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BE A BLOGGER

The blog or “web log” is an Internet publishing tool that is changing the face of communications. You can join this electronic publishing revolution with little or no investment for software or Web space and zero knowledge of Web design. This workshop will include a tour of a few of  the Web’s most popular blogs and an hands-on exploration of blogging tools. Use your blog to chronicle your next vacation, post notes from your latest committee meeting, or share your opinions on the news of the day!

DIGITAL EDITING BASICS

You’ve got a digital camera – or plan to get one soon. What are the important features to look for, and how do you use them? Your pictures look pretty good, but how can you make them even better through editing? This workshop will introduce the basics of digital photography and electronic image editing. We will use the free Picasa software to resize, touch-up and add special effects to your digital images. We will also take a quick look at photo filing systems, print services, and projects you can make with your images. (Slide shows, greeting cards, coffee mugs, calendars, even quilts!)

DO IT YOURSELF SURVEYS

For locals that are interested in creating, tracking and analyzing their own online surveys. MTA’s new online survey service puts powerful survey and analysis tools in the hands of local leaders. Start with a template or build your survey from scratch.

Locals have used this service to measure member priorities for bargaining, assess professional development needs, document environmental health effects, and evaluate school, district or campus leadership, among many other topics.  With data collection and reporting made this easy, you will find many uses for this service.

EMAIL LIST MANAGEMENT

We will take a look at one of the many web-based email services now available. The "web-based" part means that you will do all the work of maintaining and using your list online, through the Internet. There is no software to install on your computer. Your list will be available to you from any Internet-connected computer.

Some of the features we will look at:

  • Adding and maintaining your subscriber list(s)
  • Adding graphics, such as a logo, to your email.
  • Adding links to your email.
  • Personalizing your email with mail merge.
  • "Segmenting" your list to target subgroups.
  • Using your email program for simple surveys.
  • Understanding your reports.

IN THE LOOP

The whys and wherefores of local communications. An exploration of how your local can use face-to-face communications, 10-minute meetings, newsletters, surveys, email lists and other techniques to inform your membership, provide for member feedback and build relationships with the community.

MEDIA RELATIONS 101: GETTING YOUR MESSAGE OUT AND WORKING WITH REPORTERS

Want to get the word out about the good work you and your education colleagues do? Want to have a voice in important issues impacting your school district? This workshop will offer expertise on message development and establishing relationships with local reporters. It will provide MTA members with the tools to pro-actively pursue media attention -- and sway public opinion -- and say just the right thing.

STAYING ALIVE: USING THE CONTRACT TO ENERGIZE YOUR MEMBERS

Use emails, websites, 10 Minute Meetings, online surveys and other communications tools to increase your members' familiarity with the contract to create a more organized and powerful association.

This is an interactive, working session. Expect to leave with materials that are ready to use in your local or chapter, such as email messages, 10-Minute Meeting scripts, survey questions and other member materials.

WEBSITES

In this workshop, we will go over what you need to know about hosting your local's site on the MTA  server.  We will also look at some easy-to-use and inexpensive software that other locals are using to build and maintain their sites.

A good way to get a feel for what you could do with a site is to visit some of the existing MTA local sites.

You will notice many sites named along the lines of newbedford.massteacher.org or dracut.massteacher.org. These are sites on the MTA server. We will set up a "subdomain" address for you. There is no need to register and pay for your own web domain.

Some of the features that are available:

  • A public area
  • A members-only area (log in required)
  • President's Blog
  • Forms
  • Polls
  • Files for download
  • Web tools (contact your legislator, etc.)
  • Multimedia (audio/video)
  • Surveys


e-Communications
Workshop Descriptions: