Bert's Alerts - September 16, 2016
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will support fitness in the Treasure Valley this month with employees and students volunteering at The FitOne Expo in Boise, Sept. 22-23. CWI will host a booth at the event, while students from the College’s Medical Assistant program will be on hand providing basic health information. The group will also be sharing about CWI and its healthcare programs. The expo, which is free and open to the public, will kick off the annual FitOne race/fun run on Sept. 24.
News Highlights
Mark Browning to Lead CWI’s Communications and Government Relations
College of Western Idaho (CWI) welcomes Mark Browning as the newest member of its leadership team. Browning has been hired as CWI’s Vice President of Communications and Government Relations; a position he has held at North Idaho College (NIC) since January 2012. He will start his new role at CWI on Oct. 3.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the CWI team!” says Browning. “My family and I were big supporters of the effort to form the college in 2007 when we were living in the area. To be able to now come full circle and help with the effort to advance the great work being done to help students in the region is a fantastic opportunity, one we simply couldn’t pass up.”
Browning will be responsible for CWI’s media, public, and government relations efforts. He will also oversee the College’s Marketing and Advancement department.
Prior to NIC, Browning spent five years as the Chief Communications and Legislative Officer for the Idaho State Board of Education. His professional experience includes serving as News Director for the CBS affiliate in Boise, as well as main anchor and executive producer at the NBC station in Pocatello.
Browning earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from University of Idaho in 2012. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications with a political science emphasis from Idaho State University.
Browning and his wife Kym have three sons; Sam (15), Austin Jack (22), and Jake (29). Jake and his wife Eliza live in Bountiful, Utah with their 16 month old daughter Jade.
Register to Vote at CWI on Sept. 27
On Tuesday, Sept. 27, Idaho residents will have the opportunity to register to vote from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at four College of Western Idaho (CWI) campus locations. The college’s honor society chapter, Beta Sigma Pi, is organizing the event in support of National Voter Registration Day. The student group aims to raise awareness about voter registration and break down barriers that traditionally keep people from voting. In addition, absentee ballots will be available for people interested in voting early or are unable to vote in person on Nov. 8.
“College is where many people come to learn about the world and how it works, and how to make a place for themselves inside the bigger picture,” says CWI Beta Sigma Pi Chapter President, Jason Ward. “The CWI honor society chapter believes in our students' ability to not only understand how politics shapes everyone's lives, but to be a part of the leadership that charts the course. They may only need to know the importance of their voices.”
Members of the community who are eligible to vote in Idaho can register at one of the following CWI locations:
- Ada County Campus Pintail Center (1360 S. Eagle Flight Way, Boise)
- Nampa Campus Academic Building (5500 E. Opportunity Dr. Nampa)
- Nampa Campus Micron Center for Professional Technical Education (5725 E. Franklin Road, Nampa)
- Canyon County Center (2407 Caldwell Blvd., Nampa)
In addition to voter registration attendees can also find a variety of voting details at the event, including:
- Information on CWI’s November 2016 Ballot items
- Absentee Ballots
- Polling Locations
- Voting Precinct Information
“Registering to vote is taking the stand that your voice matters and you will have a say in how the future takes shape,” adds Ward. “Register to vote Sept. 27.”
The voter registration initiative serves as part of a requirement for CWI’s Beta Sigma Pi chapter to earn top national rating with the organization. Please contact communications@cwi.edu for more information.
CWI and US Attorney’s Office Collaborate to Show Film
In recognition of National Heroin and Opioid Awareness Week, College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Department of Social and Human Relations is co-sponsoring an event with the United States Attorney’s Office. The event will feature a screening of the film “Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict”. The screening will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., at CWI’s Nampa Campus Academic Building (Room 102E). All students, employees, and their guests are welcome to attend.
The film is a documentary collaboratively produced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in response to the growing epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse across the country. The film is designed to raise awareness and educate young adults of the dangers posed by these drugs.
After the film DEA Diversion Investigator, Charles Wahl, will give a brief presentation about the scope of the opioid and heroin problem here in Idaho and nationally.
Sharing in Bert's Alerts
Each semester at College of Western Idaho (CWI) means the return of a number of wonderful activities occurring throughout the College. The Marketing and Advancement Department encourages employees to share these happenings through Bert’s Alerts. Activities may include events, recognition of employees and students, changes in processes or policies that affect employees, or simply letting peers know what is going on in departments or campus locations.
Bert’s Alerts requests can be submitted through Help Desk, by selecting “Marketing” under the Request Type drop down menu. Bert’s Alerts is distributed every Friday and the deadline for submitting content is end of day Thursday. Please direct all questions regarding Bert’s Alerts to communications@cwi.edu.
