MWCC's Weekly e-newsletter

Fri., Jan. 23, 2004

SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS WITH ENROLLMENT UP 3 PERCENT

By Lea Ann Erickson

	MWCC faculty member Sue Goldstein talks with Nichole Biron and Georgia Ducharme, both of Barre, at student orientation at Mount Wachusett Community College, Wed., Jan. 21. Students attended college success sessions, met with advisors, attended a majors fair and signed up for student clubs and organizations.

Spring Semester is underway. Classes began Thurs., Jan. 22. MWCC student enrollment is up three percent over last spring. The most popular major is Liberal Arts. MWCC transfers more students to baccalaureate institutions than any other community college in Massachusetts. Participation in “distance courses” is at an all-time high. Over 550 students are taking courses on-line! It’s not too late to enroll, call admissions at (978) 630-9110.

MOLLY BISH INSTITUTE FOR CHILD SAFETY ADVISORY BOARD HOLDS FIRST MEETING

By Lea Ann Erickson

The newly formed advisory board of the Molly Bish Institute for Child Safety recently adopted mission and vision statements at its first meeting:

Mission Statement: “To ensure the health and safety of all children in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

Vision Statement: “To protect the children of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by providing hands-on, practical learning opportunities for parents, caregivers, and children; and, to provide a clearinghouse of child health and safety information.”

Mount Wachusett Community College President Daniel M. Asquino and John Bish announced the establishment of the Molly Bish Institute for Child Safety in November.

John is the father of Molly Bish who was taken three years ago while working at Comins Pond in Warren, MA. Her remains were found three years later, just five miles from her family’s home. Since that time, her parents John and Magi Bish have worked tirelessly to promote child safety through the Molly Bish Foundation (www.mollybish.org)

John Bish has worked to distribute child I.D. kits at the college since 2002. “It has been my dream to establish an institute for child safety that would feature very practical, pragmatic safety information for parents,” said Bish. He explored the idea of the institute with the college during a Child Safety presentation at the college, Tues., Oct. 28.

The Molly Bish Institute for Child Safety Board members are:

(Co-Chairs) John and Magi Bish are determined that no other family should experience the nightmare of missing a child. Several months after Molly disappeared, they established the Molly Bish “Lifeguard” Foundation, an organization that is devoted to promoting child safety through education and prevention. The cornerstone of the Foundation is the distribution of complimentary child identification kits that contain a current head and shoulders photograph and a professionally made set of fingerprints that can be used to help locate a missing child. To date, the Foundation has distributed ID kits to over 60,000 individuals throughout New England, and the numbers continue to grow each day. Recognizing the importance of outreach and education in promoting child safety, John and Magi Bish have spoken to hundreds of school and community groups, sharing Molly’s story throughout the U.S. and abroad in discussing the importance of obtaining child identification kits for all children and young adults.

(Co-Chair) Dr. Daniel M. Asquino has been President of Mount Wachusett Community College since August 1987. He is fond of the phrase, “we’re the community’s college,” and he means it. In addition to serving as Vice Chair for the United Way of North Central Massachusetts 2000 campaign and as the Chair for the 2001 campaign, he makes it a habit to build relationships with community leaders in order to create a vibrant college responsive to the ever-changing needs of its students and community. Since arriving at the College, President Asquino has focused his efforts on improving curriculum and community outreach and economic development. Under his leadership the college’s enrollment has grown to over 7,000 credit and non-credit students. He has twice been chosen to Chair the Committee of Community College Presidents. Dr. Asquino is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Heywood Hospital, the GFA Supervisory Board, and the Executive Board of the North Central Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Political Science and a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Southeastern Massachusetts.

