Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National

Newsletter
Volume 5, Number 5
June 1995

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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Connie Bancroft


I am very excited about what is happening both within the Ohio Chapter of TSC and across the nation. There are reasons for encouragement as we reminisce over the past year.

We have seen healthy growth and interest in TSC. Our total membership across the nation, including Ohio, stands at 223. Many others have written and expressed an interest in TSC. Our presence and visibility across the nation, and especially throughout the state of Ohio, is increasing. There is also increased involvement of pro-life educators within the ranks of the local, district, and state affiliates of the NEA.

I recently came across two examples of the impact that pro-life delegates are making within the Association. At the recent OEA-RA, I picked up some information from the OEA Women's Caucus Display Table. Amongst that information was a copy of OEA Secretary-Treasurer Candidate William Dorsey's responses to the OEA Women's Caucus Candidate Screening Questionnaire. Mr. Dorsey has served on the OEA Executive Committee for 20 years and for the last 2 years has served as OEA Secretary-Treasurer. The following is his response to the question on "reproductive freedom".

Question: "How do you feel about the right to reproductive freedom? Should this be an OEA concern or issue? Why or Why Not?

Response: "I support the right of reproductive freedom. I believe that this is an appropriate area of concern for the OEA since women comprise more than seventy percent of the OEA membership. I do believe, however, that women are generally the most effective advocates for this position. I am concerned that opponents of reproductive freedom are gaining strength within the Association and that organized groups of women are doing little to make their voices heard." (Emphasis mine)

In the OEA Women's Caucus April 1995 newsletter, the OEA Women's Caucus Executive Committee expressed a "Resolution Alert! Reproductive Freedom". They took an entire page of their newsletter to alert their membership of the attempts "to remove the Reproductive Freedom language from our OEA Resolutions Report."

This newsletter will concentrate on the happenings and progress that was made at the recent OEA-RA. It is our hope that pro-life teachers across the nation will be encouraged and motivated to get involved within their own state so that similar impacts will be seen.

The need for an organization such as Teachers Saving Children® is vital. It is even more important today for the people at the grassroots level to get involved. As progress continues to be made, we need all of you who agree with our purpose to join in helping us spread the word about TSC and to encourage others to join with us in fighting for the lives of the unborn.

Remember, we can and we are making a difference! Please help by getting involved in whatever way possible.

Have a great summer.


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OHIO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY REPORT

On Friday and Saturday, May 5-6, 1995, approximately 1400 delegates met at the Veterans Memorial In Columbus for their spring business session. The main business was the discussion of two Constitution & Bylaw changes, the OEA Resolutions, and the 1995-96 Budget. Elections for several positions were held. There was also much discussion about recent happenings in the Ohio General Assembly (our State Legislative Body).

There were two opportunities for pro-life delegates to debate the pro-abortion position of the OEA. The first opportunity came during the Friday morning session when the OEA Constitution & Bylaw Amendment Proposal 3 was discussed. The intent of this amendment was to prohibit the OEA from using money from the general fund and/or dues to support or lobby for either side of the abortion issue. (See TSC April 1995 newsletter for actual wording of proposed amendment.)

The delegates voted on Proposal 3 by secret ballot over the lunch recess. Results were given late during the afternoon session. Results are as follows:

Ballots Cast: 1251
Needed to Pass: 625
For: 558
Against: 665

Although the proposal failed, the margin of defeat was much closer than many delegates expected.

In the meantime, the Friday afternoon session began with the discussion of Resolutions. When OEA Resolution I-3 came before the delegates, there were several very boisterous "holds" and a mass movement to the phones for recognition to speak on the held item.

Here in Ohio Resolution I-3 paragraph 2 states:

"The Association supports family planning including the right to reproductive freedom. The Association urges all branches of Federal, state, and local governments to give high priority to making available all methods of family planning to women and men unable to take advantage of private facilities. Where needed and accepted by the local community, the Association urges the implementation of community-operated, school-based family planning clinics that will provide students with intensive counseling by trained personnel."

There were several different groups of delegates interested in making amendments to this Resolution. The first amendment was to amend OEA Resolution I-3 by the deletion of paragraph 2. Delegates on both sides of the issue expressed their opinions. The motion failed on a voice vote.

The second amendment was to refer OEA Resolution I-3 paragraph 2 back to the OEA Resolutions Commission for reconsideration. This amendment was made by two "pro-choice" delegates who through their UniServ Council did a survey amongst their UniServ Locals. The survey gave some introductory remarks about the importance of finding out how members feel regarding certain critical issues, stated the preamble to the OEA Constitution, and quoted the first two paragraphs of Resolution I-3 with the question "do you believe this position is appropriate for our organization? They reported the results of this survey as follows:

Yes - 355          No - 346

Notice that the results are so close that the membership who had completed the survey were split on the issue. By sending the paragraph back to the Resolutions Commission for reconsideration, the paragraph would then be eliminated from the document until reconsidered by the delegates. This amendment also failed on a voice vote.

