KCEOC Site Visit

Last week we travelled to Barbourville for an engaging day of training with the KCEOC staff. A highlight of the day was learning more about Carla's emerging theory regarding the differences in Heritage, Contemporary and Progressive employers and how they approach interviewing. Let your mind guess what type of questions each of these employers utilize in interviews. Watch for more details in future trainings.

Daniel Boone Site Visit

In spite of record rainfall for April, we were able to schedule most of our April site visits. Our prayers go out to many of you in communities that are impacted by flooding. Last week we visited GCDFs in Manchester at the Daniel Boone Community Action Agency. After a morning of training and lunch, we toured the 1000 acre Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park and Mountain Life museum. This is a fabulous destination for youth field trips. So much history of Kentucky, and our nation, can be experienced here. Levi Jackson, for whom the park is named, was the first judge of Laurel County. His descendents donated the land for the state park in 1931. The park has a campground, hiking trails, mill, and Mountian Life Musuem. Many of the artifacts in the museum have been donated by local citizens and the Jackson family. The park is dedicated to the memory of pioneers, whose early struggles made possible the settlement and development of Kentucky and other states to the west by way of Wilderness Road and Boone's Trace. The park is also the location of the noted bloody 1786 Indian massacre of the McNitt party.

Recent training and site visits took us to Gateway and Northeast Community Action Agencies. After training in West Liberty, we viewed the building sites for the new central office for Mountain Telephone and the new Judicial Center. The Judicial Center will house court rooms, offices and the 911 center. Little Caesar's is another new business in town located in an old discount store. It has been quite popular since it opened. We also toured a few local parks where youth and local citizens walk, picnic, and spend time. West Liberty also has a lovely park with war memorials. Lastly, we visited a Mennonite business. At Northeast, we learned about Tractor Supply and Gibbs Hardware (they have a business in Ashland) both likely to open this summer. Additionally, in Olive Hill a clothing factory is supposed to hiring up to 200 people. Thanks to both sites for your wonderful hospitality! Both locations are excited about Job Clubs coming to their areas.

Site Visit to Paintsville, KY

There was a full house for today's interview training in Paintsville. So nice to see so many of our GCDFs and their colleagues. This afternoon, we visited the historic Mayo Memorial United Methodist Chuch that was built by local millionaire, John C.C. Mayo in the early 1900's. Mr. Mayo travelled extensively in Europe and wanted to share the beauty of European cathedrals with his community. He brought 100 Italian craftsment to Paintsville for the 5 year project. The church was constructed out of native sandstone that was cut and shaped at Thomas Jefferson Mayo's (John Mayo's father) farm, which was located across Paint Creek. The stones were transported to the church by the same aerial tram which Mayo used to construct his mansion. The roof is made of over 12,000 glazed green tiles that weigh six pounds a piece. Its pipe organ was donated by Andrew Carnegie. The church is also well known for its large stained glass windows, designed by Italian craftsman and imported from Italy. The windows portray the Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ. We are fortunate to have a private organ recital with the pastor's wife.

Harlan Site Visit

Last week our travels took us to Harlan for a day of training, lunch, and a Q & A session with our GCDF colleagues. We are always amazed at how spring seems to hit the mountains first. The trees were starting to bloom and the flowers were also beginning to show off their lovely colors.

LKLP Site Visit

Spring is slowly but surely arriving in Kentucky and that means site visits. This week we enjoyed spending a day with our GCDFs and their colleagues at LKLP. The morning consisted of a training on how we can help prepare our clients for interviews. After a delicious pot luck luncheon, we headed to Leslie County to learn more about the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing.

As many of you know, the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery was started in 1939 by the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) as a part of its demonstration project in the care of the mother and child in rural areas of Kentucky. From the beginning, Founder Mary Breckinridge viewed nurse-midwifery as central to health care. When FNS began using nurse-midwives in the United States in 1925, it was able to secure a qualified staff in only two ways, by sending the American nurses to Great Britain for graduate training or by enlisting British nurses already qualified as midwives. In the early years, the FNS offered scholarships to American nurses to go to Great Britain for training in nurse-midwifery, and recruited British nurse-midwives.

