UNITE, ORGANIZE, EMPOWER... We are NCAE!
This year's convention was held March 18-20, 2010, in Winston-Salem. The location made the ride more reasonable for the far west representatives! The annual convention is the largest gathering of NCAE members and the Representative Assembly is the highest governing body of the Association. Local delegates were Tracey Shumway, Saul Olvera, Alton Sutton, and Rena Sutton. We had only four that were nominated and we had more seats to fill, thus we had no need for an election this year. Elected delegates are responsible for listening, discussing, debating and representing their local members concerning pertinent educational issues. Delegates receive, review and act on proposed constitutional amendments, resolutions and new business items. The work of the committees and commissions are reviewed. The RESULT is that our collective action will determine the role that NCAE plays in transforming education in North Carolina (see NCAE News Bulletin, March, 2010). North Carolina representatives also impact the role of NEA’s influence in federal government and promote the interconnectedness of state organizations.
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel gave a personal address to convention attendees. He stressed that we are and will be in the forefront of transforming the lives of tens of thousands of students by significantly raising academic achievement. He emphasized that the status quo is not acceptable, saying that the work has changed and we need a different system. He has recently led the launch and work of the NEA Priority Schools Campaign: Disturbing the Status Quo.
By trying to represent our local members, here are some of the issues that caught my attention:
- Pay reinstatement for the half-day taken from us at the end of last year.
- U.S. History concerns about reduced curriculum causing incomplete coverage.
- Thawing out the Salary Schedule...
- Continued re-structuring of the tax base…
- Concerns about the protection of university athletic recruitment at the expense of K-12 budget…
- Protection of educators’ roles, staffing, and appropriate student developmental expectations…
- Planning of educators’ actions in response to a trend toward differentiated pay…
- And more…
I can reassure all members that your representatives stayed the course of the entire convention, which ran into the late afternoon. We were attentive and participated in discussions, amendments, etc. Please consider volunteering to be a delegate next year, you will be amazed at the democracy in action and you will be proud to be NCAE. Unite, organize, and empower are exactly what we need to do to stay strong and have a short and long term impact on education.
Want to know more? Call me or email me!
Rena Sutton, MCAE Secretary and Delegate to Convention 2010
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