Teachers Saving Children^® Inc. - National

Gary Winney has been a member of both the Ohio Chapter Board of Trustees and the National Board of Trustees since its inception. Presently Gary is the head of the Ohio Life Issues Caucus, through which delegates have been working to bring an end to the OEA's position on abortion. In the past, Gary has been relatively active in the Wickliffe Teachers Association. Most recently he has made the decision to drop out of the NEA. Currently Gary teaches biology to sophomores at Wickliffe High School and has worked with the high school administration in the discipline program. Gary is a member of the Association of American Educators, a professional education organization that provides much of the professional enrichment that educators have been looking for these past years. Gary lives in the same city where he teaches and is able to walk to school each day. His immediate family lives nearby while the rest of his family is generally scattered around the country.

TSC-National has begun contacting individuals within other states. On December 26, 1995, a letter was sent to all individuals who had indicated an interest in helping to start a TSC State Chapter within their state. Twenty-three individuals representing twelve different states were contacted.

Of those persons responding, strong leadership contacts have been made with individuals from Massachusetts and Michigan. Individuals from these two states who are interested in helping to start a TSC affiliate state chapter should contact the TSC National Office. In addition, if you know of pro-life teachers from Massachusetts or Michigan, please encourage them to make contact with TSC about membership.

Although the time for formal application may not occur until later, there is definite potential for an affiliate state chapter within other states. The process seems very slow, especially within an "instant-minded" culture. However, TSC believes in doing everything "above board" from the very beginning which not only helps the integrity of the organization, but also helps the organization to have greater impact.

Please continue to keep this process of beginning TSC Affiliate State Chapters as a matter of prayer. It is a great undertaking for all those involved.

REMINDER: All memberships from ALL states across the nation continue to be handled through the national office.

March for Life 1996: As a representative of Teachers Saving Children^®, Miss Connie Bancroft, National Executive Director, was cordially invited to join other pro-life organization representatives on the platform at the 23rd annual March for Life rally which was held on January 22 in Washington DC. During the rally TSC was able to get national exposure as each representative clearly stated their name and the name of their organization. Special thanks to the March for Life Committee for allowing TSC to be represented amongst so many pro-life organizations.

Often we know who our local officers and building representatives are. However, most of our dues money, in fact - hundreds of dollars, goes beyond the local to other levels of the Association. Knowing who represents us and how they vote isn't just a matter of principle; it's a matter of how our dues money is being spent.

Comments are often heard that NEA and its state affiliates have a strong tradition of democratic governance. The NEA Representative Assembly, the main governing meeting of the Association, is the largest deliberative body in the world. All policies of the NEA are adopted by the delegates during the Representative Assembly. Delegates vote on issues that affect us in many ways. They adopt the budget and resolutions, enact legislative agendas, and consider new business items. They also elect Association officers and vote on amendments to the governing documents.

All delegates are selected by their colleagues in the local and state affiliates to represent their view in the deliberation of the assembly. It is not too late to get involved as election results from local affiliates are not due to their state affiliates until April 15. Unless your local Constitution & Bylaws allows for officers to serve as your delegates or allows for multi-year terms for delegates, most voting should take place between now and the first part of April.

So watch those local memos and newsletters carefully for NEA delegate election information. We will only get good representation when members take the time to get involved by educating ourselves about the candidates, and VOTING!

It is vital that each individual educator contact their local president in February to encourage them to have their local participate in this survey.

For more information or questions, please contact either Gary Winney at 216-944-4409 or Juanita Sattler at 419-826-7342.

Editor's Note: Reminder - TSC is NOT conducting this survey, but is only cooperating with Life Issues Caucus by reporting to our membership survey information. Please do not contact TSC regarding the survey.