working for you
Leadership training
Local Presidents Academy aims to engage, serve MEA members like you
Vandercook Lake EA President Lyman Robertson (left) and Manchester ESP President Steve Byrd are
participating in the 2008-09 Local Presidents Academy to stimulate member participation in their
locals. This marks Robertson’s second year in the academy.
Silvia Henry-Walton said participating in MEA’s inaugural Local Presidents Academy last year “was like eating an energy bar.”
“I learned more in the Local Presidents Academy than I have in 20 years as an MEA member,” said Henry-Walton, president of the Benton Harbor Secretarial Association.
“The training helped me understand what I need to do to become a more effective leader and to get more participation from members.”
In fact, Henry-Walton is participating again this year in the Local Presidents Academy, part of MEA’s Building Full Capacity Locals initiative.
“I don’t know how MEA ever survived without Building Full Capacity Locals,” she said. “It’s been just fantastic.”
The goal of the Local Presidents Academy is to develop well-trained, strong local leaders who have the time and resources needed to effectively do their jobs and the skills to mentor up-and-coming leaders in their locals.
Silvia Henry-Walton, president of the Benton Harbor Secretarial Association: “I applied for the Local Presidents Academy because I want to become a better president and get more participation from my members.”
Forty-six local presidents are training in the academy this year, including 15 who participated in 2007-08.
Lyman Robertson, president of the Vandercook Lake EA, is back for a second year. His goal has been to get new members involved in association activities and running a PAC drive.
“I’ve focused on helping new members find niches where they can fit in with association activities,” he said. “We’ve been trying to make them feel comfortable about getting involved. Last year, we ran a PAC drive for really the first time, and we went from two members contributing to 42 members making donations.
“The training I’ve received in the Local Presidents Academy has been very helpful.”
Steve Byrd, president of the Manchester ESP local, joined the academy this year. “I’m really excited,” he said. “My No. 1 goal is to get more member participation at the grassroots level, to get them involved all the time, not just when there’s a crisis. I want to get my members fired up.”
With the Local Presidents Academy, BFCL program coordinator Teri Battaglieri wants to “build on what we started last year, a network of dynamic, strong, well-trained local presidents who are focused on actively engaging their members and providing the best service possible to them.”