I would like you to ask yourself instead, "What can I do to make our association/union stronger?" Are we stronger with 60% of the teachers as members or are we stronger with 70% of the teachers as members? Wouldn't we be stronger if we all looked for ways to participate in the lobbying of our legislators than just read about how our UEA Lobby team is working on Capitol Hill? Can I say positive things about the association to my "non member" friend that would promote membership recruitment rather than wait for the building rep or Rick or Marlene or Mary to stop by and ask them to join? What can I do to help get elementary teachers more prep time? What can I do to improve working conditions? Building capacity in our membership means increased participation and as a result a stronger association. Do I have time to serve as a rep, join a committee, or run for an association office? Is just paying my dues enough? Only you can answer those questions.
Ogden Teachers Rally for Collective Bargaining
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Who Represents Me?
One of the benefits of association membership is the secure feeling that someone will be there to "represent" you in a situation when you feel your job or your profession is threatened. I wonder if the word "advocate" is a better term to use because in most cases we assist the member in knowing what rights they do have. Many times we ask "what can the WEA/OEA do for us? or What do my dues give me?
I would like you to ask yourself instead, "What can I do to make our association/union stronger?" Are we stronger with 60% of the teachers as members or are we stronger with 70% of the teachers as members? Wouldn't we be stronger if we all looked for ways to participate in the lobbying of our legislators than just read about how our UEA Lobby team is working on Capitol Hill? Can I say positive things about the association to my "non member" friend that would promote membership recruitment rather than wait for the building rep or Rick or Marlene or Mary to stop by and ask them to join? What can I do to help get elementary teachers more prep time? What can I do to improve working conditions? Building capacity in our membership means increased participation and as a result a stronger association. Do I have time to serve as a rep, join a committee, or run for an association office? Is just paying my dues enough? Only you can answer those questions.
I would like you to ask yourself instead, "What can I do to make our association/union stronger?" Are we stronger with 60% of the teachers as members or are we stronger with 70% of the teachers as members? Wouldn't we be stronger if we all looked for ways to participate in the lobbying of our legislators than just read about how our UEA Lobby team is working on Capitol Hill? Can I say positive things about the association to my "non member" friend that would promote membership recruitment rather than wait for the building rep or Rick or Marlene or Mary to stop by and ask them to join? What can I do to help get elementary teachers more prep time? What can I do to improve working conditions? Building capacity in our membership means increased participation and as a result a stronger association. Do I have time to serve as a rep, join a committee, or run for an association office? Is just paying my dues enough? Only you can answer those questions.
