WLC South – Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2025 (Harrah’s in Atlantic City)
WLC North – Feb. 21 - 22, 2025 (Sheraton in Parsippany)
WLC Central – March 14-15, 2025 (Doubletree in Somerset)
1. Presidents’ Roundtable – Through facilitated discussions with presidents and NJEA staff, this roundtable will provide presidents with the opportunity to discuss what we do with, for, and on behalf of our members. Topics might include membership, member engagement, negotiations, organizing, building community power, and updates on NJEA’s statewide initiatives. For local and county presidents.
2. AR: Key to a Strong Organization – Learn the fundamentals and develop skills to help association representatives (ARs) effectively carry out the functions necessary to maintain a strong organization.
3. Legal Issues Affecting School Employees – Get an overview of the legal structure in New Jersey, existing laws, legal decisions, recent legislation, and emerging issues that affect school employees.
4. Grieve, Don’t Gripe: Contract Enforcement – Discover the keys to successful grievance processing. This seminar includes an overview of essential elements of good representation.
5. Preparing for Negotiations: Collective Bargaining – Learn the bargaining process from beginning to end, emphasizing mediation and fact-finding, negotiation strategies, and benefit costs.
6. Salary Guides: What All Members Should Know – Successful salary negotiations techniques such as developing comparisons, member input, and a district’s ability to pay will be explored, along with methods of costing, analyzing, and understanding salary guides. There will be an emphasis on challenges facing educational support professionals (ESP) and inclusive local associations.
7. Next Level Leadership – This interactive workshop will present ways for you to expand your knowledge and gain skills to bring your leadership and your local to the next level. Learn how to speak with authority, advocate for your members facing issues, including evaluation and discipline, and establish your local as an equal stakeholder in the community. NEW
8. Leadership Development 101: A Beginner’s Guide for Association Leaders – In this workshop, we will explore principles of effective leadership and team building, effective communication and listening skills, principles of time and stress management, facilitation skills for leaders, the importance of change management, and leadership scenarios for association leaders.
9. Membership Chair Training – This workshop will examine the calendar of yearly responsibilities, as well as best practices and new techniques to help you meet those requirements. The training will include WDEA reconciliation, how to make the membership ask, authentic engagement and follow-up, and member retention.
10. Advanced Membership Chair Training – Along with expanding their skills in the day-to-day operations of membership responsibilities, attendees will enhance their skills surrounding the one-to-one approach and learn how to respond when confronted with difficult membership conversations. Attendees will create contract fact sheets, member welcome letters, and pamphlets to assist in these conversations. Participants will also plan year-round new staff/new member orientations. Finally, attendees will expand on building mapping exercises learned in previous sessions to create a layered approach to their membership team. NEW
11. Critical Conversations Around Power, People, and Politics – This workshop will focus on engaging, empowering discussions centered on advocacy, the advancement of our power, and our engagement in politics. Join the Members of Color Network, as it celebrates its fifth anniversary, for a memorable experience together. NEW
12. Civil Rights and Racial Justice: History and Current Issues in Education – This immersive workshop will focus on racial justice and civil rights history and further discuss issues affecting public education and unions today. Participants will hear stories about the long and ongoing struggle for racial equality and equity from NJEA staff, community partners, and a representative from the National Park Service Little Rock Central High School site. Learn how NJEA and NEA members were and are involved in movements for racial justice and civil rights.
13. What Would You Do? Covering Hot Topics in Health and Safety – Is your local association addressing ongoing health and safety issues such as staff safety, mold, and extreme temperatures? This session will provide an overview of current health and safety hot topics and includes scenario-based problem solving. Attendees will leave this session better prepared to advocate around health and safety issues, address pressing concerns, and strengthen their association's health and safety committee. NEW
14. Bridging the Member Involvement Gap – Discover ways to engage new members and support current members while building their commitment and involvement. This is a great program for membership chairs, ARs, and those who would like to get other members involved in their local associations but don’t know where to begin. Learn how to use NJEA resources to help your membership succeed, as well as attract and retain your volunteer corps.