The truth is, most of us were never actually taught how meetings work. Not properly, not in teacher’s college, not even really when we became stewards or started attending union meetings. We were expected to participate in systems that already had rules, language, structure, and strategy built into them, while quietly hoping we’d figure it out as we went.

So this course was created by Nikki Morrell, who is absolutely still learning, but I wanting to simplify, share and empower us members to have a voice and enough understanding to truly have a voice by knowing the Rules.

Beginning October 2026, I’ll be hosting a live online four-week Robert’s Rules 101 series designed specifically for ETFO members who want to better understand:

• how motions work,

• how agendas shape decisions,

• how to participate more confidently,

• what your rights actually are in a meeting,

• and how to stop feeling like everybody else got the handbook except you.

This is not a series about becoming argumentative, or “winning”, or being divisive, it’s about clarity, confidence, participation, and understanding the rules that already shape the rooms we sit in and dictate how our union dues are working.

Complete beginners are absolutely welcome, and honestly, they’re precisely who this was series was built for.

📌 Four live Zoom sessions in Oct 2026
📌 One hour each, at 8pm
📌 Workbook and cheat sheet included
📌 Beginner-friendly and practical
📌 Designed around real meeting scenarios

Because democracy works better when everyone understands the rules.

Do you want to understand the rules?

And… this summer, I’m also offering something else that’s a little different.

Twice a week, I’ll send out short conversational “fact drop” email, unpacking little pieces of:

• our constitution,

• our collective agreement,

• our member rights,

• our governance,

• bargaining,

• and the hidden-in-plain-sight things many of us were simply never taught.

There will be no unexplained jargon or pretending we already know this stuff already. It’ll be practical, digestible learning in plain language with a little humour, and a lot of curiosity.

Somewhere along the way, many of us started believing union literacy belonged to “union people”, it doesn’t - it belongs to members like you, and honestly - summer break feels like the perfect time to finally read the fine print.

Speaking of fine print, these “fact drops” will be sent to your personal email, but I am asking for your Board email only to verify that you are a member of ETFO Durham because the Collective Agreement & Constitution are unique to us, but the Robert’s Rules 101 series can be shared widely with any and all of your teacher friends.

So, are you in?