"Working With You Is Killing Me" -- Conflict Resolution Program

We've all worked with someone who makes work impossible, but it doesn't have to be that way. McHenry County College is offering “Working with You is Killing Me,” a powerful conflict resolution program, from 1-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 at the MCC Shah Center, 4100 W. Shamrock Lane in McHenry.

The program is based on the national best-selling book by psychotherapist, Katherine Crowley and business consultant, Kathi Elster.

If you find yourself frustrated with a colleague whose incompetence is driving you crazy, a boss who gets angry when you're not a mind reader, or an employee who challenges your authority, chances are you're caught in an emotional trap at your job, the solution is simple: take control of your own response. The course teaches employees and managers how to tame a toxic co-worker by setting boundaries. The benefits of this course include helping people deal with difficult co-workers through mutual cooperation, reduce stress-related issues arising from work relationships, improve interpersonal relations and understanding of boundaries.

Cost is $109. Use course ID: NTL C23 002 when registering.  All leadership and workforce development courses are also available to bring to a company's facility and customizable for their needs. To register, call (815) 455-8588 or register online at: or register online at www.mchenry.edu/myMCC and select “Register for Workforce and Community Development Classes.”

For more information or to register, contact the Shah Center at (815) 455-8593 or shahcenter@mchenry.edu.

Cost is $109. Use course ID: NTL C23 002 when registering.  All leadership and workforce development courses are also available to bring to a company's facility and customizable for their needs. To register, call (815) 455-8588 or register online at: or register online at www.mchenry.edu/myMCC and select “Register for Workforce and Community Development Classes.”

For more information or to register, contact the Shah Center at (815) 455-8593 or shahcenter@mchenry.edu

McHenry County Solid Waste Advisory Committee Meeting

McHenry County Solid Waste Advisory Committee

McHenry County Animal Control & Adoption Center

100 N Virginia Street, Community Room, Crystal Lake IL

February 25, 2015 – 1:30pm

AGENDA

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes – January 21, 2015
3. Old Business
1. Food Scrap Discussion
4. New Business
1. Prioritize Recommendations – 2015 Plan
2. April Meeting Reminder
5. Adjournment

OSHA Voluntary Compliance Course Offered By MCC

The McHenry County College Workforce, Community, and Business Programs is offering an OSHA 10-hour Voluntary Compliance in General Industry course from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, March 9 and 11.

The OSHA 10-hour Voluntary Compliance in General Industry is facilitated by OSHA industry expert, Mike Serpe, principle at Safety First NA. This course is ideal for personnel with safety and health responsibilities, and for those who implement employee safety and health awareness programs. Participants will be introduced to OSHA policies, procedures and standards as well as general industry safety and health principles covered in OSHA Act Part 1910.  Participants can register using Upon successful course completion, participants will receive a certificate of attendance and an OSHA 10 Hour card from the Department of Labor.

The course fee is $225, which includes materials. Use course ID: NTE S65 003 when registering.

This program will be held at McHenry County College Shah Center, 4100 W. Shamrock Lane in McHenry. To register, call (815) 455-8588.  For more information, contact the center at (815) 455-8593 or shahcenter@mchenry.edu.

New Associate Degree In Health Information Technology

Do you enjoy working with patient records, are detail-oriented and have strong interpersonal skills? Consider training for a career in the growing field of health information technology. McHenry County College is offering an information session for a new Associate in Applied Science degree in Health Information Technology at 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 in Room A102.

Health information technicians organize and manage health information data using computer systems. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook is projected to grow much faster than average.

Allison Minicz, director of MCC’s Health Information Technology program, will provide an overview on the degree requirements and pertinent information about career opportunities in Health Information Technology.

Find out more about the Health Information Technology degree program by attending this information session. Registration is not required. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, contact Allison Minicz at (815) 479-7884.

Healing Touch Classes At McHenry County College

Those looking for a rewarding career or want to enhance their healthcare skills to impact the body, mind, spirit and wellbeing of others may consider the holistic practice of Healing Touch. McHenry County College (MCC) will offer Beginning Healing Touch Level 1 certificate class from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on March 7 and March 8 in Room E100.

Healing Touch helps people embrace compassion in their work and in the world. With Healing Touch, one can gently, and significantly, impact the body-mind-spirit wellbeing of people in their life and practice. After the first Healing Touch class, participants will possess a life-changing gift that they can offer over and over again to support health and facilitate the healing process for their patients and loved ones.

Healing Touch is a gentle, complementary energy-based approach to health and healing. The goal is to restore harmony and balance to the human energy system through a heart-centered caring relationship and the use of contact/non-contact touch. This can greatly assist the body and mind in its natural ability to heal.  Healing Touch is an evidence based practice that offers continuing education for nurses and massage therapists.

Healing Touch utilizes off body or light touch methods that clear congestion, relieves pain, facilitates balance and promotes mind-body-spirit healing.  It is an international certification program that is holistic and demonstrates Caring Science/Caring Theory, developed by Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN.  The program is research based, integrated in over 40 hospitals, taught in over 30 countries, and is endorsed by American and Canadian Holistic Nurses’ Associations.

