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OEA Governance Documents

Community Outreach

Why Participate in a Community Outreach Program?

Your local association is a vital part of any community. Whether you live in a rural area, a small community or a large city, people are interested in the activities of people who have an impact on their lives and on the lives of their family or friends. As members of the United Education Profession, you and your local association play a vital role in shaping the lives of your area’s children and young adults. Study the flyer titled “Messages on Community Involvement” for additional rationale on why your local association should be involved in a community outreach program.

Many local associations have a communications program in place. Along with the internal communications that should be a part of every local association’s activities, you should also include a public relations (PR) program aimed at the community. If you do not have a PR program currently in place in your local association, this may be an excellent time to start one! All it takes is a little time, effort and money.

There are a number of ways your local association can reach out to the community:

  • Community Newsletter
  • Brochures on Education Topics for parents and/or community members
  • Participation in Community Events, Service Groups, Economic Development Groups or other local groups

Samples of these are included in the start-up manual titled, “Developing a Community Outreach Program”.

If you would like more help in putting together a Community Outreach Program, contact your OEA Labor Relations Consultant.

Whatever method you use, your goal is to reach parent, community leaders, and other who are viewed as the “movers and shakers” in your area so as to promote great public schools for every child.

Some Month-by-Month Ideas for Internal and External Communications

  • Update/compile your local news media contact list, including deadlines, names, fax/phone numbers. Get to know the reporters.
  • Prepare a back-to-school news release.
  • Talk with local broadcasters about producing back-to-school public service announcements.
  • Publish your first newsletter featuring back-to-school tips.
  • Get together with the membership committee. Sponsor a welcome activity for new employees with a “welcome back!” for returning members…
September
  • Begin developing plans for observing American Education Week (in November).
  • Create a speakers’ bureau and showcase the expertise of your members. Contact local civic and service organizations and offer to have speakers available for meetings.
  • Set up a telephone tree for members.
  • Sponsor “breakfast with your bus driver”—host breakfast for a different group each week to allow children, parents, and the bus driver (or teacher or school secretary) to get to know each other as family.
  • On the 25th day of the school year, give silver-wrapped candy kisses and a Happy 25th card to school staff.
October
  • Sponsor an activity around Fire Community Protection Week.
  • Use reflective Halloween bags for students.
  • Sponsor an “I’m a Member” day to promote membership.
  • Finalize your American Education Week plans. Think about holding classes at a local mall or business, a “teacher for a day” program, an event to encourage community members to come into the classroom.
  • Publish a list of Halloween safety tips. Use them in PSAs, news releases, and memos to parents.
  • When are parent-teacher conferences? When do first report cards come out? Use these events as a reason for PSAs, news releases, and guest editorials.
November
  • Sponsor an activity around Child Safety and Protection Month, Hunger Awareness Month, National Diabetes Month, etc.
  • Observe American Education Week. Get news and the business community involved in your local activities.
  • Sponsor a night to honor support personnel.
  • Plan a potluck Thanksgiving lunch or dinner for members.
  • Invite legislators to visit school for a day (maybe “teacher for a day”).
  • Organize/sponsor an “Eggs ‘n’ Issues” breakfast for legislative concerns.
December
  • Set up a holiday safety project.
  • Send holiday cards to media, legislators, school board members, administrators, and members.
  • Plan with other groups to provide toys, food for those in need.
  • Write a news release or PSA suggesting educational gifts for children.
January
  • January is Human Resources Month, March of Dimes Birth Defects Prevention Month, National Eye Health Care Month, National Volunteer Blood Donor Month. Plan an activity around any of these!
  • Plan a public library display around education in your community.
  • Plan a Teacher Fair at a local shopping center with displays from your schools.
  • Visit your local radio announcers/DJs, take them coffee and rolls when they go on the air early in the morning.
February
  • February is American Heart Month, American History Month, Black History Month, National Children’s Health Month, and more. Plan an article or activity around any of these.
  • Send a valentine to local members.
  • Sponsor a student essay on the meaning of a free public education system.
  • Report on the positive economic impact of public schools in the community.
  • Begin planning a “Teacher for a Day” program for National Teacher Day in May.

