October 2007

October 29 , 2007

Gaston College Textile Technology Center Receives Export Certificate from U.S. Department of Commerce

The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded the Gaston College Textile Technology Center the Export Certificate of Appreciation for Achievement in Trade at the Piedmont Division Fall Meeting, of the Southern Textile Association, held Wednesday, October 23, on the Gaston College East Campus in Belmont.

The certificate recognizes trade associations, technical associations, and other organizations for supporting U.S. export development and for creating opportunities for U.S businesses through trade. The Textile Center received the award for its outstanding work in supporting Free Trade Agreement Marketing Consultations and for being an excellent partner with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Charlotte Export Assistance Center. It has hosted Export Opportunity Briefing for local companies and in 2005 hosted a group of Sri Lanka Textile Executives to learn more about trade fiber, yarn and thread trade possibilities with the USA.

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October 22 , 2007

“UNARMED BUT DANGEROUS,” MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER/AUTHOR TAWANA WILLIAMS WILL SPEAK AT GASTON COLLEGE
ON NOVEMBER 7TH

The words “I can‘t” are not an option for Tawana Williams, national motivational speaker and author. This woman of tiny stature, born with a physical disability, has a powerful and uplifting message for people of all walks of life. She will tell her story of triumph, perseverance, and determination at Gaston College on Wednesday, November 7th at 11 a.m. in the Myers Center Auditorium, Dallas Campus.

Born in Wilson, NC in 1963, Tawana was a victim of brutal medical negligence, born without arms and impaired use of her legs. Despite the predictions of doctors, her mother taught her “miracle baby” to use her feet like hands. As an adolescent, she learned how to dress and take care of herself along with her five sisters. Using her feet, she learned how to write and draw beautiful works of art, answer the phone, cook and accomplish the things that would help her to live a normal life. Because of her disability, she endured years of physical pain, emotional scars, isolation, and the rejection of family members and peers, but the undying love and strength of her mother helped her survive childhood.

“Although I was unable to fight with human hands, my mother’s love taught me how to fight in spirit,” said Ms. Williams. In the beginning, even the simplest tasks seemed monumental, but she taught me to replace feelings of self pity with determination. She made me believe that I could do anything.”

“We moved from North Carolina and I grew up in the Washington, DC. area.
In 1981, I graduated from Friendly Senior High but that same year, succumbing to peer pressure, I began to experiment with drugs and became addicted to crack cocaine. I struggled with my addiction for ten years. During this time I became ensnared in a dangerous lifestyle but survived the trauma of abusive relationships, a gang rape and an abortion. In 1991, I became tired of this destructive lifestyle, and cried out to God for help. My prayer was answered instantly and I was delivered from my cocaine addiction.”

After overcoming her addiction, she dedicated her life to helping others. Tawana’s message is one of encouragement and to look beyond your circumstances willing to accept God’s gift of freedom without limitations. She’s never lost sight of her mission in over 11 years as a motivational speaker and CEO of Tawana Williams Outreach, Inc.

As she travels across the country, Williams continues to be a guest on national radio broadcasts and television shows. Some of her past appearances include mentoring a troubled teen on Judge Hatchett, telling her story of how she beat the odds on the Jerry Springer Show, and telephone interviews with TV producers for the Oprah Winfrey, and The Montel Williams Shows. Last year, she was the special guest for nationally renowned motivational speaker/author, Mr. Les Brown at the Speakers Network Training in Atlanta, Georgia, capturing the minds and hearts of other professional speakers. She’s now a Member of Les Brown Speaker Network and in May 2007, she started producing her own radio show “The Tawana Williams Show,” featuring guest such as, Art Doakes and Ona Brown.

“She captivates her audiences with her boldness, and her ability to do what others might think is impossible,” Les Brown commented. “This warm, inspiring and incredible human spirit does so much, with so little, that she challenges all of us to look within and realize how much more life has to offer if only we were willing to commit ourselves to do what is required to live a more significant life.” He added, “The world is a better place because of Tawana. She is changing lives across this nation.”

In addition to broadcast coverage, articles published this year spotlighting her accomplishments include Hope for Women Magazine, Homes of Color Magazine, and Epitome Magazine. This very gifted artist, poet, and vocalist is also the author of two books, “I’m Different but I Can” and her latest release “Unarmed but Dangerous” which tells of her relentless struggle and ultimate victory. Her true passion is sharing her story at the grassroots level in churches, schools, prisons, nursing homes, and youth and women conferences across the country.

