TO: District 1 Local Union Presidents, Recording Secretaries and Unit Chairpersons
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
District 1 will be offering three (3) WOMEN OF STEEL LEADERSHIP COURSES at Linden Hall, Dawson, Pennsylvania and two (2) at a date and location to be announced.
The Women of Steel Leadership Development Course (Year I) is a four (4) day course targeted to help Union sisters develop communication skills, build self-confidence, enhance their knowledge of the union, including how the Union works, and promote the development of leadership skills. This Course is an intensive educational experience which encompasses topics of labor history, health and safety, public speaking, the union structure, conflict/violence/discrimination issues, legislative process, rapid response, and organizing, as well as identifying challenges and obstacles women face. The course will include a tour of the USW headquarters in Pittsburgh as well as having presentations from guest speakers.
District 1 offers five (5) distinct courses. Year I is the International’s Women of Steel Leadership Development Course, described above; District 1 Women of Steel Leadership Course II targets collective bargaining and grievance handling; District 1 Women of Steel Leadership Course III focuses on strikes and lockouts; District 1 Women of Steel Leadership Course IV is a communication skills and mentoring program, along with organizing (to be announced); and District 1 Women of Steel Leadership Course V is an analysis of our political system and current legislation impacting workers in Ohio (to be announced). Courses must be taken in the order they are numbered.
For Courses held at Linden Hall: In order to cover all the course material, classes will tentatively start at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m., and on occasion there may be evening classes. Check-in is on Sunday after 3:00 p.m.; check-out is on Friday after the morning session wrap-up. A detailed agenda and confirmation letter will be sent directly to each participant prior to their scheduled week of attendance. The cost for each participant’s attendance by the local union will be $450.00, which will cover room (based on double occupancy), meals, materials, and instructors. Transportation costs to and from Linden Hall are not included in this cost. As always, all lost time and expenses must be borne by the local union. We must use double occupancy to help defray the cost and enable as many participants as possible. These courses are limited to twenty participants per course. All registration forms and fees will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Checks should be made payable to: USW District 1 Education/Recreation Fund, and returned to the Warrensville Heights Sub-district Office.
The return dates for registration forms and fees are listed on the registration form. In order to ensure proper communication with the participants, please be sure to complete the registration form legibly and in its entirety.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT AWARE OF THE LINDEN HALL POLICY, ALL UNUSED ROOMS MUST BE RELEASED THIRTY (30) DAYS PRIOR TO OUR FUNCTION OR WE WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE UNOCCUPIED ROOMS. THEREFORE, I URGE YOU TO SEND IN YOUR COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM AND FEES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
These Women of Steel Courses are coordinated by District 1 Staff Representative Teresa Hartley. Should you have any questions regarding the courses, please contact Teresa at 614-888-6052 or 419-619-9931.
Download Registration form HERE.