The Workership Program provides 300 hours of summer employment at minimum wage for students accepted and enrolled in an academic program at a two-year or four-year college.

Pictured here is Diana Keys, a student at Houghton College, helping a patron at the Lowville Free Library.

When the Workership Program was proposed in 1981 by Donald Exford, Coordinator of the Lewis County Youth Board, the program was designed to meet two goals: 1. Serve the needs of more college students than the previous scholarship program, and 2. Provide job experience related to the college student's area of study in preparation for career employment.  The program was intended to serve students from middle-class families, who typically are not eligible for government supported summer work programs.  Further, the program was planned to fill the need for summer help for local nonprofit and government programs serving youth.  Workership positions were not intended to replace permanent or part-time positions already filled.  But instead, workership positions were to be new positions completing work that traditionally would not get done.

Pictured here is Kate McIntosh, a student at Hartwick College,  leading the judging of 4-H exhibits at the Lewis County Fair in her summer workership position with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County

Pictured here is Anna Staab, a student at Jefferson Community College, leading a group participating in a recreational activity in the West Carthage Village Summer Recreation Program.

The Workership Program has continued each summer since 1982.  That first summer, the Foundation underwrote 46 workership positions at 21 different nonprofit and governmental program sites at a cost of $47,818.  In subsequent years, the number of students employed grew to nearly 100 students per year.

Pictured here is Jill Failing, a student at Mohawk Valley Community College, as she awaits at the front door of Constable Hall greeting patrons in preparation of leading a tour.

Pictured here is Ashley Fox, a student at SUNY Plattsburgh, captured busily working at her desk during fair week at the Boonville-Oneida County Fair. 

In the summer of 2005, a pilot Workership Program, designed and coordinated by Suzanne Schwarting and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County, made it possible for students to work in private sector summer positions directly related to their college majors and career path.  Five students participated in the program with two students working at Kraft Foods, Lowville, and one student working at each of the following sites: Climax Manufacturing, the law office of Attorney Michael Young and Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce.  This program included work skills training and a community service project.  Both Cooperative Extension and Pratt Northam will be evaluating how successfully this program met each organization's mission and goals to determine whether the program will be continued in future summers.

Pictured here (1. to r.) are Mr. Doug Brown, consultant from Cornell University. Mr. Joe Hall , the summer worksite mentor at Climax Manufacturing Corporation, and Stephanie Karelus, a student at SUNY Canton.  They are sitting at the final gathering of all people involved with the Summer 2005 Private Sector Workership Program.

In recent years due to increases in the minimum wage, the Foundation has been unable to fund as many positions while funding the program at higher and higher levels.  In the summer of 2005, the Foundation underwote 67 workership positions at 40 sites at a cost of $135,000.

In anticipation of another increase in the minimum wage in New York State in 2006, the Foundation anticipates it will be sponsoring fewer positions in the future, while expending a greater percentage of its capital reserves.  Nonprofit and government programs delivering services in the area between Boonville and Carthage are urged to apply to sponsor a workership(s) postion.  Worksite applicants are reminded that workership sites are selected based upon the following criteria (listed in order of importance):

1.     Workership position results in a student receiving college credit for completing the work .

2.     Workership position provides programming for youth

3.     Workership  position results in work being completed by the sponsoring agency that would not have been accomplished without the workership.

4.     Workership position provides added services for the people of the community.

(Tentative) WORKERSHIP CALENDAR - 2006

February 1, 2006 - Worksite Application Press Announcements

February 15, 2006 - Worksite Applications Mailed to 2005 Worksite Sponsors

April 1, 2006 - Worksite Applications Submitted

April 12, 2006 - Board Review and Approval

April 25, 2006 - Workership Press Announcements

May 17, 2006 - Workership Checks + Picnic Announcements Mailed

June 14, 2006 - Workership Orientation and Picnic

August 23, 2006 - Workership Evaluations Submitted

Pictured here is Dean Damsky, a recent graduate of Mohawk Community College, raking an infield at the Boonville Youth Athletic complex.

Pictured here is Kristy LaVoie, a student at SUNY Potsdam, checking a reference for a patron at the Town of Diana Historical Museum.

Pictured here is Kate Huggins, a student at Mohawk Valley Community College,  helping a patron at the Railroad Historical Society Museum.