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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 2012)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, September 19, 2012 BOLI continues series highlighting Oregon apprentice programs The Oregon Bureau of La- bor and Industries (BOLI), home of the state’s Apprentice- ship and Training Division, is continuing its special series of spotlight articles on registered apprentices – workers earning living wages while learning the skills for a career in their cho- sen trade. The Apprenticeship and Training Division monitors all registered apprenticeship programs in the state to ensure maintenance of standards and to promote participation by women and people of color. Apprentice Spotlight: AJ Banuelos – Despite coming from a big family of union tradespeople, Anjanet “AJ” Banuelos never thought seri- ously about apprenticeship. Or at least not until she was look- ing for work, drawing public as- sistance and trying to take care of three kids. Pre-apprentice- ship training through Con- structing Hope seemed like an option, but chance landed her in Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc’s pre-apprenticeship program. AJ hasn’t looked back. Now less than 500 hours away from fourth term as a laborer ap- prentice, she seems far away from the clerical work that she thinks high school prepared her for. With not only the skills but the social network that OTI helped her to build, AJ feels like she’s on solid footing – and wants to offer the same confi- dence and opportunity to suc- ceed to others. “I volunteer a lot with OTI, let them use my story, anything I can do,” AJ says with a smile. “And the supportive services, like childcare – I’m always telling other apprentices, do you know this help is out there?” Noting that finding childcare when your days aren’t 8 to 5, Monday through Friday, espe- cially when you’re on a job out of town and need a provider who can accommodate that, AJ emphasized, “Childcare is a huge issue.” She likes the BOLI-ODOT workforce partner- ship’s support for childcare ex- penses, per diems and other efforts to keep Oregon appren- tices in their programs and on the job – she just wishes even more help was available. AJ is far from complaining about apprenticeship in Ore- gon, though. Asked what else she might be doing today, she laughingly said, “I don’t even know.” After a moment more of thought she says with charac- teristic honesty, “I don’t even want to think about that.” Downplaying her own hard work to get where she is, AJ is quick to express thanks to OTI especially: she recalls their pre-apprenticeship program making her interested in every trade except roofing, when she came in leaning strongly to- wards becoming an electrician. The experience was so positive that AJ, something of a good- will ambassador for OTI, sent her daughter to a Building Girls Construction Camp earlier this year – and reports that the “girly girl” was really excited about all that she learned. OTI’s supportive environ- ment and strong foundation not only helped AJ start on the right path, but also provide great ex- amples for her suggestions for helping to keep other appren- tices on the path to success: mentoring and networking among apprentices to share in- formation and foster other mu- tual supports. AJ sees tips on simple things like helping to un- derstand difficult bosses as a great gift from older appren- tices to younger ones, and just between starting apprentices opportunities to carpool or sug- gestions on good childcare providers can be invaluable. AJ’s perspective on Oregon apprenticeship came with no pulled punches and no white- wash, but plenty of optimism. She’s ready to be on the front lines working to make appren- ticeship even more accessible and more supportive of future apprentices. That level of ener- gy and commitment should come as no surprise, though, from a woman who spent three months travelling from her Troutdale home to work on the west side of the Willamette Riv- er required riding the bus, MAX train and street car – all three, both directions, every day for three months. Visit www.oregon.gov/BOLI for more information about all of BOLI’s work to the workforce and a stronger economy. Community Calendar VERNONIA Alcoholics Anonymous Mondays 6:30 p.m., 410 North Street Alcoholics Anonymous Thursdays (Big Book Study) 7:00 p.m., 410 North Street American Legion Post #119 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue Booster Club 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., WGS Library Boy Scout Troop 201 Tuesdays 7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin Boy Scout Troop 860 Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., LDS Church Cemetery Beautification Comm. 2nd Thursday 6:30 p.m., Library Chamber of Commerce 2nd Wednesday For Info Call 503-429-6081 Community Coalition 2nd Monday 12:30 p.m. School District Ofc. Cub Scout Pack 201 Scout Cabin For Info Call 503-429-4250 Emerg. Preparedness Comm. 4th Wednesday 6:30 p.m., WOEC Friends of the Library 1st Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2 For Info Call 503-819-0143 Izaak Walton League 3rd Thursday For location call 503-429-7193 Kiwanis Club 2nd & 4th Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong Lions Club 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., New Hong Kong Municipal Airport Committee 1t Wednesday 6:30 p.m., City Hall Pioneer Museum For Info Call 503-429-3713 Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-0869 7:00 p.m.,Vernonia Grange Public Works Committee 4th Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Cares Directors For Info call 503-429-1414 Vernonia City Council 1st & 3rd Mondays 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Comm. Learning Center 1st Wednesday 5:00 p.m., VCLC Vernonia Community PTA 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., WGS Library Vernonia Garden Club 2nd Tuesday 1:30 p.m., Vernonia Library Vernonia Grange 3rd Monday 7:00 p.m., Grange Hall Vernonia Health Center 3rd Thursday 6:30 p.m., 510 Bridge St. Vernonia Library Board 1st Wednesday 9:00 a.m., Sept-June, Library Vernonia Parks Committee 3rd Wednesday 6:30 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Planning Comm. 1st & 3rd Thursdays 6:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Ridge Riders Last Thursday 7:00 p.m., Senior Center Vernonia RFPD Board 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia School Board 2nd Thursday 6:00 p.m., District Office Vernonia Sr. Center Board 2nd Friday 10:00 a.m., Senior Center Vernonia Transfer Station 2nd & 4th Saturdays 8 a.m.-2 p.m.,Behind VHS Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters 2nd Monday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station WOEC Directors 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., WOEC MIST-BIRKENFELD M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg. 3rd Tuesday M-B Ambulance Drill 1st & 2nd Thursdays M-B Fire Drill 1st & 2nd Wednesdays M-B Helping Circle 2nd Monday M-B SAR Drill 3rd Wednesday M-B Volunteer Assoc. 1st Tuesday Natal Grange 2nd Wednesday T.O.P.S. Mondays BANKS Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous American Legion Post #90 Banks City Council Banks Fire District #13 Banks Library Commission Banks Planning Commission Banks School Board Banks Youth Group Chamber of Commerce CPO 14 Everybody’s Hometown Band Friends of the Library Lions Club Sunset Park Assoc. T.O.P.S. Friday Wednesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Wednesday 3rd Tuesday Last Tuesday 2nd Monday Sunday, Wednesday 1st Thursday 3rd Monday Tuesdays 2nd Tuesday 1st & 3rd Mondays 3rd Wednesday Wednesday 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall 9:00 a.m., Main Fire Station 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church 7:00 p.m., Main Street Post 7:30 p.m., City Hall 7:00 p.m., Station 13 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., City Hall 7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library 7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg. 12:30 p.m., Fire District Office 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., BHS Music Room 7:00 p.m., City Library 7:00 p.m., Brown Derby 8:00 p.m., Gun Club 7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg. COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.) Board of Commissioners Wednesday 10:00 a.m., Courthouse Citizens for Senior Justice 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church Columbia 9-1-1 Board 3rd Thursday 9:00 a.m., 9-1-1 meeting room Columbia Comm Mental Health 1st Tuesday 5”30 p.m., 58646 McNulty Way Columbia Soil & Water District 3rd Wednesday 7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes County Fair Board 2nd Monday 6:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg. County Parks Commission 2nd Thursday 4:00 p.m., 1054 Oregon St. Comm. on Children & Families 3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 505 N. Hwy. 30 Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm. Quarterly For Info call 503-397-7211 Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.
