tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83699073940259924342024-03-13T03:48:56.978-04:00News from MEA UniServ 7K & 7IJAs the new uniserv director of the 7K & 7IJ units, I want to keep our members informed of some of the multitude of issues that directly impact our chosen profession and work in the educational establishment. As educational employees we are confronted with unavoidable academic and financial constraints/laws/legislation that influence our daily activities.Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comBlogger290125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-27194752140802814012016-12-14T07:58:00.002-05:002016-12-14T07:58:49.776-05:00IMPORTANT - Senate Bills JEOPARDIZE the ability of your union to do business!<strong><span style="color: #993333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #993333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A REPRINT FROM THE last night's MEA Message-</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #993333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">CALL TO ACTION - Fight Latest Attacks on Unions' Ability to Conduct Business</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></strong><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SB 279-280 impacts union release time; now includes ban on payroll deduction of dues for community colleges</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We need members to join the fight against yet another anti-labor measure being pushed by the Legislature's Republican leadership. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This morning, a House Committee passed two bills - SB 279 and 280 - that attack the ability of union leaders to use release time to address employment-related matters with school districts. In a surprise move, the committee also added language to SB 280 expanding the ban on payroll deduction of dues to employees of community colleges (not just K-12 school districts).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The House could vote on these bills any time before the lame duck session ends next week - the Senate previously passed them last year. <u><a href="https://mail.mea.org/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=zXR5x2YbOkAn08EIugNK-SPeJZw-gJHw3L1axikWoHdU4tZWHyTUCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYwBsAGkAYwBrAC4AZQBtAGEAaQBsAC4AbgBlAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAD8AcQBzAD0AMgA3ADgAZgA3AGMAZAA4AGMANwBjADgAOAA5ADMANwA1AGUAMAA5AGQAMQBlADcAZQBmAGEANQBkAGMAYgA1AGEAZQBkADkAZABiADUAYQBmAGYAMgA4ADMAZgA3AGEAMQBlADQAZgBkAGUAMQBlADgAZABkADQAZgA2ADIAZgA2AGQAOQAyAGEAMQA2ADcAMQAyAGIAOQA4AGUAMwA4AA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d278f7cd8c7c889375e09d1e7efa5dcb5aed9db5aff283f7a1e4fde1e8dd4f62f6d92a16712b98e38" target="_blank" title="Please contact your State Representative and urge them to vote against SB 279-280"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Please contact your State Representative and urge them to vote against SB 279-280</span></a></u>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If signed into law, the bills would cost the state more in payments to the retirement system, while making it harder for district administrators and union leaders to collaborate on labor-management and educational issues, with the work needing to be done outside of school hours. Community colleges would incur costs to implement the dues deduction ban.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When you <u><a href="https://mail.mea.org/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=-YJf4WmcSn9iX9wre2zKJ9jQd1B3dLP90S5X1xsWCn9U4tZWHyTUCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYwBsAGkAYwBrAC4AZQBtAGEAaQBsAC4AbgBlAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAD8AcQBzAD0AMgA3ADgAZgA3AGMAZAA4AGMANwBjADgAOAA5ADMANwAxADkANABhADQAOQAzADMAMgAzAGYAMAA1ADEAYQA0ADUAMwA2AGUAOQA1ADMAYQBmAGIAZQBmADQAYQAwADEAMQA2ADkAZAA3ADQAOQBkAGIAZQA4AGEAMQBiADYAZQA2AGMAZgBkAGUAZQBmAGUAYQA3ADMANQA2AGMAYwBlAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d278f7cd8c7c88937194a493323f051a4536e953afbef4a01169d749dbe8a1b6e6cfdeefea7356cce" target="_blank" title="call or email your State Representative"><span style="color: #0563c1;">call or email your State Representative</span></a></u>, use the talking points below to craft a strong argument that focuses on issues related to cost and efficiency. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://mail.mea.org/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=F5QB1L_1ZfqGxWDAxQWZL63kjQerwT-jjUkeBh4ce5ZU4tZWHyTUCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYwBsAGkAYwBrAC4AZQBtAGEAaQBsAC4AbgBlAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAD8AcQBzAD0AMgA3ADgAZgA3AGMAZAA4AGMANwBjADgAOAA5ADMANwA5ADIAYwA1ADYAMgBkAGIAMgBlADQAMgA4AGIANwAzAGYAMQBkADgAYwBmADEAOQAxAGMAMQA1AGEAOQBmADIAZgBiAGMAOQA2AGYANAAwADEAMwAxADIAZgA0AGIANgBlAGIANgA3AGQAYgA5ADIAZAA5ADgAMwA4ADUANgBmAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d278f7cd8c7c8893792c562db2e428b73f1d8cf191c15a9f2fbc96f401312f4b6eb67db92d983856f" target="_blank" title="Senate Bill 279"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Senate Bill 279</span></a></span></b><span style="color: #0079cd; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Summary</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: SB 279 would prohibit individuals from accruing retirement service credit for time spent in collaboration and problem-solving activities with school administrators. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Talking Points</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">:</span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Unions are already required to reimburse the school district for retirement costs on release time. There is no cost savings to the district through passing this bill.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If the leaders are not able to get service credit for union release time, then the school district is not reimbursed for the retirement costs for that time. The MPSERS cost for that time will become the responsibility of the school district, further stretching school budgets to the tune of $1 million.</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://mail.mea.org/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=P0aV_gXuOzA5CnpPW6DXlfS1JHeD-kiizhbeTsxAsiNU4tZWHyTUCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYwBsAGkAYwBrAC4AZQBtAGEAaQBsAC4AbgBlAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAD8AcQBzAD0AMgA3ADgAZgA3AGMAZAA4AGMANwBjADgAOAA5ADMANwA1AGQAMgAxADYAZABkADUAOQBkAGIANABlAGYAZQBmADMAMwA4ADMANQA4ADEAMgBmAGEAMwAxAGYAMAA0ADMAZAAzADcAOQAwAGMANQBkADIAZAA3ADkAYQBiADYAYwA0ADIAZgAzADEAZgAwAGUAMgA4AGIAYwBmADAANwA0AA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d278f7cd8c7c889375d216dd59db4efef33835812fa31f043d3790c5d2d79ab6c42f31f0e28bcf074" target="_blank" title="Senate Bill 280"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Senate Bill 280</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Summary: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Senate Bill 280 seeks to ban collective bargaining agreements with public employers that allow for union leave time to be paid for by the employer. This bill would have a very negative impact on the ability of public employers to conduct work during normal business hours. The bill also now bans community colleges from collecting dues via payroll deduction, unnecessarily restricting the rights of those employees.