Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/939681
" If we do this thing right, maybe members will see ASTA as I see it: a source of support, a group of hardworking men and women who will do everything in their power to fight for members." M E M B E R S H I P E N G A G E M E N T has become a top priority for the Palmdale Elementary Teachers Asso- ciation this year, as the union works to become even stronger through greater participation levels and better communication. A combination of PETA-spon- sored workshops, social activities, organizing efforts, community outreach and regular member input is making that goal happen. PETA President Kathy Vanderzee assumed office in July after serving as bargaining chair and in other association roles. Although PETA was in good shape when she took over, she says, she wants to make it stronger by moving away from a "ser vice model" construct where some members pay their dues in exchange for representation and other benefits, but don't realize that their participation and involvement are key to true union effectiveness. O ver th e years, m emb ership engagem ent has ebbed and flowed depending on the latest bargaining crisis, election or other organizing effort. Participa- tion reached an all-time high in 2013, when a strong PETA election effort f lipped the school board to a more teacher-supportive majority, and resulted in a shakeup in district administration. But after that victory, participation declined and fewer members came to association rep councils and other commit- tee meetings. "I want to get away from the 'ramp up, reach your goal, ramp down' cycle that gets us starting nearly from scratch when we try and bring members in to support bargaining and other efforts," Vander- zee says. Consistent Connection Palmdale chapter keeps member involvement ongoing, not just when needed By Frank Wells the complicated situation, but I don't think I would have made it through if it wasn't for Christie Bettendorf and CTA field staff Lisa Eck. Christie went above and beyond her role as site rep to ensure that I knew exactly what to expect. at she was so knowledgeable and confident made the experience a little easier to handle. At the hearing, where I chose to represent myself, Lisa was an invaluable source of information regarding legal issues. Before the RIF, I knew the union worked to ensure members had the best possible pay, benefits, and so on, but I was unfamiliar with the inner workings of the local. It felt to me like ASTA just showed up to save your job when you did something stupid or encourage you to vote for a specific candidate or policy. e RIF experience changed that. It made me feel like there were actual people in my local who supported me and cared about what happened to me. A few months after the RIF process ended, I was invited to an ASTA event and was blown away by what I saw. ese educators were using their personal time to fight for the rights of their fellow members. It was eye-opening. I couldn't help but think, "If I didn't know about all this, how many other newer educators don't know about this?" And even more, "How many veteran educators don't know about this?" I figured I needed to do something about how our own members see our local and the role it plays in their success, both in the class- room and in their personal lives. Now I'm involved with ASTA's new online and social media committee, where I can use my skill set and writing experience. What better way to spread ASTA's mes- sage than by developing an online presence that connects with our members and our community? If we do this thing right, maybe members won't just see ASTA as the custodian showing up to fix mistakes, or even the lobbyist trying to grab your vote. Maybe they'll see ASTA as I see it: a source of support, a group of hardworking men and women who will do everything in their power to fight for members. Work by ASTA ultimately helps our students. With good working conditions and wages and benefits, I can focus on the kids and my goal: to make them better writers, better communicators. Critical thinkers who can be civically engaged and do so in a civil manner. ose are the kinds of citizens we need right now, and those are the kinds of citizens we are going to need even more in the future. Matt Corcoran attended Anaheim public schools and received his M.A. in English from CSU Fullerton. 3 55 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 018