PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: In the education world, the word “stem” is tossed around so much you would think you were at a gardening seminar. STEM is shorthand for “science, technology, engineering, and mathematics” — all fields that are growing, providing lucrative jobs, and key to future American competitiveness.

That America’s colleges and universities are not graduating enough students in these fields is one of the few problems that everyone in Congress and the White House agree upon.

As I write this article, I am a struggling STEM student. I am currently taking Quantitative Statistics Analysis to satisfy requirements for my MBA degree. I will tell you math is not my best, nor favorite, subject. I struggle with it.

The first night of study, our instructor told us we were going to have to think for ourselves in his class. Furthermore, he told us not to expect quizzes and exams to be exactly like in-class examples — there would be no free lunches.

Eleven weeks later, I will tell you two things. First, he has been true to his world; his class is unapologetically difficult. Second, I really enjoy being challenged by a professor that is willing to work hard to help his students learn.

One of the things that I have heard longtime professors say over and over again — those with 30 and 40 years in teaching graduate and undergraduate STEM subjects — is how much our educational system has degraded over the years. So much so that one professor told me he now teaches graduate students at a level below what he started out teaching undergraduate students 30 years ago.

The problem?

Kids and young adults do not have the basic foundational skills they need to think critically in tough subjects. That statement should alarm everyone, especially the leadership at our post-secondary schools.

While I do not have the answer on how to fix America’s overall educational problems, I do want to share an outstanding resource that can help you, or those that look to you for assistance, in complex courses such as advanced math, statistics, chemistry, biology and computer science.

It’s called Khan Academy, and it is an online resource that is absolutely free.

In 2004, Salman Khan began tutoring his cousin Nadia in mathematics using Yahoo!’s Doodle notepad. When other relatives and friends sought similar help, he decided it would be more practical to distribute the tutorials on YouTube.

Their popularity there and the testimonials of appreciative students prompted Khan to quit his job in finance as a hedge fund analyst and focus on the tutorials full time.

Today, if you visit www.khanacademy.org, you will find more than 2,700 video lessons on an impressive variety of subjects — all taught directly to you in the comfort of your own home by a MIT and Harvard graduate. Anyone — students, teachers, parents, tutors — can make use of the extensive video library, practice exercises, and assessments from any computer with access to the web.

You can even complete custom self-paced learning tools, access dynamic systems for getting help, and develop a custom profile with points and badges to measure progress.

Khan Academy continues to expand its course offerings into art, history, and the humanities through private grants and other assistance. They are also translating their courses into different languages. To date, more than 89 million users have taken advantage of what started out as a few YouTube video tutorials for close family members.

Sal states Khan Academy’s mission has the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education to anyone anywhere. I know it has helped this struggling student out on several occasions.

I invite you to make yourself familiar with this resource, too. Because of smart guys like Sal Khan, a superior education is just a click away.

UPCOMING EVENTS: The next Chamber Regional Breakfast is Dec. 14, 7:30 to 9 a.m., at the Inn at Brunswick Station, 4 Noble St., Brunswick. Curtis Picard, executive director of the Maine Merchants Association, will be talking about a recent survey done on Maine’s retail sector and upcoming legislative issues. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Reservations are required by calling 725-8797. The fee for the program and full buffet breakfast is $8/chamber member and $16/non-member. Thanks to Border Trust for sponsoring the event.

“How to Overcome Your Fear of Sales and Get More Clients NOW!” is the presentation at Mid Day Chambers, Dec. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free event includes networking, marketing your business and the presentation at the Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road, Topsham.

Dec. 15 is Chamber Holiday After Hours at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington St., Bath. The event is hosted and catered by Byrnes Irish Pub (Bath and Brunswick) and Admiral Steakhouse. Celebrate the holiday season in an environment that provides a rich, productive networking experience. To ensure maximum enjoyment and as a courtesy to the hosts, please register by going to the chamber website, www.midcoastmaine.com. SMMC’s Chamber After Hours are always free and business guests are welcome.

The Salvation Army (25 Congress Ave., Bath) invites all chamber members to their open house on Dec. 19, 5 to 7 p.m. Share holiday cheer, network with other business people and tour their facility. Learn about the Christmas Castle program that is available to families in need of assistance during Christmastime. See videos about the work of the Salvation Army in our region.

The chamber’s Annual Meeting and Dinner is Jan. 12, 4:30 to 8 p.m., at Thorne Dining Hall on the campus of Bowdoin College. The evening includes a member-to-member exhibition, networking and social hour, dinner and a short business meeting. Then sit back and enjoy Maine humorist Gary Crocker. Sponsors for the evening include Mid Coast Hospital and Comcast Business Class. Reserve by calling 725-8797 or go online to the chamber’s homepage www.midcoastmaine.com.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: The chamber welcomes the Activities Guide of Maine. If you and your friends and families are looking for good fun, go to http://activitymaine.com/.

The chamber proudly serves businesses in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.

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