Our First WIA Issue!

Thanks

This is the first issue of the Career Depot Newsletter sponsored by the Northwest Georgia Workforce Investment Board under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The Job Training Partnership Program (JTPA) ceased to exist as of July 1, 2000; and the WIA is in effect in Northwest Georgia and throughout the United States.

We welcome this opportunity to thank the many individuals who served on the Northwest Georgia Private Industry Council and the Coosa Valley and North Georgia Council of Chief Elected Officials under JTPA. They had full-time jobs and family responsibilities but unselfishly volunteered their time to serve on the regional councils because they believed in the goals and objectives of the Job Training Program. The many accomplishments achieved over the years would not have been possible without their dedication and service.

Thanks also go to the Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) for their support and foresight in helping our region move forward in implementing a one-stop workforce development system. More than four years ago, before the Workforce Investment Act was law, Gwen Dellinger, JTPA Director, met with DTAE staff to discuss funding a coordinator to assist in working towards developing a one-stop system in our region. DTAE's support at the initial meeting and over the past four years has not wavered. Thank you to Ruby Sherrill and Dorothy Edmund, now retired, and Kyle Dennis and David Cormier. A special thank you to Sue Chandler, not only for her assistance and support but for enduring a rather adventurous trip to Miami to make a one-stop presentation.

Thank you to all; we could not have done it without you!

WIB Officers

Congratulations to the following individuals who have been elected by the Northwest Georgia Workforce Investment Board to serve as officers through June 30, 2000.

The Northwest Georgia Workforce Investment Board (WIB) Youth Council is a subgroup of the WIB. The Youth Council responsibilities include developing portions of the local plan relating to eligible youth, recommending to the local WIB eligible providers of youth activities, and conducting oversight with the WIB of the eligible providers of youth activities.

The Northwest Georgia Workforce Investment Board adopted its Constitution and By-Laws at the meeting held on July 18. Article VIII - Meetings established the following:

The WIB shall meet at least bi-monthly. The regular meetings shall be held at BJ's Restaurant in Calhoun, Georgia on the third Wednesday of every other month, beginning in July, unless otherwise directed by the Chairman, in which case due notice will be given as defined in the requirements of the Open Meetings Law. The Chairman may call a special meeting at his/her discretion. Notice of all meetings shall be given to all directors, not less than three (3) days nor more than 30 days prior to the date of the meeting(s). All meetings shall be held in compliance with the Georgia Open Meetings Law

Wanda W. Williams, Coosa Valley Regional Development Center (RDC), was recently awarded the Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) credential by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP).

Workforce Development Professionals facilitate the process by which individuals identify, prepare for, obtain and maintain employment and self sufficiency. They may work directly with the customer or may work as support personnel for and with staff who do work directly with the customer. The CWDP recognizes the training, experience, and expertise of professionals in the field in 12 areas of competency. The CWDP program is administered and endorsed by the NAWDP, a national association for individual practioners in the workforce development profession.

"Wanda exemplifies the degree of professionalism and commitment to excellence that America needs if it is to continue to enjoy a world-class workforce," said NAWDP President Ed McCann. At the time of her certification, Wanda was one of only 280 professionals in the United States to receive this certification. Wanda is the Youth Coordinator for the Workforce Investment Act program in the 15 counties served by the Northwest Georgia Workforce Investment Board.