BFCL
Local Leader Tips
Tips from local leaders on
getting PACtive
As education employees, you are at the
mercy of elected officials, from your local
school board all the way to the White
House.
Every decision that impacts public school employees is made by an elected or appointed government official.
That’s why Political Action/PAC is one of the eight indicators for Building Full Capacity Locals. Getting politically involved by raising PAC funds to help the campaigns of candidates who are friends of public education is especially crucial as we approach Michigan’s general election on Nov. 7.
Local 1’s successful Fun Fest
President Mike LaBuhn and Armada EA President Jan Frappier
The Fun Fest is a long-standing political rally/picnic/get-together involving 16 Local 1 districts, the Utica EA, Warren EA and the support personnel units.
It’s patterned after an old-fashioned political rally of candidates meeting and greeting constituents, which in our case happen to be teachers and school employees.
Because it is so close to the beginning
of the school year, it also serves as an annual
kickoff and get-together with other
Macomb County teachers and school
employees.
Mike LaBuhn, Local 1 president and Jan Frappier, Armada EA president
Port Huron getting PAC’d
Port Huron EA President
Kathie Trongo
Our theme for this fall is Get PAC’d, Have U PAC’d? and then after our members make a contribution, they will receive an I PAC’d sticker.
This is a time of renewal in the Port Huron/MEA, and increasing PAC awareness and participation are high on the list for members to accomplish.
As president of the Port Huron EA, I hope to educate the membership on the importance of being politically active, how it relates to their lives as professionals and why it is SO important to contribute.
We hold our future in our hands, and we can make a difference in our lives and the lives of our students and school community by participating in MEA-PAC.
Members who contribute in Port Huron will have a chance to win a suitcase full of travel goodies, and every building can win a small travel bag as well.
Kathie Trongo, Port Huron EA president
Region 3 making an impact
Region 3 President Jovita Davis
Region 3 has begun to implement the Building Full Capacity Locals process this fall by stressing the importance of PAC on a region-wide basis.
We’ve invited candidates in November’s general election to our October meeting with the theme of “Behold the Power of Politics.”
Locals in our region are implementing various techniques for improving their PAC donations. The Ann Arbor EA has produced a DVD for PAC, Lenawee County has sold PAC wrist bands and Monroe County is holding PAC breakfasts.
Jovita Davis, Region 3 president
BFCL initiative offers 2006-07
training sessions
MEA’s Building Full Capacity Locals initiative
is conducting a variety of statewide
training sessions for local leaders in 2006-07.
Two have already taken place—Local
Leadership Team Training on Aug. 24 and
Election 2006: Motivating and Mobilizing
Members for Victory on Sept. 15.
The remaining valuable sessions include:
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Advocacy Training, Oct. 13 in Traverse
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ESP Leaders Training, Oct. 27 at MEA headquarters.
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Communications Day at MEA, Nov. 9 at MEA headquarters.
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New Delegate Orientation, Nov. 11 at the Fall Representative Assembly in Lansing.
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Developing High Performance Local Leader/Staff Teams, Jan. 11 at MEA headquarters.
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Brushing Up on Your Bargaining Skills, March 23 at MEA headquarters.
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Ladies Day at MEA, May 11 at MEA headquarters.
BFCL coordinator Teri Battaglieri anticipates
that more training sessions will be
added based on the requests and needs of
local leaders. For more information or to sign
up for a training session, contact Battaglieri
at tbattaglieri@mea.org or 800/292-1934.