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Talking points: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Collective bargaining agreements that allow for employer-paid union leave time are the norm in both the public and private sector. These arrangements benefit both sides by allowing for regular contact with labor and management representatives and for ease of processing day to day employee issues and utilizing the skills of employees to collaborate with management on things like professional development, mentoring, school improvement, etc. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Whether it is a few hours per month to handle employment matters, or a full-time union official on union leave, these arrangements are collectively bargained and agreed upon by both sides in the contract. Allowing for beneficial cooperation between labor and management is especially important in schools where administration and educators need to work closely together to help students succeed.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If paid union leave time is banned, union representatives will be less able to perform necessary work during normal business hours. This will result in this work being moved to non-business hours at much hassle and expense to the employer. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The addition of language banning payroll deduction of dues for community colleges is an unnecessary restraint on the rights of those employees to use the money in their paychecks as they see fit. In an age of electronic payroll processing, there is no cost to employers to conduct these withdrawals - in fact, community colleges will likely incur increased costs to implement this ban. And this ban has nothing to do with the rest of the contents of this bill, that's been under consideration for more than a year.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A vote on these bills could happen as soon as today -- <u><a href="https://mail.mea.org/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=zXR5x2YbOkAn08EIugNK-SPeJZw-gJHw3L1axikWoHdU4tZWHyTUCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYwBsAGkAYwBrAC4AZQBtAGEAaQBsAC4AbgBlAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAD8AcQBzAD0AMgA3ADgAZgA3AGMAZAA4AGMANwBjADgAOAA5ADMANwA1AGUAMAA5AGQAMQBlADcAZQBmAGEANQBkAGMAYgA1AGEAZQBkADkAZABiADUAYQBmAGYAMgA4ADMAZgA3AGEAMQBlADQAZgBkAGUAMQBlADgAZABkADQAZgA2ADIAZgA2AGQAOQAyAGEAMQA2ADcAMQAyAGIAOQA4AGUAMwA4AA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d278f7cd8c7c889375e09d1e7efa5dcb5aed9db5aff283f7a1e4fde1e8dd4f62f6d92a16712b98e38" target="_blank" title="please contact your State Representative and urge them to vote against SB 279-280"><span style="color: #0563c1;">please contact your State Representative and urge them to vote against SB 279-280</span></a></u>.</span></div>
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Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-21728521167396042422016-12-07T23:10:00.001-05:002016-12-07T23:10:21.770-05:00YET ANOTHER Financial Threat to School Funding - TAKE ACTION<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As reported in Capitol Comments this afternoon (Wed., 12/7/16), a new piece
of legislation is gaining traction in the legislature and may serve to reduce
funds meant for the education of children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The bill would allow the state to pay tax refunds from the School Aid
Fund rather than the General Fund as it is now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This legislation would cost district $273
per student!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The continual grabbing of
cash from the State School Aid Fund over the years has left most districts
teetering financially.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another financial
blow is hard imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most schools have
already cut programming and increased class sizes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Please write your legislator and tell them to oppose the
usage of School Aid Funds for tax refunds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="http://capwiz.com/nea/mi/directory/statedir.tt?state=MI&lvl=state" target="_blank">Click here to contact your legislator!<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-81481489185804031582016-12-06T14:07:00.001-05:002016-12-06T14:07:24.567-05:00GOOD NEWS about SB 102 - the Pension BillReported by Doug Pratt, Public Affairs, MEA<br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">MEA
Board, Leaders and Staff,</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It’s
official – SB 102 is off the table for lame duck!</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
press release below just went out to the media, after a Senate spokesperson
confirmed the news to reporters.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Things
we need to reinforce with members at this time:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span>1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This
battle has been won, but this issue is not going away…we need to continue
educating lawmakers for the next legislative session starting in January about
the consequences of closing the pension system for new hires. But for today,
THANK YOU to the thousands of people who communicated with their lawmakers about
why SB 102 needed to be stopped.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span>2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We
need to thank the lawmakers who stood with us...we’ll be sharing information on
that as soon as we can.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span>3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Lame
duck isn’t over with! The tax refund shift legislation still may move, as well
as other issues. As we said in Capitol Comments yesterday – Lame Duck Hurts
Kids…and lawmakers should be encouraged to end the lame duck session without
passing other legislation that could have unintended consequences for our
students and schools.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">THANKS
ALL!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Doug
Pratt</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">MEA
Director of Public Affairs</span></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-42457393626928547942016-12-06T10:23:00.001-05:002016-12-06T10:23:22.445-05:00TUESDAY, 12/6/2016 Legislative Update ACTION PLEASE<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Greetings Fellow MEA
Members,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Last night Gretchen </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dziadosz,
the Executive Director of the MEA, sent out a legislative update.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“As you know, we are fighting multiple fronts in lame duck. Not
