Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/154758
Local Leaders Develop Skills and Strategies at Regional Organizational Trainings This past summer, local association leaders gave up part of their vacation and attended an AEA Organizing Training in their region. AEA believes building strong, healthy local associations begins with a vibrant approach to membership recruitment, knowledgeable site leaders, and effective organizational systems. Local teams of Association presidents, executive officers, site leaders, and membership chairs were invited to participated in the trainings to review their current approach to membership and develop an increased focus and energy on member recruitment, develop the role of the site leader and explore strategies to support them, and evaluate the local association's purpose and ability to organize and engage members. The trainings were well attended and covered three areas: organizational capacity, membership, and site leader development. Building an organization takes a group of people with vision and a willingness to take responsibility, establish a plan for action, and create space for every member to be involved. Understanding organizational capacity is important because the cohesive bond that comes from working as a team builds a sustainable organization. Groups succeed because of the multiple perspectives, skills, and talents that can work as a team. Attendees were asked to produce an accurate assessment of their local association's systems, determine if their organization has an action agenda that tries to make its members' lives better, and learned how to use a planned action relevant to members in order to build local association capacity. Growing and cultivating membership is an important part of leadership development and is necessary for the sustainability of the Association. Together, as an association, we work to solve problems and improve lives because we believe that being a part of a group amplifies our voice. The membership session presented local association leaders with data Fall.13advo.indd 13 AROUND AEA on 10-year membership trends within their locals and asked participants to review their current approach to membership and what impact this is reflected in the data. Local leaders were able to assess what efforts and plans are successful and integrate that into membership plans. Site leaders are the Association's organizers. They mobilize members for collect action and as change agents, it is the site leader who brings together good ideas, people, and the ability to facilitate change. Training participants leaned about site leader roles and responsibilities and had table discussions about what the role of site leaders and a site leader structure would look like to meet the needs of their local association and its members. This training provided local association leaders information and resources to help them in their planning and give them the tools needed to help their locals and members. AEA is dedicated to providing effective leadership development to local association leaders as well as quality professional development to help members in their careers. Strong locals need strong leaders and these regional organizational trainings are another example of AEA's commitment to investing in our members and our organization. 2 AEA Advocate x Fall 2013 13 8/7/13 2:35 PM