Register Now for Advanced Spanish Leadership Class

The Spanish Leadership Working Group met recently at the Winpisinger Center to prepare for the IAM’s 2010 Spanish Leadership programs. Among the group’s tasks was to finalize revisions to the curriculum for the Spanish Advanced Leadership pilot program, which will debut this year in a class scheduled for September 26 – October 1. Continued...

Affordable Student Loans Available

Beginning July 1, 2009, new benefits to make student loan payments more affordable and manageable will go into place, making the prospect of receiving a higher education and a much-needed upgrade in skills that much more attainable for millions of Americans.The benefits, put into place by the Democratic Majority and House Committee on Education & Labor, were signed into law in 2007 as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. They include cheaper interest rates on need-based federal student loans, reasonable and affordable monthly payments, and higher Pell Grant scholarships that cover the average tuition at public universities.These provisions are in addition to the Obama administration’s recent announcement of a relaxation in Pell Grant eligibility requirements for unemployed workers. That initiative is also slated to begin in July.

New Program Helps Unemployed Workers Go Back to School

If you’re out of work and want to go back to school – you can. President Obama announced that unemployed workers can receive special government help to further their education and training. He has directed the U.S. Department of Education to relax the rules for unemployed workers seeking to return to school. Beginning in July, the maximum Federal Pell Grant will be increased to $5,350, allowing community colleges, colleges, universities, trade and technical schools to increase their financial aid packets.

The initiative is directed at all unemployed persons. And, unlike in the past, those currently receiving unemployment benefits will not have to give them up – they can continue to receive their benefits while in school.“Our unemployment insurance system should no longer be a safety net, but a steppingstone to a new future,” said President Obama. “It should offer folks educational opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have, and give them the measurable and differentiated skills they need to not just get through these hard times, but to get ahead when the economy comes back.”

Like the IAM’s call for more education and skills development, President Obama is asking every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training.For more information on this and other available education and training opportunities for the unemployed, visit www.opportunity.gov

The William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center

As we enter the new century, the only way to keep up with change is with education. The William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center is the IAM's most visible sign of our commitment to provide a world class educational facility to train future IAM leaders. The Winpisinger Center teaches what it is to be a trade unionist. By studying labor history and the role unions play in our society, students learn that unions are more than service organizations. We are part of a larger movement toward economic and social justice with dignity on the job.

The Winpisinger Mission

The William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center at Placid Harbor is a facility built by workers for workers. Its purpose is to meet the complete range of educational needs of our members and to provide an atmosphere where members can learn undisturbed by the daily demands of the workplace. To this end, the programs cover a diverse range of training to ensure that IAM members, officers and staff are prepared to serve their fellow members.

• Leadership Programs include courses such as:Leadership I, II, Advanced Leadership and Train-the-Trainer which are the foundations of our education program.
• Specialized Training includes courses such as: Arbitration, Collective Bargaining, Advanced Collective Bargaining, Comprehensive Training, Orientation and Basic Skills, Pension Program and Strategic Planning.
• Departmental Seminars include courses such as:Basic and Advanced Editors, Community Services/Retirees, Federal Employees, Financial Officers, Human Rights, IAM Cares, VLodge Membership Training, Political Education, Railroad Local Chairmen, Safety and Health, High Performance Work Organizations and Women's Program. Every member profits when local, district and grand lodge leaders work together to improve wages, working conditions, pensions and job security for the membership.

Placid Harbor History

The earliest recorded history of Placid Harbor and its environs dates back to the 1660's. The William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center at Placid Harbor is adjacent to what is believed to be Maryland's oldest house­­Resurrection Manor. It is located near what is known as "Yankee's Point" after a Union army encampment there during the Civil War. During the War of 1812, the area around Placid Harbor became a whimsical target for the British, who were on their way to Washington to burn the Capitol. Apparently in need of some target practice, the British fired cannon shots at Resurrection Manor. One of the cannonballs pierced the brick wall of the house facing the Patuxent River, entered the house, bounded across the living room floor and ended up in the fireplace. The cannonball was passed from person-to-person and is now treasured as one of the authentic mementoes of the War period. More recently, Placid Harbor was owned by a well-to-do Maryland landowner, later by one of the most anti-worker, anti-union radio commentators in history - Fulton Lewis, Jr. The IAM purchased the property and buildings from the Retail Clerks Union in 1980 and began construction of the new classrooms and administrative facilities in 1982.