only are we fighting the pension cuts, the bill to eliminate calendar
bargaining, but also the loss of association release time for leaders.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thanks for all you are doing, especially, the massive effort on
pension. It is having positive impact, although the fight is not over.”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"</span><em>We
need your help on the release time legislation.”<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What our director is
referring to is Senate Bills 279 and 280. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bill 279 – This bill </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">would no longer allow
union officials to have the state-funded pensions calculated from their union
salaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that if your union
president has release time, any of that time would not count toward their
retirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could be as far
reaching as not allowing ANY member any union release time to take care of
union business during the school day, unless they give up credit toward
retirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means all bargaining
and perhaps disciplinary meetings and other union related business, could only
occur outside of the school day, unless retirement credit was forfeited.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bill 280 – This bill </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">would prohibit paid
release time for union officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
would include a paid period of time where a teacher leaves the classroom to
serve as the head of their local union or in the Michigan Education
Associaiton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">It is already illegal for a school district to pay the retirement
payment to ORS for any release time union members might have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In most districts this has already
significantly reduced the release time members have to go to trainings or to
bargain because their local must repay the 25% share of retirement costs that
districts must pay to the ORS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">These bills were being actively pursued last
winter, but they have been “dormant” for a while now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like they have reappeared during
this Lame Duck Session.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">These bills are meant to reduce and/or eliminate
MEA member voices in the operation of their schools!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The administrators’ state organizations, MASB
and MASA, ALSO oppose these bills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is recognized even by their organizations as a means to severely impede the
smooth operation of their districts!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">There will be a committee meeting this Thursday
at 8:15 am to hear testimony for and against these bills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are the committee members who will be in
the hearing on Thursday:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Joe Graves (Chair, 51<sup>st</sup>,
Linden)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jason Shephard (Vice
Chair, 56<sup>th</sup>, Temperance)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mike Callton (87<sup>th</sup>,
Nashville)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nancy Jenkins (57<sup>th</sup>,
Clayton)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Joel Johnson (97<sup>th</sup>,
Clare)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bruce Rendon (103<sup>rd</sup>,
Lake City)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pat Somerville (23<sup>rd</sup>,
New Boston)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Holly Hughes (91<sup>st</sup>,
Montague)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tom Barrett (71<sup>st</sup>,
Potterville)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Daniella Garcia (90<sup>th</sup>,
Holland)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gary Glenn (98<sup>th</sup>,
Midland)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Eric Leutheuser (58<sup>th</sup>,
Hillsdale<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Please pick ONE
OR ALL of these legislators and write or call!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Tell them: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that union release time is valuable to both
union members and the school districts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By having this time to talk and have discussions, problems are averted
and discussions are held that clarify ways to solve potential problems from
becoming bigger issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell them that
it is important to you that your elected union leaders have the opportunity to
share your concerns and needs while you caDOn be present in your classroom
doing the work you love!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/nea/mi/directory/statedir.tt?state=MI&lvl=state" target="_blank">Click HERE, enter the legislator’s nameto get an EASY TO USE link to their legislative office!</a></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">DO NOT LET YOUR VOICE BE IGNORED!!!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-20537314584963771082016-12-01T23:18:00.002-05:002016-12-01T23:18:58.468-05:00Update on Legislative News and A NEW DANGER!!!
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Senator David Knezek<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Late this afternoon I received an
email blast (it is also in his Twitter feed) from a state senator named David
Knezek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not quite sure how I got on
his list, but probably because I read through many entries on the internet
looking for information.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">David Knezek is the Senator from
District 5:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dearborn Heights, Detroit,
Garden City, Inkster, & Redford Township.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is the youngest senator and he is a democrat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like his point of view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are looking for a perspective that isn’t
the regular stuff you read in the paper, I would suggest visiting his website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was Senator Knezek’s message
late this afternoon:</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Michigan Senate has adjourned until December 6, 2016
without taking a vote to eliminate teachers' pensions.Legislation to eliminate
healthcare benefits for police officers and fire fighters received a committee
hearing today and may soon receive a vote in the Michigan House of
Representatives.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your phone calls and emails to legislators are working.
