You may be familiar with WVEA’s Bullwinkle Project that was started two years ago as a pilot project to help and encourage locals in their organizing efforts by trying “outside the box” ideas for recruitment, retention, and engagement. After some great experiences and evaluations of that project, we are now ready to launch our efforts into the new GEMS Program (Grow-Engage-Motivate-Succeed).

GEMS is designed to provide a systematic approach to raise locals to their full potential of capacity, strength, and capabilities. Over the last two years, the WVEA staff have worked with locals from around the state in the pilot project to create a system of tools and resources that coincide with NEA’s Year-Round Organizing (YRO) Campaign. This program is aimed at achieving the goals of the YRO campaign and to reinforce locals’ strengths and to encourage new approaches and ideas to grow themselves.

The first locals participating in the GEMS Program are Wyoming, Kanawha, Jefferson, Harrison, Marshall, Wetzel, Jackson, Wayne, Braxton, and Mercer. Locals sent teams of members to our kickoff conference and workshop held in Charleston on March 15. The workshop had presentations from WVEA and NEA staff on unionism, organizing, and engagement. Locals began developing plans for the next 12 months to focus on building their capacity and finding new opportunities to provide their members and potential members. If you would like to be considered for the GEMS Program in the future, please speak with your ODS.