If you have not had a chance, plan a visit to Leslie county and learn more about FNS - a true Kentucky gem. Students still come from around the country for nurse training. The history is fascinating and grounds are absolutely beautiful. A bed and breakfast will be opening soon in Mary Breckinridge's former home.

Middle KY Site Visit

Last week took us to Jackson, Kentucky and the Middle Kentucky Community Action Agency for a first time training opportunity. We enjoyed meeting the local staff, having lunch together, and taking a driving tour of Breathitt and Lee counties. It is amazing how large these counties are and how competitive their sports teams are. We look forward to future visits with the Middle Kentucy folks.

Bell Whitley Site Visit

Today's training took us to Pineville where we met with our GCDFs and some of their colleagues for resume and interview training. There was some lively discussion related to local norms and how jobs are obtained. During the afternoon we had the chance to learn more about client communities. Thanks for your wonderful hospitality.

Site Visits to Daniel Boone and LKLP

This week the high winds blew us down to Manchester for training and a site visit with Terrina, Shirley, Alesia, Phillip, Jo Ann, and Linda. Thanks for the delicious potluck luncheon and homemade pies. On a tour of the county, we learned more about the documentary Appalachian Dawn and how local ministers collaborated to fight back against drugs in the community. It is being touted as a model in others areas of the country.

Also this week we spent time in Hazard training with Allison, Mona, Lynn, Mary, Donna, Jack, Shirley, Bobbie, Brian, Kathy, and Irene. Another potluck lunch was greatly appreciated. The peanut butter cake and pumpkin rolls were amazing! Community visits in the afternoon took us to Hindman and the Artisan Center, Bobbie and Mary's office (as well as where their new office will be located), and a shopping spree at Yoders. We also took in the Community Sports complex. A special thank you to Brian and Donna for sitting on the reclaimed coal mine ridge for three hours watching for elk. Of the supposed 7000 elk in the area, we did not see a single one. Our motto for the viewing was "any minute now" or "it won't be much longer". Fortunately, we had excellent company and beautiful views of the region from our peak viewing spot.

Site Visits

This week we have put the miles on the Careerspan car visiting our GCDF colleagues across the region. We have had beautiful weather and the fall leaves have been lovely. Yesterday we travelled to Harlan to meet with Celia, Chris and Flora. Chris shared a 1939 copy of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles that the libary was about to toss. Lots of "R" jobs. After our GCDF CEU training, we visited the CAA's remodeled building. What a transformation. Then we surprised Karen and dropped in on her at Harlan County High School near the end of her school day. My is her classroom, lab, and kitchens impressive as is the school. It features lots of glass windows with terrific views of the mountains, and an amazing gym and theater. There are so many activitites for students to get involved in, it's not surprising that the drop out rate last year was extremely low! Who wouldn't want to go to this school.

Today we headed to Paintsville. What a crowd Valerie gathered up for our morning training session. So good to see "yall". After lunch, we toured the Carl Perkins Vocational Rehabilitation Center and the local Entrepreneur Resource Center. Thanks for a great day!

KCEOC Site Visit

Mid-October led us to the Barbourville KCEOC site. What a beautiful drive! The fall color is certainly prettier this year as we head outside of Lexington. A highlight of our Resume and Interview CEU training was a discussion on how to help clients who feel as if they do not have anything to put on a resume. Or how to help those clients who when asked what are their qualifications, they say "none" or they can't answer. Ultimately we are striving to help our clients see that they have transferable, marketable skills and then to take ownership of those skills. Our group felt that asking a client to describe their skills was less intimidating than to ask them what are their qualificaitons. For those clients who perhaps lack self-confidence, try to get them to talk about their skills in each of the following categories - 1) tools/machine 2) Ideas 3) People 4) Data. This information can then be translated into roles and various other resume headers. Are you asking your clients the right questions when it comes to helping them build their resumes and see their transferable skills? What questions do you rely upon to get your clients to share their skills? As always, we welcome your comments.