Tawana currently lives in Wilson, NC with her family, husband Toby Keither Williams, daughter, April, and grandson Jalen.

This event is sponsored by the Gaston College Minority Affairs Committee and Student Government Association and is free and open to the public. For more information, call Gaston College at 704.922.6200.

NOTE: Visit Tawana Williams website at www.tawanawilliams.com or
motivationalspeaker2003@yahoo.com

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October 22 , 2007

US Department of Commerce Presents Export Award To
Gaston College Textile Technology Center

WHAT: Presentation of Export Achievement Certificates to the Gaston College Textile Technology Center and to the National Council of Textile Organizations, Gastonia Office.

WHO: David Spooner, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce to Import Administration, is responsible for leading the Import Administration in its efforts to enforce trade laws and agreements to protect U.S. businesses from unfair pricing by foreign companies and unfair subsidies to foreign companies by their governments. Prior to his confirmation, Assistant Secretary Spooner served as the U.S. Government Textile Industries Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. http://trade.gov/press/bios/spooner.asp

John Anderson, Director of the Gaston College Textile Technology Center, will receive the award for the National Council of Textile Organizations.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 23, 2007, 2:30 PM

WHERE: At the Piedmont Division Fall Meeting, of the Southern Textile Association, Gaston College East Campus and Textile Technology Center, 7220 Wilkinson Boulevard, Belmont, NC

Background:

The Certificate of Appreciation for Achievement in Trade recognizes trade associations, technical associations and other organizations for supporting U.S. export development and for creating opportunities for U.S businesses through trade.

In June 2007, the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) and the Textile Technology Institute (TTI) contributed to the success of the TEXTILE SOURCING CONSULTATIONS between the US government and the Moroccan government and between private sector companies in both countries. NCTO and TTI assisted the US Department of State and the US Department of Commerce’s, Commercial Service to organize a textile plant visit in Belmont, followed by US textile product presentations to over 16 Morocco government and private sector textile industry executives. Some of those U.S. companies making product presentations have already shipped products to Morocco. This mission to stimulate trade between Morocco and the USA was a direct result of the U.S. and Morocco Free Trade Agreement.

The United States and Morocco completed a free trade agreement (FTA) March 2, 2004, as part of a broader strategy to liberalize trade in the Middle East. The U.S. Congress approved the U.S.-Morocco FTA in section 101(a) of the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law 108-302, 118 Stat. 1103) (19 U.S.C. 3805 note). The Agreement entered into force on January 1, 2006. At that time, tariffs for more than 95 percent of qualifying consumer and industrial goods were immediately eliminated. Remaining tariffs for most remaining qualifying goods will be eliminated over a nine-year period from the date the Agreement entered into force. For a limited number of products, tariffs will be eliminated over a period of up to 15 years. Currently U.S. exports to Morocco are subject to an average tariff of over 20 percent. www.export.gov/fta/Morocco/index.asp?dName=Morocco

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) www.export.gov/fta can help American companies to enter and compete more easily in the global marketplace. Trade agreements help level the international playing field and encourage foreign governments to adopt open and transparent rulemaking procedures, as well as non-discriminatory laws and regulations. FTAs help strengthen business climates by eliminating or reducing tariff rates, improving intellectual property regulations, opening government procurement opportunities, easing investment rules, and much more.

Currently, there are nine FTAs in effect that are benefiting U.S. exporters. At present, there are four important free trade agreements awaiting support from Congress.

These four FTAs are with Peru, Colombia, Panama, and Korea. Each FTA partner-country except for Peru also has to pass implementing legislation in order for these Agreements to enter into force.

In addition to recently supporting Free Trade Agreement Marketing Consultations, the Textile Technology Center has been an excellent partner with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Charlotte Export Assistance Center. It has hosted Export Opportunity Briefing for local companies and in 2005 hosted a group of Sri Lanka Textile Executives to learn more about trade fiber, yarn and thread trade possibilities with the USA.

NCTO is an excellent and active partner in promoting trade, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, one of the US Textile industry’s biggest markets. NCTO supported CAFTA and its implementation, and now supports the Colombia, Peru, and Panama FTAs. Most importantly, NCTO works closely with the U.S. Department of Commerce to identify tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade around the world that keep US product out of foreign markets.

U.S. Export Assistance Centers are part of the global network of the U.S. Commercial Service, a Commerce Department agency that helps small and medium-sized U.S. businesses sell their products and services globally. The agency's worldwide network includes 105 U.S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the United States and more than 150 international offices.