March

  • Begin plans for end-of-the-year honor program for retiring teachers. Consider buying NEA-Ohio membership for retirees.
  • Finalize plans for National Teacher Day.
  • Begin a dial-a-teacher or homework hotline program for parents to check their children’s homework assignments. This could be done with the help of the local library or telephone company.
  • Sponsor an activity to raise money for a student scholarship.

April

  • Send out thank-you notes to local legislators for their support of education issues (if they did).
  • Provide tips on retiring for retiring members.
  • Sponsor a recognition day for those who have contributed to school improvements.
  • Sponsor parent-teacher workshops on college admissions, financial aid, career opportunities, etc.
  • Sponsor an evening of the arts—form an alliance with local arts groups and sponsor an annual arts gala where the works of students and community artists are showcased for the community.
  • April is Alcohol Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, etc. Pick an issue and help make people aware.
May
  • Publish a news release, guest editorial, or PSA telling parents how they can help their kids learn during the summer.
  • Hold a sidewalk art show demonstrating student work.
  • Place a quiz on the school district in the local newspaper.
  • Consider an end-of-the-year bash for members.
  • Ask local business people to give discounts for National Teacher Day.
  • Sponsor an entertainment night for community members, school board members, and administrators.
  • May is American Lung Association Clean Air Campaign Month, National Arthritis Month, Safe Babies Month, and more. Pick a topic and plan an event!
  • Evaluate your year. How can you improve your communications plan next year?
  • Make sure the association has said “thank you” to association volunteers, etc.
June
  • Have a picnic!

 

Categories

Communications and Community Engagement
Leadership Tools and Documents
Local Leader
OEA Member

Local Chapter Development: Ten steps for organizing

Step One: Form a Steering Committee

What is a Steering Committee

A Steering Committee is a small group of people who share common interest and goals

Whom can I contact?

Friends, classmates, roommates, club members, people in your dorm.

How do I approach these people?

Ask questions like:

  • Have you heard of NEA Student Program?
  • What do you think of the NEA Student Curriculum?
  • Are you covered by insurance?
  • Do you know what certification requirements are for your state?

Follow with:

  • The Student Program helps _________________.
  • The Student Program is an advocate of ________.
  • The Student Program offers $1,000,000 liability insurance.
What do I need?

To know what the Student Program is and what it stands for.
To have literature available
To be committed

 

Step Two: Enlisting the Support of Key People

Who are the Key People?

President of the College, college deans, chancellors, committee chairpersons, Department chairpersons, other student leaders.

How do I find out who has the power?

Read the college governance documents.
Read minutes from meetings.
Read the campus newspaper.
Ask college faculty members
Consult with the former Advisor(s) if there was one (or more).

What do I do when I find them?

Make an appointment to see them.
Take someone with you to show support.
Explain what you are trying to do.
Ask about funding and facilities.
Ask about being a recognized campus organization.
Send them a thank you note.

 

Step Three: Select an Advisor

Is an advisor important?

Yes, they are the most important link between your organization and the college.

What do I look for in an advisor?

Someone who has a good rapport with the students, is willing to spend time with the organization, has a commitment to teacher education. Hopefully, the person is in the Education Department and is an NEA member.

What if no one on campus will do it?

Check the local schools for an NEA member. Be careful though, this may affect campus recognition. Another possibility is a retired teacher or professor in the area.

 

Step Four: Steering Committee

Who goes to the meeting?

Your Steering Committee advisor, and maybe some of the key people you contacted.

What do I do?

At this meeting, you are going to look at the remainder of your organizational plan and prepare for your first general meeting. Make assignments for the next meeting; be sure to include publicity, program and refreshments. Do not hesitate to contact your state association for help at this time.

 

Step Five: Chapter Meeting

What do I need to remember?

