Teachers Saving Children^® Inc. - National

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

In the February 1999 NEA NOW, a NEA publication for local leaders, the NEA did an excellent job in letting us know that "We are the NEA" and how we need to get involved in our association.

It is never...too early to start thinking about candidates for local Association office or Association rep slots. Remember, most folks active in the Association first became active because someone recognized their potential and asked them to become involved.

No one's active involvement...in our Association is more important than the Association rep, a local's first, and sometimes only, direct contact with members. A local's Association rep system is working well when members know they can go to the AR in their building and get answers to their questions and solutions to their problems. A smoothly functioning AR system "senses" when things are not going well - and alerts local leaders to emerging issues.

Local Association rep structures...vary from state to state. Some reps are information conduits. Some actively promote the profession and the Association. Many actively assist members. The best rep systems combine all these elements.

A good Association rep...is always prepared, especially when trouble is brewing. Some tips for any AR to share with co-workers before trouble escalates: Remain calm and courteous. Ask that another member or witness be present. Listen carefully to any accusations and then ask for time to think before responding. Call the Association representative. Don't admit guilt or accept blame. Don't sign or make any verbal agreements. Keep copies of all papers relating to the situation. Make written, dated records of any conferences with administrators, including names of witnesses and others involved.

Do you know someone...who has the potential to become a strong addition to your local's Association rep network? Ask that member to become part of the team - and support them with training and assistance when they say yes. (Source: NEA NOW, February 1999)

That someone just might be you! However, if you do not wish to serve in an elected or appointed position, you can still express your opinion. Just contact your building representative, local officer, and/or local delegate(s) to the state and/or national representative assemblies. If you don't know who these individuals are, then ask! Let's get involved and/or express our opinions! Let's make our voices heard!

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 the NEA and its state affiliates have a strong tradition of democratic governance. The NEA Representative Assembly, the annual meeting of the Association, is the largest deliberative body in the world. During the Representative Assembly, delegates vote on issues that affect us in many ways: they adopt all the NEA policies, the budget, and the resolutions; enact legislative agendas; consider many new business items; elect Association officers; and vote on amendments to the NEA governing documents.

All delegates are selected in the local and state affiliates by their colleagues to represent their views in the deliberation of the assembly. It is not too late to get involved. Details for running as a state delegate can be received from your state affiliate office. The state delegate elections will take place between now and mid-March.

For local delegate representation to the NEA RA, check with your local president. 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 and/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!

The following information is quoted from the 1992 response letter and the AFT's legislative and political activity resolution.

From the letter: "While no policy resolutions concerning abortion per se have been adopted, delegates to AFT's 1981 convention did approve the attached resolution, 'Women's Right to Choice' in response to the proposed Hyde Amendment in Congress."