For more information on the Gaston College Textile Technology Center call
704-825-3737.

NOTE:
For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service, call the U.S. Export Assistance Center located on Morehead Street in Charlotte. Call 704-333-4886 or visit www.buyusa.gov/northcarolina.

For more information on the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) – www.ncto.org, call the NCTO North Carolina Office Gastonia, NC 28053 (704) 824-3522 or the Washington Office (202) 822-8028.

For more information on the Southern Textile Association www.southerntextile.org/, contact Lillian Link (704) 824-3522

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October 12 , 2007

Items of Interest About Gaston College

• *October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and faculty, staff and students at Gaston College will be collecting donations for the Gaston County Women’s Shelter through Tuesday, October 16. Items needed at the shelter include: arts & crafts for kids and teens, coloring books, paint and paint brushes, baby toys, crib safe toys, dolls and doll accessories.

  Drop-off locations at the Dallas campus are:

  • Comer Engineering and Technology Building - mailroom lobby
  • Myers Center – Student Services, 2nd floor - welcome desk
    Pharr Trade and Industrial Center, Room 123 - Early Childhood Adjunct Office
  • Albright Public Safety Building – office room 101
  • Craig Arts and Science Building - upstairs middle alcove - bookshelf

  Also, items can be dropped off at the adjunct office at the Lincoln and Belmont campuses. For more information, call Lori Metcalf, 704.922.6313.

• The art exhibit “Functional Ceramics” by Jennifer Mecca is on display until November 20th at the Beam Center for Visual Arts Gallery on the Gaston College Dallas Campus. Ms. Mecca will present an artist’s studio demonstration on Wednesday, October 17th at 10 a.m. at the Beam Gallery followed by a gallery reception at 11:30 a.m. The Bean Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 704.922.6344.

• If you’re looking to upgrade your computer skills the Gaston College Lincoln Campus will be offering classes on Microsoft 2007 software programs.
  Classes to be offered are:
  Microsoft Word 2007, Wednesdays, October 24 – December 5 from 6 to 9 p.m.;
  Microsoft Excel 2007, Saturdays, October 27- December 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon;
  Microsoft Access 2007, Monday and Wednesday, October 29 – November 14 from 6 to 9 p.m.., and Microsoft PowerPoint 2007, Monday and Wednesday, November 19 – December 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. To register, call 704.748.1057.

• A Visual Harvest, an annual juried art exhibition, is presented by Gaston College and the Gaston County Art Guild, October 18 - December 7 in the Jeanne Rauch Gallery. Gallery Hours are Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  The opening reception for the exhibit is on Thursday, October 18th from 6 to 8 p.m. in the gallery, Rauch Science and Fine Arts Building, Dallas Campus. For more information contact Gary Freeman at 704.922 .6344 or email freeman.gary@gaston.edu.

• The Life Skills Program in partnership with Goodwill Industries will sponsor a donation drive on Friday, November 30 and Monday, December 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. across from the Pearson Life Skills building on the Dallas Campus. Donations are being collected to assist current and past AHS/GED graduates who would like to attend the Second Chance Prom scheduled in spring 2008. Total donations will be weighed and Gaston College will receive vouchers of equal value to be distributed among Adult High School and GED students to use at Goodwill stores for purchasing prom attire. For more information, call Joy Morrow at 704.853.5328. ext.251.

• The Dietetic Technician Program at Gaston College will be sponsoring a
  "Holiday Cooking" discussion and demonstration for seniors on Tuesday, December 4 from 10 -11 am in the multipurpose room at the Lincoln Campus, 511 S. Aspen Street in Lincolnton. The session will focus on ways seniors can enjoy holidays foods and desserts and not pick up extra pounds. Examples and information on low fat calorie recipe substitutions will be available. For more information, contact Juanita Gunnell at 704.748.1065.

• Nationally know motivational speaker Twana Williams will be at Gaston College on Wednesday, November 7 at 11 a.m. in Myers Center Auditorium. Born in Wilson, NC, in 1963 without arms, she was trained as a baby to use her feet as hands. She can do just about anything that someone with arms can do, even braid hair and write a check.
  In 1981, as a senior in high school, she became addicted to crack cocaine because of peer pressure. Her addiction lasted 10 years. In 1991, after becoming tired of her lifestyle, she kicked her addiction and dedicated her life to helping others.
  Tawana is the author of the book, “I’m Different but I Can” and her latest book “Unarmed but Dangerous” was released in 2005. She is also an artist, a poet, a motivational speaker, wife, mother, and vocalist. This event is sponsored by the Gaston College Minority Affairs Committee. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 704.922.6200.