Please don't stop. Michiganders need to mobilize, keep up the pressure, and
hold our elected officials accountable.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Capitol Comments</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another good
place for information is through the MEA’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Capitol
Comments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>You can register to
receive Capitol Comments through your email by going to <a href="http://www.mea.org/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">www.mea.org</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the bottom of the page you will an icon of Capitol Comments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Click and sign up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">News from
Capitol Comments today has some good, but there is more very destructive
legislation that was introduced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
legislature did adjourn today and will not meet until next Tuesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did this without voting on the SB 102 –
the pension changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Newest Threat – TAKE ACTION!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, <u>today
a bill did gain traction that would DRAIN $403 MILLION dollars from the State</u>
<u>School Aid Fund</u>. <u>That amounts to $273 per student.</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the State of Michigan has to pay income tax
refunds to Michigan citizens, the money is taken from the General Fund.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bill would have that money taken from
the School Aid Fund instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can come up with lots of reasons why they
might be doing it, but I think the result of this is even more important to
consider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For school districts that
receive between $7600 to $9000 per student, that amounts to an average of 3%
cut in funding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a district of
14,000 students, that is a cut of over $3 million dollars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a district of 2000 students, that is over
a ½ million dollar cut in funding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
cuts that would have to be made by school districts are unimaginable when you
think about how much they have cut already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Programming for students, class sizes, technology, class books…..how
would that all be affected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong><a href="http://capwiz.com/nea/mi/directory/statedir.tt?state=MI&lvl=state" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a></strong>
to write your legislator and tell them NOT to rob the School State Aid
Fund!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell them that students deserve
the best education possible, and taking money from the SAF<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>denies them that right!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-33448861181507251982016-11-30T08:09:00.002-05:002016-11-30T08:09:27.109-05:00WEDNESDAY AM News on Pension - TAKE ACTION!!!Below is the newest report from the MEA regarding the Lame Duck Session intentions of the Michigan Legislature on PENSION ACCOUNTS!<br />
<br />
Please Take ACTION!<br />
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<strong><em><u><span style="color: blue;"></span></u></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://actionnetwork.org/letters/pensions-not-broken-dont-fix-it" target="_blank">TAKE ACTION NOW BY CLICKING ON THIS LINE!</a></span></strong></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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<strong>By using the link above, it will take you to the ACTION NETWORK. Fill in your residential information. The site will then provide you a preformatted letter about pensions (you can change it if you want), but it will automatically SEND THE LETTER TO YOUR LEGISLATOR!!!</strong></div>
<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">"While the House and Governor’s intentions on pension reform in lame duck are less clear, Senate leaders have now publicly stated they’re going to attempt to pass SB 102 before year’s end, which would move all new school hires into a defined contribution, 401(k)-style retirement plan. </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Not only would this have a huge impact on new hires, but cutting off funding into the pension threatens to destabilize the system for current employees and retirees as well – everyone has a stake in this fight.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="color: blue;">For his part, Gov. Snyder and his administration have been opposed to this change thus far, with a PowerPoint presentation making the rounds with lawmakers and superintendents saying that the total extra cost of this change will be $24 billion dollars over 30 years – </span></em><a href="https://mail.mea.org/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=5e286vmxc-hqPTZedeZ2OKO5qU_TBUIj1AS_vJGfDlgYePfgHxnUCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3AHcALgBtAGUAYQAuAG8AcgBnAC8AcwB0AGEAdABlAC0AYgB1AGQAZwBlAHQALQBlAHgAcABlAHIAdABzAC0AcwBhAHkALQBjAGwAbwBzAGkAbgBnAC0AcABlAG4AcwBpAG8AbgAtAHAAbABhAG4ALQB3AGkAbABsAC0AYwBvAHMAdAAtAHQAYQB4AHAAYQB5AGUAcgBzAC0AZQB4AHQAcgBhAC0AMgA0AC0AYgBpAGwAbABpAG8AbgA.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mea.org%2fstate-budget-experts-say-closing-pension-plan-will-cost-taxpayers-extra-24-billion" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: blue;">MEA did a story about that last week</span></em></a><em><span style="color: blue;"> via Capitol Comments, the website and Facebook.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;">That PowerPoint provides us our message with lawmakers that members and the public can share: <b>State budget experts are saying this bill will cost taxpayers an extra $24 billion -- where will that money come from? Tax increases? Or cuts to my child’s education?</b></span></em></div>
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<b><em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></b></div>
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<b><u><em><span style="color: blue;">For 2017 alone, closing the pension system would cost an extra $1.2 billion – that equates to a cut of $820 per student!</span></em></u></b></div>
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<strong><em><u><span style="color: blue;"></span></u></em></strong> </div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;">The Senate Appropriations Committee has scheduled a meeting for 9 a.m. tomorrow about SB 102 (the bill that would put all new hires in a defined contribution system), as well as SBs 1177 and 1178 – bills that would spread out the state’s pension costs over 50 years, instead of the current 22 years. This is an attempt to make the increased costs of closing the pension system appear smaller by spreading them out until 2067 – long after every current employee has retired and passing the buck on to future legislators and taxpayers."</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong></strong></span></em><br /></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>.</strong></span></em> </div>
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<strong><em><u><span style="color: blue;"></span></u></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://actionnetwork.org/letters/pensions-not-broken-dont-fix-it" target="_blank">TAKE ACTION NOW BY CLICKING ON THIS LINE!</a></span></strong></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong>By using the link above, it will take you to the ACTION NETWORK. Fill in your residential information. The site will then provide you a preformatted letter about pensions (you can change it if you want), but it will automatically SEND THE LETTER TO YOUR LEGISLATOR!!!</strong></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-40315101292318217962016-11-28T23:15:00.002-05:002016-11-28T23:15:40.688-05:00POSSIBLE PENSION ATTACK COMING in the Legislature’s “Lame Duck” Session<br />
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<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">Beginning Tuesday, November 29<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, the Michigan
Legislature will be in session for three weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This seems like a very short period of time, but it has proven in the
past to be one of the most destructive times for Michigan’s public education
