Long Beach (Oct 29-30, 2011) ~ Local leaders from five states (Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas) continued focus on the Results for Students Frame that has been developed over the past few months by Southwest TURN.

This meeting was piggy-backed on the National TURN meeting affording an opportunity for those involved in developing the Results for Students materials and strategies to share their experiences with leaders and activists from the other four TURN Regions. 

The first session was an orientation to Results For Students for the newest members.  In the photo below, Larry Spotts, UniServ Director for Jefferson County, CO, works with SW TURN members who are learning how to frame messages.  

The balance of the meeting was organized around three questions:

1. How is the frame being used by locals in SW TURN? 
   Local associations gave examples of how they have been using the SW TURN frame, where, how it worked and what they learned. Ideas to engage members in use of the frame (see examples on the Results For Students page).
2. How do we talk with each other about the frame between meetings? (SW TURN is on Facebook and planning to experiment with GroupSite for internal communication).
3. Can we use the frame to assist with current school "turnaround" efforts? 

The following diagram is an abridged version of the SW TURN Frame (click the image to download the full document).

As SW TURN moves forward, locals will emphasize the thrusts of Results For Students that best apply to their respective local situations, employ our shared communication strategies, and report what they learn to the other locals.

The next meeting is scheduled for February 10-11, 2012, in Austin TX, pending confirmation of accommodations, meeting place, etc.