Career Day at our local school

Starch

....to speak at our local school's "career day" next month. Ages will be grades 7 through 12, with jr high kids in their own groups, and high school kids in their own.

I have to come up with about 25 minutes worth of stuff, and I need some advice. I have a few ideas in my head, but would entertain suggestions from the wallies.

I think this is a great chance to expound on the virtues of skilled trades to these young minds, and I don't want to screw it up!!!!!

Thanks in advance,

Starch

DanHolohan

Have you read through

On the Job? Lots of great stories in there.

John R. Hall

Link

John:

Here is a link to my column last week. If you'd like the PowerPoint presentation, let me know. Good luck!

http://www.achrnews.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/features/BNP__Features__Item/0,1338,92761,00.html

Jackchips

How about

show and tell, John. A four foot ridgid, a six inch crescent and a couple other tools could probably keep you going the whole 25 minutes.

I have done VICA testing in Ma for the last 5/6 years and get great enjoyment out of the day.

Have fun with it.

Starch

Thanks, Dan, John, and Jackchips

Great suggestions from you all!!

I appreciate the feedback, and will consider all of your suggestions.

Starch

Paul_6

Don't overlook educating the

Educators either. As a group we need to get our message out to them as well. We need to impress upon the Teachers that smart kids will do really well in this trade, and those that do well in reading and math can be very successfull. Sadly the "average american" reading and comprehension level has slipped to the fifth grade reading level, and math skills aren't much better. These are the People we will be sending out to install equipment, that has had the installation instructions written by lawyers and engineers. Every kid you meet, from preschool to college, to the kid that walks in your door tommorrow looking for work, Impress upon them that The Learning Never Stops. Good luck, Paul.

Jim Walls

Options & Opportunities

John,
How does this sound?
Career choice, it can be whatever you want it to be in the Trades. It can be a physical job,mental job or both. You can choose to stay where you basically start and have a very rewarding career, or you can choose to move on to the many varying levels.
The choices are too many to mention, but here is a start, you have new work,repair,remodel,service,,,,,,,,,
residential,light commercial,commercial,industrial,
institutional,,,,,,,,,,you can be an installer,technician,journeyman,foreman,shop foreman,superintendent,general manager,project manager,salesman,estimator,owner,,,,,,,,,,,,
you can work for yourself,a small shop,large contractor,union shop,open shop,,,,,,,,,,,,,,work for a supplier,make deliveries,work the counter,inside sales,outside sales,,,,,,,,,,be a manufacturers rep,,,,,,,,,,,work for an engineering firm,become a consultant,teach at a trade school,get your Doctorite & instruct at a University that offers Construction Trade Management Degree
Learn your chosen trade, master it & have the confidence of knowing you have options, want to move ? If you know your craft there is always someone looking for your services. You can choose new construction and spend most of your days outside in the fresh air , or you can be a service tech who gets to be the detective who solves the mystery and has the satisfaction of correcting a problem others had failed to find, as you listen to the customer thank & applaud you.
Like working with your hands ? You can stand back & see what you have created, and be proud. Want a real thrill? Wait until that moment arrives (this one may take years but it will come :-)) when your spouse says,"I'am so glad I married a tradesman, instead of a Doctor or a Lawyer, you can fix anything"! (Not true, but an easy one to pass off,I wonder what she was after that day, cannot wait to see my next credit card statement!) Want High Tech ? AutoCad,computer estimating,temperature control programs,,,,,,,,,
Every day is different,and no matter how similar, each job is different,,,,,,,,,,,the same job but different owner,sub-contractors,weather,experience on & on
I apologize for rambling, hope something of value can come from this ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,good luck

Mark A. Custis

The guys ate & did

not fall asleep. Two things happened. first the co2 in the room was correct. second we had good input. third the bad pulse is gone. four we know what we are doing. kudos to your guys and alan and Beckett.

I will wave on the way to Kelleys, but we will know each other better before season.

Great day. Thanks

Mark

ps. Starch: just tell 'em how and why you live.
To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

John Starcher_4

Mark,

if you're going to Kelleys, call me first, I'll go with you! We'll quaff a few at the Village Pump and laugh at their heating system!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Starch

John Starcher_4

Ding, Dong, the Pulse is dead......

...and in its place is a shiny new American Standard two stage variable speed unit!! Yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!! I still get "wood" whenever we fire one of these units up for the first time. Quiet, efficient, reliable, user friendly, what more could you ask for? The latest model will handle 200 ft of equivalent vent length. Is that just cool or what? I get this picture in my head of the furnace looking at the homeowner and doing a Cling Eastwood - "go ahead, make my day....." The next best thing to radiant heat, in my opinion.

Starch

MURPH'

Hey smokey......

just where exactly is this so called "local school" ,I mean i gots a whole basket of ripe tomatoes and ...........





Murph'