Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National
Newsletter
Volume 6, Number 5
June 1996
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Spring has arrived! June is now here and for most of us school is almost finished for another year. Just around the corner comes summer which means days full of baseball, swimming, vacations, cookouts, and catchingup on that list of "things to do".
For me summer is time for gardening. Early each morning, as weather permits, I take the time to work in the garden. This early morning time gives me the opportunity to meditate and enjoy God's creation. This spring I've been reminded about what Paul said in I Corinthians 3:6 (KJV) - "I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."
In my garden tiny seeds must first be planted in the ground. Most of the seed will germinate. Sunshine, water, and minerals help these plants to grow. Cultivating the soil is also important. Eventually the harvest comes. It may take a short time for the increase and beauty to occur like with my vegetable garden, or it may take years like a tall redwood in the forest. But when the harvest does come, we are thankful for the beautiful results.
As I reminisce over the past year, I am thankful for those small golden opportunities that come when the seeds can be planted in the hearts and lives of individuals. It may be that time of reaching out to a young woman in a crisis pregnancy, or sharing with a pro-choice couple the joy of their first child. These small seeds often open the door for other opportunities of ministry.
There are many ways to make a difference. Some are very small, but yet so powerful, necessary, and important for the harvest to occur. Each of us needs to do our part. It may be planting the seed, or it may be watering the seeds already planted. It is through us, God's vessels, that the planting and watering is accomplished, and then He brings about the harvest - the changed heart and life.
Let us not be discouraged when we fail to see immediate results regarding the pro-abortion position of the NEA or the AFT. Instead, remember that as each of us does our small part, we can make a difference as we battle for the lives of the unborn. Take some time this summer to sow some seeds by reaching out and touching a life in a special way. The beautiful and bountiful harvest will be worth it all.
Doug Shamp has been a member of the Ohio Chapter Board of Trustees for four years and the National Board of Trustees since its inception. Doug is in his eighteenth year as an educator. He began his teaching career as a math teacher in the Wooster City Schools. For the past five years Doug has served successively in three different private and public school systems as an administrator. He received his B.S. degree from Ohio University and his masters from the University of Akron. While teaching, Doug made the decision not to join the NEA by filing for a religious exemption. Doug is married and has two children. He keeps very active in a variety of organizations as well as in his local church. In the past he has served as an officer in the Wayne-Holmes county Right to Life Chapter and has served as an Ohio Right to life Board Member.
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, 1997. 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 approve a budget and make important strategy decisions for the coming year.
Affiliate State Chapter Update: The organization of Teachers Saving Children® of Pennsylvania, Inc. is well on the way to completion. On Saturday, May 4, 1996, the Ad Hoc Committee approved the Constitution and Bylaws. They also appointed the initial Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees then elected the following slate of officers: Kathy Berdanier, Executive Director; Scott Moyer, Assistant Executive Director; Dr. Michael Grella, Secretary; and Linda Burroughs, Treasurer.
The PA Board of Trustees discussed several matters of business, including the creation of a state brochure and newsletter. The main thrust of the organization in its beginning stages will be growth in membership. The Trustees would appreciate input from PA members as to the activities they feel would be most beneficial to the pro-life cause among Pennsylvania educators and their professional organizations.
The PA Board of Trustees has filed the 1024 IRS application. Once this application is approved, then the TSC National Board of Trustees will consider their application for state affiliation.
Educators for Life Caucus: When the National Education Association (NEA) convenes for its annual meeting July 2 through July 5, 1996 in Washington DC, 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.
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.
The Ohio Education Association (OEA) held its 1996 Spring Representative Assembly on May 3-4, 1996 at Veteran's Memorial in Columbus OH. On the evening of May 2nd, the Life Issues Caucus held a strategy meeting which was well attended and which laid the groundwork for what would be brought to the floor of the RA.
Members of Life Issues Caucus attended a meeting of the OEA Resolutions Commission the following morning and were provided the opportunity to discuss matters of concern regarding specific components of the resolutions document. This meeting traditionally precedes the actual opening of the convention, itself.
To remain a part of OEA's official document, each of the organization's resolutions must pass a majority vote every spring. This affords the opportunity to debate the merits of the specific items involved. Therefore, Life Issues Caucus members brought to the floor a motion to delete that portion of Resolution I-3 paragraph 2 referring to reproductive freedom, while at the same time introducing and describing the results of a statewide survey of teachers which was conducted during February and March. The conducting of this survey was discouraged by the OEA Leadership.
The survey results are as follows:
| # of Local Associations Responding: | 24 | ||
| # of Local Associations Completing Survey: | 16 | ||
| # of Surveys Distributed: | 1342+ | ||
| # of Respondents: | 743 |
| Position #1: | Professional Education Associations should take a position in favor of reproductive freedom. | 71 (10%) | ||||||||
| Position #2: | Professional Education Associations should take a position against reproductive freedom. | 60 ( 8%) | ||||||||
| Position #3: | Professional Education Associations should take NO position concerning reproductive freedom. | 607 (82%) |
Although the return was only about 1%, the results were consistent with every other survey which has been conducted concerning OEA's involvement in the abortion issue: The majority of those responding were in favor of Professional Education Associations taking NO position on "reproductive freedom". The point was made, interestingly, that the OEA RA delegation also reflects about 1% of the total membership.
Although the motion to delete the reference to "reproductive freedom" failed, a source of encouragement is the increasing number of delegates - pro-life and pro-choice - who are becoming involved in the efforts of Life Issues Caucus. New and creative strategies continue to arise from within this group in the hope that one day soon the OEA will fall silent on the issue of abortion.
Editor's Note: Reminder - TSC did NOT conduct this survey, but is only cooperating with Ohio Life Issues Caucus by reporting to our membership survey information.
Recently, TSC received a copy of a document, An Employee's Guide-To Union Dues and Religious Do Nots by Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. This guide gives excellent information about the rights of employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and how they can preserve both their job and their conscience when confronted with the demand that they join or financially support a labor union. Bruce Cameron is a staff attorney with the National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation which was established for the sole purpose of providing free legal aid to employees suffering violations of their human and civil rights because of injustices arising from the abuses of compulsory union membership arrangements. Contact National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 600, Springfield VA 22160 for information about obtaining this guide.
Both the guide by Bruce Cameron and the brochure printed by TSC were written to provide general information. Neither should be used for legal advice or services. Since individual situations vary, anyone with a legal problem in this area should consult a competent attorney.
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