Thursday, February 25, 2016

IMPORTANT DATES

Spring Pre RA date for Kansas City     
  March 21at the West Central office
Meeting begins 6:00 p.m. preceeded with a light supper.
     or
     Lodge of Four Seasons – April 8

NEA  Black Caucus Annual Black Issues Conference
April 15-17 in Kansas City, MO
Summer Association Leadership Training
Kansas City - June 10
Summer Academy for First Timers
July 20-22 at Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, Columbia, MO

WE'VE BEEN BUSY

BOARD NOTES FROM FEBRUARY 19-20

On Friday evening and Saturday morning MNEA board members and staff participated in leadership training led by NEA Executive Committee member Dr. Kevin Gilbert.

President Smith recognized the following:
Cheryl Riley thanked Matt Matheney for the excellent Student Leaders Academy this year. 
Congratulations to St. Joseph NEA for 222 new member growth.
Congratulations to Carmen Hill for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

Congratulations to DeeAnn Aull and staff for a successful P.R. campaign: Teacher Words Matter and Read to Achieve.

Governance District 4 Board members congratulate Kevin Drinkard, Independence NEA; who one $1,000 in the Read to Achieve contest!

Reports given were:
President’s Report - Charles Smith
Vice President’s Report - Brent Fullington
NEA Director’s Report - Phil Murray and Lisa Kickbusch
Interim Executive Director’s Report - Peggy Cochran
Legal Update - Peggy Cochran
Financial Report - Karen Struemph
CB Update - Peggy Cochran - most locals are just beginning the bargaining process.
Committee Reports were read and discussed

Resolutions: 
Co-chair Melissa Albright attended the Board meeting to present the proposed changes to the 2016 MNEA Resolutions.  Changes were looked at and discussed.  The document was approved as amended by the board.

Legislative Update: 
Otto Fajen updated the board on legislative issues. 
Most importantly was the “Paycheck Deception” HCS/HB1891, which requires annual written authorization for dues and annual electronic authorization for PAC, excluding first responders. The House passed the bill 110-47 on February 18.  We need to watch this issue closely as it goes to the Senate. 

Other issues we are watching include school formula bills, the budget, retirement and charter schools.  Everyone should be signed up to receive daily legislative updates via email.  If you are not, you can go to mnea.org to sign up.

Campaign for Secretary Clinton: DeeAnn Aull
The Missouri Presidential primary will be held on March 15 Campaign offices opened in St. Louis and Kansas City this past week.  MNEA will be trying to get members to volunteer in both offices.  If members volunteer, they can let DeeAnn Aull or Mark Jones know and they will send them a NEA t-shirt that they can wear when they are volunteering and we want them to sign in at the offices as an MNEA member. 

MNEA members will be receiving a 1 minute survey via email to help us sort our membership into 3 groups.  The three groups are: people who have already committed to Secretary Clinton, people who are still undecided but could be swayed, and people who are already decided against Secretary Clinton.   Forthcoming activities include: phone banking, robo calls, information in Something Better and In the Loop, a social media campaign, e-blast, and getting people to go to Strong Public Schools .org.  If you have any ideas about ways to help the campaign, you can email DeeAnn Aull or Mark Jones.

Educators for Social Justice:
This event will be taking place on February 27, 2016 MNEA Retired paid for 20 members to attend.  Currently we have 19 members registered to attend.  MNEA will have an informational table at the event and Matt Agee will be there to represent us and answer questions at the table.

Audit Presentation: 
Vice-President Brent Fullington and Dale Siebeneck from Evers and Company presented the audit report. 

2016-2017 RA Budget Recommendation to the RA:
Vice-President Brent Fullington presented the 2016-2017 MNEA Budget.   The Board approved recommendation of the 2016-2017 MNEA Budget to the RA.

Business Items:
The Board approved:
  • the audit report
  • the usage of the Evers and Company as our auditing firm for the next year
  • the 990 form
  • affiliation of Warrenton Maintenance and Custodian NEA
  • affiliation of Rockwood Association of Social Workers
  • the National Education Employee Assistance Fund renewal


Information Items:
Check mnea.org for the Cat Tour Schedule.
2016-17 Committee Volunteer forms are available.
2016-17 Future Leader’s Academy applications are available.
Summer Academy for First Timers - July 20-22 at Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, Columbia, MO.
Summer Association Leadership Trainings:
     St. Charles - June 6
     St. Louis - June 7
     Kansas City - June 10
     Springfield - June 18
NEA Black Caucus Annual Black Issues Conference - April 15-17 in Kansas City, MO.

MNEA ESP Conference: Renaissance Hotel - St. Louis MO – April 23

Pre RA dates:
     Jefferson County – March 9
     St. Charles – March 10
     Kansas City – March 21
     St. Louis – March 31
     Lodge of Four Seasons – April 8

Board Responsibilities for Spring RA (Everyone is welcome to donate to any or all of the following):
·       Bring socks for Rock the Socks.
·       Bring gift cards or scratcher tickets for HOPE Fund.
·       Bring silent auction items for PAC.
·       Bring cash for HOPE fund, PAC silent auction and Care to Learn.