To prepare plenty of advance publicity
To select a time and date which allows the most people to attend
To have an interesting program
To keep the meeting as short as possible
To have NEA Student Program literature available
To have membership forms available
To leave participants with the thought that they should join because membership in a chapter is going to be a rewarding experience for them.
To set the date for the next meeting
To have a sign-in sheet so you have the address of everyone who attends 20

 

Step Six: Membership Collection

WHAT IS A MEMBERSHIP COLLECTION SPOT?
The membership collection spot is a place that is: centrally located on campus, open most of the time, and where someone can keep an eye on it.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
If someone has a membership form but does not know where to take it, they won’t turn it in.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO HAVE ONE?
Ask a secretary if they would do it.
Set up a ballot box arrangement.
See if the campus bookstore would collect them
Publicize the location of the membership collection spot.
You may even be able to have more than one.

 

Step Seven: Personal Contact Follow-Up & Membership Promotion

WHAT KIND OF CONTACT SHOULD I MAKE?
Some possibilities are: phone calls, post cards, letters, visits, and, of course e-mail.

WHAT DO I SAY?
Thank them for attending.
Remind them of the next meeting.
Ask if they have any suggestions.
Did they join; do they want to?
Do they know of anyone else who might be interested?
Would they like some literature to distribute?

HOW DO I KNOW WHOM TO CONTACT?
You should have a list from your first meeting. If not, ask people you know attended.

WHY A CONTINUED PROGRAM?
Membership promotion is a year-round task for your chapter. There are peak seasons for membership drives, fall and spring. The process, however, should never take a break. Always have promotion materials visible and readily available. You never know when someone will have the urge to join and you don’t want to be caught with your membership down!

WHERE DO I GET MY MATERIALS?
Contact your state student organizer to obtain membership brochures about both the national and state levels of the Student Program.

 

Step Eight: Steering Committee Second Meeting

WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS MEETING?
Three important tasks must be accomplished at this meeting:

  • Plan for second general meeting
  • Select a slate of officers
  • Evaluate what you have done so far.

WHAT DO WE NEED FOR THE GENERAL MEETING?
You need to:

  • Follow the same procedures as your first meeting.
  • Hold election for officers.
  • Propose local dues.
  • Establish any committees you may need.

WHAT OFFICERS DO WE NEED?
President, vice president, and secretary/treasurer

HOW DO WE EVALUATE?
Take a good look at your past activities.
Don’t be afraid to admit mistakes.
Take measures to correct them.

WHAT SHOULD I SUBMIT TO THE STATE ASSOCIATION?
You need to complete the affiliate application and submit it along with the appropriate documents (Constitution & bylaws etc. See Appendix for samples)

 

Step Nine: Plan Activities

WHO IS INVOLVED?
Your elected leaders, committee chairpersons and advisor.

WHAT TYPES OF THINGS DO WE PLAN?
Suggestions:

  • Set a membership goal
  • Plan the membership drive.
  • Identify program areas of concern.
  • Set tentative meeting dates
  • Plan for state activities.
  • Plan for national activities.
  • Develop a budget.

Remember:

  • To prevent problems by asking for help.
  • To set only those goals you can reach.
  • To be patient; growth takes time

 

Step Ten: Contact Local and State Associations

WHAT IS THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION?
Your local community school district will have a local education association, employees that are affiliated with the state and the national Association.

WHAT CAN THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION DO?
Local leaders and staff can give you advice and help you with your student local.
They can speak in classes or at your local meeting.
They can provide opportunities for student members to visit local classrooms and to attend teacher In-Service day.
They can also invite students to attend regular association or regional meetings.
They can help answer questions about building your chapter and about entering the teaching field.
Be wonderful contacts for you when you begin your job search.

WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT?
Call the Association President and /or UniServ.
If you are student teaching, ask to meet the Association representative in your building.

WHAT CAN THE STATE ASSOCIATION DO FOR YOU?
Arrange for members to speak at meetings.
Provide materials or other information.
Provide other speakers.
Provide statewide conferences.

