On September 15, 2007, the executive board attended a workshop titled "The Nuts and Bolts of Running a Union". The workshop was free to AFT Board Members. We examined the roles and responsibilities of the local union president and executive board, identified the elements of a local union constitution, reviewed governance structures, and learned how to hold effective meetings. The eight hour workshop was attended by local unions throughout Connecticut and afforded those in attendance the opportunity to share experiences and ideas. The executive board feels confident that this workshop gave us information that will enable us to build a strong union and give members a sense of commitment and ownership.