NCAE
NEWS BULLETIN August
2017
NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS
Volume 48, No. 1
NCAE Renaissance Locals...A “Rebirth” of the Association A growing NCAE is critical to the success of many of the goals we want to accomplish. That’s why during the Summer Leadership Conference, President Mark Jewell urged local leaders to focus on growing membership and building capacity in their affiliates. During his remarks, he unveiled the NCAE Renaissance Locals Awards Program as a way to incentivize locals and to accomplish the many goals set as an association. With governance, local leadership, and staff collaborating together to craft and implement local organizing and membership plans, the following actions will have a profound impact on the Association’s power as the largest education advocacy organization in the state: • Engage new educators in one-on-one conversations to promote membership in NCAE. • Recruit and reclaim members by providing engagement opportunities as well as demonstrating the value of NCAE membership. • Strengthen the Association Rep infrastructure, and build capacity through regional gatherings, leadership sessions, and regular conversations with state leadership. The basic components for the NCAE Local Renaissance Awards Program include a membership and organizing plan created and shared with the local’s UniServ director and Board member, participation in the Early Career Educator Campaign by conducting and collecting data via one-on-one conversations with at least 50 percent of the new hires in the district, and an increase in membership. A point value system will be used to mark accomplishments. Locals must receive a mandatory 50 points, and can implement other components for an additional 50 points (for a total of 100 points) such as
Membership recruitment and retention are crucial elements in helping to transform the Association.
conducting a fall AR training with a 60 percent participation rate, hosting activities such as Read Across America or professional development sessions, or having at least 20 percent of the membership contribute to PAC. “When I think of the word ‘renaissance,’ I think of a rebirth,” said President Jewell. “NCAE can’t continue to operate like we did prior to 2013. Too many times we were selling the organization as protection and one that provides only services. The Association is so much more! It’s about making you better as professionals through professional development opportunities and networking with colleagues, it’s about making classrooms better for our students, and in many ways NCAE is the last line of defense for the survival of public schools. “What we clearly know is that what you as members need most is resources to be successful in schools; what you care about most is the success of our students. It’s a different day and a different time, not only here in North Carolina, but across the country. We see what’s happening on the federal level with the Department of Education, and the dismantling of public schools will greatly dilute the resources of our
students of color, our students in poverty, and our students with special needs. So, not only do we have to fight here in North Carolina, we have a national fight. And it’s going to be up to the leaders of NCAE and NEA to make sure we’re the organizations that show why it’s important for educators to be a part of their professional association.” Local membership and organizing plans (a template was provided at Summer Leaders or locals can create their own) are due to the NCAE Membership and Organizing Department by October 15. All documented activities must be completed and shared by March 1, 2018. All locals that have met the criteria will be recognized at the 2018 NCAE Convention in Raleigh. Information about the Renaissance Local Awards Program was shared with local presidents and is also located in the NCAE Summer Leaders Resources folder on NEA 360 Ed Communities. If you have not yet created an Ed Communities profile, please visit http:// www.nea.org/home/ edcommunities.html. Questions about Renaissance Locals should be directed to Angela Farthing at Angela.Farthing@ncae.org.