Transcript Building a Strong Local - Illinois Education Association

BUILDING A STRONG LOCAL
New Presidents Training
July 31, 2009
What’s in a strong local?
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Infrastructure
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Multi-dimensional program
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Collective leadership team
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Interacts with other locals
Strong Infrastructure
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The Association representative
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Ratio of ARs to members: 1:10
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At least one AR per building
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The job must be reasonable and manageable
Strong Infrastructure
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The Association Representative should:
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Be trained
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Have a budget
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Be given recognition
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Be equipped with a calendar of events
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Have access to committee activities
Strong Infrastructure
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The Association Representative Job:
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Work with designated members to keep them
informed/get their input
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Deliver members for jobs and activities in the
local
Strong Infrastructure
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The Association Representative Job:
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Assist members with problems
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Establish a working relationship with
administration
Strong Infrastructure
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Communicators
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1 for every 3 -5 members
Strong Infrastructure
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Communicators Role:
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Distributes materials and messages for the ARs
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Retrieves materials from members
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Reminds members of upcoming events
Strong Infrastructure
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Why use communicators?
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Provides direct personal service to members
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Relieves AR from doing the task
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Gets people involved
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Fosters new leaders
Strong Infrastructure
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Association Specialists
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Members with specific skills and responsibilities
who are trained to assist members in those areas
Strong Infrastructure
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Association Specialists
Bargaining
 Grievance
 Political Action
 Insurance
 Social functions
 Public Relations (internal and external)
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Strong Infrastructure
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Involvement
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No involvement = no ownership
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No ownership = no commitment or loyalty
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No commitment or loyalty = no strength and no
power
Strong Infrastructure
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Involvement is characterized by:
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Jobs that are needed and seen as important
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Involvement of as many members as possible
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A belief in the local that every member must be
involved in some way
Strong Infrastructure
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Involvement is characterized by:
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Recognition of involvement is demonstrated
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Leaders involve minorities
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Leaders involve members with special interests
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Leaders reach out to members who have never
been asked to be involved.
Strong Infrastructure
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“Right person for the right job” concept
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What is the position that needs filled?
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What are the responsibilities?
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What are the time requirements?
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What kind of personality would work best?
Strong Infrastructure
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“Right person for the right job” concept
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Who are the potential “right people?”
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How do you get the right person to say yes?
Multi-Dimensional Program
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Local program must reflect diverse needs and
interests of members and Association.

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Consider State and National issues in program.
Members must be involved in developing the
Association program.
Multi-Dimensional Program
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Leaders development of survey/timeline
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Every member survey
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Preparing the tentative program
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Program of the members
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Implementation and communications
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Evaluating for future planning
Collective Leadership Team
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Leadership team includes officers, ARs,
committee chairs
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Team implements and monitors multidimensional program
Collective Leadership Team
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Allows the organization to develop
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Stays in constant communication with
membership
Interaction with other locals
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Locals who network with other locals expand
their base of information and influence.
Presidents’ meetings
 Bargaining roundtables
 Training sessions
 Region Council meetings
 Social activities
 Political activities
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Other components of a strong
local
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Tools to diagnose and analyze your local
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Analyze your local’s strength
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Analyze individual buildings or work sites
Other components of a strong
local
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Use One-on-One meetings to:
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Gather members’ opinions and information
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Demonstrate the local’s interest in what members
believe
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Develop member ownership in the local
Committees
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The president, or his/her designee, should
make personal, face-to-face invitations to
committee appointments.
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Make sure prospective committee members
know what their task is so they know when it
will be completed.
Committees
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Standing committees should have staggering
terms for continuity.
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A president with a highly functioning
committee structure will be a successful
president.
Committees
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Standing Committees:
Executive
 Membership
 Negotiations
 Grievance
 Communication
 Elections
 Political Action
 Constitution and Bylaws
 Social
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Committees
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Ad Hoc Committees:
Insurance
 Budget
 Scholarship
 Professional Development
 Others
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Membership Recruitment
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The membership drive doesn’t end once a
new member has joined the Association.
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A successful organization provides sufficient
activities to maintain member interest.
Membership Recruitment
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Maintain several active committees to work
for the members, and staff them with
different people.
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Member involvement creates ownership of the
Association.
Membership Recruitment
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Provide training to the membership that is
relative to their jobs and job security.
Grievance Procedure
 Just Cause
 Sick Leave
 Vacation
 Insurance
 Professional Development
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Membership Recruitment
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Provide training to the membership that is
relative to their rights under the law.
TRS
 IMRF
 SURS
 FMLA
 CDL
 IELRA
 Wage Payment Act
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Membership Recruitment
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Provide training to the membership that is
relative to Organizational Development.
Communications
 Officer Training
 Association or Building Representative Training
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Membership Recruitment
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Schedule activities for fun and business.
Executive Board meetings
 General Membership meetings
 Welcome to the New Work Year party
 Thank Goodness It’s Friday parties
 Thanksgiving or other holiday party
 Member Appreciation Dinner
 Year Ending party/Spring Fling
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Membership Recruitment
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Develop organization assessment plans:
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Formal Assessment Plan – taken once a year
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Informal Assessment Plan – done sporadically
throughout the year
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General Assessment Plan – done by the Executive
Committee
Roles of the Officers
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Each officer should have specific duties and
roles.
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Incoming officers should be trained on their
roles and responsibilities.
Roles of the President
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The President has the primary responsibility
to make the Association work.
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The President must seek volunteers.
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The President is the supreme advocate for
members and for employees of the
bargaining unit.
Roles of the President
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The President must create a relationship with
employees, administrators, the Board of
Education and the public.
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The President is the coordinator and leader;
he/she should NOT attempt to do all of the
work alone!
President Do’s
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Be accessible to members
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Be inclusive of all members
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Be humble
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Be the chief advocate for your members
President Do’s
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Encourage all groups to participate in
Association activities
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Provide training
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Promote membership
President Don'ts
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Be on a power trip
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Procrastinate
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Limit member involvement
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Do everything yourself
President Don'ts
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Allow yourself to be manipulated
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Let personal problems interfere with your
advocacy
Roles of the Vice-President
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The vice-president is more than just a standin or possible successor for the president.
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Specific duties will vary from local to local.
Roles of the Vice-President
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Some locals give the vice-president primary
responsibility for membership promotion and
for chairing the membership committee.
Roles of the Secretary
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Accuracy and follow-through are the two
most important characteristics of a good
secretary.
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The role of the secretary is indispensable;
sadly, this is often not recognized by the
general membership.
Roles of the Treasurer
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A good treasurer has many more duties other
than to handle the money and keep accounts.
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Responsibilities of the Treasurer grow and the
members realize the advantages of adequate
finances and planned budgets.
Local Elections
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Each local must hold elections for local
officers.
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Some by-laws also call for the election of the
bargaining team.
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Elections must be held in accordance with
local by-laws.
Local Elections
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The role your UniServ Director may play in
local elections is very limited.
Association Dues
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Member’s dues include dues for the National
Education Association (NEA), the Illinois
Education Association (IEA) and local dues.
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IEA dues are set at the IEA RA.
Association Dues
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Local dues should include $3 per member per
year that is earmarked for arbitration
expenses. (Required if local ever needs to
receive arbitration reimbursement from IEA.)
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Locals should base their dues on local
projects, trainings and other expenses they
expect during the school year.
Association Dues
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Creating the local calendar and local program
before building the budget will allow the local
to adequately budget for all activities.