Joe Washington and Billy Park recently stepped into the roles of president and vice president, respectively, of the Mercer County Vocational Education Association (MCVEA). Over the past year, they have focused their efforts on building member support and communication.
“Our goal was to make sure people felt like the union was working for them,” Washington explained. “Some of the feedback we were getting was that members didn’t always know what was available to them or how we could support them.”
That insight led to a series of deliberate actions.
At the start of the school year, local association leaders created a Member Engagement Team (MET) to strengthen communication and member involvement. Each MET member was assigned a small group of 10 to 15 members, creating direct lines of communication between leadership and the membership. Team members shared updates on negotiations, grievances, unfair labor practice (ULP) filings, upcoming events and other association business, while also bringing members’ questions, concerns and suggestions back to the leadership team.
By keeping members informed and being transparent about the work of the association, leaders encouraged more members to get involved rather than remain on the sidelines. That consistent, two-way communication helped build trust and strengthen member engagement.
The results were measurable. Membership climbed to over 90%, including individuals who had previously chosen not to join.
The association then expanded its network beyond the local level. When Washington and Park connected with the Mercer County Education Association (MCEA) and MCEA President Dan Siegel, they gained access to guidance, support and key contacts within county government.
For Park, the most significant change has been the sense of connection among colleagues. “I’ve been here 15 years, and this is the most connected that I have seen our membership,” he said. What began as a proactive effort to improve member engagement ultimately positioned the MCVEA to respond to unexpected challenges with clarity and unity.
Preparation meets opportunity
MCVEA had a good working relationship with the district’s previous superintendent and administration, but that stability shifted quickly with a transition to new leadership.
Association members grew concerned about changes in the district’s decision-making process that moved toward more limited input from educators and other stakeholders.
Tensions escalated following a personnel issue involving a staff member whose employment status was unexpectedly changed despite prior assurances. In response, the association mobilized. Nearly 30 members attended a board meeting in support of their colleague.
“When we showed up together, it made a difference,” Washington said.
The response had an immediate impact. The board chose to table the personnel decisions , scheduled a special meeting to revisit the issue and began working toward a more formal process for determining next steps in district leadership.
In many ways, the association’s story is one of preparation meeting opportunity. By focusing on connection before a crisis emerged, members created a foundation that allowed them to respond with unity when it mattered most.