Even the most experienced educators sometimes need to remember simple lessons: You don't know what someone can or will do until you ask, and no one will know what you've done unless you tell them.

Those are just two of the lessons taught at NYSUT's Local Action Project, said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue, whose office oversees the program.

"There are so many positive things that our members do both in their locals and in the community," said Voorheesville Teachers Association President Kathleen Fiero. "It is critically important that we 'brand' what we do and ultimately take credit for it."

Voorheesville is among the 21 locals from across the state that worked this summer at LAP principles, learning how to increase their presence in the community, improve internal and external communications and involve members in the union. Teams also learn research strategies on how to survey members and track member involvement.

• Photo Gallery: NYSUT Local Action Project 2009

Seven LAP locals "graduated" from the intensive, three-year program this summer.

Here is some of what they learned and accomplished.

Geneva TA

Faced with the retirement of a longtime local leader, the Geneva TA saw LAP as an opportunity to not only build local leadership and get members more involved, but also to improve the community's perception of teachers.

Now three years - and three locals presidents - later, the local is still on track to meet all of its goals. Through branding, teachers are more visible in the community, and a focus on social events for members has increased collegiality. "Our goal is to institutionalize those things we found to be important and successful," said local president Joy Martin.

Those successes include increasing VOTE-COPE contributions by 100 percent, helping pass the school budget and electing the first GTA-endorsed school board member.

Carthage TA

Amidst a revolving door at the administrative levels, members used skills to showcase educators as a constant, stable presence

"We quickly learned the power of branding," local president Pat Sheehan said. "We wanted to get the message out that we do good things for the kids and the community."

The union supported blood drives and launched an annual senior citizens dinner. Based on data the local collected, member involvement increased from 10 percent to 46 percent.

The union's new image and increased activism were soon put to the test.

After weathering two new superintendents, a new assistant superintendent, eight new board members and an influx of more than 400 students in a short time period, district voters rejected the budget. School board members saw it as an opportunity to pressure the unions to renegotiate.

"All five bargaining units united, and we stood together to reject that proposal," Sheehan said. The solid gains the local had made in the community paid off when the budget passed last year.

Nyack TA

The local works with 3,000 students in a residential community just 20 miles north of Manhattan. Its LAP success list seems as long as the nearby Tappan Zee Bridge.

"Our increased political action and reaching out to our growing Hispanic community are at the top of the list," said Donna Ramundo, local president.

A top priority was to elect candidates who would commit to work to improve the teaching and learning climate.

"With any election, make sure you know who votes with you on the issues, and then make sure they vote," Ramundo said.

The union's get-out-the-vote efforts included registering new voters and getting information to pro-education residents via telephone calls and direct mailings.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month each fall was a win-win for the local as it decided to increase its presence in an annual community celebration.

"We expanded our role in Nyack's street fair, which gave us a chance to be in the community," Ramundo said, noting the local made sure to have a bilingual presence. Two years ago educators provided parents and residents with lessons on using the Internet. Last year the local gave away children's books to parents who filled out cards.

Ossining TA

While many locals reach out to their local communities, the OTA reached out across the world.

Children's books and blank DVDs were collected and sent to soldiers stationed at a hospital unit in Baghdad. The book drive, to unite families of deployed service men and women through literature, is now an annual effort.

"Making a difference to our membership, to our district and to the children and community of Ossining is Job One for us," said Sarah Arbitrio, a LAP team leader who was recently elected local president.

The Westchester County local created welcoming gift bags for new teachers, provided union representation training and created a confidential database of personal contacts to allow for communication outside of school between leaders and members.

Peru Association of Teachers

Getting the union message out to members and the community was among the top achievements of the Peru local. å

With many competing voices in the Clinton County district, the local developed several avenues to communicate, ranging from newsletters to developing and maintaining a Web site, creating a school calendar and arranging meetings.

"Getting people together for parties, luncheons, assigning mentors, recognizing retirees are all great opportunities to tell members what the union is working for and how they can help," said team member Kathleen Roach.

Taking credit in a material way is another strategy PAT used successfully. The union logo, with the PAT slogan "Leading the Way," is on pens, pencils, sticky pads, beverage coolers, water bottles, shirts, vests, bags, magnets, thank-you notes and even candy bars.

In a small community, dozens of union members in shirts appearing at parades and fundraisers for good causes sends a clear message, Roach noted.

Voorheesville TA

The local of a little more than 100 members strengthened its community ties with programs for everyone from pre-kindergarten to senior citizens.

Incoming kindergartners and graduating seniors receive a book from the local, members walk to raise money and awareness of breast and ovarian cancer, bring senior citizens to high school musicals, recognize emergency responders and volunteer for town cleanups in Albany County.

"A big challenge in these tough times is how to pay for so many worthwhile projects," Fiero said.

Waterville TA

"Creating community one child at a time" is more than a theme for members of the Waterville TA.

Local President Dave Cognetti noted that outside of farming, the school district is the main employer in this rural central New York district. "Farming is extremely hard work so there's a potential for the schools to have harsh critics," Cognetti said.

The Oneida County local improved its communication during union-sponsored events so residents would know how much staffers give back to the community. Members bought clothing with the union logo, which many members wore for "Casual for a Cause," which donates money to local charities.

"We learned doing something in the community was noticed much more than donating money to a worthy cause," Cognetti said. The union sponsored annual events to benefit the community in other ways, such as providing child identification to help if a child goes missing and providing school supplies for those in need.

Apply for LAP

Applications for the next LAP training session will be sent to local presidents in October.