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Handbook For Local Leaders

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• NEA Mission Statement
• What Makes A Leader?
• Ten Steps to a Working Local
• Elections and Appointments
• Member Benefits
• Ways to Increase Membership
• Ideas! Ideas! Ideas!
• Conduct An Effective Meeting
• Committees
• Chapter Communications
• Planning Chapter Programs
• National Conference
• Awards
• Sample Constitution
• Sample Guide for Planning a Business Meeting Agenda
• Sample Letter of Welcome to Education Majors
• Parliamentary Procedure

Congratulations

You have chosen to take charge of your profession by becoming an active leader in your local NEA Student Program chapter.

The NEA Student Program (NEA-SP) is the largest and most influential student group for future educators. It was formed in 1982 by the NEA Board of Directors when Student NEA (SNEA) merged with the National Education Association (NEA). The Student Program aims at developing quality teachers prepared to deal with today's diverse student population and also to prepare informed leaders who will move themselves, the profession, and the Association forward.

The local chapter is the most important and critical level of all. It is here that you get to reap the benefits of being a Student Program member by receiving publications and attending meetings and workshops aimed at developing a professional educator. If the local chapter members do not see the benefits they are receiving at this level, it is almost impossible to motivate them to pursue other levels or positions.

Motivating, stimulating, and involving students who have 1001 other things going on is a tremendous task. This handbook is designed to help you as a local leader make your chapter and its members the best they can be. Take time to read this information and you will be able to operate with greater confidence and ease. Your local success will lead to state success, and state success will ensure national success! Enjoy what you do, and Good Luck!

"THE PURPOSE OF THIS ASSOCIATION SHALL BE TO DEVELOP IN PROSPECTIVE EDUCATORS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE EDUCATION PROFESSION, TO PROVIDE FOR A UNITED STUDENT VOICE IN MATTERS AFFECTING THEIR PROFESSION, TO INFLUENCE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH PROSPECTIVE EDUCATORS ARE PREPARED, TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS AND WELFARE OF STUDENTS PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN EDUCATION, TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS, AND TO STIMULATE THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS, STANDARDS, AND ATTITUDES.

From the NEAIS-NEA merger agreement

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NEA Mission Statement

TO FULFILL THE PROMISE OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION SHALL PROMOTE THE CAUSE OF QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ADVANCE THE PROFESSION OF EDUCATION; EXPAND THE RIGHTS AND FURTHER THE INTERESTS OF EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYEES; AND ADVOCATE HUMAN, CIVIL, AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS FOR ALL.

What Makes A Leader?

THE STUDENT PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING, ADVOCATES EFFECTIVELY AT ALL LEVELS FOR STUDENT MEMBERS, MONITORS NATIONAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT ITS MEMBERS, AND EDUCATES PREPROFESSIONALS TO THE VALUE OF NEA MEMBERSHIP.

IN ORDER to provide opportunities for professional development and leadership training, the NEA will:

• provide information to develop skills necessary to promote active participation in strengthening teacher education programs
  
  
• onduct NEA-sponsored leadership training to provide knowledge of the Association, its activities and operations at the local, state, and national levels
  
  
• provide opportunities for the interaction of student and active members in cooperative activities
  
  
• increase student visibility and participation at local, state, and national levels
  
  
• develop multicultural awareness

IN ORDER to advocate effectively at all levels for its members, the NEA will:

• foster implementation of the Student Program goals and objectives at the local, state, and nationtional levels
  
  
• promote the interaction of Student members with professional and retired members in cooperative activities at all levels
  
  
• voice student concerns

IN ORDER to monitor national issues that impact students, the NEA will:

• encourage Student members to be politically active
  
  
• accumulate and disseminate information that serves as a resource for its members
  
  
• monitor education reform

IN ORDER to educate the preprofessional to the value of NEA membership, the NEA will:

• provide a holistic view of NEA as a national organization, including its history and accomplishment
  
  
• encourage NEA membership as teachers
  
  
• develop the attitudes and promote the value of collective action
  
  
• develop awareness of member benefits and affiliate services

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Ten Steps to a Working Local

Step 1-Form Steering Committee

Find a group of students who share your ideas about the need to start a professional organization for education majors. Contacts may be friends, classmates, or other club members. This team needs to have enthusiasm, drive, and a commitment to make things happen. It is important that you know as much as possible about the NEA Student Program (NEA-SP) in advance so you may answer questions and deal with facts. Contact your state student organizer for help.

Step 2-Enlist the Support of Key People

Once you have a steering committee, enlist the support of some key people. Campus bureaucracy and protocol sometimes necessitates the involvement of certain people or groups in order to get a new organization off the ground. The college president, the dean of the college of education, dean of students, the student Government Association, and other student leaders are some people to contact to get things rolling.

