This section provides an opportunity to brag about promotions, certifications, announce job changes and generally keep track of what is happening in the safety community.  If you, or someone you know, has reason to brag - please let us know

        Brian Becker was recently hired by Steelcase with a title of Senior Health & Safety Consultant. Congratulations Brian!
        MISSING MEMBERS:  We have a few long time members that we have lost touch with.  If you know any of these folks could you let them know that we would welcome an updated e-mail and employment information?  Mark Brodie, Rodney Hess, & Rich Van Aelst.

Future Meetings
 

        May 19 7:30 Registration - 8 AM Start time  Fleet Safety - Ron Edwards from Michigan Center for Truck Safety will be our presenter for what might be the most important meeting of the year.  The folks at MCTS do a great job and you should get to know of their services. Cost $20 for this half day session.
        June 17 (Friday) Golf Outing - additional information elsewhere in this newsletter. It will be here before you know it!

The program committee is headed up by Kevin Quigley, but many of our members are involved in our plans.  Many thanks to these fine folks!  Their efforts have made for interesting meetings so far - with more great meetings to come.

CAREER BUILDING OPPORTUNITY

Do you expect to stay in one job until the end of your career?  Most experts say this is increasingly unlikely to happen. We all know about plant shut-downs, buy-outs, layoffs and reorganization.  Many folks leave voluntarily - to have new challenges and for personal growth.

        Are you doing anything to prepare yourself if you needed a new job?  What would make you stand out from the competition?  When 80 resumes arrive will anything set you apart?
        Are you "getting known  in the Safety Community?  How effective is your "safety network"? ? ? ?

Of course you already know that we have a suggestion for building your career - get involved with WM-ASSE.  See the next page for ideas that will help you to help us! !  It doesn’t take a lot of time - and the rewards are significant.

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We have people willing to head our efforts, but we are looking for a few people to spread the work - so no one person gets burned out.  Please consider if you can help in the following areas!

NEWSLETTER EDITOR:
The oldest newsletter I can find that I "editored  can find is dated Sept. 2000. Through this work I’ve communicated with literally hundreds of people via e-mail. I’d like to believe my efforts have given a nugget or two of information that has been of some use.  If you enjoy writing and being creative you might enjoy this opportunity. (You would also hear about job openings just about before anyone else.)

I’m planning on finishing this year - and would enjoy working with someone for that time. If no one steps forward we will probably just send an e-mail for meetings next year. My excuse? I’m planning on putting more of my energies into the North Country Trail Organization.

Time commitment? - Probably 6 to 8 hours a month.  Rewards?  1.) Communication with others 2.) Reason to expand your safety interest beyond your specific job & 3.) Creativity.  Could be done by someone remote to Grand Rapids!

WEBMASTER:
Our current webmaster - student Greg Fox from GVSU - is taking a new job after graduation and will be moving out of state.  Greg has found a shareware program that simplifies this work. The person that steps into this position will gain some minor amount of "computer skills  that look great on a resume - without a lot of pain.  Time Commitment?  Probably 2 hours a month - a few minutes at a time as job openings come up - meetings are planned, etc. Could be done by someone remote to Grand Rapids!

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR:
This person is responsible for welcoming new members (via letter or at a meeting) & maintaining the membership list.  The job can be as much as a person wants it to be. We could contact "missing  members, plan recruitment drives, etc. but we seem to be growing by providing meaningful meetings to our membership so these actions probably aren’t needed.  Time Commitment?  Probably a couple hours a month.  Rewards?  Meeting new members, perhaps mentoring folks new into safety.  Could be done by someone remote to Grand Rapids!

ASSE BOOTH STAFFING - Michigan Safety Conference
The three Michigan Chapters are responsible for a booth at the Michigan Safety Conference on April 19th and 20th.  We would like at least one person from our chapter to "staff  the booth when the exhibit hall is open.  We expect the other chapters to have volunteers as well.  You don’t need to know much about ASSE - we will have brochures and if you have come to one or two meetings you have enough information to talk to people.  If interested call Mike Rabach at 231 773-6791 or email Mike at mike3r@accidentfund.com <mailto:mike3r@accidentfund.com>.  Time Commitment?  One or two hours.  Reward?  Meeting people from other chapters - seeing old friends that wander by.
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PROGRAM COMMITTEE:
Mark Labaza will be heading up the program committee for the coming year. We expect that Mark will welcome folks who what to help decide what topics to cover and who will speak. Generally each person champion’s a meeting - contacting the speaker, serving as point person for questions, etc.  Time Commitment?  Depending on how the committee decides to operate much can be done via e-mail but there will be some meetings to discuss and plan the season.
Rewards?  Get to know members while helping plan good meetings for the year.  Influence the topics around what would be of interest to you! 

Now it’s up to you. Contact Eric Longman at 616 891-7949 or elongman@thehartford.com mailto:elongman@thehartford.com if you are willing to improve yourself - and help us!  (or Mike Rabach for the Michigan Safety Conference)



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OFFICER NOMINATIONS AND VOTING

, Clark Neu and Eric Longman served as a nominating committee and we bring you the following candidates for the coming year.  Elections will take place at the April Meeting in Lansing.

