Saturday, May 19, 2012

WEA RA - Saturday, May 19

Saturday, May 18  
WEA PAC General Membership Meeting

Financial and membership reports were given.  No problems were found with the audit.

Growth Report:

May 2008 - 19,473
May 2012 - 29,028 WEA PAC

Amazing growth but we need more when we're up again SUPER PACS financed by billionaires!

We're encouraging every member to contribute $20.12 to help our initiatives and fund resources for the upcoming elections!



OHIO Education Association's --- President Pat Frost Brooks



   "We fought the struggle of our lives all because we took for granted our leaders who were pro-education that were elected in 2006. We had clear warnings about our govern Governor Kasick before he was elected in 2010.  He said, "'I will never meet with the unions until they all publish a full-page add of apology in all newspapers in the state of Ohio.'"

"Our members understand what they did when they elected a new governor over the trivial issue of calamity days (snow days)."

"You must keep learning!  You must keep leading!"
  • Stopped Senate Bill 5 - 350,000 state and municipal workers would have no bargaining rights
  • We were locked out of the state house.
  • Signatures were gathered all over the state of Ohio. 1.3 million signatures were gathered.
  • We canvased so much we felt like tents.
Rep. Marcie Maxwell 
Friend of Education Award Winner 2012

Deputy Majority Lead for Education and Opportunity


She has been a huge voice in turning the conversation from the "bad teacher narrative" to the topic of 
"fully fund education." She believes in public education and has been a vocal advocate for stopping the charter school movement by carefully researching their failure.

On Charter Schools:  "I've gone from no, to hell no on that issue!"

New Business Item (adopted)
WEA PAC Membership Goal = 50% + 1

Keep repeating, repeating, repeating the message!
We need members to help fight our political battles with well-financed foes.

Election Results (certified)


ESP at large and ESP minority member -
Both will require a run-off election at lunch today.

NEA State Director, Position 1 - Ted Reihl
NEA State Director, Position 2 - Stephen Miller

Amendment #1 - (failed)

Officers' Terms of Office
To change officer's term of office from three (3) consecutive two-year terms to two (2) consecutive three-year terms beginning in 2013.

Amendment #2 - (passed)

On-going School Funding Efforts

The implementation phase of the Supreme Court's order will be at least through 2018.Costs to WEA including lobbying and engaging the public to keep pressure on the legislature, are difficult to predict depending on the legislative resistance. However, it is important that we have funds available in order to maximize our efforts. This amendment will raise $850,000 per year, or $5.1 million over this six year period with an assessment of $1.00 per month assessment.

NEA Board Directors Annual Report
17 states threatened by bargaining rights being threatened
27 states are in the midst of "reform" legislation
31 states - charter school initiatives
Elections are important!
NEA budget - drop in membership
Lost 300,00 members nationwide due to legislation
Lost revenue $65 million dollars

New Business Items 


New Business Item #11 (not adopted)
WEA Organizing Leader


There is a perception that WEA leadership is not effectively organizing with visible action to combat the attacks on education and public sector unions.

New Business Item #12 (not adopted)
Retirement Incentive for Educational Employees

The State of Washington could realize a savings for salaries by offering an incentive to educational employees with 30 years of service who are under the retirement age of 62/65.

New Business Item #13 (withdrawn)


New Business #14 (not adopted)
Optional Reimbursement for Small Rural Conferences


Small/Rural conference participants are required to share lodging at conferences and WEA fully funds shared rooms.

New Business Item #15 (withdrawn)
Preserving Employee for Same-Sex Partnerships in Washington State


Referendum 71 was designed to overturn Washington's June 12, 2008, domestic partnership bill that expanded rights and responsibilities of same-sex domestic partnerships.

New Business Item #16 (adopted)
Maintaining and Lowering the Student Loan Rate

There have been congressional efforts to double the interest rate on Stafford Loans.
Link to Our Voice to express thoughts on this issue to members of Congress.


New Business Item #17 (not adopted)
Challenging Healthcare as Taxable Income

Congressional proposals to treat healthcare provided by employers as taxable income have been challenges by the NEA. Link to websites to express thoughts on this issue to members of Congress.

New Business Item #18 (withdrawn)

New Business Item #19 (adopted)
Web Access to WEA elections on the WEA website had been cumbersome

Develop an election information tap on the frontpage (WEA Home Page)


New Business Item #20 (adopted)
Fingerprinting Law 


Teacher candidates need fingerprints for field experiences. Fingerprints are only valid for two years. WEA will lobby the state to increase fingerprinting validity from two to three years.

New Business Item #21 (adopted)
Teach for America (TFA) in Washington State

WEA will publicly oppose Teach for America (TFA) contracts when they are used in districts where there is no teacher shortage.

New Business Item #22 (not adopted)
Occupy Olympia

$11 billion has been cut from the budget leaving Washington sate $18 billion short of metting its education mandate by 2018,and devastating educators' and students' lives. WEA will organize a statewide day of action and rally in Olympia.

New Business Item #23 (out of order)
Policy on Accountability

Update the 2005 WEA Policy on Accountability to reflect changes to state and federal mandates, legislation, or OSPI requirements. 

New Business Item #24 (not adopted)
Supporting "WEAr Red for Ed"

Making 5000 t-shirts for members to wear with a slogan.

New Business Item #25 (adopted)
Build WEA Membership by Enrolling Substitutes

There are 1,321 active substitute teacher in WEA. Unrepresented subs do not have benefit of liability or representation if they are not WEA members. WEA will increase and promote membership based on prorated daily pay.

New Business Item #26 (not adopted)
Encourage Rank and File Educator Defense Committees (EDC)

WEA will encourage locals to form EDC to help with the evaluation process or is under disciplinary action.

New Business Item #27 (referred to committee)
Healthcare for All

NEA is on record as supporting a universal, single-payer health care system. WEA will advocate for and actively lobby our state legislature to bring a single-payer health care system to Washington.

New Business Item #28 (withdrawn)


New Business Item #29 (referred to committee)
Take You Legislator/Public Official to Work Day
This important issue was referred to committee for further discussion.

New Business Item #30 (referred to committee)
WEA Peer Mentor Program
Referred executive committee for further discussion.

New Business Item #31 (adopted)
Abuse of Emergency Career Technical Education Certification
WEA will look into the abuse of having emergency certification for the CTE courses around the states.


New Business Item #32 (adopted)
Career Technical Education Class Size 
WEA will work to reduce class sizes for CTE courses.

New Business Item #33 (adopted)
Affirming the 2012-2013 WEA-PAC Goal.
Affirmed the goal set at WEA-PAC earlier in the day at the WEA-PAC meeting.


New Business Item #34 (failed)
Move the "Day of Action" UP 


New Business Item #35 (adopted)
"It Takes A Nation"Video Project Teacher Voice
Do not include children in videos or work with their names.

Resolution B-12 (adopted)
Citizenship Education
The intent is to stand for respect and to support the sacrifices that have been made.


Resolution D-4 (adopted)
Inclusive Diversity
WEA believes that all local affiliates and UniServ Councils should develop plans for inclusive diversity.

Listen to Thom's Speech at the Link Below!


Resolution I-8 (adopted)
Public Campaign Financing

To regulate political contributions by corporations to elect pro-public education decision-makers.






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