California Educator

September 2013

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CTA &You Organizing for Power CTA conferences put members in a leadership role BY BILL GUY "Amazing training!" "Ready to go!" "Lots of good ideas!" That's just a few of the responses by members completing one of CTA's workshops. In this case, members are describing last spring's "Organizing for Power" trainings, in which teams of participants learned to build and maintain strong, effective local chapters. Read what members learned at right. CTA offers statewide conferences throughout the year that provide members with the knowledge and skills to be effective advocates and leaders professionally and personally. Recognized for excellent training programs, a few of which are described below, most of CTA's professional development can be used toward professional growth and university credits. • Good Teaching Conferences (one in the North and one in the South) support excellent teaching and learning practices for classroom teachers. • The Issues Conference affords educators to learn, share, strategize and unite to determine the future of public education. The Education Support Professionals and CTA Retired Conferences are held in conjunction with the Issues Conference. • Regional Leadership Conferences support and promote CTA members who want to be more involved in leadership roles. • The Presidents Conference assists local chapter leaders in learning their new role as local leaders. • The Equity and Human Rights Conference provides a greater understanding of the issues of diversity and equity. • The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Conference provides a number of trainings related to awareness and bullying and is a forum to discuss a variety of subjects affecting the entire membership and California's youth. Go Online cta.org/conferences VERDLEE STEVENSON Desert Sands Teachers Association, Ethnic Minority Human Rights Committee Chair Too often in union work, we jump right to agitating or even escalating. But if people are not thoroughly educated first, there can be real problems. And we too often fail to evaluate, and then learn from both our successes and our failures. Other building blocks include understanding the culture of our members and of our entire association, and then building on that understanding to generate and channel power. One-on-one conversations and storytelling are vital to forming the kind of relationships that strengthen our organizations. CONRAD FREESE Garden Grove Education Association, Organizing Committee Chair I want to create positive change in our chapter and district. While the "Iron Rule" (never do for others what they are able to do for themselves) sounds harsh, there's definitely a time for people to learn something that they don't know, because ultimately, if we do not stand up for ourselves and take a personal interest in the work, it weakens the whole union. BENITA TORRES San Jacinto Teachers Association, Site Representative Now more than ever, being organized is essential to both individual and unified success. As a union, we need to be united to face the many issues confronting public education. I believe an awareness of the steps in AA's 12-step program is beneficial in helping solve relationship issues and building unity. Find out more about CTA conferences and register online. SEP TEMBER 201 3 Educator 09 Sep 2013 v3.6 int.indd 63 www.cta.org 63 9/3/13 2:27 PM

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