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Brenda F


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Book Study Questions-Week 6
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Book Study Questions - Week 6

  

 

Who do you know in your school that is an example of a connector, maven or salesman? Perhaps you are one of them. Give specific examples w/o necessarily using their names.

At Plainview School, although being a small entity, we have all three types described in The Tipping Point.  Several in the elementary end and at least three in the high school/JH end would be considered Connectors (me being one).  One of the elementary teachers also works at an area nursing home, visits on the phone or in person with 'people in the know' on a regular basis and is very social, therefore she keeps current on who is doing what, when and where.  Another lives in a nearby community and commutes to Plainview.  She disseminates news about local happenings from that town.  The high school teacher keeps up on what is happening 'behind the scenes' at school and locally with a smattering of area school news, too.  I tend to be connected more through organizations locally, area and state-wide so my connections are either work or agriculturally related instead of people-related.

The Mavens tend to be fewer in the school but hold a very important role in providing everyone with helpful information or how to get it.  I would say there about three really good Mavens - and again, I think I fall into that category.  Knowing what needs to be done and who to contact to make it possible is a special talent.  In thinking about it, you have to be a Connector or be close to a Connector to make this work well. Being involved in several organizations outside of school definitely helps.

The Salesman, reminds me of some of the coaching staff.  They have to do a good job of selling the sports programs in order to have teams.  Also, to get students to excel in Math and Science requires a good job of placing students in the correct levels so that there is success instead of setting the student of for failure right off the mark.

How would you use the theories in this book to build membership in your Local?

1st- do a better job of 'selling' the benefits of being a member.  Why do you believe in the organization?

2nd - What are the little known facts that make this a good organization.

3rd - use the 'stickiness' factor to pull more people into the local.  Try a different tact to bring in other staff.



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Mellissa D


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I like your idea of selling the benefits of being a member. They aren't well known.

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Brenda F


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Thank you - Melissa

Our rep, Ruth Fees, is a very good 'Salesman' and at the first of the year, she tells all the staff why it is important to be in the union. In the last two years, we have had a big increase in membership - a lot due to the fact that the clientele of student, parent and even administration has necessitated having representation and legal advice at hand. Norm also does a good job of addressing current issues and knowing who to go to for advice or recourse. We only have to look to the Wisconsin's teacher union to know how important it can be for our livelihood or career.

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Mellissa D


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Brenda...do you have regular meetings in your local union? I completely agree with the necessity of being protected. My school district only has two members...we came from schools where belonging to a union wasn't an option.

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Betty B


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I never thought of a coaching staff being salesmen, but I guess they really truly are. smile.gif



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Penny I


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I think that is where we get left out here on the plains because so many of our Local organizations are so small we don't reap all the benefits that the union has to offer.  I don't like to think that I only belong to a union because of legal protection...I want to be a part of something that is making a difference in education.  Right now I really feel like education is gettting a very bad rap and I feel like our hands are tied and we are at the mercy of the people with the money.  I really don't feel that is fair--but I guess in a perfect world things would be different.  I am curious about other things that Ruth does, or anyone out there, about promoting the union.   I don't know that I even know what all the benefits are, but addressing this at the beginning of the year staffing is a really good idea.



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Greg L


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Penny, I agree that teachers are really taking a public beating in the view of the mainstream public.  I think that all that ever seems to make it into the news is the unions fighting for pay and jobs.  It would be wonderful if there could be some reports in the news of all the great things that teachers are doing for kids.  The media is just caught in a cycle of only showing the bad stuff.  All too often, this is all the media focuses on in all areas of the news - negative.

In response to your not knowing the benefits of membership, I encourage you or another member to attend the summer training they do up at Copper Mtn.  When I went, it really opened my eyes to all the opportunities available to members.  This really helped me to become a better salesman for our local.



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