Teachers Saving Children^® Inc. - National

She has been an NEA member since 1987 and was an NEA Representative in St. Cloud for 2 years. Now she would like to help develop a Teachers Saving Children^® affiliate in Minnesota and raise awareness of the pro-life issues among her colleagues.

Barbara is a parish council member at Holy Family Catholic church, where she is also active in their ACCL pro-life group and teaches communion preparation religious education Wednesday class. Barbara and her sister, Sally, run “Rest On His Word,” a business dedicated to God and family, which produces holy art/prayer pillowcases.

Barbara is a widow with three grown sons who also live in the Minneapolis area.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act forbids discrimination against religious employees and requires companies and unions to attempt to reasonably accommodate employees’ sincerely-held religious beliefs. The obligation to accommodate includes the payment of compulsory union fees, as no employees should be forced to fund a union that engages in activities that offend their religious convictions.

The Ohio teachers originally filed charges against the NEA teacher union with the Ohio Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging that the union was in violation of their rights as religious objectors. In return for withdrawing the charges, the settlement allows the teachers to redirect their mandatory agency fees to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, rather than pay any funds whatsoever to a union hierarchy steeped in objectionable social activism.

The Ohio Education Association (OEA) has a long and abusive record of refusing to accommodate religious objectors in the workplace. National Right to Work Foundation attorneys have helped Ohio teachers in dozens of cases over the last decade involving the OEA and its affiliates. The EEOC has filed suit against OEA affiliates and released findings that OEA affiliates violated the rights of religious objectors. Congress has also investigated the problem of the OEA and its treatment of employees of faith. In fact, one OEA attorney went so far as to tell Carol Katter, a life-long Catholic, that she should “change religions” when she requested a religious accommodation to redirect her union fees to a charitable organization.

“While we applaud the EEOC for working with our legal aid team to reach an equitable settlement, abuses of this nature will continue as long as Ohio lacks a Right to Work law,” said Stefan Gleason, vice president of the National Right to Work Foundation. “Making union affiliation completely voluntary is the most effective way to free employees from the abuses of forced unionism.”

There was enormous pressure from the track and field community to abort her baby. A child, she was told, would destroy her Olympic dreams of gaining a medal. Tasha and her husband, Darrell, chose life for their baby. As a result, Tasha was castigated in the media. We, on the other hand, presented her with our Hero At Heart award, given to those who demonstrate outstanding courage or compassion on behalf of innocent human life. Tasha and I became fast friends ever since. During the first season of our half-hour weekly TV program, Facing Life Head-On, I interviewed Tasha and Darrell regarding these events.

Fast forward to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Tasha is once again competing against the best in the world in the 400 meter hurdles event. On August 20, 2008 she ran her personal best to claim the bronze medal! With this tremendous victory, Tasha has demonstrated to women all over the world that they don’t have to sacrifice their unborn children to fulfill their dreams. Tasha’s three-year-old son, Jaden, was an inspiration to her Olympic goals. The very thing critics said would destroy and derail her hopes was central to helping her fulfill them.

Tasha stood strong for life, even when it meant temporarily giving up her dreams for an Olympic medal. Now she has become a member of the exclusive club of Olympic champions, and she has her beautiful son, Jaden. I couldn’t be happier for her.

(Source: Life Issues Institute, August 20, 2008)

Through your generosity, the Lord has already provided some additional funds in the past three months. As a result, the $1300 needed for the exhibit application is already in hand. Thank you.

Funds will still be needed for miscellaneous expenses and materials for distribution. Please consider financially assisting Teachers Saving Children^® in sharing the truth about “The Wonder of Life.”

Note: Please make checks payable to “TSC Inc. – National”. Please carefully note how the amount given is to be designated (NEA Exhibit) so that the contribution will be appropriately allocated. Contributions are NOT tax deductible.

1. The Board of Trustees approved the name of Barbara Johnston to fill the open seat on the Board of Trustees. (See related article).

2. The Board of Trustees accepted the reports of the State Affiliate Chapters. Due to amended Constitution & Bylaws, both the Michigan and Pennsylvania Affiliates will now have 5 Board of Trustees members (plus the Executive Director) instead of 7 members.

3. The Board of Trustees made a decision to make application for an exhibit at the NEA Expo 2009 in San Diego, CA, July 1-3, 2009.

4. The Board of Trustees approved the 2007-2008 fiscal report and the following 2008-2009 budget:

		Affiliate State Chapters	$ 500.00
		Awards & Gifts	100.00
		Legal & Accounting	750.00
		Office Administration	750.00
		Postage	2500.00
		Public Relations
		Printing	2500.00
		Promotion	500.00
		Telephone	900.00
		Travel Expense	1500.00
		Total	$10,000.00

5. The next Board of Trustrees meeting will be Saturday, May 2, 2009 in the lower Michigan area. Any member interested in attending this meeting should contact the National Office for meeting details.