A Word From John Ratzenberger... |
|
||
"From Franklin to Edison to Carver to Ford, all great inventors have shared one thing in common: as children, they had all been inveterate tinkerers. They fiddled with things, took them apart, put them back together, wondered how everything fit together — and tried to make something new out of what they'd learned by doing." Read more... |
Welcome.
Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation and the FMA Foundation have joined forces and are now Nuts, Bolts & ThingamajigsSM, The Foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. We invite you to join us in inspiring the next generation of tinkerers and the innovators of tomorrow's workforce. We welcome your feedback on the new site.
NBT efforts capture media attention
During his recent visit to Rockford to film a video on NBT's manufacturing summer camps and scholarships, John Ratzenberger was interviewed by local newspaper Rockford Register Star on how Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs introduces youth to the technical trades. View the video.
Gifting to Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs is now quick and easy
Simply Text 123 to 90999 to Make a $5 Donation
Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs, The Foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (NBT), has launched a text-to-give program that lets you donate to the organization by simply texting "123" to the number "90999" from your cell phone. Do so and you'll be prompted to confirm your gift by replying with the word YES—then you'll receive a confirmation. What could be easier? Your message generates a five-dollar donation that gets charged directly to your cell phone bill. Read more...
 |
| Mythbusters star Grant Imahara teaches "safety for dummies" in FMA's instructional video for FIRST Robotics students. |
"Robotics rock star" busts some myths
about kids and technology
On Nov. 8, FMA and UL Laboratories coordinated the making of an instructional safety video that will be seen by many of the 42,000 high school students who are participating in FIRST Robotics programs nationwide. The video features Grant Imahara of Mythbusters TV series fame. FMA Director of Education Jim Warren was on hand to interview Grant on the noisy set about robots, the value of tinkering, and more.
Watch the official FIRST Robotics safety video— featuring Blair and Mark, your favorite emcees from the FIRST Robotics Competition—with a special offer for FIRST Robotics teams!
Girls get S.M.A.R.T. at Ulster BOCES —
It's a little after nine on Monday morning, and instructor Mark Harris is warming up his audience — 23 teenage girls — with a go-round.
"How'd you come to be here?" he asks each one.
It's a reasonable question. While their peers sleep in or perhaps prepare for a trip to the mall or the pool, these young women are inside a flourescent-lit tech classroom at the BOCES facility in Port Ewen, prepared to devote a week of their summer vacation to learning. More.
FMA has been recognized with an Award of Excellence
through the Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards program, for NBT's summer manufacturing camps for youth. Through NBT grants, middle-schoolers at 26 camps across the country this summer will be introduced to the joys of tinkering. The camps offer hands-on projects involving welding, metal fabricating, robotics, lasers, and other processes. The AAA Awards, sponsored by American Society of Association Executives and The Center for Association Leadership, recognize associations that improve the quality of life in America with innovative programs in education, skills training, standard setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation, citizenship and community service.
PACCAR Foundation Contributes Grant to NBT
We're pleased to announce that the PACCAR Foundation, a private foundation established in 1951, has contributed a $10,000 grant to NBT. A multinational technology company, PACCAR manufactures premium commercial vehicles sold around the world under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates.
"This grant from PACCAR will allow us to run two additional manufacturing camps in Rockford, Ill., where PACCAR has one of their distribution facilities, and we are thrilled to have their support," said Terrence Egan, director of NBT. "With the help of PACCAR we can continue to strengthen the future work force in the manufacturing industry."
The balance of the PACCAR Foundation's grants are reserved for capital campaigns involving acquisition or improvement of facilities used for social and health services, education and cultural affairs.
Traditional Scholarships
Application deadline is April 3, 2009 for a NBT scholarship of up to $5,000 per school year for members, $2,500 for nonnmembers. Applications for members-only trade school scholarships of up to $2,000 are accepted throughout the year. Details here.
