SPOTLIGHTS
Accomplishments and news of Affiliates. Please send your stories so we can share them!
ICE Embarks on New Partnership Program
--Dick Marchessault, ICE-IL Executive Director
Like most other ISTE Affiliates, the Illinois Computing Educators organization relies on the generous financial support of corporations who are involved with the annual conference as well as in-kind donations and member services provided by other organizations. In the past, ICE officers have made effective use of a variety of sponsorship agreements with corporations that have helped to defray the overall costs of the conference as well as specific events such as luncheons and special programs. In 2008, ICE leaders decided to explore a more effective means of working with those companies who have shown support for the organization by creating the ICE Corporate Partnership Program.
 The biggest difference between this new partner program and previous sponsorship agreements is the fact that the partner agreements are not tied to a specific event like the annual conference but instead are in effect for a full calendar year. The Illinois Computing Educators host several events throughout the year, an arrangement that helps create stronger ties with corporate partners and allows ICE leaders to display partner logos on signs, tote bags, and other materials at all of these events. A complimentary ICE membership is also included in all partner agreements, ensuring that designated representatives from each partner corporation receive the same mailings and e-mail messages that are sent to all other members of the organization. In some cases, access to such lines of communication has been reciprocal and ICE officials have been invited to use the publications distributed by some partners to share information about the organization.
The ICE Corporate Partnership Program is comprised of five levels of support: Platinum Plus ($15,000), Platinum ($10,000), Gold ($7,500), Silver ($5,000), and Bronze ($1,500). Top level partners are given preferred locations in the conference Exhibit Hall, use of special Skybox event spaces, and logos on reusable water bottles, tote bags, and other materials. The logos of all partners are displayed on the ICE Web site and on signage at all events throughout the year. Partners are also entitled to advertising space in the conference program and quarterly newsletters.
This year will be the first full year that the ICE partnership program will be in place, and ICE leaders plan to assess the overall effectiveness of the program at the end of the year. The new program has already led to better communication between the organization and representatives from partner corporations, and revenue from partner agreements is more substantial than it has been in previous years.
ISTE and MICCA Team Up for Training
--Ryan Imbriale, ISTE Affiliate Rep
On November 22, 2008, Maryland’s Affiliate, MICCA, realized once again just how beneficial Affiliate membership in ISTE can be. MICCA, in cooperation with ISTE’s professional development team, hosted the first ISTE/MICCA Leadership Summit.
This summit was specifically designed to target school leaders and focus on Web 2.0 leadership. The title of the event was Maximize Your Effectiveness as an Education leader with Web 2.0 Technology! The successful implementation of the event was a result of ISTE and MICCA’s collaborative planning and shared responsibilities.
MICCA, like many Affiliates, operates on the hard work and efforts of volunteers. It is often difficult to plan and implement an event like this as our organizational energy goes toward the annual conference and other established initiatives. This approach to providing professional development was a win-win for both organizations. MICCA was able to provide a high-quality professional development event, earn income, and partner with an internationally respected organization. ISTE was able to partner with an Affiliate for a regional event, increase revenue, and attract members.
For this particular partnership MICCA was responsible for obtaining the space, on-site registration logistics, food and beverage, technology access, working the local and regional marketing channels, and framing the content for the presenters. ISTE was responsible for the online registration process, hiring the consultants, national marketing, development of all marketing materials, organizing and shipping the packets for the event, and all financials.
In the end, the event was a huge success for all involved. ISTE’s great team of consultants – Susan Brooks-Young, Gail Lovely, and Chris O’Neal – was stellar. As one participant said, “It was an all-around great experience. I appreciated the immediately usable tips, sites, and insights. The size of the gathering was just right, as well – not too large for that individual attention we all seek. “Affiliates of all sizes should consider partnering with ISTE for events like this one. MICCA will certainly be back next year!
If you’d like to explore similar possibilities for your Affiliate, contact Sherry Bosch, ISTE professional development project manager, at sbosch@iste.org.
ISTE’s Affiliates Expand to Hire New Executive Directors
We are growing – from the ground up. Several of ISTE’s US Affiliates have recently expanded beyond an all-volunteer organization to hire an executive director. The Affiliate Network grows when individual Affiliates grow, and we are glad to provide as much support as we can to reach new heights.
We’d like to welcome Judy Tomelden from MICCA (Maryland), Coy Ison from AzTEA (Arizona), and Niki Locklear from KYSTE (Kentucky). Thanks to those of you who helped these Affiliates with guidance as they were restructuring their organizations and taking this big step. We are excited to see growth like this and glad to know members of our network can play a big part in each other’s successes.
CUE-SN Affiliates with CUE
--Cynthia Ochoa, Affiliate Rep; Past President, CUE-SN
CUE-SN, Computer Using Educators of Southern Nevada, is happy to announce we are in the process of affiliating with CUE, Inc., headquartered in California. We are looking forward to a long mutually advantageous working relationship with them. In addition CUE-SN is working with our local school district, Clark County School District, to put on a conference May 8 and 9 entitled, “21st Century Technology Conference ‘Tech Island: Supporting the Digital Native’ Sync-Search-Save which will be based on the television program “Survivor.” Conference link: http://ecs.ccsd.net/conference.html.
Welcome New Affiliates: Naace from the UK and CEGACT from Australia
Welcome to our two newest Affiliates that joined ISTE last fall: the National Association of Advisers for Computers in Education (Naace - UK) and the Computer Education Group of the ACT (CEGACT - Australia). Naace is the premier national association for professionals in ICT in education in the UK. Its membership of 2,100 includes not only instructors and technology coordinators, but representatives from the local education authorities, corporations, and independent advisers throughout the UK. CEGACT is a smaller group that supports K–12 instructors as well as university students and other members throughout the ACT in Australia. It is a member of the national ACCE and hosts the national conference on a rotating basis.
Both of these organizations do a great job of supporting their members by providing networking opportunities, professional development, communication avenues, and leadership at a local and national level. And by joining ISTE’s Affiliate Network, they can now connect their members globally as well.
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