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For a .PDF file of this letter that can be read in Acrobat click HERE. If you need
January 16, 2004 Dear Friend of Damascus Way, "Ron is inexperienced, so treat him good," said the apprentice coach at Swanson & Youngdale, Inc. "And train him to be a painter!" The coach was talking to Scott Smiley. Scott was looking at Ron Petrin. Scott and Ron grinned. "It's good to see you again, man!" said Scott. "How long’ve you been here?" "Just a month," said Ron. "I sure didn't expect to run into you! How you doing?" This conversation, or one like it, began a new and satisfying course in the lives of two Damascus Way graduates. Their story is so encouraging I thought I'd share it with you today! You'll need to read our sidebar column (Bottom of page) to follow their winding trail which began in prison. Scott, a union painter for years, worked with Swanson & Youngdale from 1987 through 1992, then was rehired in June 2002 after leaving prison and entering Damascus Way. One day following his July 26th graduation, I had a great conversation with Scott. We were returning from a meeting at which he had shared his testimony. In the car, Scott talked of his job and his boss, Bob Swanson. "I should encourage Bob to get involved in hiring people from CCTP," he said. In a previous newsletter, I wrote to you about the Career Construction Training Program (CCTP) started by Dave Adolfson of Adolfson and Peterson Construction Company. Innovative, positive, supportive, it provides a significant hand up for men who desperately need work and want to learn a trade. Adolfson and Peterson look to us at Damascus Way to interview and screen men, and recommend those who qualify, after which they agree to train for one year any they actually hire. The program provides a job mentor for each man and requires that each man attend a support group. Sometime earlier, Damascus Way had interviewed Ron Petrin for CCTP and thought he would be a good candidate. So we recommended him. About that time, however, the construction industry was struggling. Owners had to work hard to keep their long-term employees busy and were not eager to bring on inexperienced help. So Ron was not called to work at that time. Meanwhile, Scott told his boss, Bob Swanson, all about the CCTP. Bob liked the idea and made the initial contacts. "We have someone you might want to look at," the CCTP staff person said one day. That "someone" was Ron Petrin and Bob Swanson hired him. When the new apprentice was introduced to his job mentor, the old friendship was rekindled between Ron and Scott. Ron and Scott spent many enjoyable hours over the next ten weeks working together. Scott taught Ron to be a good painter, but both men yearned to grow strong in the Lord and both benefited from their mutual support. They set their radio dial to the morning show of Christian radio station KTIS, a real first, I hear, for other workers at the job site. Today, Ron is on temporary lay-off but Scott reports that he has been called in on several projects even during seasonal down time. Both men told me that their hours working side by side was a good time of learning and growing. Here's a picture I took showing them working side by side. I don't have a picture of you, working side by side with me and the staff at Damascus Way. But we know you're right there with us each time you send your gift of support. We greatly depend on you. The end of our fiscal year is March 31 ... and our income has not measured up. As we near that date we are projecting a shortage of about $25,000. This is the amount we need from our friends to continue serving our men, our mission and our community. Let me ask you: Will you stand with us, to see us over this hump? Our men and our staff can't go it alone. We all need one another. And I need you today. Let me count on your help, will you? For the men of Damascus Way,
Dick Harden, Director Damascus Way Reentry Center
P.S. I have enclosed an envelope to make it more convenient to send your kind gift of support. When you place your check inside and seal it, picture Ron and Scott, working side by side, getting stronger in the Lord. You're helping us in the same way. We're working side by side. Terms You’ll Need to Know: Apprentice coach - Coordinates activities of apprentice workers Job mentor - A fellow employee with enough experience to teach a new hiree the ropes Apprentice - A new hiree, just learning the trade Scott Smiley - Job mentor and July 26, 2002 graduate of Damascus Way, working as a painter with Swanson & Youngdale Ron Petrin - Apprentice and October 11, 2002 graduate of Damascus Way and new with Swanson & Youngdale Swanson & Youngdale - Swanson & Youngdale Inc., one of the largest painting companies in the country Bob Swanson - Owner of Swanson & Youngdale CCTP - Career Construction Training Program, a program started by Dave Adolfson from Adolfson and Peterson Construction Company which matches experienced job mentors with potential employees just coming out of prison or Damascus Way Spiritual mentor - Designation by CCTP for a man (or woman) not necessarily involved in the construction business but with a heart for the men of Damascus Way and the ability to guide and help them along, assigned to apprentices |