Categories

Communications and Community Engagement
Leadership Tools and Documents
Local Leader
Membership
Student Member

Student Local Affiliate Guidelines

Student local “guidelines” should be adhered to as closely as possible.
Each student local should:

  1. Consist of no fewer than ten (10) members.
  2. Have a constitution consistent with the constitution of OEA. At least have a local president and officers, i.e., vice president, secretary, treasurer, etc., as needed.
  3. Conduct elections annually to elect local officers, by April 1 prior to the upcoming membership year.
  4. Meet locally a minimum of five (5) meetings annually.
  5. Be represented by a university faculty advisor or any OEA member. Said advisor should actively coordinate, communicate and participate in the activities of the organization, especially in the membership recruitment and organizational development activities of the local.
  6. Establish a local dues structure.
  7. Establish effective communication channels between local members, officers and advisor(s), and also between the local and state affiliate.
  8. Conduct membership drives each term with follow-up recruitment efforts, in order to maximize participation in the association’s annual activities.
  9. Adhere to the standards of the Code of Ethics of the United Education Profession.

Each student local is encouraged to:

  1. Conduct local fundraising activities to make the local functional.
  2. Send at least two representatives, with at least one being an underclass person, to the OSEA state conferences/training sessions.
  3. Invite state, regional and national elected OSEA/NEA-Student Program leaders and staff to meet with local and potential members to discuss the benefits of OSEA membership.

Categories

Leadership Tools and Documents
Local Leader
Student Member

Seven Steps to an Effective Chapter Web Site

Attracting and retaining Student Program members is crucial to NEA’s mission for advancing the education profession. NEA members who join as college students are more likely to remain active, committed members throughout their careers.

Today’s college students are technology savvy and turn to the Internet first for information. States with a strong Internet presence for their Student Programs are well positioned to attract new members.

State affiliate Web sites that are most effective in promoting their Student Program contain:

  • A prominent link to the Student Program in the main navigation
  • An overview of the Student Program (what it is)
  • Benefits of membership (why join, and what you get)
  • A way to join immediately (join now!)
  • State contact information
  • Local chapters and contacts
  • Calendar of events (state and local)
  • Resources
  • Job listings and/or a resume bank

1. Use Clean Design and Clear Navigation.

You don’t have to be a professional web designer to create an attractive Web site. There are many tools and templates available that you can easily customize for your chapter. Microsoft Word and Microsoft FrontPage both come with Web templates and wizards. In addition many Internet service and Web site hosting providers offer Web page creation tools and wizards. The most important things to remember are:

  • Use a light background and dark text color for easy readability.
  • Use clear, consistent navigation on every page.
  • Stay away from frames.

2. Focus on Providing Useful Information, Not Bells and Whistles.

Before you begin, decide who your audience is and what message you want to convey. Most likely, your audience will be prospective and current members but may also be members of the campus community and general public.

Be sure to include essential information, such as the name of your chapter, location/university, membership benefits and how to join, contact information (including e-mail), and your relationship to NEA and your state association. You may also want to include officers’ names and bios, guest speakers’ names and bios, and descriptions of ongoing programs.

Avoid using acronyms and jargon that only current members would understand, and make sure you double check for spelling, grammar, and bad links.

3. Keep it Fresh.

Try to update your Web site at least once a month. New information may include upcoming meetings, highlights of past meetings, community outreach activities, recent award or scholarship winners, newly elected officers, member of the month, education statistics, etc.

4. Assign Accountability.

For consistency, it’s a good idea to make one person or committee responsible for maintaining the chapter’s Web site. You may wish to make the Web site part of one officer’s duties. The Web site is a form of official public communication, so be sure to establish procedures for approving new content before it is posted. Also, outgoing webmasters or Web committee members should make sure their replacements have password access to all Web hosting accounts, e-mail list management, and HTML templates.

5. Connect the Dots.

Ask your university, State Association and the NEA Student Program to link to your site—and link back to them as well.

6. A Photo is Worth a Thousand Words.

“Action” photos showing members doing community service, a guest speaker giving a lecture, or a student teacher leading a class will have much more impact than photos of chapter members posing in front of the campus student center. Add a caption telling who’s in the photo and what they’re doing. Just make sure the photos load quickly for users with slower Internet connections.

7. Do Your Homework!

Before you begin, check out what other Student Program chapters are doing online, and take a look at the websites of other organizations on your campus.

Categories

Communications and Community Engagement
Leadership Tools and Documents
Local Leader
Student Member