system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time period is the last
three weeks of the current legislature’s “reign” before newly elected officials
are sworn in for the next session in January of 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">There have been numerous rumors about what will happen
during this 3 week period, and as of this morning the legislature’s agenda has
not been published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is known is
that the DeVoss family (of Amway fame and major Republican campaign
contributors, as well as Betsy DeVoss, current appointee of Donald Trump) has
announced a plan to move Michigan public employees </span><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">into a 401(k) styled defined contribution plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">The premise is that the current pension system is “broken”,
and that there are dangerous unfunded liabilities that need to be
addressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth is that the
economic crash of 2008 was more detrimental to pension funds than any other
factor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, recent changes have
dramatically increased employee contributions into the system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You all know that your contributions
increased in 2012!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, in 2012 a
“hybrid” system was put into effect for all school employees hired after that
date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hybrid system is fully
funded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">The 2012 law also eliminated healthcare benefits for anyone
hired after that date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These changes
will also bring relief to the retirement system over the next several years.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">So, what’s broken?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, what’s the problem? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">Here’s what the MEA has researched and found:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">1)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">First, no one is getting rich off public school
employee pensions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>45% of public school
employees receive a pension of less than $14,500 a year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">Some people do not realize that retirees receive less than 45% of
their Final Average </span><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_17" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 330pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 172.2pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: margin; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 346.05pt; z-index: -251598848;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">Compensation as a pension payment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">3)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">Hedge fund managers and other Wall Street
corporations are the real winners in eliminating traditional pensions plans and
moving the money to their 401(k)s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Please ask around; how many people lost more than half of their
retirement funds when these accounts were devastated by the 2008 Wall Street
collapse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In retirement, people need
secure funds!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">4)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">Numerous studies have shown that, in addition to
being much less secure than a traditional pension, any savings to the state for
making such a change would not be realized for more than 30 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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SEE THE CHART ABOVE FOR THE COSTS OF CLOSING THE CURRENT SYSTEM.<o:p></o:p></w:wrap><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"><span style="font-size: small;">What Have Educational Employees Done
to Sustain the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS)?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">1)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
1986 the MIP plan was introduced that required members to make contributions to
their retirement benefits<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">2)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">In 2012 the 1.5% multiplier was reduced to
1.25% unless a member chose to pay from 1 to 4% more into their retirement fund<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">a.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basic
members increased from 0 to 4%<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">b.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">MIP Fixed increased from 3.9 to 7%<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">c.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">MIP Graded members increased from a graded
percentage of up to 4.3% to 7%<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">d.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">MIP-Plus members increased from a graded
percentage of up to 6.4% to 7%<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">3)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">In 2012 new employees hired after PA 300’s
effective date were placed in a “hybrid” system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These employees will receive a smaller
guaranteed monthly pension that will be combined with an individual retirement
account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">4)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">Healthcare in retirement was ended for those
hired after September 4, 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Employees
can choose to contribute up to 2% in a health account with an employer matching
contribution.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;">Currently, public school employees are
likely contributing almost 10% of their income to funds for a pension and to
get some sort of health benefit in retirement. Add this to the cost of student
loans many of our young teachers are paying, plus the cost of a place to live,
transportation, and continuing costs for the education credits they must have
to maintain their certifications…it is overwhelming.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"></span></i></b> </div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/nea/mi/directory/statedir.tt?state=MI&lvl=state" target="_blank">CLICK HERE!</a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://mail.mea.org/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=YcmHH7gjQOVADta9pH3JQ0akyqbTOSI5JTpCWeCTS2Z9rOSOs2jTCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYwBsAGkAYwBrAC4AZQBtAGEAaQBsAC4AbgBlAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAD8AcQBzAD0ANgA0AGMAMQA5ADAAZgA2ADAAMwA4ADMAZAA5AGUAOQA2ADAANABiAGMANwAzADcANwBkADMAOQBhADkAZAA4ADkAOAA5ADQANwBkADYANwA4ADcANAA0ADEAMQAzADkAMgBiADcAYwBlAGYAMgBhAGYAZQBlADAANgAzADMANwBhADgAMQBiAGQAYQA5ADMAYQAwAGYANwBlAGEAMQAzAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d64c190f60383d9e9604bc7377d39a9d898947d67874411392b7cef2afee06337a81bda93a0f7ea13" target="_blank" title="Please call or email your state representative today to make that case, and encourage others in your community to contact lawmakers as well"><span style="color: blue;">Please call or email your state representative today to make that case, and encourage others in your community to contact lawmakers as well</span></a></span></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></i></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-80508507177358375952016-04-19T20:40:00.001-04:002016-04-19T20:40:10.769-04:00Member Call to Action: School Calendar Bargaining ProhibitionTAKE ACTION!!! USE THE LINK IN THE ARTICLE BELOW!!!!<br />
-----This article is from today's (April 19th) "Capitol Comments"<br />
<br />
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A bill to prohibit
school calendar as a topic of bargaining could pass the House as soon as
tomorrow. It’s urgent that school employees, parents, and other education
stakeholders in communities across the state contact lawmakers on the issue
immediately! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not only should MEA members call
their legislators, but school employees should encourage community members,
friends, and family to voice opposition to the loss of local control in
