Although coal mining tends to remain a man’s world, there are no gender barriers in the coalfields among people who stand in support of the industry that continues to impact nearly every aspect of life in the region.

The WV Mining Symposium is scheduled to begin on March 6 with the Environmental and Mine Health & Safety workshop taking the full day on Wednesday. The workshops will run concurrently. Below is a TENTATIVE PROGRAM and another registration form is attached.

The WV Business & Industry Council (WV-BIC) will hold their traditional weekly meetings during the Regular Legislative Session in the Governor’s Press Conference from 11-12:30 (with one exception) on the following dates: Feb. 28 -- March 7, 15 (noon instead of 11:00), 21, 28 – April 4 and 11. WVCA members are welcome to attend any of these meetings as we have been long-standing members of BIC.

CHARLESTON – Approximately 30 members of the House of Delegates took part this past Tuesday in the first meeting of the Legislative Coal Caucus – a bipartisan group of delegates who are either from coal-producing counties or who understand the importance of coal to our state’s economy. The event was hosted by the West Virginia Coal Association and Friends of Coal.

The group heard a presentation concerning the current state of coal in West Virginia and the nation as well as projections for the near- and mid-term future of the industry. The goal is to work together, across party aisles to craft legislation that will help West Virginia’s 63,000 coal mining families and our state’s most basic industry weather the current economic situation and set the stage for growth in the 21^st Century.

The next meeting of the WV Coal Caucus is scheduled for Monday, February 18.

CHARLESTON – The 2013 Regular Session of the West Virginia State Legislature convened for its opening day Wednesday, February 13. The session officially lasts from February 13 through April 13. The first real item on the agenda was the Governor’s State of the State Address, delivered that evening.

In his comments, Governor Tomblin outlined a broad, comprehensive agenda that includes education, public schools, inmate crowding and a challenging budget. He is also expected to discuss the steps the state will take to address the challenges faced by its primary industry – coal.