Conference redefines ‘women’s work’ Workshops at Totally Trades introduce girls to nontraditional vocations

CALAIS – The fourth annual Totally Trades, a conference that introduces young women to nontraditional jobs, will be held again this year at the Washington County Community College.

The expo runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19.

The day provides an opportunity for young women to explore jobs that pay good wages and offer good career opportunities.

Last year, attendance at the expo doubled over the previous year from 120 students in 2005 to 222 from 20 Washington County schools in 2006.

“This event is for women of all ages interested in checking out different careers in the trades, and it is fun, free and hands-on,” the group said in its press release.

Registration will be held at 8:30 a.m. in the St. Croix Hall at the college.

This year’s emcee is Tess Ftorek who, along with her husband, operates an ecotourism business in Washington County. Workshops will include a gender equity workshop titled “Working Twice as Hard for Half the Pay,” an automotive session where participants learn what it takes to prepare a car to pass inspection and to winterize the vehicle, a blacksmith workshop where participants will make candleholders, a bridge construction workshop where participants design bridges, a carpentry session where participants build toolboxes, and fine cooking with a gourmet chef. Other session topics include crane operation, firefighting, graphic design, law enforcement and plumbing.

A free lunch and a fashion show of women in the trades will follow the morning workshop.

Then the Rosie the Riveter Award Ceremony will be held. The group announced that Margaret Tinker of Calais would be honored with the award for her work as a welder in South Boston in the 1940s.

There will be more workshops in the afternoon and a Middle Eastern dance demonstration.

Call 454-1045 to register.