COM115 Internal Communications: Bringing Your Local Together. Oliver Wiehe Seneca Valley Education Association North of Pittsburgh

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1 COM115 Internal Communications: Bringing Your Local Together Oliver Wiehe Seneca Valley Education Association North of Pittsburgh

2 Indicate the NEA Strategic Goal and NEA Organizational Priority your session addresses: NEA Strategic Goal Strategic Goal 1: Strong Affiliates for Educator Voice and Empowerment NEA Organizational Priority Early Career Educators Communications NEA will utilize the best communication strategies to advance the organization s mission and vision by understanding key audiences, Business Operations supports the changing needs and priorities of the organization by...leveraging technology...

3 Indicate the NEA Leadership Competency your session addresses: Example COMPETENCY: COMMUNICATION NEA Leadership Competency progression level(s). Level 1: Foundational NEA Leadership Competency themes Develops a two-way strategic communications plan Uses current media, technology and social networks to communicate Develops communication approach and style to fit appropriate audience

4 While Washing the Dishes

5 Why did it work? Told a Story Positive about Members Proud Determined Using New Media You Tube & a Website 8 months later we got a contract

6 Our Contract didn t make use a UNION As a local Union we were Fractured Spread out over 100 square miles Communication was inconsistence and Incomplete Action Line (newsletter) printed on Paper & distributed by hand - INEFFECTIVE How could I bring our Union together?

7 Lightbulb IDEA: Create an Electronic Newsletter! Focus on the positive The Wisdom I could talk education all day! Write about educating and things that are interesting to Educators! Tell a Story Would it bring our local together? Could it build coherence to help us with our next contract?

8 Drop in the Bucket Theory

9 A Penguin Inspired me to write

10 Simple Observations Wisdom More than meets the eye

11 The Secret Ingredient is YOU! You can WRITE You do have WISDOM You are OBSERVANT

12 Step One: Write an article Write what you know Share your wisdom of the classroom Educating is like on Onion peel back the layers so many layers What you share will resonate with other Educators

13 Anatomy of Your Article words good length short & simple Paint a picture with words Descriptions / Feelings 1 st and last paragraph are book ends that deliver your insight and wisdom What you share will resonate with other Educators

14 Anatomy of Your Article 1 st and last paragraph are book ends that deliver your insight and wisdom What is 13 inches tall, blue plastic, shaped like an M&M, holds a basketball in one hand and wears white gloves and lives in my closet? HOPE.

15 Anatomy of Your Article 1 st and last paragraph are book ends that deliver your insight and wisdom Should I have a tough day in the classroom and I begin to "curse" teaching, students and politics. Just when I'm ready to turn in my letter of resignation, I open my closet door to find a smiling blue M&M looking at me. A reminder that I was meant to be a teacher, to be in the classroom, a reminder that HOPE lives inside my closet.

16 Anatomy of Your Article You are telling a story & Making a point After a day of school, cross-country, soccer, dance and gymnastics, the table is a place to tell stories. Voices rise and fall and stories overlap. Adventures can be as mundane as I have a book report, or I ran my best time ever in cross-country. My favorite stories are when they share their observations about their teachers.

17 Anatomy of Your Article You are telling story & Making a point For now, I m thrilled to sit at my breakfast table and listen to the story de juor from my children. Their stories allowed me to reflect on my teaching and affected the outcome of a parent . In more ways than one I m thankful the Amish made me a great table and I m thankful to be part of the teaching profession.

18 What you share will RESONATE!

19 Wrote an article: Now What? Rewrite polish your idea Think and Think and Think Share your article with a Friend Find an Editor Ask for feed back! Have a Finished & Polished Article What s Next?

20 Collect Addresses Address Campaign Go Building to Building Use Building Reps Local President might have access to your list from State Union List is one of the most valuable assets your local can create

21 Find an Service Constant Contact Mail Chimp Have templates Easy to use Data about your Simple Instructions Cost effective (based on size of list)

22 Create Departure points Newsletter is also a departure point for more information - Links to articles Op Ed pages Slate.com / Huffingtonpost.com / Politico.com Twitter follow Education Votes, NEA, We Are Teachers, Teacher2Teacher Fun YouTube Video My Favorite Music Video Center for Teacher Quality

23 Like Spaghetti Sauce: It s in there Article (you have written) addresses Service Links to articles (recommendations) Links to Videos Newsletter is a Information Departure Point to get information and go somewhere for more information

24 Newsletter Design- Keep It Simple Choose a mobile friendly Design Create a Header with basic info date what s in Newsletter - edition Most important Information at top Most important links at top Members will read on their phones

25 Data for Sending an Newsletter! The Ultimate Stats Overview (click the link) More people open s on their mobile devices Cell phones Design Newsletter for Mobile Devices Cell phones

26 Average Open Rate OVER 50%

27 Newsletter Design- Keep It Simple Members will read on their phones

28 Sending out FIRST Newsletter When can you get a Members attention? Think like an Educator When are Members free to read their s? Sunday Afternoon to Monday Afternoon Most s are opened in the first 24 hours After 48 hours s opens are complete Pick at Time to Deliver your when you can get the most opens! Every Local is different - Experiment Big Events Holidays -

29 Collect Data Best Friend How many opens (%) What did they CLICK ON (click open rate) Number of responses Verbal (stop you in the hall) Study your DATA

30 February 28th 2013 to November 6 th 2016

31 DATA is Your BEST FRIEND

32 Drop in the Bucket Theory Build your audience one Newsletter at time (drip) Build cohesion in your local with Focus on the ART OF EDUCATING (drop) Over time (months / years) Newsletter becomes a voice a positive voice (drip)

33 Polish you next edition Have Members send you links Have a Member write an article Include information from State Union or NEA Include Pictures from local events Read about Communication

34 2016 Seneca Valley Education Association got the best contract in the state 5 year contract 4.3 % raise 2015 Everything Went Right then the Phone Rang No change in Health Care Drop in the Bucket Theory WORKS!

35 Mike Mulligan and Mary Ann and some others Local President Building Reps Membership Chair Negotiation Chair Local Members

36 Time for Advocacy Members will listen! Why? Build trust through your voice Being positive Call for action Survey for Negotiation Standing up for Educator s rights Spreading a Positive Message about Educators How to respond to teacher criticism

37 Send it and they will Read IT! Communication is the most powerful tool Simple & Cost effective Once a Month is good for delivery Involve others Repetition with build competency Enjoy bringing your Union Together

38 A Penguin Inspired me to write

39 Stay in Touch Oliver Wiehe at Questions / Help / Insight

40 Session Outcomes The content from this session can be used in the following ways in your current position/role: Write an article focused on the Art and Wisdom of teaching Collect addresses Create & Distribute an Newsletter Build Cohesion in Your Union

41 COM:115 Internal Communications: Bringing Your Local Together Please complete the evaluation for this breakout session! Please visit the Leadership Development Resources website at