[USCC] Professional Credentials Committee seeks input and help

Thu Feb 15 06:50:45 CST 2007

Craig: I really don't have time to use for the committee; but I would
certainly like to contribute what help I can. For example, I can review
and edit and as an educator, have opinions about the exams I have seen.
Do you have an extra copy or attachment you can send of the draft? Count
me in as a part-time contributor available by conference call.  Best
regards, Rosalie

             Craig Coker                                                
             <craigcoker at cox.                                           
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             02/14/2007 02:47                                   Subject 
             PM                       [USCC] Professional Credentials   
                                      Committee seeks input and help    

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Participate in the Annual Compost Awareness Week May 6, 2007 to May 12,
2007

This year's theme is "The Possibilities are Endless ... Compost!"

For more info, go to: http://compostingcouncil.org/section.cfm?id=25

Or Call the USCC at 631-737-4931

Colleagues:

I have agreed to serve as the new chairman of the Professional
Credentials
Committee (attempting to fill big shoes left behind by Oley Sheremeta)
and I
invite your input and assistance as we move this important initiative
forward.  As you may know, I have been (and am) involved in compost
operator
training with the Carolinas Composting Council since 2001.  PCC is
charged
with the mission of developing a national training and certification
program
for the USCC as a benefit to our industry.  This program is intended to
raise professional competence and quality, to provide assurance to
regulators, elected officials and citizens that our facilities are
operated
properly, safely, and with minimal impact to the environment; and to
move
the USCC in the direction of becoming a training organization.

The PCC is seeking volunteers to help with planning this program (with
the
assistance of a contractor/consultant yet to be hired).  Help will
involve:
brainstorming (via conference calls); developing the contractor Request
For
Proposal (one draft currently exists); developing a work plan for USCC
staff
to work with State governments to encourage/require one USCC-certified
professional at each permitted composting facility; and developing a
series
of continuing education training programs for ongoing professional
development.  Current PCC members are: myself, Dr. Monica Ozores-Hampton
(Univ. of FL), and Holly Westcott (Washington Dept. of Ecology).
Committee
meetings will be held in association with other conferences (i.e.
Biocycle
West Coast in April, USCC Annual Conference in Oakland, etc.).

Even if you don't have time to help, I'd sure appreciate your thoughts
and
advice on several key issues:

*         Do we have separate certifications for compost operators &
compost
facility managers, and if so, how should they differ?

*         How do we, as the USCC, recognize and credit existing State &
university training programs towards USCC certification (i.e. Carolinas
Composting Council, WORC, LSU, Maine Cooperative Extension, UMD Better
Composting School)?

*         How can we encourage private industry to recognize that
USCC-certified professionals are a worthwhile employment investment?

*         Can we get States to require certified professionals at
composting
facilities (like landfill and WWTP operators)?  Should we push this
issue?

*         What should be included in a 5-day "Foundations" training
course
as a minimum training for eligibility to take a certification exam?

*         What topics should be taught in shorter, more advanced courses
for
CEUs?

*         What is/are the most effective mechanisms for conducting
training
programs?

Thank you for your time and for your input.

Regards,

Craig

Craig Coker

Coker Composting & Consulting

3331 Glade Creek Blvd.  Ste. 7

Roanoke, VA  24012

(540) 904-2698  Fax: (540) 904-6732

Cell: (540) 874-5168

 <mailto:craigcoker at cox.net> craigcoker at cox.net

 <http://www.cokercompost.com> www.cokercompost.com

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February 8 - 12th, 2008 at the Oakland Marriott City Center, Oakland,
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