How do we convince members to work for (and with) the Union?

[China_cat]

My husband is secretary/treasurer of our local. We see the same 4 or 5 people doing the work all the time, every time.

I manage the website and technology. I've set up a BBS system and a private chat room on our domain (opeiu-local73.org) and I've just about convinced the president to invest in webcams and to conduct membership meetings that way since our local takes in so much territory that it's hard to get everybody together for a meeting. (We're based in Jacksonville, FL but have members in SC, GA, MI, OH, KY, NY and AZ) But nobody seems to want to even bother.

Any ideas for getting people fired up and actually working would really help because those of who are doing it have just run out of steam when it comes to motivational ideas.

[DainBramaged]

1. The worker bees and the drones

Unfortunately, as you know, there are more drones in a Union than worker bees. Maybe phone calls asking each member to volunteer one hour per week of their time to help would shame the fence sitters to act. Another way would be to hold a good old family picnic and pigeon hole the members in front of their families.

[Omaha Steve]

2. Good idea

Our local is spread out all over the State of Nebraska. A video conference could be of value to us too. I'm one of those 4-5 people doing all the work in our local. Use your bulletin boards with new material a couple of times a week is my first suggestion. There is plenty of labor-worker news if you look for it.