NAGC Networks: What's In It For You?
By Toni Syzmanski
As the network representative in the NAGC Board of Directors, this blog post focuses on network membership and its benefits. I asked network members to help me reflect on the importance of joining a network. Overwhelmingly the response has been one of finding your people. NAGC is a large organization and attendance at the annual convention tops 2,500 people so it is easy to feel lost in the crowd. Joining a network provides a smaller group of people with similar specialized interests and allows for a more personal experience. Many networks have less than 75 members so it is easy to get to know people personally.
People have commented that they enjoy being a part of the network to learn what others are experiencing and to share/benefit from others who have experienced similar situations. Whether you are a teacher, parent, or researcher, working in gifted education can be isolating so having others who understand the issues is a wonderful source of comfort. Others have discovered people with similar passions and background experiences which helps them feel connected and energized to do more. Some people describe their network as a “haven” where they feel supported and safe to discuss issues they can’t anywhere else. This is a free part of your NAGC membership just waiting for your involvement.
My personal experience was as a member who was not involved in networks for the first three years. I attended the conventions and would read different newsletters but didn’t feel like I had a home. When I joined the Research and Evaluation network, my whole membership experience changed. Suddenly there were more people to talk to at the convention, more sessions where I wanted to attend because I knew the speaker personally and wanted to hear what they were going to say. I felt a part of NAGC and of the larger gifted community. Eventually I took on some leadership roles in the network which led to me running for the Board position. However, I am still in contact with the R&E network and consider the members personal friends.
Joining a network is a great place to deepen your involvement with the organization. The networks choose the presentations for each convention as well as conduct activities throughout the year. For example, the Gifted Coordinators network hosts several coffee and conversation meetings during the year, the R&E networks hosts the dissertation competition annually, and the Creativity network always provides a great night of activities to stimulate our creative energy during the convention. Each network and SIG provides their members with unique experiences that contribute to the overall goals of the network. They offer an opportunity to increase your involvement with the organization while expanding your member benefits.
We have 16 networks and seven special interest groups (SIGs) in NAGC. The networks are: Arts, Computers & Technology, Conceptual Foundations, Creativity, Curriculum Studies, Early Childhood, Gifted Coordinators, Global Awareness, LGBTQ+, Parent, Family, & Community, Professional Learning, Research and Evaluation, Special Populations, Social and Emotional Development, Special Schools and Programs, and STEM. The special interest groups are Assessments of Giftedness, G-RACE Gifted Racial Accountability and Commitment to Equity, Native American/Alaskan Native & Indigenous Peoples, Rural Gifted, Rompiendo Barrera/Breaking Down Barriers for Gifted Hispanic/Latino Populations, Twice-Exceptional, and University. All these groups are sure to speak to one or more of your interests.
Joining is easy, From the home page choose the Community tab then choose the More tab the. The Networks and Special Interest groups button is the second on the list. When you choose this button the list of networks and SIGs you can click on the name of the group to get more detailed information on what they do. At the bottom of the bag is the link on how to join and access the networks and SIGs. Each network has their own channel on Engage where they share information, schedule webinars and share newsletters. The networks also have an annual meeting near the date of the convention. While these are called “business meetings” I encourage you to attend to match names with faces and get to know other members in the group. Network leaders are passionate about their areas and would love to meet others who share similar interests. I encourage you to reach out today to increase the personal value of your NAGC membership.
