February 17 and 18
MNEA Board of Directors Meeting
February 17 and 18, 2017
Visitors:
Jim Ward - MSPO
Dr. Adriane Dorrington - NEA Staff
Dr. Earl Wiman - NEA Executive Committee
Reports:
NEA Directors: Senior Director Phil Murray discussed activities at the NEA Board meeting last week. It was the first NEA Board meeting since the election, and we are looking at a new reality. NEA dues will be increasing by $2 for active and ESP members. There will be some changes to the NEA Representative Assembly this year. Each day will have a theme. There will be a standing rule proposed to move the budget to the first day of the assembly. There will be a hard stop time on the last day of the RA as well.
Dr. Earl Wiman - NEA Executive Committee: Dr. Wiman brought greetings to the group. He also discussed the new reality in which NEA finds itself. He discussed the need for membership engagement and allowing member voices to be heard. The NEA will continue to work to organize members around traditions, social justice and professional practices.
Legislative Update: Otto Fajen addressed the Board about upcoming legislative issues. He began his remarks by letting us know that unions are going to change and that we will be successful. Two key bills that he feels we can be relevant are HB 634 on Charter School Expansion and SB32 Education Savings Account (ESA) tax credit vouchers. Otto told the Board that we need more members to contact their legislators and express their opinions and concerns with their own voices. These contacts are much more meaningful than just sending the “cookie cutter” emails that we get from the legislative listserv. He encouraged members to invite our legislators into our classrooms and to begin to build relationships with our legislators.
Discussion Items:
Ballot Initiatives: Executive Director DeeAnn Aull discussed with the Board three ballot initiatives that we are involved with or watching. The first is a minimum wage initiative. Eight versions have been filed. The second initiative counters the Right to Work legislation that was recently passed in Missouri. The final imitative is the CLEAN (Citizens and Legislators for Ethics and Accountability Now) initiative. The initiative deals with redistricting reform, campaign contributions and ethics reform, and transparency and accountability.
Election for State Delegates to the NEA RA: The information for online voting for State delegates to the NEA RA has gone out to the members. Board members are asked to communicate with members to try to get more members to vote in this important election. There is a link for the election on the MNEA website. Voting ends on March 1.
Information Items:
PAC Contributors: Page 43 of the Board Packet shows the number of PAC contributors for each governance district and the voting strength for each district.
Committee Volunteer Form: The MNEA Committee Volunteer form can be found on the MNEA website. Forms are due to President Smith by May 12.
Future Leaders’ Academy: The Future Leaders’ Academy application is available the MNEA website. Applications are due by April 1.
The 2017 Legislative Platform is available on the MNEA website in the “member’s only” section.
MNEA Joint Conference: MNEA will be hosting a joint conference (Students, ESP, High Ed, Organizing, and Social Justice) at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel on March 25, 2017. This conference is free to members and available to non members for $30. Dr. Bertice Berry will be the keynote speaker. The registration deadline is March 19, 2017. Board members are encouraged to attend and to promote this workshop to members.
Summer Leadership Training:
Summer leadership training will be held on July 10-11 in Kansas City and on July 17-18 in St. Louis. Locations are TBA. More information will be coming about these trainings.
Consent Agenda:
The Board approved the October 15, 2016, November 12, 2016, December 22, 2016 (conference call) and the January 18, 2017 conference call minutes.
The Board tentatively approved the November 12, 2016 RA Minutes.
Business Items:
Approval of Auditor’s Report: The audit report was reviewed and discussed. The Auditor’s Report was accepted by the Board
2017-2018 Proposed Budget: Vice President Fullington reviewed and discussed the proposed 2017-2018 MNEA Budget. The Board voted to recommend the 2017-2018 proposed MNEA Budget to the MNEA Spring RA.
Approval of Auditing Firm: The Board approved Evers and Company as the 2017-2018 auditing firm for MNEA.
Approval of 990 Form: The 990 form was reviewed and discussed. The Board approved acceptance of the Form 990.
Women’s Issues Committee: The Board voted to establish an MNEA Women’s Issues Committee.
2017-2018 Resolution Recommendations: Resolutions Chair Melissa Albright presented and discussed the proposed changes to the 2017-2018 MNEA Resolutions. The Board approved recommending the 2017-2018 proposed MNEA Resolutions to the MNEA Spring RA.
Learning Opportunities:
Members of the Board attended Social Justice Trainings on Saturday morning. Several members were trained by Dr. Earl Wiman, NEA Executive Committee and Dr. Adriane Dorrington, NEA Staff, to be Racial Justice Cadre leaders. The rest of the Board attended a Social and Racial Justice Circles and “Take Control Campaign” training.
Board Action Items:
Check the Local Bylaw Update (pg. 33). Contact any locals in your area to see if they need any assistance with their Bylaws updates.
Encourage members to vote for State Delegates to the NEA RA by March 1.
Encourage members to sign up for a MNEA Committee by May 12.
Encourage members to sign up for the Future Leaders’ Academy by April 1
Promote and encourage members and non members to attend the MNEA Joint Conference on March 25, 2017 in St. Louis. Flier on pg. 58.
Attend Capitol Action Days with your local and start to establish relationships with your State legislators. Dates can be found at www.mnea.org/Missouri/CapitolActionDays.aspx
Upcoming Events:
February 25-26: NEA Summit, Orlando FL.