IAMAW Workers' Memorial

The IAMAW Workers' Memorial was dedicated in August of 2001. The bricks surrounding the Memorial bear the names of fallen members along with bricks donated from lodges and proud members of the IAMAW. To order a brick or bricks, click to download the Brick Order Form.

2011 IAM Scholarship Competition

This scholarship competition is open each year to members of the IAM and their children throughout the United States and Canada under the procedures and rules of eligibility explained in this Announcement.

The 2011 Scholarship Competition begins in August 2010 and runs through February 25, 2011. Beginning in August 2010, applications will be accepted for the 2011 Scholarship Competition. Applications will be available to seniors in high school and IAM members and may be downloaded and printed from this web page. Applications will not be accepted until August 2010. An application can also be obtained by mail from the IAM Scholarship Department after printing, completing and mailing the request form on this web page or in the 2010 Summer IAM Journal issue.

The IAM Scholarship Fund, which is used exclusively to make possible these awards, was established by the delegates to the 1960 IAM Grand Lodge Convention.

The Scholarship Competition

Scholarships to make possible attainment of a Bachelor's degree or a two-year vocational/technical certification are determined in a competition among eligible applicants that is judged by a special Selection Committee.

Amount of Awards

Awards to Members are $2,000 per academic year. They are granted for a specific period from one to four years to enable the member to earn a Bachelor's degree or a two-year vocational/technical certification.

Awards to Children of Members are: College - $1,000 per academic year. All awards are renewed each year until a Bachelor's degree is obtained up to a maximum of four years.  Vocational/Technical School - $2,000 per year until certification is reached up to a maximum of two years.

At the 2004 Grand Lodge convention, the delegates voted unanimously to name one of the scholarships after Roman A. Mayfield, a 55-year member of D.L. 751, now deceased. This will be given to one of the scholarship recipients who best represents the spirit of volunteerism and strong sense of service to their community that was the hallmark of Brother Mayfield. Learn more about Brother Mayfield.

A distinguished panel of four academics met to select 19 winners from among 566 applicants in the 2010 IAM Scholarship Competition. The winners, from each IAM Territory in the U.S. and Canada, will receive a $4,000 scholarship to pursue a college degree or vocational and technical training. “The winners were notified by mail,” said IAM Safety & Health Department Director Mike Flynn, whose department administers the popular program. "The scholarships are a great opportunity for IAM parents and a great way for members themselves to continue their own education."

To see the past Scholarship Winners click the link below:

The 2010 IAM Scholarship Winners:

Eligibility for Competition

Any Applicant Must Be Either--

• an IAM member, or
• the son, daughter, stepchild or legally adopted child of an IAM member.

A Member Applicant--

• must have two years of continuous good-standing membership up to and including the closing date of the competition which is February 25, 2011;
• may apply either when entering college or vocational/technical school as a freshman or at a higher level with some college credits already completed;
• may apply as a full-time or part-time student; and
• if not a winner, may apply again in a subsequent year.

Child of a Member Applicant--

• must have one living parent with two years of continuous good-standing membership through the closing date of February 25, 2011;
• will be eligible if the parent member died after the son or daughter entered high school, and the parent had two years of “continuous good-standing membership” at the time of death;
• a “continuous good-standing membership” is understood to be a period of membership during which the member continuously paid monthly dues uninterrupted by withdrawal cards;
• must be planning to graduate during the winter or by the end of the spring 2011 school year (i.e., normally a high school senior or completing the last year of college preparatory work); and
• must plan to take a regular college or vocational/technical program on a full-time basis, maintaining qualifying grades.

Ineligible Applicants Include--

• applicants who do not intend to work without interruption for a bachelor's degree or completion of a vocational/technical school certification;
• members' children who are attending or have already attended college or vocational/technical school;
• children of members on the payroll of the Grand Lodge;
• graduate students; and
• applicants who do not plan to enroll in an accredited college or vocational/technical school.

How to Apply
To be valid, an application must be submitted on the appropriate form. Application Packets for the 2011 competition may be obtained by writing to the IAM Scholarship Program, indicating whether applicant is a member, or the child of a member. Use a coupon from the 2010 Summer IAM Journal issue or download and print from the link below.

