July 4 Caucus

• 9:30AM Opening
• Frank spoke of election being tomorrow - Saturday. We will vote 9:30 - 10:00 then go to the Hall to see Senator Obama's Speech then voting will resume 11:00AM-1:00PM.
• NEA President Elect Dennis Van Roekel briefly addressed the group with his continuing support.
• Nichole DeVore - reminding people to contact her with information regarding Marriage Support.
• Still seeking Female Director in NE and Midwest
• Mary spoke of need to increase membership and activity in the Midwest.
• Mary also spoke as a member of the MidAtlantic. Their directors are campaigning with Princess Moss. MidAtlantic is growing and changes are occurring.
• NBI coming from Michigan re: Dominos Pizza doing campaign to make Michigan a Right to Work State.
• NBI20 - Chicago is the only city in in North America vying for the 2016 Olympics. Eric B. Moved support.

Thursday Caucus

• 9:30AM Welcome Mary Paradise, Co-chair
• Report Michael Simpson - NEA Office of General Counsel
• Members provided document with several recent court decisions regarding GLBT teachers and students.
  
• Locals should seek anti-discrimination language in their contracts.
  
• Question raised by member regarding clause of "moral turpitude" in code of ethics. No specific response made.
  
• Member raised point that there is "language" in Superintendent's policy. Legal counsel urged for additional language in the contract.
• What about Right to Work states? Should still bring it to School Board with request for inclusive language.
• Important case that was mentioned last year is Garcetti v. Ceballos where the Supreme Court ruled that public employees do not have 1st Amendment Rights in the workplace.
• Linda Bacon -Interim Manager from NEA spoke regarding the work that NEA continues to do through HCR regarding achievement gap issues for GLBT students.
• Dr. Sheila Simmons - Director of HCR. Budget - Funding is now in budget to cover travel and expenses for GLBT Cadre of trainers. ABCD Goals
• A. Achieving Social Justice
• B.
• C.
• D. Diversity is value added
• Goals & Tactics to examine learning and working conditions of students and employees.

Greetings from the Representative Assembly...

• We held our first caucus meeting of this RA Tuesday afternoon for
  more than two hours. It was a productive meeting with much business
  conducted and NEA Candidates speaking to us.
  
• Reception held at Nellie's Sports Bar.
  
• The second caucus was held from 12-1:00PM today.
  
• Breakout sessions were held for each region.
  
  I am trying to blog public information daily.
  
  Please check there for information and photos!

dg

Caucus Meeting - 7/1/08

Meeting Room 147A

• Report on upcoming GLBT Summit in Chicago - Bob Kim
• NEA Candidate Speeches
• Candidate endorsements
• Treasurer's Report
• Recommendation made that dues increase $5.00 to Certificated Members, a new category of ESP at the current $20.00 level. Recommendation passed.