Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/939681
benefits and more at the fall CTA High Desert Ser- vice Center conference, and have scheduled at least one member engagement project per month. In November and December, PETA participated in a local Stuff-A-Bus toy drive, resulting in nearly 300 member-given toys going to needy community children. e effort boosted PETA's visibility in the community (PETA was recognized as a charita- ble partner in the effort, and its logo appeared on the side of the bus) and gave members a different and positive way to participate in an association effort. In the same spirit, PETA supplied their site representatives with holiday cards that they could personalize and deliver to their colleagues. The union is also planning a classic movie night, beer and wine tastings, casino nights, baseball outings, and other fun social events. "We're looking to strengthen connections," says Vanderzee. "Many of our members are already active in the community. We're looking to use those connections to help build or own." PETA has always had strong membership num- bers (over 95 percent of the bargaining unit belong to the union), and its members have nearly always risen to the challenge when needed to support bargaining or other efforts. But it's everyone's hope that these new efforts to truly engage members will make it an even stronger, more effective and more vibrant union. "I'm really excited for our future," says Vander- zee. "It's a great time to be a PETA member and to get involved." B Y M A K I N G M E M B E R S H I P E N G A G E M E N T and management collaboration some of its top priorities, the San Leandro Teachers Association (SLTA) has earned the respect and participation of many of its 462 members in the San Leandro Unified School Dis- trict. e union is a force not just at the bargaining table, but in the classroom as well, because it acts on issues that educators want handled, says veteran SLTA President Jon Sherr. Teachers respond to issues they feel are relevant. "It gets more people involved," he says. "And now our district does respect the leadership of the union. e district is willing to work with us." In one key project, SLTA reviews the performance of principals at all 14 school sites. Every February, educators fill out confi- dential questionnaires, which union leaders then discuss with Superintendent Mike McLaughlin and other district managers. It's meant to be a constructive process. "Our members felt that since principals are evaluating them, they should also get to do evaluations," Sherr says. T h e n t h e re's t h e t h r iv i n g SLTA "Issues to Action" pro- gram, says SLTA Vice President Tom Morse, who helps coor - dinat e it. St ar t ed in 2014, it promises that the union will listen to members' priorities and then act on those priorities. T h e p r o g r a m i s a w a y t o remind teachers that their union work extends into the classroom and far from the bargaining table. "On the one hand, we're a union. On the other hand, we're the heart of the community," says Morse. So far, the program's successes include teachers having a stronger role in changing the district's student assessment and discipline policies, and having their voices heard about special education caseloads and tech integration into curriculum. SLTA committees on co-teaching, campus safety, new program San Leandro Gets Organized Chapter's attention to members' needs builds unity and collaboration By Mike Myslinski " Our district does respect the leadership of the union. The district is willing to work with us." — SLTA PRESIDENT JON SHERR PETA members rise to the challenge when needed to support bargaining or other efforts. 4 57 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 018