MEMBER FOCUS
Victory Club
For decades, the non-partisan Victory Club (VC) has helped CSEA raise funds to support classified-friendly candidates running for key political seats throughout California and strengthen our political voice statewide.
Over the years, chapters have adopted successful strategies to increase both VC membership and contributions, garnering support for candidates who value classified employees and the daily impact they make on California’s nearly 5.9 million public school students.
Whether speaking to a new member about the VC’s history or highlighting recent legislative victories at a chapter event, increasing VC membership is vital to CSEA’s advocacy efforts.
Here are strategies used by CSEA’s Circle of Stars award-winning chapters to increase their chapter’s VC membership.
Highlight CSEA’s political success
Palo Alto Chapter 301 has found success when recruiting VC members, resulting in a more than seven percent membership increase in 2022.
“I always start by emphasizing the things we fight for like supporting public education,” said Mrigendra “Meb” Steiner, who works as a special education instructional aide. She serves as the chapter president of Palo Alto Chapter 301 and sits on the CSEA Legislative Committee. “We’re not just here to negotiate salaries, we’re here to improve the lives of our members, students, and communities.”
By focusing on CSEA’s political efforts, Steiner’s chapter presents VC membership as an easy but effective way for members to make a difference.
“There's been a lot more awareness in the last year or two about the importance of political action; people are seeing the engagement,” Steiner explained. “I'm especially excited because a lot of younger workers are becoming more aware of unions.”
Palo Alto Chapter 301 President Meb Steiner with California House Minority Leader Eloise Gomez-Reyes (D-San Bernardino)
(left to right) Rosemary Willett, Cheryl Phillips, Sonia Castrejon and Amanda Archer of Modesto Chapter 7 at a New Employee Orientation
Localize the VC impact
Modesto Chapter 7 localizes the VC’s impact to their members, resulting in 147 new VC members in 2022.
“Supporting the Victory Club allows us to elect CSEA-friendly people to our local school boards[SD1] ,” said Rosemary Willett of Modesto Chapter 7, who works as a lead purchasing analyst. “We give examples of how the Victory Club helps support classified-friendly members of our community and on our own school board.”
Carol Serpa, chapter president of Modesto Chapter 7, talks about the importance of face-to-face engagement as key opportunities to boost VC membership, especially when hosting chapter events.
“After presenting at our chapter meetings about the importance of the Victory Club, even if starting with one dollar, our labor rep provides members with the paperwork and incentives to join,” said Serpa, who works as an accounting specialist. “We have consistently added new Victory Club members or increased member contributions through this approach.”
‘Our political voice’
(left to right) Kelly Ashurst, Natalie Hadden and Rachel Ford of Rescue Chapter 737
Rescue Chapter 737 highlights how members have the option of making different monthly contributions to the VC, resulting in 27 new VC members.
Natalie Hadden of Rescue Chapter 737 also explains how the VC empowers CSEA members by giving the Association a powerful political voice.
“The Victory Club is important to CSEA because they are our political voice. The Victory Club’s purpose is to help protect classified employees by rallying for them in the political world.” - Natalie Hadden, chapter president, Rescue Chapter 737
“The Victory Club is important to CSEA because it amplifies our political voice,” said Hadden. “The Victory Club’s purpose is to help protect classified employees by rallying for them in the political world.”
By joining the VC, you are protecting your rights, benefits, retirement and job security. Consider supporting classified-friendly candidates by joining the VC at csea.com/victoryclub.
2022 Circle of Stars Award
Since 1996, the State Board of Directors has recognized the outstanding efforts chapters make to increase VC membership enrollment. The Circle of Stars award is presented every year to recognize chapters for reaching VC goals based on membership net growth in the number and percentage of memberships.
There are two categories for chapters based on membership size: chapters under 500 members and chapters over 500 members. Here are 2022’s award-winning chapters: