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THE DELEGATE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2016 5 SPOTLIGHT: BUILDING A STRONGER LOCAL CONVENTION WORKSHOPS What does it take to build a stronger NATCA local at your facility? It starts with your local leadership, from the FacRep to the executive board, and those members who step up to fill other important roles from legislative activist to safety rep, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and much more. But increasingly, each individual member plays a role that has a direct and profound impact on the strength of the entire local. "Everyone's role is essential," says Reloaded C o m m i t te e m e m b e r C h r i s s y P a d g e t t ( Washington Center), who, along with Reloaded Committee Chairman Dawn Johnson (Atlanta Center) and committee member Chris Stephenson (Memphis Center), will teach the "Building a Stronger Local" workshop here at the convention today at 8 a.m. (Aqua Salon F) and at noon (Aqua Salon A /B), and on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 12:30 p.m. (Aqua Salon F). "You're part of the local and what you say matters," she emphasizes. "Your opinion matters." If a member doesn't want to be more involved, then NATCA at least wants you to be more educated, Padgett said, about facts, issues, your contract, MOUs, and the process for how the Union moves forward on collaboration or anything else. "I just think the more that a member is educated about the issues, reading the information that NATCA puts out, or the information from their crew rep or FacRep, the stronger the local becomes," Padgett said. The Re l oa d e d C ommi t te e has b r o a d e n e d t h e 2 0 1 6 v e r s i o n of "Building a Stronger Local," expanding what it started in 2014 at NATCA's 15th Biennial Convention in Minneapolis. "Our 2014 version was more focused at the FacRep level and how our FacReps can build stronger locals by being more aware of their effectiveness in communication, education and activism," Stephenson said. "Now we have made it about how our locals operate as a team and no matter what role we have within a local – FacRep, officer, specialty rep or member – everyone's role is essential to the success of the local." "Not only that," he added, "It is also important for everyone to know and understand each other's role and responsibility." The foundation for "Building a Stronger Local" is NATCA 101, a three-year-old interactive online class that has provided a solid foundation for educating members about the Union. This week's workshops will also focus on communication and what that looks like in a team environment. "For me, it's an information path that flows both ways," Stephenson said. "In other words, the FacRep receives just as much information as they deliver." Another area of focus will be ex ternal influences. "Our locals have external influences upon them daily," Stephenson said. "Understanding how the local team processes and responds to external influences is very important and can make a difference in how well the local operates." Padgett said she wants to see a workshop this week that is interactive, and the Committee plans a few different exercises to stimulate participation. "If our whole class turns into a discussion, all the better," she said. ✪ educate members on the PAC. This class is NOT a solicitation for the PAC. Participants will learn the fundamentals of how political actions committees work and how to educate the membership. Attendees will leave with the tools necessary to effectively advocate for the PAC and increase participation. ✪ NVT Presents: Traffic, Complexity, Pay This course will briefly cover the basics of the Complexity Formula for Pay Setting by Facility and will focus mainly on the facility upgrade/ downgrade process. Emphasis will be placed on what you should do before, during, and after FPL Review by the NVT. ✪ Operating NATCA's Professionalism Programs at Your Facility From how the Professional Standards program can make your representational job easier to how to best use NATCA's professionalism programs to protect our members: this class covers it. It will include a brief overview of the basics of the Professional Standards program and how to use it, how to educate and protect our members regarding the usage of distractions, and the impact of conflict and how it impacts FacReps and members alike. This class is recommended for new FacReps. ✪ OSHA: Understanding The New Indoor Air Quality Requirements The purpose of this class is to familiarize you with the document, as agreed to as part of the new CBA, which defines standardized ATO IAQ program implementation requirements that contribute to a safe and healthful work environment for ATO employees and building occupants. ✪ Training Review Board: Philosophy vs. Process This class covers the process of the Training Review Board, what happens, what is covered, and the understanding of the process. We will address common myths and stereotypes based on roles, along with conceptual approaches for FacReps that buck traditional norms. ✪ Transfers and Placements The ERR process, the NEST, the NCEPT, the Priority Placement Tool, and hiring and placement of new employees out of the FAA Academy are all interrelated. Come learn how they affect controller transfers, placement, and the staffing level at your facility. ✪ Union Representation During Investigations and Formal M eetings Gain a greater understanding of your representation rights during investigations and formal meetings. ✪ Utilizing Social Media For Your Local In an era where the average adult attention span is between just 2.8 and eight seconds, and millions of posts are shared across numerous social media platforms every minute, how can you break through the noise? In this workshop, learn about the ever-growing world of social media, including which platforms are best for your NATCA Local, and how you can use them to reach your target audience. ✪ What Happens After an Accident or Incident? The controller and FacRep guide to ASI (Air Safety Investigations), CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management), and OWCP (Office of Workers' Compensation Programs).

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