Engaging members from a distance: A DPE roundtable conversation

Vice President Carson Grant attended. His notes:

SEE ATTACHED> (BELOW)

MANY SPOKE, SAG SHOWED A 20 MIN POWERPOINT. OLD NEWS CONFERENCES WITHOUT MASKS...

I STATED WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH THE LEARNING CURVE OF REMOTE GATHERINGS AND LEARNING OVER THE LAST MONTHS. SOME POSITIVE METHODS HAVE DEVELOPED FROM THE ZOOM PLATFORM. A MORE EFFICIENT USE OF TIME.   THE EASE OF ASSEMBLING WITHOUT THE VARIABLE OF TRANSPORTATION. PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION SEEM MORE FLUID.

GIAA IS USING THE ZOOM MEETINGS, TO PROMOTE INVITED TO POTENTIAL NEW MEMBERS TO JOIN EXISTING MEMBERS TO TAKE PART IN WRITING, READINGS, REHEARSALS, AND AUDITION MEETINGS, WHILE NETWORKING. WE USED THIS TECHNOLOGY HAVING OUR MONTHLY AND ANNUAL MEETING.

ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE TECHNOLOGY, I SPOKE PERSONALLY OF AUDITIONS AND REHEARSALS BEING LIMITED IN HUMAN TOUCH ELEMENTS. ZOOM CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE IN-PRESENCE ENERGY TRANSFERENCE IN A PERFORMANCE BETWEEN ACTORS.

DEPARTMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO

Engaging members from a distance: A DPE roundtable conversation

January 21, 2021
1:00 – 2:30 pm EST https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89975414797

Welcome
Introductions and Affiliate updates

o Share one example of how your union adjusted your member engagement strategy in response to the pandemic

How to effectively engage with a remote and distributed membership – lessons from the field

o OPEIU
o AFT Higher Education o SAG-AFTRA

The challenge of new remote and distributed work arrangements

o How has your union dealt with the challenges of performing representational duties during the pandemic? (Issues accessing employer worksites, non-responsive management, new staggered shifts w/o steward coverage)

o How have you worked to continue to build and maintain members’ connection to the union over the last ten months? What challenges have you faced and where have you seen success?

Planning for the post-COVID future

o Are you seeing a push from members who are currently working remotely to continue doing so on a permanent basis?

o What lessons and changes from the pandemic do you anticipate your union will hold on to for the long term?

o Are there new ways your members have been able to show their union pride and take public action that you will continue encouraging them to do?

Tools and resources for affiliate unions

o Has your union created any resources for staff or locals that you would be willing to share with other affiliates?

o As a reminder, DPE has resources available about using zoom, peer to peer texting and other digital tools, and is always available to advise affiliates on specific projects

Closing and next steps

o What issues or subject areas would you be interested in discussing in the future? o Would you complete a survey about future roundtable discussion topics?

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