A self-addressed LABEL must be included with every request for an Application Packet. Do not send a self-addressed envelope. Requests for Application Packets should be made as early as possible.

NOTE: If an Application Packet is not received within 30 days after it was requested, or if the wrong packet was received, the Scholarship Program should be notified promptly so that the correct packet may be sent.

Application packets postmarked later than February 25, 2011, will NOT be acknowledged or considered. No exceptions will be permitted even if a third party is responsible for delay.

There are three different Application Packets and a Personal Reference form that may be downloaded and printed from this page.

• Children of members (college) - Print Application and two Personal Reference forms.
• Children of members (vocational/technical school) - Print Application and two Personal Reference forms.
• Members (college or vocational/technical school) - Print Application and four Personal Reference forms.
• Personal Reference form

All Scholarship Applicants are Advised--

• to obtain guidance from their high school teachers and counselors in pursuing a college education or for attending vocational/technical school;
• not to wait until awards are announced before making other plans for financing a college education;
• to apply early for scholarships or awards from several other sources; and
• to make early application for admission to at least three colleges.

The Selection Committee

Award recipients will be chosen by an independent Selection Committee composed of four qualified educators from the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

The Selection Procedure

The Committee attempts to select from each IAM territory applicants who have demonstrated learning ability and all-around suitability for college work or for attending vocational/technical school. In reaching this determination, many factors are taken into consideration, including: grades, attitude toward study, personal references, available test scores, the opinion of counselors and teachers and activities outside of school. For member applicants, weight is given to participation in local lodge responsibilities. Canadian students are judged according to Canadian scholastic standards. The IAM scholarship winners and honorable mentions will be announced in the 2011 Summer issue of the IAM Journal.

All Award Recipients

• are responsible for obtaining admission to the college or vocational/technical school of the student's choice;
• must take a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree or its equivalent if attending college or required courses for vocational/technical school; and
• may attend a two-year accredited college and transfer for the last two years.**
  **For college recipients only.

General Information

When proper notification is submitted to the Scholarship Committee, the following may be approved:

• If the recipient enlists in the military, the award will be held in reserve for a period no longer than three years.
• If the recipient enters the Peace Corps, the award will be held in reserve for a period no longer than two years.
• The recipient must apply for reinstatement of the scholarship within three months after discharge from the military service or Peace Corps and must enroll in college.
• A request for temporary suspension for academic reasons may be granted for a period not exceeding one year.
• In the case of illness or accident, the award may be held in reserve for a period not to exceed two years. The student would be expected to resume college or vocational/technical work as soon as possible.
• The IAM will set aside the total amount in the Scholarship Fund necessary to finance the student through the period of the award. The program was established in the confident expectation that it will remain indefinitely, as long as donations continue. If unforeseen circumstances should cause the program to be discontinued, scholarships in effect would be continued for their duration, and all money remaining in the fund would be used solely for education purposes.

Alternate Resources Union Plus Credit Card Scholarships. Send a postcard with your name, return address, telephone number and union to: Union Plus Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 34800, Washington, D.C. 20043-4800 or download the application from the Union Privilege web site in early September: www.unionplus.org/benefits/education/

AFL-CIO's Scholarship Guide. The web site is www.aflcio.org for links to all unions.

Federally-funded scholarship programs. Federal Student Aid Information Center. Call 1.800.433.3243 for a free copy of "The Student Guide." The web site is: www.StudentAid.ed.gov then link to publications or www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Vocational-Technical Information. The web site is: www.trade-schools.net for information on Voc-tech schools in the U.S. and Canada or www.accsct.org for an alternate U.S. site. 

IAM Educator

The IAM Educator Update for Stewards is published six times a year by Union Communications Services, Inc. (UCS), Annapolis, Maryland, in partnership with the IAM's William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center, 24494 Placid Harbor Way, Hollywood, MD 20636. For information on obtaining additional copies call 301-373-3300. Stewards Newsletter is printed every other month. Contents copyright ©2005 by Union Communication Services, Inc. Reproduction outside IAM in whole or part, electronically, by photocopy, or any other means with out written consent of UCS is prohibited.