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11. THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL ASSOCIATIONEvery EIS member in a school is automatically a member of a local association. There arethirty two local associations in Scotland, corresponding to the local authority councils.PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERSEvery EIS member is entitled to attend general and business meetings of the localassociation. The EIS is a democratic body and it is important that every constituent part ofthe EIS at every level is - and is seen to be properly representative of the EIS membershipas a whole. It is equally important that members in schools participate actively in the workof the local association and that as many members as possible attend meetings. Whenviews are expressed within a local association which you, as an EIS member, disagree with,the only way to change that is if you and your colleagues who agree with you, become moreactively involved and attend meetings more regularly.Women members, in particular, are urged and encouraged to play a more active part in EISaffairs, and local associations are encouraged by the national body to consider ways ofincreasing the participation of women members - e.g. childcare, timing of meetings, morethought as to the venue of meetings.All local associations are also encouraged to urge the participation of black members,members with disabilities and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender).All local associations have either, an "Executive", "Executive Committee" or a "Committee ofManagement" which looks after the day-to-day affairs of the local association. The way inwhich the executive is elected is set out in the constitution of the local association. Makesure you have a copy in your school. All EIS members within the local association have theopportunity of voting for the Executive or alternative body by postal ballot.SUPPORTING MEMBERSThe previous sections describe the role of the EIS Representative in supporting individualmembers who find themselves under particular pressure or have a particular difficultywithin a school. On occasions, after the advice of the local association secretary is sought,it will be apparent that the situation cannot be resolved within the school and that thematter must be pursued by the local association. Where the local association secretary isuncertain as to how to proceed he/she should not hesitate in seeking advice from the localarea office or, exceptionally, EIS headquarters.IMPLEMENTING AND FORMULATING EIS POLICYThe local association has a broad responsibility to carry out EIS policy. Clearly, the way inwhich this is achieved will vary according to circumstances. Of crucial importance is that inall deliberations those who take part in local association affairs should ensure that thelocal association is acting in a broad framework of EIS policy - and if members at a meetingare uncertain as to what this is advice should be sought, normally through the localassociation secretary, local area officer or from EIS headquarters. On occasions,involvement in EIS affairs will mean speaking on a platform in defence and support of EISpolicy. Support, advice and literature can normally be obtained from the local area office orEIS Headquarters to assist members in this. The local association has a crucial role in theformulation of EIS policy. Motions for the AGM are considered in the run up to the AGMitself, which takes place in June. Again, members within the local association have ageneral responsibility to ensure that motions which are forwarded to Headquarters properlyrepresent the concerns and interests of members within their local association.Local associations will have to consider various views which come to it from schools orindividual members. In some cases, the local association will simply wish to note the28September 2012