The Bulletin -- January 27, 2010 (#1026)

Program: Ashley Cousins — Solid Foundations

PAST PRESIDENT TONY SEARING SPEAKS WITH ASHLEY COUSINS OF SOLID FOUNDATIONS.

With stimulus money, Ashley Cousins has developed a program working with young people, to help them grow out of state assistance to become working members in society.

Solid Foundations is a 16-week entry level program training youth 18 to 24 years of age to develop skills to go into the building trades. These are out of school people who seem to have fewer resources for developing job opportunities. The first class was all young men. The second class includes one woman.

The program trains these youth for occupational trades of masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, welding, and weatherization. It also incorporates academic skills such as math, reading, and science to develop the additional working skills necessary. They are also schooled in interviewing, resume writing, problem solving, finances and other life skills you would need to know for any job.

The youths have been involved in construction and hands on training through the Franklin County Courthouse renovation project, Habitat for Humanity and maintenance at the Imperial Building. One on the job training program developed into job opportunities for two of their students at JCEO.

Cousins said, “We are working with these youth to obtain their GED certification. These youth are from low income families with barriers to employment. For various reasons traditional schooling did not work for this group. They come to the program with very little if any prior working experience, low self-esteem and low math and reading skills. While they are doing the things they enjoy, such as hands on projects, we sneak in the educational skills they need. We also develop the soft skills such as time management and anger management.”

New Member Talk — Tim Boshart Tim Boshart is from Carthage, N.Y. and was born the same year the first communication satellite started orbiting the earth, Johnny Carson started his late night program, and Albert Sabin developed the Polio Vaccine. Tim married his high school sweetheart and has celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary. He graduated from SUNY Canton with two degrees, one in HVAC, and one in design in plumbing and heating. He began his professional career as a designer for CNS Engineers designing mechanical systems for commercial buildings and military installations. His two children, Brad and Emily, are both in college, one at Clinton and one at Plattsburgh State. He moved to the paper mill in Carthage until the mill closed. After that he worked in Watertown for a while before taking a job with a paper mill in Old Town, Maine, which later landed him at Georgia Pacific in Plattsburgh. He said everyone should be using quilted Northern, Brawny, and Sparkle napkins paper products, which are manufactured here. Tim is also very involved in community organizations including his neighborhood organization and loves to design homes, hunting, and skiing.

She said the students are trained in all aspects of the building trades. When they begin looking for a job, she said they will help them get a job in the field they are most interested in.

Cousins asked rhetorically, “Why these kids?” She said that this is the focus of the funding. “If we don’t teach this group of youth there is something else available for them, they will end up on public assistance programs.”

Cousins said about half of the people interviewed are accepted into the paid training program. “The students who do not make the cut at the interview are not ready, or not in a place where they can take advantage of this program, at this time in their life. Most kids in this program come from homes where the families are on public assistance or disability. They do not have families that are supportive toward their success.” Cousins said those students who are not accepted are referred to CV Tech, One Work Source, and other services available to them.

Cousins told the membership that Solid Foundations will be seeking additional funding because the stimulus funding only got the program started. “We are looking into other funding, grants, and help in the community. CV Tech is working on a grant which will help with this program.”

She said they are very strict with boundaries teaching skills such as courtesy, respect, and other life skills.

Visiting Rotarians: John Jablonski, (Honorary); Maxine Perry and Sarah Tucker (Sunrise Club)

Guests: Michelle Armani (Paul Grasso); Angela Bucci (Paul Grasso); Sally Meisenheimer (Bob Parks); Carrie Rollier (Joshua Kretser); Marty Poston (David Bray)

This Week:

• Pres. Bonnie reminded everyone about signing up on the District and RI websites and to update your personal information. She said that there is a wealth of information regarding the RI conference in Montreal.
• An anonymous donor has donated a $1,000 toward a shelter box. Anyone can give donations toward the shelter boxes, and as we get enough we will forward on to district.
• First Thursday (Feb. 4) will be held at the Ground Round Pub at 5 p.m.
• New Member Orientation will be held Friday, Jan. 29(8 a.m.) at West Bay Financial.
• 25 members still have not paid dues.
• Golf Tourney will be held on Wednesday, June 9.
  

Announcements:

• Beekmantown Play “Pippin” will be performed this weekend.
• Leigh Mundy said the NCCCA 400 Club has tickets available for $100.
• Stan Ransom said the Friends of the Library will hold a showing by William Amadon on Saturday, Jan. 30, 5 – 7 p.m. with free refreshments.
• Marsha Cook bragging about the quite significant skiing experience her granddaughters had.
• Terri Ann Pavone and Alice Church were presented with blue badges.
• PPres. Steve Frederick said Keith Tyo is looking for a team of 4 members plus 2 alternates for the Literacy Volunteers Challenge -on Saturday, March 6th at the Mall. We need the Brawniest Brains! Corn Forrence and Colin Read have agreed to participate.

TRIVIA
Did you know…?
Rotary Foundation has a Haiti Earthquake Relief fund. You can use your cell phone to make a one-time US$5 donation to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. Text ROTARY to 90999.