Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/389203
AEA Advocate x Special Election Edition 2014 39 AROUND AEA Local Association Members Welcome New Teachers This past summer, local associations across the state hosted or participated in new employee events, to welcome new staff to the district and enroll new Association members. This year school districts hired large numbers of new teachers, due to a teacher shortage and an increase in education funding due to the inflation lawsuit AEA won. Local association leaders and members organized new employee luncheons to showcase the successes of the state and local associations in making a positive impact in students' learning conditions and employees' working conditions. These member recruiters volunteered part of their summer vacation to help put these events together and ask new employees to belong to the Association. AEA leaders, staff, and vendors also provided assistance at these events by recruiting members or presenting information on Association membership. Everyone's efforts are much appreciated and are helping to build strong local associations. Below are only a few highlights from new employee events this past July and August: Kyrene Education Association (KEA) had two recruiters at each table and recruited 65 teachers who attended their new employee event. KEA collected contact information for all attendees and has made plans to follow up with everyone. Glendale Union Education Association held two luncheons during the new teacher induction week at their district. They enrolled 49 new members of the new teachers in the district. GUEA President Jonathan Parker gave an impassioned speech about joining, which can be seen online at youtu.be/Y-UNJck5Hzg. Phoenix Union Classroom Teachers Association (CTA) signed up 81 new members and reports that membership forms are still continuing to come in. CTA held a shaved ice event the day prior to the luncheon to engage the new teachers in a fun social event. CTA also raffled off gift cards for new members. Recruiters spent a lot of time in one-on-one conversations telling their personal stories of why they belong to the Association and answered questions about CTA's professional agreement, which was placed at each table, and the professional rights CTA bargained for each employee. Phoenix Union CTA Kyrene EA Continued on next page