Women of Today’s Manufacturing turns 5!
Add comment June 12th, 2008
The Rock River Valley has enjoyed the benefit of WOTM for 5 years. A dynamic group of women AND men started WTOM as a local NFP that would focus on Manufacturing and those who support that business.
They focused on three things:
1- Member Education and Networking—Ten months out of the year they meet to network and haveEducational Speakers. This month on June 12th, 2008, Mike Mastroiani, Rock Valley College will speak about “Dealing with Difficult People in the workplace”. Meetings are the 2nd Thursday of the month, ten months out of the year. See www.wotm-rockford.org for topics and dates of future events. This is a great group of people. They meet at Lino’s. If you are involved in the manufacturing sector you will benefit from this group! Membership is an incredibly low $75 and all of the money stays in the region.
2-Encouraging young people to go into a Manufacturing related field—-this has evolved in many directions. Manufacturing Camp was started at Techworks. Students going in to 8th, 9th and 10th grade are exposed to what manufacturing is all about. They have hands on experience with measuring, CADCAM, working with manual machines and CNC machines as well as plant tours. Student get excited about school and some have moved on to further there education in a manufacturing related field. WOTM has sponsored the local Robotics teams, and the Rockford Chamber event to send High School students to FabTech or IMTECH. We have been speakers in class rooms, opened our shops for tours and set in on meetings about how to encourge this interest in young people.
3- Setting up a scholarship fund, at the Community Foundation, for High School Graduates going into a Manufacturing related field. Look at the Community Foundation web-site www.cfnil.org for how you can donate funds or apply for a Scholarship. Two 1,500 Scholarships have already been given out this year but mark your calendar to apply for the 2009 funds. Companies and individuals can help grow this fund by donating to the WOTM Manufacturing Scholarship.
If you are interested in strengthening the regions manufacturing sector belonging to this organization is for you. They are very active and interested in particiapating in the community.
Ruthann Gaston is the current President and Joy Baldwin is the current membership chairman. Contact them with any questions or visit the web site at www.wotm-rockford.org.
