Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National
Newsletter
Volume 7, Number 1
October 1996
Home |
Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National | |
Newsletter
|
Home | |
It is hard to believe that it is October already. For most of us that means we are all busy with our students as well as with our families and other personal interests. However, each day the lives of unborn children continue to be taken from us.
Four years ago dramatic changes within our government caused a turning point in national politics. The NEA was a vital force behind those changes. As a result our nation saw more federal support of abortion all in the name of "choice".
Election Day 1994 brought about another significant change cross America. The American people stated a resounding no vote to the liberal agenda. Pro-family leaders agreed that that victory was the result of grassroots activism all across America.
I believe that the 1994 election results prove that when each one gets involved at the grassroots level, change can take place. Consider the following thought:
Yes, we may only have one vote, but one vote has often made the difference in election outcomes. Scripture tells us in Matthew 5:14ff that "You are the light of the world." Each one of us is a light. We are not to hide our light, but instead allow our light to penetrate the darkness.
This year's elections on all levels are vital to our nation. It is important for all registered voters - yes each one of us - to go to the polls this year and express our freedom of choice through voting. The biggest reason people give for not voting is that they do not know enough about the candidates and the issues. As the time comes closer to the November General Election, all forms of media will be used to influence the citizens of this nation to vote for certain candidates in a variety of offices at all levels of government.
What will happen is yet to be seen. Therefore it is vital for each one of us to get involved in the political process in order to penetrate the darkness of this world. Let your light shine this fall by becoming informed and voting on November 5, 1996.
The national office continues to be in contact with individuals from other states who have expressed an interest in starting affiliate State Chapters. State Affiliate Chapters cannot begin until there is a substantial listing of interested individuals from within that state as well as those interested in leadership. To help build that foundation and to gain that leadership, please help us spread the word about TSC.
Should a Christian educator stay involved in the NEA, or run and not look back? My answer is a Christian educator should stay in and have a vote as a delegate in order to change the NEA from within. Every Christian member of the NEA should seriously and prayerfully consider being a delegate to the national convention. My argument is very logical when one considers the basic numerical facts.
The NEA has a membership of approximately 2.2 million members and collects roughly $186 million in dues yearly. An average convention has around 9,000 delegates voting on numerous and important issues. If 5,000 members pull out of the NEA because they disagree with liberal policies, the amount of union dues the NEA loses is less than 1/3 of 1% of their total contributions. The loss of revenue is negligible to say the least. If those same 5,000 members were to attend the convention as delegates, the change would be dramatic and the powerful votes they would cast would allow for sweeping reforms in very liberal NEA positions. Both methods (pulling out or attending as a delegate) have the same goal - changing the NEA from the outside or inside. Which would accomplish it in the most timely manner?
From my own experience, I found the process of becoming a delegate very easy. In November 1995, I became convinced that I needed to investigate becoming a delegate. I spoke with our local union president and was told she could nominate me as a cluster delegate in January 1996 because our school district is small and I could also nominate myself as a state delegate to run on a statewide ballot in February. If I won both ways, I could decide if I wanted to go as a cluster or state delegate. Either way my vote still counted the same. I decided to run both ways to increase my likelihood of going. In our cluster election in March, two names appeared on the ballot and we were to vote for two delegates. When I saw the ballot, I knew I was going as a delegate. I also continued with my plans to be on the state ballot because I wanted to see how I would do in case there was ever a contest at our local cluster level. When I received my sample ballot for approval in March, I xeroxed it and sent it to about a dozen fellow teachers I knew in my state who were not in my district. I wrote a cover letter asking them to let other teachers in their districts know that I was running. I sent this to college friends, relatives, church friends, and friends from grad school. I did not know how many of these were NEA members, but I figured it was worth the postage and my time. As it turned out, I received much to my great surprise over 1,200 votes in the April election and I only needed about 200 more votes to win. I look forward to the state race again in the spring of 1997 because I will add to my list of contacts delegates I met this past summer at the convention and I feel that I have an even better chance of winning as a state delegate this time.
We as Christians are called to impact our culture for Christ. I find no Biblical basis for withdrawal from our culture and into our holy huddle. In the fifth chapter of Matthew we are told that we are "the salt of the earth." Salt was used as a preservative so foods would not spoil. We are also told that if the salt has lost its flavor, it "is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men." This is exactly what we have allowed to happen. We as Christians in the NEA have relinquished our influence and have allowed ungodly positions to be adopted and promoted. We need to reclaim the NEA and redirect its agenda toward educational policies which uphold moral standards and values.
