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Friends Helping Friends

February 1999
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We Care For You!

The KCTC staff would like to wish everyone a safe, happy, and prosperous 1999 New Year. Remember, this is our last year before the year 2000 so live it up!

STAFF HOURS:MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 7:00 AM -- 4:30 PM
FOR YOUR RE-EMPLOYMENT, RETRAINING, RELOCATION,
SUPPORT AND OVERALL SOCIAL WELL BEING.

Jerry Collins, Peer Counselor 7A - 3:30P
jcollins@comregaf.state.ak.us

Paul Lamm, Peer Counselor, 8:30A - 5P
plamm@comregaf.state.ak.us

Lani Robb, Vocational Counselor, 8A - 4:30P
lrobb@comregaf.state.ak.us

Peri Shapansky, CDS II, 7A - 3:30P
pshapansky@comregaf.state.ak.us

Dave Sharman, Business Counselor, 8A - 2P
dsharman@comregaf.state.ak.us

Contact our rotating employment consultant through
any of the staff members listed here.

Toll Free: 1-888-795-7526
Note: Our new office hours are 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Our individual staff lunch times are staggered between the hours of 11a.m. -- 1:30p.m. If you desire to meet with one of our staff between these hours or during off hours please let us know. Locally you can reach us at 247-7526. Our toll free telephone number is 1-888-795-7526. Let the Internet access speed your communication to us by using the web and e-mail addresses as listed above.



February Business Workshops

The Ketchikan Business Assistance Center, located in the Ketchikan Career Transition Center, is pleased to offer the following Small Business Workshops in February.

  • Thursday, February 11th-1:00p.m. - "How to Start Your Business"
  • Thursday, February 18th-1:00p.m. - "Business Marketing and Sales"
  • Thursday, February 25th-1:00p.m. - "Records and Bookkeeping"

These workshops are open to the public and are extremely educational. If you are starting a business, have a business or just want some business-related information these workshops are a very helpful source. The host of these workshops, Dave Sharman, is also available for one-on-one counseling. To make an appointment with Dave, give us a call here at the Transition Center at 1-888-795-7526 or 247-Plan.

Dave Sharman, Business Consultant

What About Extended Benefits?

Listening to news broadcasts about low unemployment rates and terrific economies may not be pleasant for those of us who are still seeking "the right job" and facing continued joblessness through the winter. Many clients have asked if the State of Alaska will be distributing extended benefits in 1999. Thom Wylie of the Department of Labor's Research and Analysis team tells us that the State's current economic condition will probably allow for extended benefits.

Each individual may or may not qualify for extended benefits and only an unemployment insurance representative can tell you whether you will qualify. The State offers extended benefits based on the Insured Unemployment Rate (IUR) for the entire State of Alaska (it's not awarded on a community by community basis). The IUR is different from the unemployment rate you usually read about, or hear about, in the daily news. Mr. Wylie says the IUR was 4.10% during the first week of December 1997 as opposed to 4.17% as of the first week of December 1998. The higher rate at the beginning of December 1998 is a strong indicator that extended benefits will be offered this winter.

Last winter, extended benefits triggered on for the week ending February 7, 2025 with February 28th as the first payable week. Extended benefits were available for fifteen weeks, although eligible claimants could only collect for up to thirteen weeks maximum. It's just a guess at this time, but this winter extended benefits may trigger on within a week or two of last year's dates, and regulations dictate that they be offered for a minimum thirteen weeks.

REMEMBER: this information is completely subject to change based upon fluctuation of the economy and only to claimants who qualify. Keep tuned to the media for up to date information and always check with an unemployment insurance representative when you have questions about your claim.

-Lani Robb, Vocational Counselor

Watch It Blow!

A Beginning to the End:

The time has come, it is over, and the fat lady is warming up. The K.P.C. pulp prep building is coming down. There is so much interest in seeing it implode that they are selling tickets. For $5.00 each you can buy a chance to push the button. The 2nd and 3rd place winners will serve as alternates, or be on hand to lend moral support. All proceeds will benefit the Ketchikan Special Olympics, Kayhi Baseball & Softball, Inc., and the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund.

Allyn Hayes, Facility Manager had this to say,: "Many will ask why we are celebrating the implosion of this majestic building. We are saddened with the passing of a great era in Ketchikan's history. However, we must look to the future and bring to a close a chapter of our past. We need to look at the implosion of this building as a critical step in our path toward redevelopment of the Pulp Mill site. Please join me in viewing this as the beginning of our future rather than the end of our past." You can buy tickets from the boy & girls of the baseball league or from K.P.C. The Drawing will be on March 30, 1999. The building will come down some time around the first week in April. I know this is something I'm not going to miss.

-Paul Lamm,
Peer Counselor

Way To Go Guys!

