12/21/2009

Thanks Kathleen for Changing So Many Lives

Over the years Kathleen Hyatt has changed the life of many a young person here in Clark County.

An Employment Specialist and teacher, Kathleen is retiring from PIC after 32 years. We thank her for her work and her dedication.

For many years, Kathleen coordinated a program here at PIC that helped high school students who were struggling with school and life. With her gentle intervention, she made sure that many Clark County young people earned their high school degrees.

For those of us who have been fortunate to work with Kathleen, we know she has a wonderful sense of humor and that she puts others first. If you see her around, thank her for all she has done. She will be missed.

Welcome New PIC Staff

I also want to welcome new staff members Dave Cole, Danita Burgess and Roxeanne Boosé. Dave has joined us as a new Employment Specialist. Danita coordinates our program for low-income seniors. Roxeanne is coordinating our new jobs program for women veterans.

From all of us at PIC, be safe during the winter holidays. We look forward to continuing to serve our community in the New Year.

Pam

11/10/2009

Saluting Our Trailblazing Women Veterans

It was a great morning for women veterans November 7 when the VWP parade entry rolled down Officers Row.

Women vets spanning more than 50 decades of service to country rode in a Cadillac donated by Carr Cadillac. When the vehicle with the VWP banner reached the reviewing stand in front of the Marshall House, I actually jumped off the stand in the middle of a downpour and hollered as they rolled by!

 It was a great event with every branch of the services represented, local scouts and support organizations.

 Writing this, I am even more excited about our new jobs program for women veterans. They have given so much to our country and continue to do so.

 If you are a woman veteran and need help with finding a job or accessing services, please give either myself or Temika a call at 696-8417. If you are a local business, and would like to talk with us about hiring our veterans or providing internships or job shadowing opportunities, please call. We want to meet with you.

 Our VWP Coordinator will be coming on board soon and we are looking forward to making introductions as our new program grows and supports our women veterans. PIC is breaking new ground with this program and we want to thank all of you who are working with us.

 November is veterans' month. Here at PIC, in partnership with our community, we will be working to acknowledge and support our women veterans every day by providing a place for them to meet, access information and find ways to translate their leadership and technical skills into successful civilian careers.

 Now that's worth hollering about!

Pam Brokaw

10/2009

The community turned out in force for PIC’s Open House October 15. We launched our new website, logo and Veteran Women Program.

We also had some very special guests.

John Lee, Director of Washington State Veterans Programs, came and spoke wonderful words of support. Susan Feland, founder of Academy Women, and our partner on the Veteran Women Program, traveled many miles to attend and meet with me on next steps for the mentoring part of our new jobs program helping women veterans. Also on hand were representatives from Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell. Legislators and local elected, veterans and community partners were here. It was a great night.

Thanks also to the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce for helping us launch the new PIC. Be sure and watch for the Chamber’s spotlight article about our services in the November Chamber newsmagazine.

If you are reading this you are looking at our new website. I want you to know we will work to update it on a regular basis with blogs from me as well as new client success stories and news from PIC. Thanks to Vancouver business Tribe 2 for their great design work, Shari Cline, PIC technology staff lead, and our Program Development Committee for all the effort in making the website a reality.

What’s Next?
Right now we are reviewing the many applications that came in for our Veteran Women Program coordinator position. We will be setting up interviews soon and getting our coordinator on board. There is much to do. In the meantime, if you are a local woman veteran looking for work or in need of information about services, please give us a call at PIC. Ask for Temika or Pam at 696-8417.

Photos and Updates
We hope you’ll check our website from time to time. If you weren’t at our Open House please see the event slide show on our website. If you were here, you may spot a picture or two of yourself.

Thanks!
Pam

09/2009

Thanks for visiting our new PIC website. We’ve expanded our site to include more information about how we can work together to support families get back to work and become economically self-sufficient.

We’ve also included ways you can support our women veterans---through contributing to our on-line Veteran Women Program Fund. All funds go directly to help veterans pay for essential needs such as training, tools, clothing and basic items supporting families such as child care, tuition and text books.

Some of you may know that PIC has been around for more than 30 years helping people on public assistance get to work. To meet today’s needs, we are growing new programs, increasing our community partnerships and reaching out to you to tell our story.

Together we know we can help Clark County families get the support they need to get back on their feet.

I hope you will spend some time with our new site and let me know what you think. I’ll be writing to you often about our programs, the ongoing success of our clients and links with local business and the broad community.

Pam Brokaw