The gist: This time of year, Loree Nasman is flooded with questions about membership. As IEA’s membership processing expert, she is the go-to for local union presidents and members.  

A bit about your membership expert: Nasman has worked at IEA for 32 years and has spent about a dozen of those years dealing with memberships.  

• Fun fact: When she started in membership, all memberships were processed via paper forms — but Nasman is good at rolling with the punches. “There’s always a different problem to solve, and I like to solve problems so the members are happy with the resolution.” 

The most common questions she hears this time of year: Back-to-school can be hectic for members, but knowing a few things in advance can make the process a bit smoother.  

• Am I certificated or certified? Nasman says there’s overlapping terminology that can be confusing, but it boils down to this: the words certificated, certified and professional are interchangeable. So are classified and education support professionals (ESPs).  

• I’m student teaching this year. Do I have to pay dues? No — aspiring educators who are student teaching or working on their practicum within the member year are eligible for a complimentary membership. 

Important: You need to fill out a paper form for the complimentary membership — it can’t be completed online. Ask your local union president for details.  

 • I’m moving to a new local. Do I have to wait until my membership in my current local is canceled? You don’t have to wait. Just use the Join Now feature to enroll with your new local — once your enrollment is confirmed, the old membership will be canceled.  

• I’m leaving employment in the middle of the year. What happens to my dues? IEA may be able to prorate your dues if you leave employment mid-year. IEA will need to verify your employment with your district to calculate whether you owe additional dues or qualify for a refund.  

• What’s the last day to enroll or cancel for the future year? Oct. 15. If you cancel after Oct. 15, you will still be responsible for the full year’s dues.  

• Important: Cancelations are different than leaving employment — cancelations are not pro-rated. Remember that memberships are a contract between you can your local association — if you don’t pay your dues, your local becomes responsible for the expense.  

• All cancelation requests must go through your local president (or designee) before processing.  

• I still owe dues from last year. What should I do? If you have outstanding dues, you must pay them in full or have an approved repayment plan in place. This applies even if services weren’t accessed. Nasman says to think of it like car insurance: You pay your premium whether or not you make a claim.  

• I’m experiencing a financial crisis and can’t pay my dues. What should I do? Apply to the IEA Dues Hardship Fund. Any IEA member who is facing significant financial hardship has the opportunity to apply for funds to assist in covering their dues. To apply, contact Nasman at membership@idahoea.org. 

• Pay it forward: Did you know that any member can contribute to the Dues Hardship Fund? Simply check off the Dues Hardship Fund box on your membership form or submit a check, credit card or cash contribution — you can even host a fundraiser! 

• My district is still processing my dues through payroll. Am I still supposed to switch to IEA AutoPay? Yes! Paying your dues directly to the union through IEA AutoPay protects your membership should your district or the Idaho Legislature decide to do away with payroll deduction.  

• Learn more and make the switch: Visit the IEA AutoPay website for more information.  

• I’m retired. What are my membership options? You can choose an annual retired membership that renews every year, or you can pay a flat fee for a lifetime retired membership.  

• Important: If you’re still teaching, you can make the transition seamless by becoming a pre-retired lifetime member. Contact IEA to start the process.   

Stay tuned: If you’ve been hoping for IEA information in one place, check your mailbox this September! All members will soon receive “A Guide to Your Union,” a resource you can keep for the year ahead. Learn about membership, important dates to mark on your calendar, your local and region contacts, committees and caucuses, Delegate Assembly, and so much more.