educational decision-making represented by <a href="https://mail.mea.org/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=7e-ZevvCmxNrCCEnmDJRdWclMLMangE-Q8aqgxSd4rB9rOSOs2jTCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYwBsAGkAYwBrAC4AZQBtAGEAaQBsAC4AbgBlAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAD8AcQBzAD0ANgA0AGMAMQA5ADAAZgA2ADAAMwA4ADMAZAA5AGUAOQAwADEAYgA1ADkANgA5ADYAZABlADgAYQBjAGMAMQA0ADAAZgBjADcANwA5AGYANABjADEAZQA4ADgAMQA5AGEANgA4ADQAYwA4ADIAOQAyADMANQAyADAANQBmADgAOAAyADYANwBhADQAYgAxADIAYwAyAGMAMwBkADgAYQBlAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d64c190f60383d9e901b59696de8acc140fc779f4c1e8819a684c829235205f88267a4b12c2c3d8ae" target="_blank" title="House Bill 5194"><span style="color: blue;">House Bill
5194</span></a>. <b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Educators are the experts on the
front lines, and we know what our students need in terms of a calendar and
schedule. Prohibiting calendar from bargaining is yet another example of the
state overstepping its role and usurping local authority. <b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As schools move forward with
innovative programs and individualized learning plans, administration and
educators need to jointly plan, prepare, and solve problems together to achieve
best practices and create an effective learning environment for children</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CLICK HERE!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://mail.mea.org/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=YcmHH7gjQOVADta9pH3JQ0akyqbTOSI5JTpCWeCTS2Z9rOSOs2jTCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYwBsAGkAYwBrAC4AZQBtAGEAaQBsAC4AbgBlAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAD8AcQBzAD0ANgA0AGMAMQA5ADAAZgA2ADAAMwA4ADMAZAA5AGUAOQA2ADAANABiAGMANwAzADcANwBkADMAOQBhADkAZAA4ADkAOAA5ADQANwBkADYANwA4ADcANAA0ADEAMQAzADkAMgBiADcAYwBlAGYAMgBhAGYAZQBlADAANgAzADMANwBhADgAMQBiAGQAYQA5ADMAYQAwAGYANwBlAGEAMQAzAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d64c190f60383d9e9604bc7377d39a9d898947d67874411392b7cef2afee06337a81bda93a0f7ea13" target="_blank" title="Please call or email your state representative today to make that case, and encourage others in your community to contact lawmakers as well"><span style="color: blue;">Please call or email your state representative today to make
that case, and encourage others in your community to contact lawmakers as well</span></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Copy and Paste this message:</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Educators are the experts on the
front lines, and we know what our students need in terms of a calendar and
schedule. Prohibiting calendar from bargaining is yet another example of the
state overstepping its role and usurping local authority. <b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As schools move forward with
innovative programs and individualized learning plans, administration and
educators need to jointly plan, prepare, and solve problems together to achieve
best practices and create an effective learning environment for children</span></i></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://mail.mea.org/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=YcmHH7gjQOVADta9pH3JQ0akyqbTOSI5JTpCWeCTS2Z9rOSOs2jTCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYwBsAGkAYwBrAC4AZQBtAGEAaQBsAC4AbgBlAGEALgBvAHIAZwAvAD8AcQBzAD0ANgA0AGMAMQA5ADAAZgA2ADAAMwA4ADMAZAA5AGUAOQA2ADAANABiAGMANwAzADcANwBkADMAOQBhADkAZAA4ADkAOAA5ADQANwBkADYANwA4ADcANAA0ADEAMQAzADkAMgBiADcAYwBlAGYAMgBhAGYAZQBlADAANgAzADMANwBhADgAMQBiAGQAYQA5ADMAYQAwAGYANwBlAGEAMQAzAA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d64c190f60383d9e9604bc7377d39a9d898947d67874411392b7cef2afee06337a81bda93a0f7ea13" target="_blank" title="Please call or email your state representative today to make that case, and encourage others in your community to contact lawmakers as well"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></a></span>Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-88905262544747173082016-02-11T16:26:00.001-05:002016-02-11T16:26:08.007-05:00TAKE ACTION to keep Bargaining Rights for Calendar!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<u><b>House Bill 5194</b></u> just passed out of the House Education
committee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bill makes CALENDAR and
SCHEDULES PROHIBITED subjects of bargaining!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If your bargaining unit nor any of your fellow union members have a
voice in the creation of the calendar nor the schedule, can you imagine what
might happen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ARE
professionals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are on the front line
every day and we know what works as we create programming and lessons for the
students! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We MUST have a voice in these
decisions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please contact your HOUSE representative and let them know
that this HB 5194 should NOT be passed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To make it simple, please COPY the message below and then go
the MEA Legislative site!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just put in
your zip code and the site will let you send the message to your own House
representative.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>CLICK HERE for the MEA Legislative site:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://capwiz.com/nea/mi/directory/statedir.tt?state=MI&lvl=state">http://capwiz.com/nea/mi/directory/statedir.tt?state=MI&lvl=state</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>COPY AND PASTE this message into the site’s message box:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Teachers in our
public schools do much planning to create new and innovative programs for
students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We work cooperatively with
our administrators to create plans, schedules, and programming for our
students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to be able to plan
with as much flexibility as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The needs from district to district, and from school to school, vary
greatly, and flexibility will allow us to create programs that best meet our
communities’ needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making this a
prohibited topic of bargaining will not serve to improve education for
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PLEASE VOTE NO on House Bill
5194.”</i></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-72114428810570798322015-12-12T23:11:00.003-05:002015-12-13T09:08:25.592-05:00NCLB is gone! Is the new ESSA better????<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Fourteen years of educational history ended when President
Obama signed the new ESSA Act – Every Student Succeeds Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will take the place of NCLB, or No Child
Left Behind.</div>
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No Child Left Behind LEAVES behind a legacy of testing and of
using those test scores to punish schools that do not meet the standards set by
the federal government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> W</span>hile
accountability is desirable, NCLB has been behind the culture of testing that
has taken over our schools. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
We aren’t
done with tests under the new act.<span style="font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span>It still <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">requires two tests, in reading and math,
per child per year in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school. It also
requires science tests be given three times between grades 3 and 8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>States will have the power to decide how the
tests are used in holding schools accountable for the performance of students.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The NEA reports in the most recent “Lily’s Blackboard” that,
“ESSA empowers educators as trusted professionals to make school and classroom
decisions while keeping the focus on students most in need. Educators who were
shut out during the past decade are going to be heard again—not after the fact,
but as participants in the policymaking process. The law also reduces the
amount of standardized testing in schools and, most importantly, decouples
high-stakes decision making and statewide standardized tests so that so
students have more time to learn and teachers have more time to teach. Last,
ESSA begins to close the opportunity gaps for students by providing a new
