Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/48237
A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE knowledge is power. In Kyrene, if you want to "I believe that out that they have inher- ited the culture and are only working to maintain it. "The leaders from before built a good strong reputation, and I think Erin is following in their footsteps," says Hernandez. "I think one reason for KEA's success is the know what's happening, you go to KEA." —KEA President Erin Kirchoff belonging, and I want to make sure I let members know about the value of their membership too." Kirchoff begins every fantastic site-structure KEA has," says Kirchoff. KEA's bylaws require one site representative or site rep for every ten members. "We have at least two, sometimes five, site reps at every site. This year we trained 35 new site reps." KEA site reps receive a day-long training before the school year starts every year. The KEA leadership has made leadership development a priority by encouraging their site reps to recruit new activists and site reps in their buildings and encourage member partici- pation in Association conferences. "I include site reps who have not attended when I put a group together for state and national confer- ences," says Kirchoff. "Of the eight members we took to AEA Leaders' Conference, six were new leaders." Effective communication is another part of maintaining KEA's culture. "I depend heavily on KEA site reps, who make face-to-face contact with every potential member for membership recruitment and to tell me about members' concerns," says Hernandez. "Our site reps serve as an information hub for members," adds Kirchoff. "When a member has a question, they know they can go to their site rep." Kirchoff sends a monthly president's update through email to KEA members. "I see value in email with a story or example that answers the question of what has KEA done for you. "I talk about victories, big or small, and the value of membership so it's the first thing they see when they open the email." KEA employs a variety of media to commu- nicate with members, including their website at Kyrene.org/kea, Facebook page, and bul- letin boards at every site. In addition, Kirchoff is in constant contact with site reps and has an open-door policy with her members. As a half-time release president, most of her time is spent making herself available to members at their sites. KEA's communication strategy includes district administration as well. "Part of a KEA site rep's duties is to meet monthly with his or her principal," says Kirchoff. "This allows the administration to hear about concerns at a site and have them resolved through KEA." "If there is a problem, members feel comfortable coming to KEA rather than their principal," says Hernandez. "I believe that knowledge is power," says Kirchoff. "In Kyrene, if you want to know what's happening, you go to KEA." KEA's strong membership numbers and activism has served its members well. KEA leadership has an open relationship with the Kyrene superintendent and every year KEA's Meet-and-Confer Team meets Continued on page 33 KEA site reps organized members at their sites in support of March4Schools in 2010. AEA Advocate ❘ Winter 2011/12 23