I am pleased to announce that Arthur Shayen, Mac Rado, Wilbur Sangster, and Michael Davis have started their UAS Ketchikan American Welding Society Entry Level Welder training at the UAS Ketchikan Career Center. They will be receiving 18 weeks of welding training. This training will prepare them for entry-level jobs in steel fabrication and repair.

Dalton Fox has also started his UAS Ketchikan Construction Carpentry Entry Level training at the UAS Ketchikan Career Center. Dalton will be receiving training in residential and light commercial construction framing and in other areas of carpentry construction.

-Brian Tackett,
Community Development Specialist

New Chance Update

The New Chance Center is recruiting students for the next class, which is scheduled to begin on February 22, 1999. Interested applicants may contact us at 225-5230 (fax 247-5240) or stop by and see us at the Plaza Port West Mall next to the Bon Marché for Kids. The daily schedule is as follows:

  • 8:00a.m.-10:00a.m. Academic Skills
  • 10:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Career Exploration
  • 1:00p.m.-2:00p.m. Lunch
  • 1:00p.m.-3:30p.m. Computers
  • 3:30p.m.-5:00p.m. Open lab (homework time)
You may enroll in any or all of the classes being offered. The enrollment process is easy if you are a former Ketchikan Pulp Mill worker. Come and join us on February 19th at 1-2 p.m. for our graduation ceremony for the current class. You may see some familiar faces!

Job Service Update

I have returned to the position of Employment Consultant at the Ketchikan Career Transition Center. I am planning to remain at the Center through June 30th. Although Noni has returned to the Employment Office in town, she continues to advocate employment opportunities for KCTC clients. With spring just around the corner, now is the time to prepare or update your resume. I will be making contact with employers regarding their staffing needs early in the spring and promoting K.C.T.C clients. Please be sure that I have a copy of your most recent resume if you are looking for work.

With advances in technology there are more and more ways to seek and apply for employment on the Internet. Workplace Alaska is an Internet site, which provides a list of current State of Alaska job openings. Applicants can complete an "applicant profile" and submit it electronically to employers for consideration. Both Workplace Alaska and the Alaska Job Bank are accessed through the State of Alaska homepage at www.state.ak.us. Job openings with the federal government are now listed on their web site at www.usajobs.opm.gov/. If you are not familiar with the Internet for job searching and applications, I will be happy to assist you.

I am in the process of preparing current applicant profiles for inclusion on the KCTC homepage. The applicant profile is an anonymous quick summary of your skills. Employers accessing the site will contact KCTC for additional information. Your name and resume will not be released to an employer without your approval.

The weather is cold outside, but the coffee here at the center is always on. Please stop by and see me.

-Carolyn Stamm,
Employment Consultant

The Success Corner

CONGRATULATIONS!

The KETCHIKAN CAREER TRANSITION CENTER helps provide conditions favorable for re-training. Know-how can be developed and ability acquired for a new career choice. For example...

TRAINING STARTED!

Michael Davis, started training 1/25/99
Training: AWS Welding
Place: UAS

Charles Hendricks, started training 1/11/99.
Training: Introduction to Computers
Place: New Chance Center

Neal LaFlamme, started training 1/11/99
Training: Introduction to Computers
Place: New Chance Center

Dalton Fox, started training 1/25/98
Training: Construction Carpentry
Place: University of Alaska-Ketchikan

Mac Rado, started training 1/25/99
Training: AWS Welding
Place: University of Alaska-Ketchikan

Wilbur Sangster, started training 1/25/99
Training: AWS Welding
Place: University of Alaska-Ketchikan

Bill Hendricks, started training 1/11/99
Training: Introduction to Computers
Place: New Chance Center

Arthur Shaven, started training 1/25/99
Training: AWS Welding
Place: University of Alaska-Ketchikan

Knowledge is power.

KCTC Management Committee Mission Statement

The committee is committed to provide programs, guidance, and oversight to KCTC in a way that supports and identifies:

  • Re-employment
  • Retraining
  • Relocation
  • Support and overall social well being

The Committee will serve as a liaison between workers and local, state, and federal entities in a way that will provide outreach and advocacy on behalf of affected workers and families directed toward achieving self sufficiency. Committee members are: Gary Benton, IUOE; Amy King, KPC Management; Paul Lamm, AWPPW; Vera Plumb, IBEW; Lauri Zadina, KPC non-union workers.

If you have any questions please
contact any of our Helpful Staff!


Main Page | Career Resources | Small Business Center
KCTC Online Newsletter | Helpful Staff

Other Back Issues of the KCTC Newsletter:
April Newsletter  
May Newsletter  
June Newsletter  
August Newsletter  
September Newsletter  
October Newsletter  
November Newsletter  
December Newsletter  
January Newsletter  


This Website is sponsored by the JTPO Dislocated Worker Program
Division of Community & Rural Development
Alaska Department of Community & Regional Affairs





Last modified January 30, 1999.
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A Woman-Owned Business in Ketchikan, Alaska