Association Representatives
Association Representatives
Association Representatives (ARs) attend regular meetings as a governing body; represent the interest of the members in their buildings or department, report to their members business transacted at their regular meetings, recruit and maintain membership, serve as an advocate, contract arbitrator, organizer, communicator, coordinator for the OEA-CAF and NEA FCPE, and otherwise assist in the work of the Association in their respective building or department. OEA members elect ARs in the spring for the following school year. The Bylaws of the Association guarantee ethnic minority representation in Association Representatives in proportion to the ethnic minority membership in the Association.
What Does the AR Do?
The first thing an AR must do is to memorize the OEA phone number: 346-0400. The second thing an AR does is encourage people with questions or concerns to call the OEA.
As an Association Representative (AR), you will assume a number of different roles. Some will be continuous, beginning with the first day of school and ending on the last. Other roles you will assume periodically, on a “once and done” basis. Each building is different and the general makeup of the faculty you represent will largely determine the various roles you play as an Association Representative. Below you will find a list of five of these roles, this list is by no means all-inclusive.
CONTRACT ENFORCER: The AR should know when a teacher complaint could be rectified through the grievance procedure. If you believe the application of the contract provisions are in error or disagree with how the contract is applied, it could be a grievance. When in doubt, call the OEA. Always remind them to document what is taking place (a written log of events and copies of any written correspondence) then call the OEA. The responsibility for processing the grievances begins with the AR. The AR’s first step is to encourage the member to call the OEA.
ORGANIZER: The most obvious duty of the AR is to solicit membership within the building. This responsibility may be viewed as one of the “organizational duties” of the AR.
COMMUNICATOR: The AR is the key to the OEA’s internal communication system. It is through the AR that the individual member is made aware of the OEA’s goals and progress. Conversely, it is through the AR that the OEA leadership is made aware of the needs of the individual members. By distributing the Tip-Off and posting flyers and attending the monthly AR assembly, you are filling the role of communicator. The AR also serves as a communicator when they conduct a monthly ten-minute meeting as part of the regular staff meetings in the building. Ten-minute meetings give continuous communication about the OEA goals and programs and progress and allow a forum for members to communicate to the OEA.
SPOKESPERSON: There is no question that the AR is a spokesperson for the OEA. There are times when you find yourself asked to speak for your teachers or for the OEA to members of the administration or the public. It is critical that you identify yourself and your role as an OEA Association Representative. You may then speak as an AR or as an individual. If you are the least bit uncertain about the position of the OEA do not speak as an OEA representative. Indicate you are willing to find the information and call the OEA.
ADVOCATE: It is the duty of all AR to support and defend the rights of the members whom they represent. In some situations, the AR merely has to encourage the member to call the OEA. This is the best thing an AR can do for the members in the building. When members (or AR’s) aren’t sure, call the OEA. Occasionally, a member asks the AR to attend a meeting with them to represent them or support them. You should call the OEA; the OEA staff is trained to sit in on these meetings. In all cases, you should avoid making personal judgments as to the “rightness” or “wrongness” of the teacher’s position in any situation. Encourage the member to document the situation and call the OEA.
