September 2023 SELCAT Spotlight Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2023|VOL.2 NO.9

SELCAT Spotlight

www.selcat.com

Louisiana FFA Students Visit SELCAT

In this issue Know Your Knots

Learn how to tie a Figure Eight Knot.

A Day In The Life Of.......

Thanks to a relationship between IBEW Local 995 and the Louisiana FFA, SELCAT had the honor to host several FFA Chapters from across the state of Louisiana. On Tuesday, September 5th, approx. 50+ students and chaperones from different Louisiana FFA Chapters boarded a charter bus…..destination, SELCAT! The students and chaperones arrived at our facility lateTuesday evening and settled into our dorm facilities. Thursday morning, the day began in the classroom, like during our FTS classes, for a daily tailboard/safety meeting and overview for the day.

SELCAT had a variety of “statiotions” setup across the facility.

In order to get a swag bag, students must visit each station and receive a stamp. The stations set up for students were: Insolate/Isolate Station, Substation Station, Tie Wire Station, Short Stepping Station, Knots Station, Underground Station, Education Station and the Game of Life; Apprenticeship Edition Station. At the end of the day, everyone met in the classroom for a review of the day. After dinner the students also enjoyed a movie under the stars along with s’mores!

Thurday morning the students and chaperones loaded their charter bus about 5 a.m. to head back to Louisiana!

SELCAT hopes that these students learned more about skilled trades through registered apprenticeships as an alternative to college! If you or someone you know would like more information about bringing a group of students to SELCAT for a field trip, please contact Jennifer Gibbons at (678)675-6025 or via email at jenniferg@selcat.com.

This month will be the first of a series....A Day In The Life Of......a SELCAT Team member! This month check out Kristy Hodge, 5th District Coordinator.

IT’S NAW Y’ALL National Apprenticeship Week is approaching in November. Read a little about what we have planned!

September 2023 Top Outs See who completed their apprenticeship in September!

Important dates: October 4, 2023 First Aid/CPR @ SELCAT October 5-6, 2023 OSHA 10-Hour ET&D @ SELCAT October 7, 2023 2nd YR OH/URD Online Class October 28, 2023 Substation Online Class October 14, 2023 3rd YR OH Online Class October 16-26, 2023 Substation FTS Class October 27, 2023 Mandatory Online Orientation Class

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A special thanks to Milwaukee Tool for supplying our students with hard hats, safety glasses & safety gloves!

A special thanks to IBEW Local 84 for coming out to help with the students!

SEPTEMBER 2023

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5TH DISTRICT COORDINATOR

A Day In the Life Of...

KRISTY HODGE A typical day for me starts with answering any emails and TEAMS messages that came through overnight and catching up on those I wasn’t able to answer the day before. Ask anyone in the office and they’ll tell you, I love my Post It notes! I’d be lost without them.

Right now, I have no less than 15 of them scattered on my desk. They’re my way of reminding myself to follow up on everything from a question from an apprentice, to a phone call from a Foreman, to checking testing compliancy for the month, and pretty much any and everything else!

As a District Coordinator, my job is to be here for the apprentices in my district – the 5th district. That includes all apprentices from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico. I monitor the apprentice’s progress throughout their apprenticeship, including: making sure tests are taken on time, certifications on file stay up-to-date, required classes are taken, OJTs are submitted on time, evaluations are sent out, upgrades are processed, and many other things. My favorite part is being able to interact with the apprentices and help them along this experience.

I joined the SELCAT team in March 2021 as the Administrative Assistant and moved into the 5th District Coordinator role by the end of 2021. I live in Franklin, Georgia and love spending time with my family and taking trips to the beach. My hobbies outside of work are writing, movies, and watching the Georgia Bulldogs play some football.

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November 13-19,2023 is National Apprenticeship Week sponsored by the United States Department of Labor Apprenticeship.

NAW is an opportunity to celebrate apprentices everywhere and a chance to educate and advocate for registered apprenticeships everywhere. During the week of NAW, SELCAT will be giving away daily prizes. You must sign up to be eligible for the drawings so be looking out for how to sign up! Also during NAW, we will have special daily surprises for our FTS class at our facility!

Help us celebrate and spread the word, IT’S NAW Y’ALL!

Prizes, photos and sponsors from #NAW2022

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SIDEBAR with SELCAT

Friday, September 15, 2023, SELCAT hosted it’s second meeting, SIDEBAR with SELCAT. This SIDEBAR meeting was held at the DoubleTree in Downtown Chattanooga, TN. What’s a SIDEBAR with SELCAT you ask? It’s a chance for people from our Contractors and Locals to come out and meet with SELCAT’s Team and have engaging discussions about our Apprenticeship! It’s also an opportunity to learn all about what’s been going on at our apprenticeship, what’s new, what’s coming and much more! SELCAT plans to hold these meetings throughout the year at different locations in the Southeast. Keep a check on your email and watch our social media pages for information on our next SIDEBAR with SELCAT. Please feel free to send anyone from your company or local that may need and want to stay informed about our apprenticeship! We hope to see you at the next meeting!

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Milwaukee Apprentice of the Month

Dakota Godfrey

SEPTEMBER 2023

September 2023 Top Outs!

Journeyman Substation Technician

Journeyman Lineman

Brandon Loveday Chase Cornell, Rollin Vice, Austin Hogan

Zachary Witalec

KNOW YOUR KNOTS..

The most common use of the Figure-Eight Knot is at the end of a rope to temporarily prevent the strands from unlaying.

e r u g i F t h g i E Knot

PREPARING MAKES SENSE

How well you and your family prepare for a disaster before it happens impacts how quickly you recover.

KNOW YOUR RISK Prepare for the risks where you live.

MAKE A PLAN

TAKE ACTION

Prepare yourself and your family before disaster strikes.

Be ready to respond to and recover from a disaster.

Visit FEMA.gov where you can input your location to get information about disasters in your area.

Consider the specific needs of your household like medical needs or items for your pets.

Gather supplies that fit your family’s needs.

Visit Ready.gov to know how to prepare for disasters and what to do during an emergency.

Practice your family’s plan.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Visit Ready.gov/plan and use our template to create a Family Emergency Plan you can email to yourself.

Participate in community disaster preparedness events.

Download the FEMA mobile App to receive realtime weather and emergency alerts, locate shelters, send notifications to loved ones and more.

Secure important documents.

ready.gov/plan

Go to Ready.gov for more information to help you be prepared!

As you prepare, adjust your plans and emergency supply kits to your own daily living needs and concerns.

Everyone Has a Role

Your basic kit should include enough items to last for several days:

BUILD A KIT Get emergency supplies together before a disaster happens. During a disaster, you and your family will need specific items, including cash and supplies.

Your emergency kit will be unique to you. Consider items your family may need such as medications and infant supplies, and remember to pack for your pet!

www.ready.gov/kit

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Water

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Non-perishable food

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Cash

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Battery-powered or hand crank radio

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Flashlight and extra batteries

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Non-electric can opener

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First aid kit

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Whistle

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Prescription medications

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Personal hygiene items

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Dust mask to help filter contaminated air

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Moist wipes, garbage bags and plastic ties

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Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED

Learn how to take action in emergency situations and provide lifesaving care before professional assistance arrives through You Are the Help Until Help Arrives.

Visit FEMA.gov/cert to find a Community Emergency Response Team program, and train to help your community respond and prepare for disasters.

Take a CPR and first aid class offered by a local community organization, so that you know what to do if a family member, neighbor or co-worker is hurt.

Go to Ready.gov for more information to help you be prepared!