October 15, 2016 Board of Director's Report
October Board Notes: October 15, 2016
Conference Call
Karen Sholes called the roll.
The agenda was adopted with flexibility.
The Board Norms were read to the Board.
Welcome to Sonja Marie Burks on her election to the Board representing Governance District 9.
Condolences were extended to Board member Caryn Deckard on the recent passing of her brother in law. The Board will make a donation to the HOPE fund in his memory.
Visitors: MSPO – Charlyn Shepherd
Congratulations to the Legislative Committee for their hard work getting the Legislative Platform ready for the Fall RA.
Reports:
Presidents Report: President Smith was asked to represent NEA at the funeral for Reg Weaver’s wife.
Financial Report: The Audit has been moved to November 1, 2016.
Karen Struemph went through the Financial reports and explained them in detail.
Karen explained why it is so important to have a 6 month reserve in our balances. It will allow us to keep things running if we have a financial crisis, for example, losing payroll deduction.
Consent Agenda:
The consent agenda was approved by voice vote.
Business Items:
The Board approved the MNEA Public Relation Grants.
Discussion Items:
Committee Reports:
Human Rights Committee: Connie Levels shared with the Board that there will be a HOPE fund table at the Fall RA. There will be drawings for scratch off tickets and gift cards. The committee is talking about ways to promote the hiring of minority teachers. The committee would like to begin to work with local universities to address this issue. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service will be held on January 15, 2017, and Dr. Kevin Gilbert, NEA Executive Committee member, will be the speaker. More information will be available for the day of service at a later date.
Student Advisory Committee: There is great concern over the low membership number this year. President Smith, Vice-President Fullington, Executive Director Aull and Student Board member Michael Smith will meet to try to come up with some strategies to help with this problem.
RA Packet:
The Fall RA packet has been posted to the MNEA website.
The Legislative Platform is included in the RA packet.
All Governance Districts 1-11 will need to elect members to the PAC council. Board members need to communicate with their Governance Districts about the PAC election. All nominations have to be submitted to Mark Jones by 11:00 the morning of the Fall RA. Late nominations will not be accepted.
2016 MNEA Draft 3-1(g) Report: The report was shared with the Board. President Smith noted that the area where we are falling short in our 3-1(g) is with attendance at the Spring RA. We need to look at ways to make sure we are not falling short in any areas of our 3-1 (g) bylaw plan.
Legislative Information: Voting guides will be included in the Fall Issue of Something Better. They are also available in the regional offices.
There will be a gathering for MNEA members at the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis on election night (Nov. 8, 2016). We will have an area to watch the election results. This is also where Chris Koster’s campaign will be gathering, and we will be able to go to the ballroom when the results are announced. Patrick Layden will be putting together a gathering together in the KC area. There will be more information about both events coming out closer to Election Day.
Information Items:
Membership Reports: Membership is currently up 223 members. We do know that there are a few more memberships to be reported.
NEA MLT/WLT West: The conferences will be held December 9-11, 2016 in San Diego, CA.
NEA Leadership Summit: The conference will be held February 24-26 in Orlando, FL.
Capital Budget: Karen Struemph discussed the budget.
Fall RA Board meeting: The Fall RA Board meeting will be held at 7:15 AM on November 12, 2016. Breakfast will begin at 7:00 AM.
Leila Medley Quality Local Association Awards: Frank Rogan reported the award winners. They will be announced at the Fall RA. All entries were judged by 2 different committee members.
Mary Kusler from NEA Government Relations: Mary Kusler will be the speaker at the MNEA-R luncheon and at the Fall RA. She will address GPO/WEP and the election results.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: The Dr. MLK Day of Service will be Sunday Jan. 15, 2017 at 3:30 pm at the Clayton Missionary Baptist Church. NEA Executive Committee member Dr. Kevin Gilbert will be the speaker. We will collect socks for “Rock the Socks” as our service project.
Newhouse Shelter: The Newhouse Shelter will be our service organization for the Fall RA.
It is a women’s shelter in KC. Please encourage your delegates to bring donations for the shelter.
