2015 NEA RET. ANNUAL MEETING
and
NEA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
By Bobbie Margo
The day's keynote speakers consisted of a panel of the three top NEA officers-President Lily Eskelsen Garcia, Vice-President Becky Pringle, and Treasurer Princess Moss.
On the final day of our retired meeting, business was conducted. Two $2,000 scholarships from the Jack Kinnamon (Cat in the Hat man) Fund were presented.
Ten new business items were discussed/voted upon. To date, NEA retirees have raised $35,000+ for the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education.
Mary Kusler, Director NEA Government Relations, was the day's final speaker. Kusler spoke of 1965 as an incredible year! ESEA (Elementary/Secondary Education Act) head start, Medicare were all born. We NEED 2015 to be the new 1965! Congress's attention needs to focus on the re-authorization of ESEA. A child's zip code should not determine his/her education. 2016 elections-the House will continue to be Republican because of redistricting; the Senate make-up will be a much better year for the Democrats. And.....it's a Presidential election year!
As an aside, I completed my 6th and final year (termed out) representing the NEA Retired on the NEA Resolutions Committee. Fast fact: Judy Rohde was one of six elected to represent the NEA Retired on the NEA Resolutions Committee for the 2016 term. (way to go Judy!) ED MN-Retired will continue to be represented at the national level.
The NEA Retired Meeting adjourned on Monday June 29. We all packed up our "stuff" and switched hotels to join our Education Minnesota State Delegation in order to attend the 93rd Annual Representative Assembly-the 152nd Annual Meeting. Our hotel was the Caribe Royal. We were located about 7-8 miles from the Convention Center so it was back to depending on shuttle buses for transportation.
The NEA RA
Special guest speaker was Randi Weingarten, President of the AFT. Weingarten reminded us that women who have made history were NOT well behaved! Her speech closed with the sobering thought that now for too many families, the American Dream is out of reach. NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia followed with her speech-stating that we need to give our educators the time, the trust, and the tools to do their job.
Speeches from "Teacher of the Year" Shanna Peeples (English-Texas)
This year's "Friend of Education Award" went to Paula A. Kerger, President and CEO of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). PBS is America's largest on-air classroom. Can you say Sesame Street? Throughout the years, the characters from that program have permeated our culture. Where would we be without Kermit?
We DID have time for business. Delegates elected (by secret ballot) Shelly Moore (Wisconsin) to the NEA Executive Committee along with 4 at-large ESP individuals to the NEA Board of Directors. Again by secret ballot, 2 Constitutional Amendments and 4 By-Law Amendments were voted upon. Discussion "on the floor" for 4 days involved 122 new business items, 3 policy statement amendments, 14 legislative amendments and a number of standing rules and resolutions. Delegates were even more spendy this year with regard to how much it will actually COST to implement new business items. The 2014 Rep Assembly spent $821,797. The 2015 Rep Assembly spent $1,000,000+.
NEA by the numbers:
1) NEA Fund for Children and Public Education raised $3,000,000
2) There were over 7,000 registered delegates from all 50 states
3) NEA is the largest union in America-over 3 million members
4) Business concluded at 7:29 pm on Monday, July 6
5) the 2016 RA will be held in Washington, DC
On behalf of Julie Jagusch, Larry Koenck, Diane Larson, Walt Munsterman, Judy Rohde, Kathy Stringfield, and myself, we sincerely thank YOU-the members of ED MN Retired for giving us the opportunity to attend
