Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/939681
W H E N Y O U R L O C A L C H A P T E R is geographically the size of New Jersey, how do you engage members? e Kern County Educa- tion Association does it by providing blankets to students, building relationships and being "brazen," in the words of KCEA President Miriam Matos-Brown. e chapter covers 8,200 square miles, including 42 school dis- tricts, and the 327 members, most of whom are itinerants, include professionals in four program areas (early childhood, special education, alternative education and charter schools) as well as nurses, psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and teachers. ey provide for all of Kern County. "We know we are different," says Matos-Brown, smiling. "We are gypsies, traveling and teaching all over the county. Most members work in rented space or in classrooms on a district campus. Some of our members don't have break rooms or mailboxes, so we com- municate strategically by asking them, 'How do you want to hear from us? Quick and easy on the phone, snail mail — what works best for you?'" From left to right, KCEA's Susan Barle, Kathy Smith, Miriam Matos-Brown, Amy Moore, Karen Pease. Efforts start in August during a mem- ber benefits fair. This year, KCEA used CTA 360, a mobile app that retrieves and updates membership data and makes it easy to sign up new members. With the app on iPads, KCEA "enrolled many teach- ers who honestly did not know they were not members," says Matos-Brown. The chapter keeps on top of members' wants and needs through short sur veys each time members interact with CTA 360 — whether to sign in for meetings or use CTA services. Everyone expected to help KCEA leaders are invited to all Kern County Office of Education school kickof fs, "regardless if they 're in Mojave or Maricopa." Leaders meet with faculty to share how m em- bers can help, because everyone is asked to do something. Like what? "Phone-bank, decorate the holiday tree, make blankets, provide goodies at the lab days," says Matos-Brown. "We have a lot of involvement." Twice a month, KCEA provides food to educators participating in lab days, which are times set aside at the county office in Bakersfield for teachers to make materials for their classrooms. " We come together, make materials, chat — it's family-friendly. And there's a table with goodies with a sign that says: 'Brought to you by KCEA.' " Each month, members come from across the county and make blankets. "Everybody can make a blanket, regardless of politics," says Matos-Brown. KCEA mem- bers have made and distributed over 150 blankets in the last three years. Currently, the blankets go to a local teen pregnancy center. "Originally, the blankets went to a program for kids whose families are incarcerated. We thought, 'If kids are feeling loved, they'll will do better in school. What better way to do that than with a blanket?' " Different — and Making a Difference Kern County deals with far-flung members in novel ways By Cynthia Menzel 1 53 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 018