MASSASOIT COMMUNITY COLLEGE

In conjunction with Assistant Dean Elaine Stewart, a program entitled “Recreational Marine Trades Program” has been developed to interest potential employees in joining the marine trades. The intent is to interest those thinking about a new career direction or high school graduates uncertain about their career aims, to learn about the recreational marine trades.

It will be a 45 hour course offered on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 9:30 starting September 11th through December 18th. Tuition will be $250. Per student with classes limited to 20. Some scholarships will be offered by MMTA.

Successful completion of the course will lead to an MMTA-recognized Professional Certificate I as well as the MIC Certificates for Code of Conduct and Hassle-free Boating.

The course modules will include Introduction to Marine Trades, Marine Business and customer Operations, Basic Electricity for Marine Electrical Systems, and Boatyard Skills. A Second Professional Certificate II Program is planned for Spring 2002 with additional courses including Introduction to Diesel,and Gasoline Engines, Marine Water and Chemical Safety, and Computers for Marine Offices.

It is felt that this program will give prospective employees a brief basic knowledge of the recreational marine trades and employment opportunities. While current employees might also benefit, it is felt our Workforce Training Grant Courses are more geared to them.

We will be hoping to enlist some experienced personnel to help teach the courses. Some courses will be taught by Massasoit people but we do need others. Contact Ray Gaffey @ (781) 545-2803.

Thanks to a Workforce Training Fund Grant we have received from the State, a program for employees is being instituted at Mass. Maritime Academy.

Ed Lofgren, Chairman of the Education Committee, is working with Elaine Millanette, Associate Dean of Continuing Education, and Cam Gifford of the Academy staff in preparing a series of courses to be offered existing employees under matching funds from the employer in the form of wages paid while at school.

There will be a core of seven basic courses. It is anticipated that the training for an entry level employee will be an average of 15 hours. The curriculum has been designed to provide 35 hours of subject matter, allowing the employer and employee to select the most appropriate training.

Entry level employees would be trained in such basic areas as Customer Service and Communications, Introduction to Marine Electrical Systems, Marine Propulsion Systems, Painting and Paint Repairs, and Fiberglass Repairs.

These courses are presently being coordinated with the Academy and are planned for late fall or early winter. Details will be forthcoming shortly.

MMTA is pleased to announce that two scholarships have been awarded to students at the New England Institute of Technology. Both are in the sum of $1,000. Which can be applied to tuition or supplies. The two recipients were:

• Carl W. Satterland of Weymouth, MA. He has been working at Monahan’s Marine while attending school and will graduate in September 2001.
• Zecharich (Zack) Anderson of South Dennis, MA. He hopes to be doing his internship at Bosun’s Marine in Mashpee and will graduate this year.

New England Institute of Technology recently announced the winners of the college’s annual Technology Essay Contest. First Place went to a Scituate MA resident—Keith Carroll, a junior at Scituate High School. In Third Place was Kevin Harmon, a senior at Mennechary High School, Wilbraham, MA.

ABBRA and IMI will be sponsoring a one-day forklift and one-day Marine straddle lift training session on July 25-26, 2001 at Marina Bay on Boston Harbor, North Quincy, MA. The first day is forklift and the 2nd day is straddle lift.