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| Build collegial associations with other arts educators |
Friends with Benefits – Membership in Your Professional
Organization
Why
is it important to be part of a professional arts educator organization? One of the core reasons is because we develop connections with others who do what we do
– as we develop those connections, we become friends and allies over time. Lasting
bonds are made that create an infrastructure of professional support. Bonds
are forged that shore us up in our professional practice and help us
continually evolve as art educators. As members of our professional org, we
have access to greater resources and a broader support system. Over time, when we come together to network
and learn, it’s like a family reunion – a family of arts educators.
Our
connections through our professional organization allows us to broaden our
knowledge base with current trends in arts education, provide access to research and trends pertaining to our work.
As a result, we stay “in the know,” are stronger leaders, strengthened and
buoyed and connected in what are often very isolated jobs. We have access to collegial conversations
with like-minded people, something that is often missing in our day-to-day
work.
This
professional organization that connects us with
others who do as we do, allows us to norm
our professional and personal practices as educators
and artists and continue
to feel connected and supported as we
head back to the robust arts education curriculum we deliver every day.
Membership goes
beyond a conference. Our professional
association empowers us with advocacy tools to keep arts education alive in our
schools, districts and statewide. It
gives us a common purpose to unite with others and engage in networking to stay
connected and fueled with the most current information. Membership allows us access to job postings
and arts engagements, funding opportunities, convenings, exhibitions, webinars,
available resources and materials, instructional ideas and so much more. Why
reinvent the color wheel when there are so many great existing resources and
ideas to be shared?
Being
a member of our professional org is good for our resume and shows that we think
globally - beyond the classroom and are part of
a collective vision and purpose. Our
membership and involvement show that we are
concerned about art education and participation strengthens the cause by coming
together as members. There’s more shared responsibility in leadership for the
whole organization. We have legislative influence when we show our representatives in Sacramento that
we are here, we care and we vote for arts education. With the current legislation pending around
adoption of new California Art Standards and other critical issues pending in
this year’s elections, your membership makes a huge difference.
Being
a member of this professional organization and building numbers is
powerful. As a member, you can also grow
as a leader, better equipped to advocate within your school, district and state
levels. With more members, we have more shared vision and responsibilities,
allowing all to contribute to a thriving, robust organization that really
represents you and allows all voices to be heard. Your associations with others
in your field regionally and state-wide will keep you inspired, energized,
fresh, motivated – and relevant.
I
encourage you to share this article with and invite
your art colleagues to join your professional organization so they too can reap
the benefits of being part of a professional organization. Being a member is where it all starts. Thank
you for taking that step as a member. You make a difference. Let’s expand our
circle of arts educator family, build strength in our organizations, and allow
others to access the many benefits of being a member of:
California Music Education: CMEA, calmusiced.com
California Dance Education Association: CDEA, cdeadance.org
California Educators Theatre Association: CETA.cetowebeg.org
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