Jay Davis Drake is the current chair of the Mount Wachusett Community College Board of Trustees. He served as Chairman of the United Way of Gardner and is a former member of the Monadnock Council of Boy Scouts of America. In addition he has served as a coach for youth basketball, soccer and hockey. He is President of Royal Steam Heater Company and President of Lynde Hardware and Supply Co. Mr. Drake is a native of Gardner, attended Philips Academy in Andover, and is a graduate of Yale University. Mr. Drake resides in Gardner with his wife, Celeste, and two children, Elliott and Oliver.

Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) represents 29 towns in Central and Western Massachusetts. Currently in his fourth term in the Massachusetts State Senate, Senator Brewer received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and obtained a Master’s Degree in History and Government from Assumption College. He is currently Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules; Senate Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture; a member of the Senate Committees on Way and Means and Long Term debt; and a member of the Joint Committee on Public Safety. Senator Brewer has missed only one roll call vote in the Legislature over the past eight years. He resides with his wife, Val, in Barre and is a proud father of two daughters.

Martha P. Grace was appointed as Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Juvenile Court in February 1998. Prior to that, she had been Associate Justice of the Worcester Juvenile Court since 1990. She was educated at New England School of Law, J.D.; Clark University, M.A. in History; Smith College, B.A. (Zoology major). Her memberships include American, Massachusetts, Boston, Worcester County and Juvenile Bar Associations, Massachusetts and Worcester Bar Foundations, National Association of Women Judges, National Council Juvenile and Family Court Judges, American Judicature Society, Supreme Judicial Court Historical Society, Massachusetts Judges Conference. Judge Grace has been the recipient of awards from the YWCA- Katherine Erskine Award (1998), Juvenile Bar Association (1999), St. Thomas More Society Ecumenical Award (1999), Massachusetts Judges Conference (2000), Distinguished Jurist Award of Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers (2002) and she has just completed a Fellowship for Zero to Three. She is a frequent panelist/speaker/guest lecturer.

Colonel Thomas J. Foley has had 25 years of progressive law enforcement experience and responsibility, having been appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to be the Superintendent of the Department of State Police in the immediate aftermath of the devastating and tragic terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Through progressive leadership skills, creative and innovative problem ability, and the ability to foster cooperative efforts with public and private entities, was, in an era of shrinking budgets, able to transform the State Police into a national leader in anti-terrorism efforts and increase the level of traditional police services provided by the department.

Daniel P. Moen has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Heywood Hospital in Gardner, MA since January 1990. He has provided strategic direction and guided the institution to fiscal stability while expanding and improving services to the community. Heywood Hospital has been working with community leaders, citizens, and members of their staff to bring information about the state of healthcare and Heywood Hospital out to the community and to legislators. Heywood Hospital is piloting the “We Care!” program of the Massachusetts Hospital Association in an effort to help the public and legislators understand the importance of healthy hospitals in the community’s and economic health. Moen serves as secretary of and as a board of trustees member of the Massachusetts Hospital Association. He began his career as a radiologic technologist and has his Master’s Degree in Health Administration from Clark University.

Dr. Rosanne Morel joined the faculty of MWCC in 1987. She has held the position of Chairperson of the Early Childhood Department since 1989. Rosanne received her Doctorate in 1995 in Child Studies from Nova Southeastern University. She is past president of the Montachusett Association for the Education of Young Children. As a mother of four she is passionate about her family, her students and the quality of life of all young children.

Upcoming Campus Events:

• English as a Second Language (ESL) testing is being offered Mon., Jan. 26 and Wed., Jan. 28. There is still time to apply, test and register for classes. Students must apply prior to sitting for the testing/language assessment. This concentration is designed to help non-native English speaking students improve English conversation, reading, writing, and grammatical skills necessary for academic and professional success. Following a complete language assessment, students may be placed in one of four levels of study: beginning, advanced beginning, intermediate or advanced. Courses are available in reading, writing, grammar, and conversation at each level except the advanced level, which offers reading, writing, and grammar. After successfully completing ESL courses, students are prepared to enter other college-level academic programs. After completing the advanced level courses, students take the Comprehensive Placement Test (CPT) to ensure placement into appropriate college-level courses. For more information, contact the Admissions office (978) 630-9110 or Dr. Madhu Sharma at (978) 630-9131.

