Filing for Missouri -NEA RA state Delegate Deadline

All state delegate candidate statements and photos must be received by midnight on January 21st. Due to the fact that we had one due date in Something Better and another in the Timeline for Action, we must go with the later date. Any faxes or e-mails must be dated January 21st. Statements received after that date will not be accepted. 

MNEA Officer Candidate Forums

At the April 20^th Representative Assembly, Missouri NEA will hold elections for the positions of President, Vice President and NEA Director. Currently we have 8 candidates for the three offices, with filing closing on February 1^st.

Missouri NEA members have requested opportunities to hear candidates speak about their qualifications and their vision for Missouri NEA in the next 3 years and beyond.

As a result of member requests, Rebeka McIntosh, chair of the MNEA Bylaws Committee, will host a series of 3 “candidate forum”webinars designed to give members the opportunity to hear candidates speak and answer members’ questions. The webinars will be archived so that members can listen to the forums at a later date if they can’t participate live.

Dates for the forums are as follows:                                                      

February 4^th - NEA Director Candidate Forum - 7:00 p.m.

February 13^th - Vice President Candidate Forum - 7:00 p.m.

February 20^th - President Candidate Forum - 7:00 p.m.

Members must register to participate in these forums by going to the “Members Only” section of the MNEA web site (www.mnea.org) and then to the “Online Training” and sign up for the session(s).

MNEA is Listening!

SPEAK UP!

MNEA will be holding "Speak Up!" webinars during the month of January in order to provide the opportunity for members to talk about their vision for MNEA's future. Please sign up and participate!

Sessions will be held:

Tuesday, January 22 at 7 p.m.

Thursday, January 24 at 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 26 at 10 a.m.

You can sign up to participate in the webinars by going to the MNEA web site (www.mnea.org) and then to the "Members Only" section, "Online Learning". If you would like to participate in the discussion but do not have internet access, it is also possible to join the conversation via phone. The phone number and internet connection are given to the member after signing up for the webinar. We also welcome your feedback via phone call or e-mail if the timing of the sessions is inconvenient.

On PBS Frontline Tonight!

The PBS show, "Frontline" will show a documentary on controversial former Washington D.C. Michelle Rhee tonight.  Michelle now runs the advocate group called "Students First."  This organization goes from state to state letting conservative legislators know what "their" agenda is for public education.  Last year Students First campaigned for the removal of teacher tenure in Missouri and called for less voice from teacher unions.  They recently put out a "report card" based on their own facts and opinions on how states are doing with public education.  They gave Missouri a D-.  Based on what?  No one seems to know.  Anyway, please check your local listings to see what channel this show will are in your area.  For Columbia, it will be KMOS at 8:00 p.m. central time.  It is always good to know and try to understand what the other side is thinking!

Newsletter emailed today.

Good afternoon G.D. 6 friends,

I just emailed the winter edition of the newsletter.  Please read through and email to members within your local.  There are a lot of information for you to share and much needed information and reminders about deadlines coming up.  Two deadlines this week:

• Our Legislative Dinner!  Deadline to RSVP is this Tuesday.  Our dinner is this Thursday.  You may email me at: mmill83@aol.com  Cost of our dinner is $20.00.  Dinner will be made and served by the students at the Career Center Culinary School.  Yum!  Oh, and our area Legislators have been invited to attend to visit with us and hear from MNEA Legislative Director Otto Fajen about our platform for this year.  Since we have important guests coming to our "home," let's remember to be home and greet them ourselves.  Thanks!
• Cat in the Hat tour!  In the newsletter you will see the Cat Tour form.  You may also find the form at www.mnea.org and print off the form yourself.  Hurray and email this in.  You don't want to miss seeing a giant cat in a red and white hat reading a book!

As the weeks pass, I will continue to update you on this blog.  Have a great week and see you Thursday.