PRESIDENT:  Mike Rabach of the Accident Fund is willing to move up from the President Elect position into President.  Mike is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and his work takes him all over West Michigan - but mainly in the Southwestern part.  Mike lives in Muskegon and enjoys his wife and children when not working.
PRESIDENT ELECT:  Clara DeVries of Parker Hannifan has accepted the nomination of President Elect.  She has served as Treasurer and Secretary.  She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and has plans for a wedding this Fall.

SECRETARY:  Brian Becker - recently hired at Steelcase will be moving from Treasurer into the role of Secretary for our Chapter.  Brian has had one heck of a year - being laid off from Bosch here in Grand Rapids, filling in at their various plants in Benton Harbor and Tennessee (or some equally distant place)

TREASURER:  Heather Kubiak - Risk Manager of the City of Wyoming has agreed to serve as Treasurer of our Chapter for the coming year.  Heather has been at the City of Wyoming for several years - weathering a MIOSHA inspection approximately one week after moving into this job if my memory serves correctly.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES:  Greg Green - Greg teaches full time and more at Grand Valley State University - and has agreed to act as our Chapter’s Delegate at the "House of Delegates in New Orleans on June 11th.  Greg will be attending the Professional Development Conference and has agreed to arrive a day early to represent us.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

We’ll give the "question of the month  a break. There were no responses for the past two months - of course I asked the same questions both months.  No one wanted to help out with a listing of training requirements and frequency of the training for environmental laws.  And apparently no one this experience with "Sawstop  - the new technology that will stop a blade from cutting skin through the use of sensors.  I did learn that they are not able to retrofit existing saws - simply sell saws with this technology built in.

Perhaps we’ll get back with some questions next month.


JOB POSTING

Alticor has an opening for a Safety Person.  You can check this out on their website.  (This was sent to us on 3/23/05)


ANNUAL GOLF OUTING:

Our Annual Golf Outing has, historically, been our best attended meeting of each year.  I’m not sure what that says about our group - but let’s accept it as a positive. We work hard, and we like to play hard too!  Mike Rabach has generously volunteered to organize our golf outing and welcomes any help.  It’s planned for June 17th with a 9 AM tee time.  We will be challenged by the Gracewill Country Club at 2597 4 Mile Rd  NW  Walker.  Take I-96 West to the Walker exit - go North to 4 Mile Rd  Cost is $35 for 18 + cart. Lunch will be $10 bringing the total cost to $45.  If you want a certain foursome or would like to contribute prizes, etc. please call Mike at 231 773 6791. 


MICHIGAN SAFETY CONFERENCE

The Michigan Safety Conference is coming up on April 19th and 20th. Even if you can’t stay and attend our meeting with the other Michigan Chapters this is an excellent opportunity for any Safety Professional as well as safety committee members, trainers, etc.  Check out the agenda and topics to be covered during the break-out sessions at www.michsafetyconference.org <http://www.michsafetyconference.org>.  This is a great value for both your money and time. 

If you have questions, Eric VanFleet from GVSU can probably help.  All necessary documents to take the exam are on the website.  The CSHM should be accredited by the end of April, which will make it the only Safety Manager accredited certification and only one of two (CSP & CSHM) accredited safety certifications.


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MARCH MEETING RECAP
Our March WM-ASSE meeting focused on SILICA and Dave Humenick of MIOSHA CET was our speaker.  The meeting took place in Kalamazoo (Thanks to Consumer’s Concrete for the use of their training room!)  We had about 25 in attendance.  Dave’s presentation certainly gave reason to think as you see the road work - both sandblasting bridges and cutting out old concrete.  While we generally think of silica and construction Dave’s discussion made it clear that any safety professional needs to keep the potential of exposure in mind in a variety of situations!  Many Thanks to Dave for sharing his passion!

We want to thank Approved Fire Protection for their willingness in sponsoring this meeting!

FREE Back Safety Program Available

Free back safety training is currently available to Michigan companies through the Michigan Chiropractic Association’s (MCA) WorkSafe program. The work safety grant, now in its fourth year, is funded by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

The program focuses on back safety in the workplace. WorkSafe Training is available to employees in nursing home, road commission and manufacturing industries with up to 300 employees.

Trained facilitators conduct an hour-long safety training session on proper lifting and movement in work settings. Participating doctors will conduct a walk-through of the facility prior to their presentation. The purpose of the walk-through is to observe the work being done and to use this information to generate discussion with the employees regarding back safety. During the presentation, a brief video will be shown and each employee will be supplied with a workbook.

The program is flexible and may allow for multiple presentations. Please schedule a training date that is convenient for your facility. You may contact the MCA’s communications office to schedule a date and time.

If you are involved with any of the above industries, please share this information with your organization. As we are coming upon the halfway point for the current grant year, please take full advantage of this free training opportunity now.

For more information, go to www.michiganchiropractic.org <http://www.michiganchiropractic.org>, and click on "Back Safety Program.   You may also leave an e-mail message at MCA_Worksafe@yahoo.com mailto:MCA_Worksafe@yahoo.com or call (517) 333-3133, ext. 3.

Is this program of any value?  Participants have completed evaluations and have been very positive.

To the question: "The usefulness of the information presented - - was it valuable to you, did the attendees learn something new?  The average response was an 8.5 out of 10 ranking.

To the question: "Was the flow of the presentation interesting? The response again was 8.5 out of 10.