Day 1

Hello and welcome to my Project Transition blog.

Background
Project Transition is an office skills program offered by Westchester Community College to help qualified "displaced homemakers" gain marketable job skills. The program is funded by the New York State Department of Labor, the Office of Workforce Development, and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Participants learn how to use Microsoft Office 2007 (including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and are guided in their job search. Classes, which are held Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., are taught by a Microsoft Office master instructor and by a professional career counselor. One such program is being held from January 21 to March 13 at the Ossining Extension Center, located in the Arcadian Shopping Center off Route 9. For more information, please call coordinator Marika Scotti at 914-606-6825 or visit the Web site at www.sunywcc.edu/projecttransition.

Project Transition Day 1
Director Mia Fienemann welcomed us to the Spring 2009 Project Transition and introduced us to the Project Transition team (coordinator Marika Scotti; computer instructor Vicky Hayes-Kelder; and career counselor Ginny Ruder), as well as to the director of the Ossining Extension Center. Job developer Carol Barlia was not present, but she is also a member of the team and will be assisting us with our job search strategy.

Ms. Fienemann gave a brief history of the program, outlined the course work involved, and clarified the requirements for successful completion. She told us that one of the perks of the program will be a visit to the Career Closet in Briarcliff Manor, where we will receive a free outfit suitable for business!

Homework: Read pages 6 to 34 in the Microsoft Office 2007: Essentials handbook.

p.s. - I'd like to write more about Day 1, but I have to cook dinner, do my homework, and go to choir practice!!