Should a Christian politician stay involved in the government, or run and not look back? This may seem like a ludicrous question, but I see a strong parallel to the question asked concerning the NEA. How can we affect change unless we are directly involved in the process? My advice is the NEA needs revival and that will only happen when followers of Christ are convinced to take a strong stand for what they believe in and are willing to go as delegates to a convention in order to see it become a reality. Sharing your views with your local union president and/or at local meetings is good, but remember, your opinions are on an even footing with 2,200,000 members from across the United States. If you really want to affect change, make an impact as one of 9,000 delegates at a convention. Remember the annual event is held conveniently during the week of Fourth of July in the summer. For the next four years, the conventions are slated for Atlanta, GA ('97), Anaheim, CA ('98), Orlando, FL ('99), and Chicago, IL in the year 2000. This year's event took place in Washington, DC.
It is time for Christian members to advance to the convention as delegates instead of staying retreated back home in our local associations.
State affiliates shall be allocated state delegates in the ratio of one (1) delegate for each 1,000 NEA Active members with each state receiving a minimum of fifteen (15) delegates. Individuals interested in becoming a state delegate should contact their NEA State affiliate office for complete information. Candidacy forms will be available soon and there are deadlines that must be carefully adhered to.
There are also provisions for the allocation of delegate credentials to local affiliates. There are two ways depending on the size of one's local association. For local associations with more than 75 members, delegates will be allocated in the ratio of one delegate for each 150 NEA Active members or major fraction thereof. Local associations with more than 75 members may not cluster with other locals. Although all delegates must be elected, some local associations have language within their local Constitution & Bylaws which grants an officer the entitlement of being the local delegate to the convention. Other locals allow for open nominations to occur for this delegate position(s). Individuals interested in becoming a local delegate should contact their local association president for more information. Again, there are deadlines that must be carefully followed.
Local associations with fewer than 76 members may join together to form membership units for the purpose of representation. Each local in a cluster of two or more must have fewer than 76 members. For clustered locals, delegates will be allocated in the ratio of one (1) delegate for each 150 NEA Active members or major fraction thereof. Many small local associations are never represented. Individuals from these small locals who are interested in becoming an NEA delegate should contact their local association president and/or NEA state affiliate office for more information. Reminder: There are deadlines!
Please contact your NEA State affiliate office and/or your local association president for complete information.
1. The Board of Trustees is in the process of applying for Logo Copyright Protection. They are also working on a license agreement for affiliate state chapters to sign for the use of the TSC logo.
2. Several amendments to the TSC Constitution & Bylaws were recommended and approved. One amendment allowed for the addition of a treasurer's position.
3. Dave Kaiser was elected as Treasurer for the remainder of the 1996-97 fiscal year.
4. Beginning with the 1996-97 membership year, members will receive a membership card. (Note: This year these cards should be mailed to members in October.)
5. The Board approved the 1996-97 National TSC budget:
| Affiliate State Chapters | $ 2000.00 | ||
| Miscellaneous Fees | 1000.00 | ||
| Office Administration | 500.00 | ||
| Postage | 1600.00 | ||
| Public Relations | |||
| Promotion | 600.00 | ||
| Printing | 1200.00 | ||
| Telephone | 250.00 | ||
| Travel Expense | 250.00 | ||
| Total | $7400.00 |
| Balance - September 1, 1995 | $2322.50* | ||
| Receipts: | |||
| Contributions: | $ 498.00 | ||
| Memberships: | |||
| '95-'96 | 2016.00 | ||
| '96-'97 | 3395.00 | ||
| Interest | 82.49 | $5991.49 | |
| Disbursements: | |||
| Affiliate State Chapter (PA) | $278.32 | ||
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Audit Fees | 50.00 | ||
| Legal Fees | 648.39 | ||
| Other | 33.93 | ||
| Office Administration | 440.68 | ||
| Postage | 1404.46 | ||
| Public Relations | |||
| Promotion | 440.52 | ||
| Printing | 979.42 | ||
| Telephone (Reg nat) | 193.55 | ||
| Travel Expenses | 76.14 | $4523.69 | |
| Balance - August 31, 1996 | $3790.30 |
*Difference in ending balance of 1994-95 and beginning balance of 1995-96 is $15.16 due to the inclusion of the petty cash balance in the report.
Please note: There was a large number of membership renewals paid prior to September 1, 1996. Thank you for helping the Board have a better picture of what our finances would be like for the 1996-97 fiscal year. TSC does not solicit additional contributions beyond memberships, but does appreciate any additional contributions received throughout the year.
|
Home |