Being at NEA-RA has been an incredible experience...inspiring, informative, energizing and fun. My special thanks to Sue Krivenko, from Rahway Middle School and first vice president of Union County Education Association, who encouraged me to come and served as a wonderful mentor to me as a first-time delegate and thanks also to Anjanette Highsmith also of RMS who so welcomed me. Thanks to everyone from the Union County delegation who were so friendly and helpful to this newbie. Thanks also to the Rahway Education Association and the NJEA for supporting my attendance.
I have become convicted of the importance of my being here and standing up with 8,000 other teachers for our students and ourselves during a time of so many political attacks on teachers and public education and budget cuts that harm all our children.
Oh, and today President Obama called in to address us.
Finally, I just tried to speak in support of a motion to refer to the appropriate committee a new business items about state teacher pension issues. However they took a vote and referred it while I was getting set up to call in to be recognized. It is significant for me to have this experience at the end of my first RA since my initial foray beyond the local level of the union came when I was selected to go to the annual meeting of members of the New Jersey Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund.
Final delegate count : 7986.
We adopted a budget and strategic plan that puts significant funds toward organizing to bring in new members and sends a greater proportion of money, 39%, back to state and local affiliates than ever before. These changes were accomplished through staff cuts and other changes.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Posted with Blogsy
Teachers friends, please give to the NEA PAC
Please click here to give.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Heartwarming Event
Delegates occasionally come to one of the 40 microphones to address the Assembly on a point of privilege. A gentleman asked for a point of privilege and used it to propose to his girlfriend, another delegate. She accepted to unanimous applause.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
NEA Representative Assembly - Democracy in Action
Today was the election of officers. The process and experience was impressive. The procedures emphasized fairness. Challengers and incumbents both had opportunities to address individual state caucuses. For example, ballot positions were chosen by lot, no one could enter the voting area with candidate buttons, we had to show both our badge and ID before signing to get our ballot which we marked in privacy. However, the procedure was very efficient with voting and counting all done for 8,000 delegates in 5 hours. Seems as though our NEA election would be a good model for some of our local, state, and national elections to avoid hanging chad debacles.
VP And Jill Biden Address RA
Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill, addressed the Representative Assembly today. She teaches now at a community college in Northern Virginia and was an NEA member when she taught K-12.Very inspirational. Quotes:"Teaching is not what I do, but who I am." Jill Biden"Those who attack you say you don't care about your students but only yourselves, but you became a teacher because you care. York P ennsylvania teachers gave up a contracted raise to keep kindergarten in tough economic times.""Show me your budget and you will tell me your values. the Republican budget eliminates funding qfor 200,000 children."Going to college should be based on your intellectual level, not your income level."These attitudes on the part of Obama and Biden are why I am an Educator for Obama.Click on the link to become an Educator for Obama yourself.Later in the Assembly, President Obama will address the Assembly by phone from the campaign trail.
Educators for Obama
Educators for Obama
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