Gateway Site Visit

It is that time of year again when we get to travel to your work places and enjoy the beautiful fall Kentucky weather. The last week of September took us to the Gateway Center in West Liberty. After a morning of resume and interview training, Sydney and Karen took us on a tour of Morgan and Menefee counties. Highlights of the trip included a tour of the Frenchburg Job Corp site (http://frenchburg.jobcorps.gov/home.aspx) run by the US Department of Forestry. Karen and Sydney have had a long-term collaboration with Job Corp. Two of their students led us through the campus and shared with us what it was like to be a Job Corp student. We learned a lot about his government program for youth 16 - 24 years old. Then we headed to Red River George and experienced the extremely narrow Nada Tunnel. Thanks for a wonderful day!

April Visits

We have had the pleasure of visiting so many of you recently across the region and truly have witnessed spring coming to the mountains. At the end of March, we visited Manchester (City of Hope) and the folks at Daniel Boone CAA. If you have not been to their office, it sits a mile and a half straight up a hill. Quite steep for us flat road city slickers. Such an amazing view though! When the weather is bad, we are told that employees park at the bottom of the hill and are transported up to the office by four wheel drive vehicles. That same day we headed over to Jackson and spent time with Alesia in the McKee Office and with Sherrie and Mary Ann at the Jackson County Vocational School. The new high school is being built at the vocational school site. It will be so nice for the students to have both schools together.

In mid-April the redbuds were in full color as we travelled to Northeast CAA in Sandy Hook to visit with Stephanie. Her office is located in the local library and the youth center is just a few buildings away. Next we took the most adventurous road of the season and headed to Louisa to see Bonnie in action. On one hairpin turn, we had to completely stop the car to allow a large truck, coming in the opposite direction, to make the curve. In Louisa, we had the most delicious milkshakes at Dee's. Yum! Later that day we met with the folks in the Olive Hill office and attended their evening board meeting.

That same week we headed to Hazard to see the new LKLP office. What a transformation? Brian transported us to Whitesburg in the afternoon and provided awesome commentary along the way. So nice to see Irene and Kathy's office in the heart of their city.

Next on the agenda was Harlan where we spent time with Flora at the community college, ate in the campus cafe and met with the President. Flora took us up to Kingdom Come (above photo), and showed us Lynch and the Benham School House. The dogwoods and redbuds made for a lovely drive. Later that day we met with Chris and Celia at their community college location.

Additional visits included the Gateway West Liberty office where we observed Karen and Sidney teaching an ethics class to JobCorp participants. Ask us sometime about the impromptu skit that we put on for their students.

Lastly, our month ended with a day in Barbourville. We spent time with Stephen and Shanna as they taught a class for out of school youth on communication. That afternoon we were able to visit a growing local business - Troll and Toad.

How can we thank you enough for your wonderful hospitality?

Big Sandy Visits

Today we traveled to Pikeville and visited with Jim and April. So nice to finally see their workspace. Then we were on to Prestonsburg where we visited Valerie, Sandy G., Sandy C., Anita, Zeth, Brian, and Reva. We applaud the wonderful work you are doing with so many dislocated workers. You are certainly utilizing your GCDF training during these challenging economic times.

On the Road Again...

Just like Willie Nelson, we are on the road again and enjoying every minute of spring 2010 site visits. Yesterday we were at Bell-Whitley to visit and brainstorm with Janet, Shawn, Pam and Sandy. The outside of the Youth building features a beautiful mural their youth painted.

Spring 2010 Site Visits Confirmed

We are looking forward to spending time with you during our spring visits.

-Bell-Whitley- March 1
-BSCAP in Prestonsburg and Pikeville offices and visiting Reva Kidd at the OET office in -Prestonsburg - March 8
-Johnson County Schools (Jarred Gibson and Melissa Slone) - March 23
-Daniel Boone visit in Manchester offices and Jackson offices - March 30
-NKCAA at all offices on April 13 visit including board meeting in evening
-LKLP visit in Hazard one stop on April 15 and includes visit to Whitesburg
-Harlan CAA- April 19 including visit to Flora Wattenberger’s office
-GCDF visit to Karen Phillips at Harlan County High School - April 19
-Gateway- April 20
-KCEOC visit - April 22