Ohio: OSCEA Members Train to be Leaders

Learning about Member Action Teams (MATs) and social networking at the OCSEA Leadership Academy are leaders of Mount Vernon Developmental Center Chapter 4220

Learning about Member Action Teams (MATs) and social networking at the OCSEA Leadership Academy are leaders of Mount Vernon Developmental Center Chapter 4220. (Photo Credit: Suhail Zidan)

Westerville, Ohio

Strength Through Knowledge 

Seeking new ways to build and strengthen their union, members of Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA)/AFSCME Local 11 came together last year for weekend sessions of the first-ever OCSEA Leadership Academy (OLA).

"This is the most far-reaching training we've ever conducted and we're seeing real results," says OCSEA Pres. Eddie Parks, also an AFSCME International vice president. "Chapters are stepping up like never before and truly forging a path that will take our union into the 21st century and beyond."

OLA is part of a nationwide program designed in conjunction with AFSCME International's Education Department under the Local Union Leadership Academy (LULA). AFSCME International also sponsors an online Leadership Academy.

During a six-month span, approximately 1,000 OCSEA leaders attended the weekend retreats, where they received training in communications, running an effective meeting, increasing membership involvement and establishing local union goals.

Attendees also learned how to recruit stewards, discovered new social networking resources and learned about labor history. "We were inspired," says Jeana Campolo, vice president of Mount Vernon Developmental Center Chapter 4220. "Seeing how far we've come was a big eye-opener."

Campolo and the eight other members of her chapter who attended a session also were impressed by "Member Action Team" (MAT) training. MATs are networks of workplace leaders who systematically communicate with and mobilize their co-workers to take action. "We all really liked the idea of the MAT program as a way to get others involved," she says.

Inspired by their training, Chapter 4220 members created a chapter-only Facebook page to advertise events and increase activism.