A third amendment never reached the floor for discussion because a delegate had called in to "close debate" on all discussion on the held item.

However, following a very lengthy discussion - probably around 2 to 21/2 hours between both the morning and afternoon sessions - on this controversial and emotional issue, delegates continued to discuss the issue amongst themselves. There is increased support to eliminate this divisive issue from the OEA Resolution document and more delegates - even "pro-choice" delegates - are not only speaking amongst themselves, but also beginning to speak during open debate to make this change happen.


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OHIO LIFE ISSUES CAUCUS UPDATE

Gary Winney, Chairperson

As chairman of the Life Issues Caucus, I watched, with great interest, the events as they unfolded during the OEA Spring Representative Assembly. Once again, during a review of resolutions (--official position statements of OEA concerning various educational and noneducational issues), there was a discussion of OEA Resolution I-3, OEA's premiere springboard for "reproductive freedom". There was an attempt to amend this item to a point where OEA actually detaches itself from any position, whatsoever, on the issue of abortion. Many "pro-choice" delegates are beginning to support our cause, in the interest of unity for the entire organization.

Much discussion about an amendment to the OEA's Bylaws (Proposal 3) ensued. The vote was quite close when one considers that there were about 1300 delegates present.

Our strategy meetings are encouraging and are attended by delegates on both sides of the issue of abortion, who participate in the interest of ridding OEA of this divisive issue. We will meet during the summer to continue planning strategies for future encounters in Columbus (OH). We are encouraged and thankful for new developments and look forward to the time when we can finally put this issue to rest.

For more information about Ohio Life Issues Caucus, contact Gary Winney at 216-944-4409.


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EDUCATORS FOR LIFE CAUCUS

When the National Education Association (NEA) convenes for its annual meeting on July 3 through July 5, 1995 in Minneapolis Minnesota, Educators for Life Caucus will once again be there to do its bidding on behalf of life. Delegates have already submitted a petition in accordance with the NEA Constitution to place the following amendment before the NEA delegate body this summer.


AMENDMENT 9 (Requires a majority vote)

TITLE: To provide that the Secretary-Treasurer shall assure the NEA membership that no General Fund monies are funneled or funded to organizations or associations that support and/or sponsor abortion services and/or abortion lobbying activities.

Bylaw 11. General Finance (New Bylaw 11-13)

11-13. Budget Restrictions.

    The Secretary-Treasurer shall ensure to the NEA membership that no General Fund monies are funneled or funded to organizations or associations that support and/or sponsor abortion services and/or abortion lobbying activities.

The NEA Board of Directors met in Washington DC on May 5-6, 1995. They, as the Board of Directors, approved a motion to oppose Amendment 9.

Your voice can be heard! Contact your delegate(s) to the NEA-RA. They are your representatives! Let them know your philosophy on the issues. Request that they vote in favor of the above amendment. If you don't know who will be representing you, contact your state affiliate NEA office.

Secondly, if you are a delegate to the NEA, please contact Edward Weber (216-449-5372) for current information regarding involvement in Educators for Life Caucus at the NEA-RA this summer.


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1995-96 MEMBERSHIPS

We are currently accepting new memberships for the 1995-96 membership year. Renewal membership information will be sent to all current members in early July. Please note the following information about TSC membership:

TSC membership is open to all pro-life/pro-family educators and concerned citizens.

Please be advised that according to the TSC Constitution & Bylaws, the membership year is from September 1 - August 31. Annual dues are $25.00. A reduced rate of $10.00 is available for college students who are presently enrolled in a college or university undergraduate degree program and to retired educators who are currently receiving retirement benefits. Contributions and memberships are NOT tax deductible.

Any new memberships received after June 1st are good until August 31, 1996. Although memberships and contributions are accepted throughout the year, we encourage you to send in your membership by September 1. This will help the Board of Trustees to approve a budget and make important strategy decisions for the coming year.


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TSC PUBLIC RELATIONS

The news about TSC has generally been passed to others by word of mouth. We also continue to work through other pro-life organizations in a variety of ways to inform others about TSC. Please help us spread the word. Contact TSC today to receive multiple copies of our brochure to share with your colleagues. Let's continue to recruit the troops as we work together in this battle for life.


For more information contact: tsc-life@juno.com
©1995, 2001, 2005 Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


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