Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/697518
SUMMER 2016 | wyoea.org 5 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE Ron Sniffin WEA Executive Director rsniffin@wyoea.org NEA 360 Is Coming Managing the membership information for the Wyoming Education Association is a lot of work. With over 6000 members, WEA staff must keep track of new members, retiring members, and people who change buildings or work assignments, as well as work with district business managers for payroll deduction, etc. We couldn't do this work without the enterprise software systems from the National Education Association. Knowing how complicated it is to track and manage our 6000-plus members, imagine managing the data of over three million NEA Members! NEA is planning a major upgrade to the data system that manages our member information. The project is called NEA360, with the desire to have a 360-degree view of our members and potential members. Utilizing current technology, this system will allow us to have a better understanding of these individuals, and as a result, we will be able to better engage our members and move the Association in a direction that is relevant to them. What does this mean to you, the general member? The biggest change will be that you will have control of your data. Every member will have access to an online portal that provides specific access to your information. Within this portal, you will be able to make changes to your personal information, such as change of address or of school building. You will have access to customized information, such as NEA edCommunities. You will have the ability to choose which types of information you're most interested in receiving—for example, professional practice, issues and advocacy, and/or benefits of membership. Local leaders will be able to use the system to have a better understanding of their Local. Membership and organizing drives will be more efficient by utilizing portable devices, such as an iPad or smart phone. The NEA will be rolling out this new system beginning in 2017 in four phases across the NEA "enterprise." Initially, WEA was part of the Phase 2 states. Because of the input from WEA staff on NEA360 work teams, as well as the quality of the data we have for WEA members, we have recently joined with the Phase 1 group of NEA affiliates. We tentatively hope to "go-live" with the new system in the late spring/early summer of 2017. This will allow our team members more time to use the system before our busy fall 2017 membership campaign. Major recognition must go to the WEA NEA360 deployment team; Linda Bottom, WEA's Membership Processing Coordinator, Cherie Cox, WEA's Information Technology Specialist, Tiffany Mores, WEA's Business Office Assistant, Greg Herold, WEA's Membership Organizing Specialist, David Holt, WEA's Southeast Region UniServ Director, and Coleen Haines, WEA's Communications Director. The quality of their work, as well as input to NEA, positions us well for this transition to NEA360. www.mynea360.org