Add this life-changing gift to your skills to help others as you deepen your personal and professional growth. The course offers 16 continuing education contact hours for nurses and massage therapists.  Healing Touch Program is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s COA.

This course will be taught by Ellie Stewart, MHPE, HTCP, ACM, CCA.  Stewart has more than 30 years’ experience in healthcare, including 18 years as director of Cardiothoracic Surgery, where she oversaw the medical practice, residency education, and clinical education initiatives for all faculty and staff at a major teaching hospital in Chicago.

Cost is $525. To register, call (815) 455-8588 and reference course ID: UHL U17-001 or register online at www.mchenry.edu/myMCC and select “Register for Workforce and Community Development Classes.”

For more information, contact Ruth Kormanak at (815) 479-7879 or email her at rkormanak@mchenry.edu.

Pace Suburban Bus Service Expanded

McHenry County has partnered with Pace Suburban Bus and several communities to offer expanded dial-a-ride services in McHenry County starting on March 2, 2015.

The MCRide dial-a-ride transit service will be expanded to the following partner communities:

City of Harvard,

Village of Huntley,

City of Marengo,

Village of Johnsburg,

Village of Ringwood,

Grafton Township,

Marengo Township. 

The service is available to everyone, regardless of age, ability, or trip purpose for travel within and between the City of Crystal Lake, City of Harvard, City of Marengo, City of McHenry, City of Woodstock, Village of Huntley, Village of Johnsburg, Village of Lakewood, Village of Ringwood, and Marengo Township.

Seniors (60 years old and over) and individuals with a disability can also travel within and between locations in McHenry Township, Greenwood Township, Dorr Township, Grafton Township, and Nunda Township.

 All MCRide buses are fully wheelchair accessible.

MCRide is funded by Section 5310 federal transit grants administered by the Regional Transportation Authority and the Senior Services Grant Fund. There will be no changes in service hours or the cost of fares. For more information visit the MCRide page at www.McHenryCountyDOT.org or contact Kirsten Mellem, Transportation Planner at 815-334-4981.

Laptops For Student Veterans

McHenry County College (MCC) received a $5,000 grant from the AptarGroup Charitable Foundation for laptops for student veterans, which enables veterans who recently returned from service to pursue their college education and training with up-to-date technology. Certified student veterans taking six or more credit hours are eligible to receive a laptop.

“We’re thankful for the generous grant from the AptarGroup Charitable Foundation because it empowers student veterans to succeed with up-to-date technology,” said Loreen Keller, Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, who also serves as the Veterans’ Program Administrator at MCC.

“The AptarGroup Charitable Foundation has been a supporter of McHenry County College for many years. The MCC Student Veterans Laptop Grant program was a unique opportunity to support not only the college, but also our local veterans as they pursue their higher educational goals,” said Steve Hagge, Chairman of the AptarGroup Charitable Foundation Board.  

The Aptargroup Charitable Foundation grant mirrors the donation last fall to the MCC Student Veterans Laptop Program from the McHenry County Community Foundation.

Veterans who are thinking of returning to college and want their questions answered, may contact MCC’s Student Veterans Resource Center at (815) 479-7543.

Microsoft Excel Classes Offered By MCC

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool you can use to create and format spreadsheets, and analyze and share information to make more informed decisions. MCC is offering courses in both Excel 2010 and Excel 2013. Each version will be offered as a series for those who wish to take all levels of the class. If you take the series, you will save 15 percent on the cost of the three classes. Individual courses are $165 each, however, if you register for the series, the cost is only $420 for all three courses.

The following Excel courses are available:

Excel 2010 Series, course ID: NTC C05 006, Tuesdays/Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on February 23, March 2, March 30, April 6, April 27 and May 4.

To take these Excel 2010 classes individually, reference these course IDs:

• Excel 2010 Basic, course ID: NTC S42 008, Feb. 23 and Mar. 2, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Excel 2010 Intermediate, course ID: NTC S43 006, Mar. 30 and Apr. 6, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Excel 2010 Advanced, course ID: NTC S79 006, Apr. 27 and May 4, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
• Excel 2013 Series, course ID: NTC S25 004, Tuesdays/Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on February 17 and 19, March 9 and 16, and April 6 and 13.

To take these Excel 2013 classes individually, reference these course IDs:

• Excel 2013 Basic, course ID: NTC S44 005, June 10 and 12, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Excel 2013 Intermediate, course ID: NTC S45 004, June 24 and 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Excel 2013 Advanced, course ID: NTC S46 005, April 6 and 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

These programs are located at McHenry County College Shah Center, 4100 W. Shamrock Lane, McHenry. To register, call (815) 455-8588.  For course descriptions, skill level information, and to inquire about other scheduled dates for Excel, call the Shah Center at (815) 455-8593.