Happy Halloween from The Butler Blues Sisters

The Butler Blues Sisters (Butler President and Vice President) Wishing Butler a Happy Halloween!

It's Great To Be A Part Of Butler!

It's That Time of Year - SEMA & NACE

It’s that time of year again. You car enthusiast know what time that is…that’s right, time for SEMA and NACE in Las Vegas. Only a few more days and I’m getting excited.
I attend NACE to get the training that I need as required by NATEF. All schools that are NATEF Accredited must have ASE certified instructors. They are also required to maintain a minimum of 20 hours of training each year to stay up-to-date with what is going on in the industry.

It’s not all about training! This also gives us the opportunity to network with leaders in the industry, which also keeps us on track with our curriculum. The expiations of the industry are important to me and I try to incorporate that into our program. This year, Rachel Fonseca and I will be videoing a few interviews with leaders in the industry, hot cars, and hopefully a few celebrities. The Collision Hub will edit the videos and add them to CollisionHub.com on a daily basis. So to get the latest news and updates from SEMA and NACE, be sure to visit the http://www.collisionhub.com/.

If you’re going to be there, please let me know. I would like to have the chance to meet with you.

Talk to you soon,
Donnie Smith

BCC Students Demonstrate How To Replace Gas and Wire on MIG

Each student is required to Disassemble and Re-Assemble GMA (MIG) Welder's, And Oxyacetylene equipment. The students are also exposed on how to troubleshoot and fix potential problems which may occur with everyday use.

Here Me, and Douglas "Chicago" Change the gas and wire on a GMA (MIG) Welder.


~Samuel

Students Demonstrate How To Paint and Blend

Below are a few videos of students demonstrating how to paint.

Brandyn demonstrated how to repair and paint a bumper cover. He will blend within a panel to provide a good color match for the vehicle.

ide a good color match for the vehicle.

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BCC Students are repairing, painting and blending on a s-10 pick-up. Black is normally an easy color to match, but were practicing blending methods. On this job we performed a traditional blend on the adjacent panel and a traditional blend within a panel on the right front fender.

Check Back To Stay Updated With What Is Going On At BCRN

First Year Students Welding Progress

As we come into the last two weeks of our welding class most of the students have already passed several of the tests. We have already learned how to set up and operate GMA MIG and Oxyacetylene equipment. The following are the welds we will be tested in; plug welds, lap joint, and butt joint welds all done in the flat, vertical, and overhead positions. In the last two weeks students are expected to pass all tests and will have a good knowledge of welding and the welding equipment.



~Samuel

Challenges Produce Champions

The Challenge

The challenge is not just to enroll into the exciting collision repair technology programs, which offer a rewarding, lucrative and challenging career, but to enroll with the intentions of learning and applying what you learn to become a top performer in the automotive industry. I read a quote by Laurence J. Peter that makes a lot of sense to me. “Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to the garage makes you a car.” The same stands true for education. Simply knowing how to do something is useless if you’re not willing to use what you know to do it. Another example is like looking at a road map. You can look, read and study a map all day or even all year on how to travel from here to Texas. You may discover all the alternate routes you could travel, but unless you get into your car and drive there, you are still here in Kansas. Just knowing the information will not get you there, just like reading the Atkins Diet book will not make you loose weight. You must apply what you learn to reap the benefits.

The challenge is to enroll in this class, have an interest in automotive or collision repair technology, have good attendance, have a good attitude, be a team player, and be willing to learn and apply what you learn in order to become the champion of your trade. You may be saying “Yeah right!” Well, if that’s your attitude that is what will always separate you from the doers, leaders and champions. The world is full of half doers and slackers. When they see a challenge they turn the other way and run. They show up to class just to receive the minimum grade to slide through or go to work just to receive a paycheck. However, top performers have a different mindset. They understand all the efforts they apply will reward them for the rest of their life. They are willing to stay focused on a goal until they have reached it. They fight hard for what they believe in, but pick their battles wisely. They see limitations and obstacles as challenges to overcome, not excuses to fail. They get back up when knocked down, instead of claiming that the challenge at hand can’t be done. They base their future goals on what can be done, instead of focusing on their past failures. And they’re always willing to help others up instead of laughing at them while they’re down. These are the individuals who will be at the top of their careers, with the successful jobs, earning a lot of money, and having enough income to do all the things they desire.

According to I-Car the national average income for a collision technician earns over $51,000 and the top 10 % of technicians make over $88,000 a year. Many technicians even decide to start and operate their own successful business leaving the earning potential unlimited. Are you going to be successful or are you someone that will scrape by to make ends meet? The choice is yours. The things and values you consider success are up to you. Your teachers, parents, or friends can’t make these choices for you. It’s all up to you. If you’re a slacker you can change. If you were not an honor student in school, you can improve and still become successful. If you have limitations you can overcome them. However, no one can help you if you are not willing to let them. If you’re not willing to learn, to work hard, to complete assigned tasks, to help others, be present and on time, or to stay up with the fast paced changes and challenges of technology, than this class is not a good fit for you. This class will be a waste of your time and a waste of our time. You may need to consider another career that does not require the physical application and challenges this industry requires. However, if you are willing to enroll in this career with the mindset of a champion, then we dare you to take the ultimate challenge that collision repair technology has to offer you.

~Donnie Smith

Dare to take the challenge!
"Challenges Produce Champions"