Rock the Socks: Please bring your socks to the HOPE fund table at the Fall RA.
Conference Call
Karen Sholes called the roll.
The agenda was adopted with flexibility.
The Board Norms were read to the Board.
Welcome to Sonja Marie Burks on her election to the Board representing Governance District 9.
Condolences were extended to Board member Caryn Deckard on the recent passing of her brother in law. The Board will make a donation to the HOPE fund in his memory.
Visitors: MSPO – Charlyn Shepherd
Congratulations to the Legislative Committee for their hard work getting the Legislative Platform ready for the Fall RA.
Reports:
Presidents Report: President Smith was asked to represent NEA at the funeral for Reg Weaver’s wife.
Financial Report: The Audit has been moved to November 1, 2016.
Karen Struemph went through the Financial reports and explained them in detail.
Karen explained why it is so important to have a 6 month reserve in our balances. It will allow us to keep things running if we have a financial crisis, for example, losing payroll deduction.
Consent Agenda:
The consent agenda was approved by voice vote.
Business Items:
The Board approved the MNEA Public Relation Grants.
Discussion Items:
Committee Reports:
Human Rights Committee: Connie Levels shared with the Board that there will be a HOPE fund table at the Fall RA. There will be drawings for scratch off tickets and gift cards. The committee is talking about ways to promote the hiring of minority teachers. The committee would like to begin to work with local universities to address this issue. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service will be held on January 15, 2017, and Dr. Kevin Gilbert, NEA Executive Committee member, will be the speaker. More information will be available for the day of service at a later date.
Student Advisory Committee: There is great concern over the low membership number this year. President Smith, Vice-President Fullington, Executive Director Aull and Student Board member Michael Smith will meet to try to come up with some strategies to help with this problem.
RA Packet:
The Fall RA packet has been posted to the MNEA website.
The Legislative Platform is included in the RA packet.
All Governance Districts 1-11 will need to elect members to the PAC council. Board members need to communicate with their Governance Districts about the PAC election. All nominations have to be submitted to Mark Jones by 11:00 the morning of the Fall RA. Late nominations will not be accepted.
2016 MNEA Draft 3-1(g) Report: The report was shared with the Board. President Smith noted that the area where we are falling short in our 3-1(g) is with attendance at the Spring RA. We need to look at ways to make sure we are not falling short in any areas of our 3-1 (g) bylaw plan.
Legislative Information: Voting guides will be included in the Fall Issue of Something Better. They are also available in the regional offices.
There will be a gathering for MNEA members at the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis on election night (Nov. 8, 2016). We will have an area to watch the election results. This is also where Chris Koster’s campaign will be gathering, and we will be able to go to the ballroom when the results are announced. Patrick Layden will be putting together a gathering together in the KC area. There will be more information about both events coming out closer to Election Day.
Information Items:
Membership Reports: Membership is currently up 223 members. We do know that there are a few more memberships to be reported.
NEA MLT/WLT West: The conferences will be held December 9-11, 2016 in San Diego, CA.
NEA Leadership Summit: The conference will be held February 24-26 in Orlando, FL.
Capital Budget: Karen Struemph discussed the budget.
Fall RA Board meeting: The Fall RA Board meeting will be held at 7:15 AM on November 12, 2016. Breakfast will begin at 7:00 AM.
Leila Medley Quality Local Association Awards: Frank Rogan reported the award winners. They will be announced at the Fall RA. All entries were judged by 2 different committee members.
Mary Kusler from NEA Government Relations: Mary Kusler will be the speaker at the MNEA-R luncheon and at the Fall RA. She will address GPO/WEP and the election results.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: The Dr. MLK Day of Service will be Sunday Jan. 15, 2017 at 3:30 pm at the Clayton Missionary Baptist Church. NEA Executive Committee member Dr. Kevin Gilbert will be the speaker. We will collect socks for “Rock the Socks” as our service project.
Newhouse Shelter: The Newhouse Shelter will be our service organization for the Fall RA.
It is a women’s shelter in KC. Please encourage your delegates to bring donations for the shelter.
Rock the Socks: Please bring your socks to the HOPE fund table at the Fall RA.