accountability system that includes an “opportunity dashboard” with—for the
first time—indicators of school success and student support.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are those out there who are reluctant to say the new
program will be successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alan Singer,
Social Studies Professor at Hofstra University, warns that while repealing the
annual federal yearly progress reports is good, there are weak spots in the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance individual states may design
their own accountability systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>States
will be responsible for identifying and supporting struggling schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Singer questions whether all states will be
able to implement systems that are reliable and can truly accomplish this
task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Singer also warns that this new bill requires states to set
aside funds for “equitable services” for eligible students who attend private
and religious schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, the states
must create an ombudsman position to ensure that private and religious schools
get what they consider a fair share of federal funds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What else might this lead to?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, Kenneth Zeichner, a professor of teacher education
at the University of Washington in Seattle, believes this new law may very well
lead to “fast track” teacher education programs provided by corporate
interests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says the bill establishes
“teacher prep academies” designed to promote “entrepreneurial programs”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leaving behind aspects of No Child Left Behind is certainly
more than desirable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, as states
begin to design their own programs for accountability systems and student
support, the ability to allow educators to have input in the design is imperative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this state’s current culture of teacher
and public school bashing, that might prove difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our best place to have input is most likely through
the Michigan Department of Education and the State Superintendent’s office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Send an email to Brian Whiston, Michigan Superintendent of
Schools;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="mailto:carefootk@michigan.gov">carefootk@michigan.gov</a></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-51799141787121040512015-11-30T13:38:00.000-05:002015-11-30T13:39:56.202-05:00UNION BUSTING Legislation - TAKE ACTION!!!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There are two bills that are of utmost importance set to be
considered in the coming days in our Michigan House legislature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both bills passed the Senate prior to
Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passage in the House,
barring major changes from the Senate version, would mean they would quickly be
forwarded to the governor for signing and into the law books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">These bills are UNION busting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s all there is to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read more!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bill SB 280</b> would
make it illegal to do any union work during work release time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of you who have presidents that have
some release time or perhaps are full time release will LOSE that
representation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the work they do
would have to be done AFTER hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
it is NOT just directed at presidents with release time!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bill SB 280</b> would prohibit ANY kind of
release time during work hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
instance; <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">District Talent
Initiative</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Professional Learning
Communities</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Professional
Development and Design/Planning Committee</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">District Leadership
Team</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Teacher
Evaluation-District Implementation Team</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Quality Instructional Coaches
Advisor Committee</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">High School
Restructuring Steering Team</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">New Teacher Induction
(professional development/mentors)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">District Curriculum
Participant</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bargaining and
Grievances<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">ALL of these activities would always have to be done
outside of school hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are NOT
political.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is work that involves
human resources, giving voice to educational workers in the decision making, and
sharing our expertise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly, all are
ways to deny employee voices!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Bill SB 279</span></b><span style="color: black;"> takes the prohibition even further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It says that even if the union or individual
reimburses MPSERS (the Michigan Retirement System & made mandatory this
summer by the MPSERS Board), the person being released can ear NO CREDIT toward
retirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, people who are working in release time
positions, or even those who might spend some days bargaining or any of the
activities above, can earn nothing toward their retirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is kind of like “hammering the nail”
into the other bill, SB280.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can
people give up time toward retirement?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They can’t.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>Please CLICK below and follow the link the MEA’s
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">When you click on the link it takes you to a HOUSE/SENATE
page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do the following!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">**Enter your
zip code and it will give you the names of your House and Senate
representatives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">***Click on the HOUSE representative in your area to contact;
their page will pop up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">***Click on “Contact”, and you will have the choice to use
their office telephone or a FORM to fill out that you can email from the site!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://capwiz.com/nea/mi/directory/statedir.tt?state=MI&lvl=state&action=myreps_form" target="_blank">CLICK HERE!</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tell them this (copy and paste if you like):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vote against SB280 and SB279</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They deny local school districts the ability
to determine how to best involve their unions in the important activities that
must be completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t political
work being done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time is spent on
important activities like evaluation, leadership, employee mentoring,
professional learning communities, professional development, district
curriculum, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To vote for these
bills is denying employees the ability to make service to students BETTER!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-80120031046893027582015-07-25T22:52:00.001-04:002015-11-20T15:38:26.195-05:00So, why pay union dues?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><i>Greetings MEA Members of 7K & 7IJ!</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>A
lot of you most likely received emails from a "Mary" and the Mackinaw
Center back in June about your rights to opt-out, and how the union did nothing for
Mary. Steve Cook did write
