Once a year the federal state press officers meet up for an exchange of experience and the planning of joint activities. This year the meeting took place in Zeuthen near Berlin, at the training hotel of Annedore-Leber-Training Centre from March 7^th-8^th 2014. Eleven federal states were represented by their press officers.

Following a tradition the exchange kicked off on Friday with the federal states’ reports, before heading into the actual work of the press officers.

Johann Horvarth, long-term press officer of the Bavarian State Association, introduced the participants to the job with a well-informed and concise talk. He pointed out the most important objectives of successful public relations and hinted to possible obstacles. In his talk he made clear, how much an outstanding PR is the centre point of both the association’s acceptance and a successful membership campaign.

This led to an intense discussion on current membership rates and PR campaigns in the federal states. Clearly, membership rates are in decline, partly minimal as in Baden-Wurttemberg, Bremen or Hamburg, partly quite drastically. On a national scale the number of memberships has reduced by approximately 2,000. Yet, this is not a particular phenomenon of the vds, but a visible trend in similar institutions as well.

Thus, all state associations make increasing efforts hosting attractive events in order to win more potential members. Despite their costs and taking place at weekends, events are well-visited. However, they hardly ever lead to the desired new memberships. Therefore, the federal states rely more than ever on attractive and new PR strategies. These range from the offer of a so-called “Wild Card”, a one-year-membership allowing free entry to events hosted by the federal state’s association, to regular information, newsletters, advertising in the state’s periodical as well as the direct address of potential members.

Educational referees Uwe Brönstrup and Gerrit Mazarin, visitors of the meeting, introduced the work of the Association’s Educational Academy and forthcoming events in 2014. In order to provide a broader spectrum, the press officers were asked to find schools in their regions that are willing to provide rooms for events of the academy. They were also asked to enquire on colleagues’ needs in order to offer custom-fit occupational training units. The academy will be happy to talk to established referees in their specific regions. The respective press officers will act accordingly.

Marianne Schardt of the association’s federal board was able to report about two CD’s compiling “Zeitschrift für Heilpädagogik” articles on the topics of “inclusion” and “social and emotional development” from the years 2011 to 2013. These can be purchased from the national head office or online on the association’s website. It is intended to compile further CD’s on “counselling”, “autism”, “literacy” and “maths”. The press officers check with their state editors whether articles on these topics from the state periodicals can be made available for the CD’s

It was agreed on the following:

The press officers report frequently to the National Press Officer on forthcoming events at the respective state associations. They forward all information to be published in the association’s federal newsletter.

The web link “For students and teachers in training”, which was established on the association’s main site in 2013 will be frequently updated with information from the federal states on degree contents, teachers training at degree level etc. Relevant legislative text or other data shall be forwarded for adding to Marianne Schardt.

The press officers compile a list of addresses of university libraries and seminars in their federal states and forward it to Marianne Schardt.

Political contact persons of the individual federal states shall be listed in an excel sheet provided. The completed list will then be added to the “members” area of the website to be accessed by all members.

There is consent between the press officers on a standardisation of the appearance of The German Association for Special Education. They will make proposals within their federal associations accordingly. In order to simplify the process, the National Association provided the federal state press officers with logos for headings, flyers and events.
Marianne Schardt will check whether it is possible to set up a “vds-app” for mobiles providing up-to-date information on national and federal state events.
The next meeting has been scheduled for 6^th-7^th March 2015 in Zeuthen.

Translation: Ruth Stang