Membership Development

Leadership Training InstituteJuly 31, 2006

Linda Marsal, Associate Executive DirectorSusan Simmons, DirectorCEC Membership Services

                                                              

Our Core Purpose

To champion professional excellence and advancement of special education for individuals with exceptionalities.

The Voice and Vision of Special Education

Our Mission

…to improve educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities.

…by supporting special education professionals and others working on behalf of individuals with exceptionalities

The Voice and Vision of Special Education

Mission (continued) by advocating for appropriate governmental

policies; by setting professional standards; by providing continuing professional

development; by advocating for newly and historically

underserved individuals with exceptionalities;

and by helping professionals achieve the conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

CEC History The Council for Exceptional

Children was founded on August 10, 1922 by a group attending the summer session at Teachers College, Columbia University (New York).

CEC has 40,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and world wide!

7/28/2006Council for Exceptional Children

I agreed to be a leader in CEC, I agreed to be a leader in CEC, but no one told me…but no one told me…

there would be meetings on Saturday,

there would be a limited budget,

and the Board members would have different ideas of what the Unit should do.

Why do professionals join CEC?

CEC is the most active and widely recognized association in the world representing special education professionals.

CEC has a strong knowledge base in special education.

40,000 Members!

How does CEC recruit and retain its members?

…With your help!

CEC’s units and volunteer leaders help accomplish much of the work of the Council’s activities…especially membership outreach.

How? Just ROAR! Recruit

Orient

Activate

Retain

Step 1.

Recruit

Successful Recruiting

Using a personal approach, making CEC

visible, and circulating literature are all

important means for making recruitment

successful.

Recruit – CEC Activities Direct mail membership

campaigns twice per year CEC Web site Campaigns with state/provincial

units and divisions Make materials available to units

Recruit – Unit Activities Tell us about your

successes

Please share ideas you have that can be improved upon (a nice way of asking what did not work!)

I joined CEC as a member, and WOW…

I get tons of information from CEC in the journals, at CEC meetings, and on the CEC Web site,

I have opportunities to become a leader in CEC,

and I have access to special education professionals all over the world!

Step 2.

Orient(Welcome)

Successful Orientation

Did you know that:This initial contact with your new membersis one of the most important steps inRETAINING members?

(more about this later)

Orient – CEC Activities

Membership card received by members 3-4 weeks after they join

Welcome e-mail directing them to Member Handbook on Web site

Orient – Unit Activities

Establish a “welcoming committee”

Personal letter/e-mail/phone call Postcard/e-mail reminders about

upcoming events Newsletter

#1 Resource: Your Members!

There are jobs in all shapes

and sizes.

There’s something for everyone who wants to help!

Jobs…Jobs…Jobs…Jobs…Jobs Serve as an officer Participate on a committee Recruit new members Bring snacks for meetings “Bite size jobs”: make phone calls,

copy flyers, send e-mails, proofread the newsletter, greet visitors at meetings

Step 3.

ACTIVATE

Successful Activation

The same people can’t run your unitforever (although many try!). New members need to know there are opportunities to serve on committees and help run activities, and they need to be invited/encouraged to do so.

Activate – CEC Activities Circulate information about

activities and events of interest to members

Circulate information about CEC leadership opportunities

CEC Member Survey

CEC Member Survey: Purpose of the Survey

Listen to our members Identify CEC services that are of

value to the member Respond to member needs Examine membership

demographics Use the data for decision making

What do we know about our members?

1/3 are teachers Over ½ work in

public schools ½ have Master’s

degrees

Over 70% plan to stay in special education for the foreseeable future

72% of those responding belong to at least one division

Top 5 Reasons for Continuing CEC Membership

1. Enhancing my professional knowledge and skills (4.61).

2. Accessing the latest information in special education (4.58).

3. Improving special education teaching (4.57).

4. Continuing professional learning and development (4.43).

5. Supporting an organization that cares about students (4.33).

Activate – Unit Activities Find out your members most want Plan a calendar of events Let people know about

opportunities in your unit to get involved and ASK!

                                                              

Step 4.

RETAIN

Retention – CEC Activities New member e-mail Mid-year “Can We Help?” e-mail Renewal notices Value of Membership flyers Telemarketing campaign Membership Round-Ups

Retention – Unit Activities Throughout the year “remind”

members about the Value of membership

Contact members prior to renewal to thank them for their membership and encourage them to renew

Successful Retention Process starts when they join—not

when they are about to expire Members need to see VALUE

We see our success when our membership grows!!

                                                              

How to Contact Linda & SusanLinda Marsal, Associate Executive DirectorSusan Simmons, DirectorCEC Membership Services

Linda: 800/224-6830 ext 497 lindam@cec.sped.org

Susan: 800/224-6830 ext 435 susan@cec.sped.org