• The East Wing Gallery will be featuring the paintings of Keith Hollingworth from, Thurs., Jan. 22 through Fri., Feb. 13. The East Wing Gallery is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Reward your New Year's resolution to get fit with a relaxing massage. The college's Fitness and Wellness Center is featuring a student massage clinic. The clinic is open Monday through Friday and every other Saturday. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call (978) 630-9212.

• The Greater Gardner Community Choir will hold sign-up and first rehearsal for the spring semester, Mon., Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m. Under the direction of Diane Cushing and Associate Director Mary Chapin Durling, the choir will meet Monday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in room 182. GGCC is open to all adults who love to sing - no experience required. Music for the spring semester includes a tribute to American composer Aaron Copland plus traditional folk songs, spirituals, show tunes and more. A $20.00 music purchase fee is the only cost associated with joining. For more information contact Professor Gail Steele at (978) 632-6600 ext. 162 or by e-mail at g_steele@mwcc.mass.edu

• The college will also be bringing back the Greater Gardner Youth Choir this spring. In an effort to improve the quality of the program, GGYC members are now selected by audition. Under the direction of Diane Cushing, GGYC will meet on Mondays from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., beginning Mon., Jan. 26. Auditions for students in grades 4 through 8 will be held on Mon., Jan. 26 at 5:45 p.m. in room 182. Students will be taught a piece of music at the audition. Singers returning from the fall semester need not audition, but should report to the first rehearsal. Students selected will be charged a special program fee of $50.00 for the semester. For more information contact Professor Gail Steele at 978 632-6600 ext. 162 or by e-mail at g_steele@mwcc.mass.edu

• “Right this way, your table’s waiting.” Theatre at the Mount’s production of the Kander and Ebb musical, Cabaret, opens on February 27 for 5 performances. Set in the tumultuous city of Berlin just before Hitler’s rise to power, Cabaret is based on Christopher Isherwood’s Berlin Stories and John Van Druten’s I Am a Camera. The main action of the play revolves around a cabaret performer, Sally Bowles, and the brief affair she has with an American writer who takes her in after she is kicked out of the Kit Kat Club where she performs. Although Sally and Clifford soon find themselves deeply in love, there is too much chaos in the world around them. Soon they find their relationship is being jeopardized by outside forces which threaten to tear them apart. Also figuring prominently is the tragic relationship between Fraulein Schneider, a German woman, and her Jewish suitor, Herr Schultz. Performances of Cabaret are February 27, 28, March 5, and 6 at 8:00 p.m. and March 7 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $18.00 for evening performances and $15.00 for matinees. For information and reservations, call the TAM box office at 978 632-2403. Tickets may also be purchased online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu
  Cabaret contains adult themes and language and is not recommended for young children.

• The MWCC Fitness and Wellness Center will be offering American Red Cross Lifeguard training and youth swim lessons this winter. Registration is now underway. Session I lifeguard training begins in February; swim lessons begin this month (January.) For more information call (978) 630-9212.

• The Fitness and Wellness Center in partnership with the Arthritis Foundation is offering an aquatic program with introductory classes beginning, Mon., Jan. 19. No swimming is required for this warm-water exercise program developed by the Arthritis Foundation. The group meets one or more times per week for up to one hour. The program is designed for anyone with impaired or reduced joint motion. Courses are taught by leaders or instructors who have completed an Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program (AFAP) Training Workshop. Before beginning an exercise program, consult your doctor. To learn more, call (978) 630-9212.

Lea Ann Erickson
Director of Community Relations
Mount Wachusett Community College
Phone: (978) 630-9322
Fax: (978) 630-9561
cell: (508) 517-5202
l_erickson@mwcc.mass.edu

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