AEA BELL Team Training

Ten local associations participate
in BELL Team training

Local association leaders who wanted to find ways to help their associations become stronger and more responsive to members got a boost at the recent AEA Leadership Conference with AEA’s BELL Teams (Building Effective Local Leadership) Program. At this year’s conference, there were teams from 10 local associations, both active and ESP, attending the training program.

During the training sessions, participants learned the roles and responsibilities of local officers and leaders as defined by the local association constitution that provides governance do’s and don’ts. They were reminded that the local association and its leaders should always be accountable to members and consider them first in every action. Special activities demonstrated what can be accomplished through teamwork as opposed to the limited strength of individuals.
Participants also learned techniques for effective leadership, how to use state and national resources, how to communicate with their members, and how to build loyalty to the local association.

According to AEA Associate Executive Secretary for Field Services Mary Bruce Ogles, “We put together this program because building effective local leadership teams is critical to continuing the strength of AEA in meeting member needs. So many problems faced by members are local in nature, not statewide problems. We need local associations to address these problems. We are expecting these teams to help their locals become vibrant, pro-active, problem-solving locals,” Ogles said.
All BELL Team participants were given a real bell to take home with them to serve as a reminder that when rung alone, the sound is small but when rung with many other bells, the sound is loud. In other words, one voice can be heard, but a multitude of voices will get attention.

The BELL teams will meet again with their trainers at the AEA Delegate Assembly in December to report their success in implementing plans they developed during the training program as well as receive additional training.
AEA members from the following local associations participated in the 2008 BELL training: Cullman County Education Association, Dale County Education Association, Etowah County ESP, Fairfield Education Association, Lee County Education Association, Marshall County ESP, Pickens County Education Association, Randolph County ESP, Walker County Education Association, and Winston County ESP.


Cullman County Education Assn.	Dale County Education Association

Etowah ESP	Fairfield Education Association

Lee County Education Association	Pickens County Education Assn.

Randolph County ESP	Walker County Education Association

Marshall County ESP	Winston County ESP