Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/389203
16 Special Election Edition 2014 x AEA Advocate AROUND AEA Hundreds of local association leaders attended AEA's first Summer Institute on July 16 - 17, 2014. The institute was held at the Wigwam in Litchfield Park and provided leadership training to Association presidents, vice presidents, secretaries, treasurers, site leaders, and political and membership chairs. The two-day trainings were held by regions and conducted by regional AEA organizational consultants. The trainings covered increasing local association capacity, relevance, and membership engagement through leadership growth and organizing. Local association leaders also learned about working together and developing interdependency. Prior to the Institute, members were able to take pre-session workshops on campaign planning and communications. Campaign College helped local associations create campaign plans to win upcoming school board and override elections. The communications training provided local association leaders with basics on newsletters and social media in addition to coming up with their own local communication plan to help achieve their local association's goals. The Institute also provided SPARKS training to create positive connections between newer members and the Association. The three- day interactive workshop was conducted by AEA eSWAG members covered topics from stress and time management, financial planning, discipline tips, and building healthy relationships, to how to work and still have a life. The Institute opened with a welcoming speech by AEA President Andrew F. Morrill, who spoke about the culture of organizing and moving away from top down approach to more member focused direction. "Locals and districts have a lot of power at the local level. By engaging your members about issues they care AEA Summer Institute Focuses on Building Local Association Power New members learn about getting active in the Association at SPARKS.