Education and training April 2024 wrap-up

Climbing School

March 25 - April 5

Spring climbing school is a two-week course recommended for first-year IREAP apprentices and Lincoln Land Community College linework students. Hands-on training included proper technique of climbing poles up to 60 feet, H-structure pole climb, pole top rescue and more. This course is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training; and is part of the AIEC "Illinois Rural Electric Apprenticeship Program."

1st Year Distribution School

April 8-12

First-year distribution training is a weeklong hands-on series of courses for linework students and apprentices. Participants learned how to use live line tools, install and change out insulators, and other general procedures for the job. Thank you to Craig Benhoff of Clinton County Electric Cooperative and Gerry Kinney, retired lineworker from Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative, for helping teach this series of courses. This course is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training; and is part of the AIEC "Illinois Rural Electric Apprenticeship Program."

NRECA SMDP 722: Deliberate Decision-Making

April 11

Too often, we make decisions based on "gut instinct" alone. However, effective decisions are deliberate, not the result of unconscious thoughts, beliefs or assumptions. On April 11, the AIEC hosted a course on deliberate decision-making. Participants learned effective creative thinking and discussion techniques and left with a toolkit to use in any situation to help improve decision-making, for themselves and with their team. This course is part of NRECA's Supervisor and Manager Development Program.

2nd Year Distribution School

April 15-19

Second Year Distribution School was held at LLCC, where linework students and apprentices received hands-on training that included the use of personal protective apparel and live line tools, the installation of crossarms, insulators, lightning arrestors and transformers, and tips on personal protective grounding techniques. This course is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training; and is part of the AIEC "Illinois Rural Electric Apprenticeship Program."

Advanced Distribution School

April 22-26

Advanced Distribution School training included the use of line fasteners and insulating equipment, climbing safety, line pole and crossarm changes, transmission line maintenance and more. Thank you to Grant Cooper, journeyman lineworker at Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative, and Mike Clark, retired from EnerStar Electric Cooperative, for helping teach this week's training. This course is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training; and is part of the AIEC "Illinois Rural Electric Apprenticeship Program."

Rubber Gloving School

April 29 - May 3

Held at Lincoln Land Community College, linework apprentices and students attended the spring semester of Rubber Gloving School. The weeklong course included hands-on training with rubber gloving techniques for changing out electrical equipment and lines and repairing electrical equipment. This course is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training; and is part of the AIEC "Illinois Rural Electric Apprenticeship Program."

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