Recruiting New Members
Talking to potential members and getting them signed up in their union is critical to build power in our union. This power leads to stronger, equitable teaching and learning conditions that provide all students with an equal opportunity to succeed.
CTA is here to help you introduce members to the union, as well as support and connect with new educators.
You can order membership recruitment materials for 2023-2024. This guide to the 2023-2024 Membership Recruitment & Engagement Resources shows all the materials available like additional documents, flyers, brochures, and toolkits for both in-person and online recruiting.
Place your order here: cta.org/OrderMaterials
It’s hard to know what to say to engage with members or to find the time to create new material. Use these resources as they are or as inspiration for new ideas and opportunities to provide support to current members. Create awareness at the school site or freshen up your emails using the Bulletin Board Toolkit. Help members understand their rights on the job with our Mini-Guide to Your Rights. CTA Member Benefits Engagement Resources and Social Justice Resources can assist you in your organizing efforts, with readymade posters, flyers, videos, and shareable resources.
- Bulletin Board Kit
- Sample Potential Welcome Email
- Sample New Member Welcome Email
- Sample Member Welcome Back Email
- Helpful Links for Leaders and Members
- Mini-Guide – Educator’s Rights
- Buddy Program | Buddy Program Presentation
- CTA Member Benefits Engagement Resources
- CTA/NEA Member Benefits Animation Video
- Social Justice Resources
- IFT Flyer
- New Educator Resource Guidebook
- Together We Get It Done – Customizable [download this word doc and add your own chapter logo and victories to tailor it to your local chapter]
Download or order printed materials for your local union.
- Toolkit for Recruiting and Working with New Hires, Including Virtual and In-Person Staff Orientations
- Best Practices For New Hire Orientations
- Sample New Hire Orientation Agenda
- Online New Member Orientation Presentation
- Recruitment Sample Dialogue and Suggestions
- Advisory on Local Chapters New Hire Orientation Rights
- Join Us/NEA Video
- CTA/NEA Union Video (2:29)
- CTA/NEA Union Video (0:30)
- WeAreCTA Wonderful Job Video (0:31)
- WeAreCTA Advocacy video (0:31)
- Zoom backgrounds: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The Member Engagement Grant provides support for local chapters for new or supplemental member engagement programs that have clear measurable goals for membership engagement, including recruitment and involvement of new members and engagement of existing members. Programs should include building capacity through high engagement strategies, identification of new leaders, and building distributive leadership within the chapter.
- Member Engagement Grant Project Guidelines
- Member Engagement Grant Application Form
- Member Engagement Grant Budget Form
- Member Engagement Grant Narrative Summary Form
Try as we might, sometimes educators cancel their memberships. Here are resources to try to prevent that outcome and persuade them to maintain their membership. Use these resources to arm you members against attacks from anti-union groups like the Freedom Foundation. These well-funded groups will spend untold amounts to spread misinformation and outright lies. You can expose the truth and encourage educators to remain members using these resources.