Spring ISEA Student Workshop

Friday night and Saturday found ISEA Student Program leaders from around the state gathering in Des Moines for their annual Spring Workshop. Nearly 30 leaders from a dozen campuses met at the Holiday Inn Northwest to learn from each other the best practices for building membership. Jean Hessburg (pictured at left) Team ISEA staff liaison for our ISEA Student Program greeted our student leaders as the workshop began.

The workshop was kicked off with dinner on Friday night, then I followed with welcoming remarks to our student members gathered. Team ISEA Student Program members next heard from Kimberly Anderson, Team NEA's Organizational Specialist for NEA Student Program. Kimberly shared a comprehensive overview of the NEA/ISEA Student Program and what is available to members when they join. Kimberly (pictured at right) wore orange and maroon to honor the fallen students and faculty at Virginia Tech University.

Friday evening was to be capped off with yummy finger foods and sodas while the students and their sponsors played board games and had a chance to win door prizes.

On Saturday following a breakfast buffet, ISEA Associate Executive Director Randy Richardson, addressed the group on "Technology, Friend or Foe?" The session would focus on the pitfals and benefits of using the internet to communicate.

Team ISEA Lobbyist, Brad Hudson, addressed the Spring Workshop of ISEA Student Program leaders on "Why Lobby? What Difference Does it Make?" Brad reviewed the major victories at the Iowa Capitol as well as how to effectively lobby state and federal policy makers on issues that impact our profession.

The last breakout session was lead by our Waldorf College Student Club. The students presented "Best Practices--What Works and What Doesn't!" The students shared some of their best ideas and their worst ideas in order to help others in organizing on campus.

Before heading home, students were to elect their officers for the coming school year. Thanks, Jean Hessburg for your leadership and thanks ISEA Student Program leaders and sponsors--you are the future of our profession and the future of our association!