Talk to college faculty, read the campus paper, and even attend other campus meetings to find out who can really help you. When you find out who you need to contact, make an appointment and go see them. Take a friend along. Find out about funding, facilities, campus recognition, and any other suggestions they may have. After the meeting, drop a thank you note to them and maybe try a follow-up later in the year.

Step 3-Select an Advisor

The most important step to ensure that the program you are starting will continue to exist is to find an advisor. An advisor provides an essential link between the organization and the college/university, offers guidance and expertise, uses his/her contacts to enable program growth, and ensures continuity.

You need an advisor with energy, enthusiasm, good student rapport, one who is willing to spend some time with the organization, who has a commitment to teacher education, and who is a member of the NEA. If a local advisor isn't a member of NEA, encourage him/her to apply for a subscriber's membership. Contact your state association for the information.

Step 4-Steering Committee Meeting

Now you are ready for the steering committee to meet. The group of students you contacted, your advisor, some of the key people you talked with, and, if possible, a State Association representative can now come together and discuss the opportunities available by having a NEA-SP chapter. An Association representative would be especially valuable at this stage to answer questions and give ideas and pointers from an association perspective.

At this meeting, you need to decide on your organizational plan and prepare for your first chapter meeting. You will need to provide a program, a publicity campaign, and refreshments for the chapter meeting. Brainstorm and discuss the nature and expected outcomes of having a Student Program chapter on campus.

Step 5-Chapter Meeting

Before this meeting takes place, there needs to be plenty of advance publicity. Remember, this is something new and will take some getting used to. Select a time and date that allows most to attend. Have an interesting, relevant, exciting topic and don't meet too long. Be sure to have NEA and your state Student Program brochures on hand along with membership forms.

Set the date for the next meeting. Then, pass around a sign-up sheet for the names and addresses of those present. Be sure to leave those in attendance with the thought that being a part of their NEA Student Program chapter will be a rewarding experience for them.

Step 6- Membership Collection Spot

After you have passed out the membership forms at the first chapter meeting, you will need to have a designated collection spot for the payment and forms. This spot should be well publicized, centrally located, open most of the time, and in a place where someone can keep an eye on it.

If someone has a form but no place to take it, they won't turn in the form. The sooner someone joins, the sooner they will begin to receive the publications and reap the benefits of membership.

Step 7-Personal Contact Follow-up

It is important at this early stage to contact those who attended the first chapter meeting and thank them for their interest and attendance. Make everyone feel important and needed. Use a personal note or a short phone call rather than a form letter.

Use the list you passed around at the first meeting to contact everyone, and while you're talking to the potential members, remind them of the next meeting. Ask them what they thought about the program and what can be improved. Involve members at an early stage. This early follow-up is a good way to do that.

Step 8-Continue Membership Promotion

Although fall and spring are the "peak seasons" for membership recruitment, MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT SHOULD OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. Membership should be mentioned at each meeting, and efforts to attract new members should be constant. Go to education classrooms, send letters to education majors, put an ad in the campus paper. Any type of visibility is good. Your state and national programs can help you with ideas and materials. Use them!

Step 9-Continue Membership Promotion

After the initial meeting, your steering committee, advisor, and an Association representative need to get together to evaluate the first meeting.

Decide what worked, what didn't,and why. Set up a committee structure. Decide what officers are needed and prepare for an election. Propose local dues and prepare a constitution for adoption. Assistance with Constitution development is also available from your state office. (See Appendix F for addresses and phone numbers and Appendix A for a sample Constitution.)

Step 10-Plan Year's Activities

Your elected leaders, committee chairs, and your advisor then should plan your program for the remainder of the year. Set membership goals, plan a membership drive, identify possible programs, set meeting dates, plan for state activities, plan for national activities, and develop a budget.

Remember to always work within your potential and set realistic goals. Be willing to ask for help and use your state officers and advisors because they are there to help you.

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National Student Representation - Elections and Appointments

On the national level, student members are represented through:

• an Advisory Committee of Student members composed of ten members appointed by the NEA president. This Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the NEA Board of Directors, deals with changes affecting the Student Program, and monitors the program's services and delivery system.
  
  
• nationally elected Student Chairperson working full time out of the NEA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. coordinates the activities of the Advisory Committee and works with members to provide NEA visibility on campuses and organize the future NEA active members.
  
  
• three students elected to the NEA Board of Directors, one of the governing bodies of the NEA. This board created the Student Program and presently deals with modifications of the program. The board is an all-inclusive decision-making body that deals with educational and Association issues.
  
  
• three students elected to the NEA Resolutions Committee. The Resolutions Committee is the body which develops position guidelines to direct NEA policy. From childcare to world peace, one will find a resolution stating NEA's position.
  
