Upcoming Courses offered by Potter County Education Council

Certified Well Tender Program (240 + Hours)
The Potter County Education Council, Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center are sponsoring a “Certified Well Tender Course” at the PCEC’s Port Allegany Office. This 6-week Certified Well Tender Course covers many topics important to the Natural Gas Industry and is supported by over 35 gas companies in PA who have provided input into the course content and have had success hiring participants who have completed this program in other locations. Key topics covered during this course include: identifying procedures and processes basic to producing, transporting, and distributing natural gas, maintaining a safe work environment, properties of fuel gases, controlling and preventing fires fueled by natural gas, duties and responsibilities of well tenders, physical structures and completion procedures common to gas storage wells, storage well operations, proper use of combustible gas indicator, proper use of buried pipe using pipe locating equipment, and routine maintenance and patrolling of facilities. This course also prepares you for your Class A CDL license with both classroom and behind the wheel experience. (Participants may also be responsible for DOT Physical Exam, Drug Testing, State Permit Fees, License and Testing Fees, Motor Vehicle Record fees, Criminal Background Checks and Materials). Classes begin September 26 and will run through November 18, 2011 and will be held Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center. The course fee will be $7,995 per student. For more information or to register, call 814-545-1333; email candih@pottercountyedcouncil.org or visit our website at www.pottercountyedcouncil.org.

Certified Well Tender w/o CDL
The Potter County Education Council, Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center are sponsoring a “Certified Well Tender w/o CDL Course” at the PCEC’s Port Allegany Office. This 4-week course covers the same topics as the Certified Well Tender Course, only without the CDL component. Key topics covered during this course include: identifying procedures and processes basic to producing, transporting, and distributing natural gas, maintaining a safe work environment, properties of fuel gases, controlling and preventing fires fueled by natural gas, duties and responsibilities of well tenders, physical structures and completion procedures common to gas storage wells, storage well operations, proper use of combustible gas indicator, proper use of buried pipe using pipe locating equipment, and routine maintenance and patrolling of facilities. Classes will begin September 26 and run through November 18, 2011 and will run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center. The cost for the course will be $5,980 per student. For more information or to register, call 814-545-1333; email candih@pottercountyedcouncil.org or visit our website at www.pottercountyedcouncil.org.

CDL Certification Course
The Potter County Education Council, Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center are sponsoring a “CDL Course” at the PCEC’s Port Allegany Office. The CDL program is a three (3) week, one hundred sixty (160) hour comprehensive training program culminating in the awarding of a Commercial Drivers License by the state of Pennsylvania. Week One is classroom based. Monday, Tuesday and generally a portion of Wednesday is dedicated to the Pennsylvania written exam. The balance of the week is focused on the technical aspect of the career such as, but not limited to; mapping, trip planning, and log books. Week Two consists of range and road training. The range portion will have the student instructed in slow speed maneuvers. (Straight line backing, alley dock parking, parallel parking, coupling and uncoupling and air brakes.) The road training will consist of highway, city and rural roadways and may extend beyond the county limits based on geography and restrictions. Week Three will duplicate Week Two Monday through Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are used for the Pennsylvania Commercial Drivers License exam and review. All students are required to participate in an exit interview upon the successful completion of the state exam. Classes will begin on September 26 and run through November 18, 2011 and will be held Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center. The cost for the course is $4,995 per student. For more information or to register call, 814-545-1333; email candih@pottercountyedcouncil.org or visit our website at www.pottercountyedcouncil.org.

PEC Basic-SafeGulf/SafeLand Orientation Train-the-Trainer
The Potter County Education Council, Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center are seeking interested individuals for the PEC Basic-SafeGulf/SafeLand Orientation Train-the-Trainer program. The PEC Basic-SafeGulf/SafeLand Orientation Train-the-Trainer course allows an instructor to administer the PEC Basic-Safe Gulf/SafeLand Orientation course. The PEC Basic-SafeGulf/SafeLand Orientation course was designed to take the place of multiple operator orientation courses and to give each student a general idea of life and safety issues in the oil and gas industry – upstream, downstream, onshore, and offshore. As more and more industries are accepting and/or requiring this credential, having an in-house trainer can greatly reduce the cost of certifying your employees and increases your flexibility in scheduling the training. Each instructor will receive classroom training and the following manuals:

• PEC Basic Orientation Instructor Manual,
• PEC Basic Orientation Student Manual,
• PEC Basic Orientation Video,
• All-in-One Video,
• Backdrop for Student Photographs,
• PowerPoint Presentation and reference material that will support the instruction of the program.

Ten individuals are needed to run this course. If you are interested in this course call (814) 545-1333.

Facebook 101 Course at PCEC
The Potter County Education Council will hold a Facebook 101 class at the Coudersport Office. This class will be presented by Clarion University’s SBDC and will cover topics such as: What is Facebook, Why You Should Care, Personal Profile vs. Business Page, How to Get Started and What is the Next Step to Marketing my Business. The class will be held on Tuesday, September 13th from 1 – 3 p.m. at the PCEC Coudersport Office. Cost for the class is $20 per person. To register call the SBDC at 877-292-1843.

Yes! You Can Speak in Public – Public Speaking Course at PCEC
The Potter County Education Council will hold a public speaking class at the Coudersport Office. Understanding — that is the first step on the road to becoming a more effective public speaker. Knowing how to present effectively can enhance your career, increase your chances for promotion, and allow you to make a difference in your community through your power to influence people and the decisions they make. It could lead you to running for public office. Topics that will be covered are: >Understand and conquer your fears, >Focus on your strengths, >Prepare: research and organization, >Know and understand your audience, >Make speaking a “Whole-istic” experience, >Pay Attention to Details, >Practice, Practice, Practice. The class will be a two-part class beginning on Thursday, September 15th and the second one on Thursday, September 22nd from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The cost for the course will be $69 per person. To register or for more information visit our website at www.pottercountyedcouncil.org or call
814-274-4877.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Digital Camera
The Potter County Education Council will hold a digital camera class with Curt Weinhold at its Port Allegany location. Learn the proper method to maximize image quality from your camera. We will work with your Digital SLR or point & shoot and learn how to input a scene or portrait image, progressing to downloading to the computer; save and edit picture files, both jpeg and RAW files; and explore software from premium priced PhotoShop to free downloads for your computer. Please bring: camera, any extra lenses and memory card. It is strongly suggested that you understand the basics of your camera and read the instruction manual. The class is being held on Thursday, September 22 from 6 – 8 p.m. Cost is $29 per person. For more information or to register, call 814-545-1333or visit our website at www.pottercountyedcouncil.org.

Improving Your Digital Pictures
Join Curt Weinhold and learn how to improve your pictures by proper editing with free software from Google known as Picasa. Please bring a variety of images from your own camera on either memory card or CD. We will download as many as possible and attempt to improve each. Alternatively, bring a camera and we will edit pictures taken on the spot. This class is being held at PCEC’s Coudersport location on Saturday, September 24 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. with a cost of $29 per person. For more information or to register, call 814-274-4877 or visit our website at www.pottercountyedcouncil.org.