Work Comp Workshop for Certified Workers' Compensation Professionals

For 2008 the dates and locations will be:

The fee for this program is $745 and includes continental breakfast, lunch and materials.

For more information call (517) 432-2209.

This seminar is approved for 14 CWCP credits.

Overview

The program gives CWCPs an opportunity to meet half of their continuing education requirements (14 credits) in a way that is fun and practical. It emphasizes mutual problem-solving by the attendees and is unique in several ways:

• It is only open to CWCPs.

• As part of the registration process, you will be required to submit a topic for discussion.

• We will spend most of our time discussing these topics.

You frequently tell us that the greatest strength of our programs is the networking and the interaction. This workshop harnesses that strength. It creates a forum where we can share our knowledge and experience to deal with troublesome issues in workers' compensation.

Topics

Attendees at these programs are expected to share an issue or problem you face in dealing with workers’ compensation that the instructor or your colleagues could help you with during this workshop and/or tell us one successful idea you have used which you would be willing to share with your colleagues. After your register, please email your topic to ewwc@msu.edu.

FAQs

Who will be the instructor at the Workshops in 2008?

Ed Welch is scheduled to be the discussion leader in Orlando and Ann Clayton is scheduled to be the discussion leader in East Lansing.

Will there be any presentations by an instructor?

The instructor may make one or two presentations but his or her main role will be to lead the discussions based on the topics you have submitted.

Will this be a small seminar like the Certification Program or a larger conference like the Follow-Up Program?

We will limit attendance to about 30 people.

Can I come without submitting a discussion topic?

No.

What do you mean by a “discussion topic”?

We mean something the group can talk about for 30 minutes to one hour. We would suggest the following:

• We expect that most people will submit a question or problem they have encountered in real life and ask the group to discuss how to handle it.
• If you have a new plan or program you are developing and would like feedback, that would be an especially good topic.
• If you have something that has worked out very well and you want to tell us about it, that is a possibility; but it should be something especially interesting that will be helpful to others.
• In our Certification Program we use a number of group exercises. We are always looking for new ideas. If you develop an exercise that would be useful, send it as your topic and we will review it.

Can I submit as a topic a single claim that I am having trouble dealing with?

You can, but it may not be the best approach. If it raises multiple issues that other people may encounter, then it is more likely to be interesting.

How detailed does the description of my topic have to be?

Please send us all the information that we would need to distribute to the attendees for the discussion.

Can I be sure my topic will be discussed?

In the past we have gotten to all the questions that were submitted. Sometimes we combine several similar questions into a single discussion.

How does this differ from the Follow-Up Program you offer for CWCPs in East Lansing each spring?

This Workshop will be limited to 30 people; the Follow-Up is usually a larger group. At the Follow-Up, we discuss problems that people submit, but there are also many presentations by instructors. Here the emphasis will be on discussions of problems submitted by you. The Follow-Up Program will be held in East Lansing on June 26 & 27, 2008.

Can I attend both this Workshop and the Follow-Up Program?

Yes, but there may be some overlap. If we have new presentations on current topics, we may offer them at both programs. We may “steal” some discussion topics from the Workshop and use them at the Follow-Up Program.

What past attendees have said

"I attend and present at a number of industry-related conferences and none of them have been as valuable as the two days I have spent at the workshop."

"Keep doing whatever you are doing. I have been coming to the workshop every year and it has been great."

"I love this class. I'm proud to be a CWCP."

Leader

Edward M. Welch

Edward Welch is director of the Workers' Compensation Center for the School of Labor & Industrial Relations at Michigan State University. From 1991 to 1999 he was editor of the newsletter, On Workers' Compensation. He was director of the Michigan Bureau of Workers' Disability Compensation from 1985 through 1990. Prior to that, he was a claimants attorney in Muskegon and Battle Creek, Michigan.

Registration

To Enroll, fill out a registration form and send to the WCC. There are several ways to submit the form to us.

In the past this course has filled up quickly. You are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

You must also send in a topic form for this seminar. Please email your topic to ewwc@msu.edu.

Seminar Fee

The seminar fee, $745 for each participant, includes continental breakfast, lunch, materials, and parking. Payment need not accompany registration but is due by the seminar date. Government purchase orders will be accepted in lieu of advance payment. MSU's federal ID# is 38-6005984.

An invoice/confirmation letter and a map will be sent to each registrant. Dress is business casual. Please, no audio or video recording.

Accommodations for Disabilities

Accommodations for people with disabilities or special dietary needs may be requested by calling the Workers' Compensation Center at (517) 432-2209. We will do all we can to accommodate you. It would be especially helpful if you would call us at least three weeks before the program.

Cancellation Policy 

• 14 days or more prior to seminar: full refund
• Less than 14 days: $150 cancellation fee
• Failure to attend without cancelling: no refund

MSU reserves the right to cancel programs when enrollment criteria are not met or when conditions beyond its control intervene. Seminar fees are refunded but additional costs incurred are the responsibility of registrants.

Questions

If you have questions that are not answered here, please call the registrar at (517) 432-2209.