI), Phil Hayes (OH)
Photographers: Linda Barnes (KY), David Slimp (OK), Sher Longworth (CA)