WEA PHILOSOPHY
The WEA believes the recruitment, retention, and
engagement of members is the most vital component in strengthening local
affiliates of our organization. Membership
is essential to provide the human and financial resources to deliver
services for members of the WEA.
Further, WEA believes that all decisions made by the Association must be
sensitive to the impact on and the needs of its members.
A. STRENGTHENING AFFILIATES
1. The WEA believes with the commitment, engagement and dedication of its
membership, it can and will retain its strong influential voice for public education. Therefore, the WEA believes there should be a
functioning infrastructure within each local, including a local membership
committee to sustain and enhance membership.
Whenever possible, the Membership Chair should be someone other than the
current President.
2. The WEA believes increasing membership provides the momentum
for stronger advocate
locals.
3. The WEA believes the Association platforms, programs, and activities support
and enhance an effective membership.
4. The WEA believes a variety of programs should
be developed, enhanced, and maintained to promote membership growth in the Association.
5. The WEA believes membership materials designed
to promote the association and attract new members should be
developed for use at the local level for all potential members.
6. The WEA believes it is essential to increase voluntary
contributions to political action at all levels. In order to achieve legislative support
for programs designed to improve public education through political arenas,
locals should be encouraged to provide information to members during membership
campaigns about the opportunity to contribute to The NEA Fund for Children and
Public Education and WEA PACE.
B. MEMBERSHIP ENHANCEMENT
1. The WEA believes
member benefits that enhance membership recruitment, retention and engagement should be actively pursued.
2. The WEA believes
the sale and use of items that promote WEA enhances our role as advocates for
education.
1. A larger membership base for WEA will increase our capacity to promote the causes of public education, our students, and public school employees.
The WEA membership recruitment, retention, and engagement plan will include the following components:
a. a goal of
5% annual increase in market share for each constituency group;
b. a focus on stewardship emphasizing effective communication and relationship building;
c. statewide
and regionally based
membership seminars designed to increase a local’s capacity to recruit, retain, and engage members;
d. ongoing assessment of the needs and wishes of new and continuing members;
and
e. WEA
membership resources to support the successful
implementation of new plans.
2. Additionally, the WEA Membership Committee
encourages every local to
develop a membership plan, in consultation with the WEA UniServ
Directors and the Membership Chairperson
to include:
a. a
training component focused on recruiting,
retaining and engaging members;
b. an
assessment of the local membership recruitment plan, including revisions where
appropriate;
c. a
plan for contacting every potential member; and
d. a goal of at least 5% annual increase
in market share for each constituency group.
With that goal in mind, every local Association is encouraged to:
a.
have at least one trained Membership Chairperson who shall oversee the implementation of the
membership plan and;
b. establish a membership committee.
3. Membership awards
will recognize
accomplishments and promote
excellence.
4. It is imperative the WEA and affiliates be a positive, visible presence in school district new employee activities. In work sites where there are no orientations for new employees, the local association is encouraged to host appropriate activities in conjunction with the WEA Membership Committee.