February 28: Teacher Words Matter entry deadline
February 27-March 3: MNEA Cat Tracks Tour
March 1: Deadline to vote for MNEA State delegates to the NEA RA
March 4: MNEA Board of Directors Meeting, Jefferson City MO
March 7: Soar With the Eagles and MNEA Horace Mann Award nominations due
March 9-12: NEA ESP and Higher Ed. Conference
March 25: MNEA Joint Conference, Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel, St. Louis
February 17 and 18, 2017
Visitors:
Jim Ward - MSPO
Dr. Adriane Dorrington - NEA Staff
Dr. Earl Wiman - NEA Executive Committee
Reports:
NEA Directors: Senior Director Phil Murray discussed activities at the NEA Board meeting last week. It was the first NEA Board meeting since the election, and we are looking at a new reality. NEA dues will be increasing by $2 for active and ESP members. There will be some changes to the NEA Representative Assembly this year. Each day will have a theme. There will be a standing rule proposed to move the budget to the first day of the assembly. There will be a hard stop time on the last day of the RA as well.
Dr. Earl Wiman - NEA Executive Committee: Dr. Wiman brought greetings to the group. He also discussed the new reality in which NEA finds itself. He discussed the need for membership engagement and allowing member voices to be heard. The NEA will continue to work to organize members around traditions, social justice and professional practices.
Legislative Update: Otto Fajen addressed the Board about upcoming legislative issues. He began his remarks by letting us know that unions are going to change and that we will be successful. Two key bills that he feels we can be relevant are HB 634 on Charter School Expansion and SB32 Education Savings Account (ESA) tax credit vouchers. Otto told the Board that we need more members to contact their legislators and express their opinions and concerns with their own voices. These contacts are much more meaningful than just sending the “cookie cutter” emails that we get from the legislative listserv. He encouraged members to invite our legislators into our classrooms and to begin to build relationships with our legislators.
Discussion Items:
Ballot Initiatives: Executive Director DeeAnn Aull discussed with the Board three ballot initiatives that we are involved with or watching. The first is a minimum wage initiative. Eight versions have been filed. The second initiative counters the Right to Work legislation that was recently passed in Missouri. The final imitative is the CLEAN (Citizens and Legislators for Ethics and Accountability Now) initiative. The initiative deals with redistricting reform, campaign contributions and ethics reform, and transparency and accountability.
Election for State Delegates to the NEA RA: The information for online voting for State delegates to the NEA RA has gone out to the members. Board members are asked to communicate with members to try to get more members to vote in this important election. There is a link for the election on the MNEA website. Voting ends on March 1.
Information Items:
PAC Contributors: Page 43 of the Board Packet shows the number of PAC contributors for each governance district and the voting strength for each district.
Committee Volunteer Form: The MNEA Committee Volunteer form can be found on the MNEA website. Forms are due to President Smith by May 12.
Future Leaders’ Academy: The Future Leaders’ Academy application is available the MNEA website. Applications are due by April 1.
The 2017 Legislative Platform is available on the MNEA website in the “member’s only” section.
MNEA Joint Conference: MNEA will be hosting a joint conference (Students, ESP, High Ed, Organizing, and Social Justice) at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel on March 25, 2017. This conference is free to members and available to non members for $30. Dr. Bertice Berry will be the keynote speaker. The registration deadline is March 19, 2017. Board members are encouraged to attend and to promote this workshop to members.
Summer Leadership Training:
Summer leadership training will be held on July 10-11 in Kansas City and on July 17-18 in St. Louis. Locations are TBA. More information will be coming about these trainings.
Consent Agenda:
The Board approved the October 15, 2016, November 12, 2016, December 22, 2016 (conference call) and the January 18, 2017 conference call minutes.
The Board tentatively approved the November 12, 2016 RA Minutes.
Business Items:
Approval of Auditor’s Report: The audit report was reviewed and discussed. The Auditor’s Report was accepted by the Board
2017-2018 Proposed Budget: Vice President Fullington reviewed and discussed the proposed 2017-2018 MNEA Budget. The Board voted to recommend the 2017-2018 proposed MNEA Budget to the MNEA Spring RA.
Approval of Auditing Firm: The Board approved Evers and Company as the 2017-2018 auditing firm for MNEA.
Approval of 990 Form: The 990 form was reviewed and discussed. The Board approved acceptance of the Form 990.
Women’s Issues Committee: The Board voted to establish an MNEA Women’s Issues Committee.
2017-2018 Resolution Recommendations: Resolutions Chair Melissa Albright presented and discussed the proposed changes to the 2017-2018 MNEA Resolutions. The Board approved recommending the 2017-2018 proposed MNEA Resolutions to the MNEA Spring RA.
Learning Opportunities:
Members of the Board attended Social Justice Trainings on Saturday morning. Several members were trained by Dr. Earl Wiman, NEA Executive Committee and Dr. Adriane Dorrington, NEA Staff, to be Racial Justice Cadre leaders. The rest of the Board attended a Social and Racial Justice Circles and “Take Control Campaign” training.
Board Action Items:
Check the Local Bylaw Update (pg. 33). Contact any locals in your area to see if they need any assistance with their Bylaws updates.
Encourage members to vote for State Delegates to the NEA RA by March 1.
Encourage members to sign up for a MNEA Committee by May 12.
Encourage members to sign up for the Future Leaders’ Academy by April 1
Promote and encourage members and non members to attend the MNEA Joint Conference on March 25, 2017 in St. Louis. Flier on pg. 58.
Attend Capitol Action Days with your local and start to establish relationships with your State legislators. Dates can be found at www.mnea.org/Missouri/CapitolActionDays.aspx
Upcoming Events:
February 25-26: NEA Summit, Orlando FL.
February 28: Teacher Words Matter entry deadline
February 27-March 3: MNEA Cat Tracks Tour
March 1: Deadline to vote for MNEA State delegates to the NEA RA
March 4: MNEA Board of Directors Meeting, Jefferson City MO
March 7: Soar With the Eagles and MNEA Horace Mann Award nominations due
March 9-12: NEA ESP and Higher Ed. Conference
March 25: MNEA Joint Conference, Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel, St. Louis