• Gaston College students can now vote for their 2007-2008 Student Government Association (SGA) leaders through Tuesday, October 9. Students should visit the Gaston College homepage at www.gaston.edu to place their vote electronically. The system is available at anytime 24 hours a day. The SGA elections will end at noon on October 9th.

• Jazz music is recognized around the world as an original American art form whose contributions continue to change and enrich music around the globe. This spring semester, Gaston College will offer Introduction to Jazz (MUS 112-01) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12 - 12:52 pm, Room 161, Myers Center, Dallas Campus. The class will cover the history of jazz, including it's origins in the blues, marching band music, work songs and ragtime music. Also, elements of improvisation, rhythm, and vocals set to rhythms, one of the very important elements in the development of jazz will be explored.

• Gaston College is offering Truck Driver Training this spring semester. Registration will be held on Monday, January 7 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Room 42, Comer Building (CET 42). The cost is $957 (includes tuition, fees, and licenses). Class meeting dates/times are Monday – Friday, January 14 – March 13 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.. For more information, call 704.922.6263.
  

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October 2 , 2007

Gaston College Announces SBC Collaboration Grant

DALLAS, NC… Gaston College, serving as an administrative agent for a broad coalition of eight regional community colleges and their Small Business Centers, announces it has recently received a grant of $48,444 from the North Carolina Community College Systems BioNetwork.

The eight community colleges in the Charlotte Region's 12 counties (Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union) have been working together and with the BioNetwork for a number of years to develop courses and programs to train their displaced mill and factory workforce for jobs in bioprocessing and biomanufacturing. But each of these colleges also supports a Small Business Center that can either help the small business owner and/or entrepreneur to work alongside the innovators and product inventors or to provide the kind of ancillary goods and services, like packaging and shipping, that deliver new biotech products to markets.

“The project grant will fund Phase II of an ongoing collaboration that began last year,” says Brad Rivers, director of the Small Business Center (SBC) at Gaston College.

“The goals of the project are simple. We are joining together to identify and tap the potential for the biotechnology and life sciences industries in the Charlotte Region, in order to help small business owners take fullest advantage of the economic opportunities.”

As he explains it, Phase I of the SBC collaboration was successfully accomplished by conducting extensive research to identify and survey businesses that were either actively engaged in biotechnology and life science processes or had the capacity to support that work. That phase was coordinated by Central Piedmont Community College. Phase II will be coordinated by Gaston College and will build on the earlier work by consolidating and marketing all the resources the eight SBC’s and the BioNetwork have at their disposal.

Based on the report that the SBC’s published as Phase I, there is a growing presence of biotechnology and life sciences firms in the region. According to Gaston College President Pat Skinner, Ph.D., there are a number of the economic and demographic factors that are contributing to this. “The Charlotte Region has a lot to offer,” she said. “Even our housing market is viable. We’re continually attracting new businesses and residents. Plus, once the

North Carolina Research Center in Kannapolis opens, it will be supporting the research initiatives for major universities—including UNC Charlotte—that will drive innovative products and create new industries.

“What this project recognizes,” Skinner goes on to say, “is that the community colleges can play an exciting role beyond their traditional workforce-training. Our Small Business Center can nurture and support entrepreneurs and small businesses so they can evolve along with these bigger biotech firms.”

As an outcome of the Phase II grant, focus-group findings, survey results, and other information-sharing activities will be used to develop a business plan to staff and support a centrally located SBC specifically for biotech and life science business and industry.

In the short-term, though, as Brad Rivers points out, the collaboration functions as a "virtual" Charlotte Region BioBusiness Hub. Its web page and print materials will be accessible to all of the region's Small Business Center and Economic Development directors to help them coordinate and sustain their current efforts.

For more information about this project or community college Small Business Centers, contact Brad Rivers at 704-922-6449, or by email at rivers.brad@gaston.edu.

BioNetwork grants are competitively determined and are awarded annually to North Carolina community colleges to help them build their capacity to educate and train for the life sciences’ industry sector. For more information about North Carolina’s BioNetwork, contact Norman Smit at 919-807-7181, by email at smitn@ncbionetwork.org or on the web at www.ncbionetwork.org. 

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