  
• membership on seven NEA standing committees and the Women's Caucus. These standing committees deal with special areas of vital concern to the NEA membership. The Committee on Professional Standards and Practice, Legislative, Women's Concerns, and Human and Civil Rights Committees are just some of the standing committees which deal with areas of specific concern and make recommendations to the NEA Board. These positions are also filled by presidential appointments.
  
  
• elected delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly. The NEA Representative Assembly is the largest democratic body in the world. It has the greatest power and can direct the NEA's resources in several areas, elect national officers and change the Association's constitution, resolutions, policies, and legislative agenda.

All of these positions are elected or appointed annually. You may wish to consider one of these positions yourself! Contact your state student organizer or your state student Chairperson/President for more information. (See Appendix F for addresses and phone numbers.)

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Membership

There are many benefits of being a part of the NEA Student Program, some more tangible than others, but all are true assets to your professional development.

Leadership training

Although it differs from state to state, many states will conduct leadership training for its student leaders. This training would include such things as communication skills, time management, group management skills, organizing ideas, newsletter publication, and many other things. Check with your state student organizer or consultant to find out how to get in on the action!

Professional workshops

Within your state, there are many people who are trained to do workshops. From stress management to interviewing skills and everything in between, one will find highly energetic, informed, and concerned individuals who would be happy to do a workshop on your campus. Call your state Education Association Policy and Professional Practice division, your UniServ director, or your state student organizer to find out what workshops are available.

Publications

The NEA Today, Tomorrow's Teachers, plus your state newsletter will all be available to you and your members. You may also want to consider starting your own local newsletter! People like to see their names in print!

Legal Services

Of course, the NEA provides $1 million in professional liability coverage and offers other legal services as well (such as will writing, consulting, etc.). You can find out more about the legal programs by requesting brochures from your state headquarters. (See Appendix F. p.36)

Technical Support and Assistance

If you've got a great idea but need some help to pull it off--maybe a great membership drive or local workshop--you've got a lot of resources available. First, work with the teacher local in your area. They are always glad to help out. Contact the regional UniServ director. They work on special projects all the time. Call your state president and ask for support. Open up and maintain communications with your state student organizer. Remember, if you don't ask, you never know what they might say!

Organizing Projects

Each year, NEA works with targeted states or institutions in organizing projects. Whether it is a rebate or specific action plan, resources are, in most cases, available to help you organize. (Please refer to the section of this book called "NEA-SP Activities" for specific activities.) States are always looking for new members. The Student Program truly is an investment in the future. Call the state headquarters to talk to your state student organizer to help in membership recruitment and program planning.

Materials

Fliers, calendars, handbooks, bookmarks, notebooks--so many things are available for member use. If you need materials, or a listing of what sort of things are available in your state, check with your state headquarters!

Member Benefits

You can receive various consumer guides, credit cards, access to Hertz programs, life insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, various financial programs, magazine subscriptions, and many other things through the Members Benefits office. Consult the Members Benefits brochure for more information. Or call their office at (301) 251-9600.

First Year Teacher-Student Dues Rebate

The first year you teach and join NEA you can apply for a rebate of $1 0, for each year you were a student member.

Legislation and Lobbying

Nationally and within your state, NEA is one of the most powerful lobbying organizations. Every day during the legislative session, you can be sure that Association representatives are suppporting pro-education legislation and working to defeat anti-education legislation. Your state association is very active in all matters concerning education reform and teacher certification. You can and should be a part of this process, and you need to involve others on your campus as well. Call your state government relations director or UniServ Director and ask how you can help!

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Ways to Increase Membership

Membership growth does not just happen. Members themselves must work to increase the number in their organization.

The membership year is September 1 through August 31. Plan a substantial year long membership drive that continues your campaign through the second semester. Your total state membership as of March 15 determines the number of student delegates your state is entitled to elect to represent you at the annual NEA Representative Assembly.

As you speak to fellow students about joining the NEA Student Program, here are a few Do's and Don'ts to keep in mind.

A few selling points specifically for the freshman, or sophomore student:

• You will get all your dues returned to you the first year you begin teaching. • Network with others in education.
  
  
• Learn more about your future profession.
  
  
• The NEA Student Program is made up of thousands of college students who are preparing to become teachers.
  
  
• Become a member of a professional organization.
  
  
• Your local is affiliated with the State Association and the NEA
  
  
• Your rights can be defended.
  
  
• If you are observing or tutoring in a class, NEA liability insurance protects you against legal charges. You are covered by this $1,000,000 liability insurance policy every time you work with students in any capacity as part of your preparation program.
  
  
• By joining the NEA Student Program, you are eligible for a number of members benefits/ discounts.
  
  
• You can have fun.
  
  
• The local chapter, made up of many friendly students, sponsors social activities throughout the year.
  
  
• You have the opportunity to attend workshops and gain professional experiences.
  
  
• The NEA Student Program offers its members many opportunities to get involved and earn local, state, or national recognition.

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