Teachers Saving Children^® Inc. of Ohio

Presently we have 80 paid members. Our membership includes persons from diverse employment areas including NEA members, AFT members, retired teachers, parents, college students, and other concerned individuals.

Many have asked how you as members can get involved in TSC. At this time our activities are minimal. Current activities include letter writing campaigns; the annual demonstration; encouraging OEA members to become active at the local, district, state, and national levels; and supporting the Life Issues Caucus.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support throughout the initial stages of Teachers Saving Children^®. As we focus our thoughts on the miracle of Christmas, may we also remember the lives of the unborn children who may never live to celebrate life.<

Although the abortion issue was not addressed at this RA, TSC noted several small victories that might strategically be of benefit to us in the future. First of all, a legislative item on "bilateral nuclear freeze" was deleted from the legislative agenda. One non-educational issue has now been removed from the legislative items. Will the abortion issue be next?

Secondly, and more importantly, there were two new business items that will help our members get more involved in the electoral process of OEA and NEA at-large delegates. New Business Item 6 requires OEA to include the name of the candidate's local and have abbreviations (except NEA/OEA/district abbreviations) spelled out in full when printing the biographies of both OEA and NEA at-large delegates. New Business Item 7 will require OEA to report the results of the OEA and NEA at-large delegate elections to all local association presidents within three weeks of the election deadline with a notation that the results be posted in each building of the local. This information should be available beginning with this year's NEA at-large candidates and delegates.

Finally all OEA/NEA members will know who their at-large delegates will be to the OEA and NEA RA. Now will be the time to take the opportunity to question the candidates on the issues prior to voting. After the results are posted, then letters should be written to the delegates informing them as to how they can better represent the membership on the issues.

Since only emergency new business items can be presented at the Fall OEA RA, TSC will work with Life Issues Caucus on strategy for the Spring OEA RA regarding the abortion issue.

Local Delegate Allocations: Local associations can send delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly. There can be 1 delegate per 150 members or major fraction thereof with expenses paid for by the local. Locals with fewer than 75 members can cluster with other locals. By February 15, 1993 NEA will be sending information regarding delegate allocations to the local presidents. Local delegates must be elected and the name(s) reported to the OEA office by April 10, 1993.

State Delegate Allocations: At-large delegates are chosen by the membership representing the various OEA units. At-large delegates receive partial funding from OEA. Candidacy forms are included with this newsletter. Filing deadline is January 30, 1993. Please consider becoming an at-large delegate to the NEA convention. If you cannot attend, please encourage other teachers who share our views to consider becoming a candidate.

Ballots plus biographical information of each candidate for at-large delegate elections will be sent to the locals in February. Ballots are due back to the OEA office by March 15, 1993. If you do not receive a biography of the candidates with your ballots, contact your local president.

If you have further questions regarding the choosing of delegates for the NEA Representative Assembly, contact Becky LeMaster at the OEA office (1-800-282-1500).

Get involved either as a candidate and/or educate yourself about the candidates and VOTE!

Tapes of the workshop are available through Cincinnati Right to Life Educational Foundation (1802 W Galbraith Road, Cincinnati OH 45239). Tapes are $5.00 each plus postage & handling (10% of Total). Copies of the workshop handout are available by contacting TSC (PO Box 125, Damascus OH 44619).