a reply to that accusation that was sent out some time ago.. The "essay"
below was a guest editorial I wrote for the Summer 7IJ Coordinating Council
Newsletter. Some of you saw it in June, but I thought I would send it
out again. Why? I believe that so much
of what we receive from our MEA is invisible to us as members, and I
want to tell you about how much the MEA and NEA provides for us that
costs real money.....thus the need for our dues!</i></span><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Today I am pondering over the</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">question, "Why belong to a union?".</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I am thinking of a MILLION reasons someone should</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">belong to a union! Where do I start?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">So much of what a union provides</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">is invisible to us on an everyday</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">level, but it is so important. Yes, with</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">membership we can vote for officers,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">we can vote for ratification of Letters</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Of Understanding and contracts,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">and we can get representation when</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">there are disciplinary issues, or work</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">issues</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">One of the most important reasons</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">that I feel union membership is</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">important is because we educators</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">need a voice in the process of</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">educational decisions. We are the</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">experts! All of you have years of</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">education and experience! Why</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">should we not be the leaders in the</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">voice for our profession?
How do</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">we guarantee that voice? I believe</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">it is through our union.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">At the state level, the MEA lobbies for</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">our interests at the legislative level.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">We can't all be in Lansing, so having our dues support</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">our MEA to be our advocate seems</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">MORE important than ever. The</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">MEA also keeps us informed of issues</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">occurring at the state level that affect</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">us as educators by publishing "Capital</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Comments" and contacting our local</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">union leaders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The MEA provides training for your</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">local leaders (like me) so they can</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">enter bargaining and grievances</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">knowing what to look for and how to</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">approach difficult situations. They</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">provide training in current laws and</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">practices. If we (local leaders) have a</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">legal question, we or our UniServ</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Directors can call for legal advice</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">from the MEA. There is an MEA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">economist that can provide research</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">and information on school finances,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">and can give us specific information</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">about our individual school's finances.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">None of us could do that all on our</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">own. Our organization and joining of</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">forces allows all these things to exist</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">and are essential to the continuation</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">of our public school careers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The same kind of services and</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">educational advocacy occur at the</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">national level through our membership</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">in NEA. Those advocacy services as</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">described above occur at the national</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">level as well. The current work on the
<br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">reform of ESEA is a perfect example of where the NEA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">is working for our good. Think of the policies and funding</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">that are set by our president, his cabinet,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">and our national congress. How could</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">we all have a voice in those decisions?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">And what would happen if we did not</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">have a voice in those decisions? We</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">need advocates at the national level,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">too!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">At a local level, belonging to a union</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">gives you the power of numbers. If each</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">one of us had to negotiate our own pay</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">and benefits, I shutter to think what might</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">happen. Would the district act in our</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">best interests? They probably would</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">try, but think about these financially</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">difficult times. If health insurance</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">wasn't bargained by the union, that</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">would be a great place for them to cut</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">costs. If they could save millions on</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">salaries, why not have us take 10% pay</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">cuts (like some other nearby districts)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">and never allow step increases? We have
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">to have a voice and backing in these kinds of
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">issues.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Reflect back, what are some issues you've had</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">to deal with as a teacher? Where would</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">you be or what would have happen if</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">you had not had the union contract to</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">back you up? Did you need to call me</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">or our MEA UniServ Director? What</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">if you didn't have someone to talk to</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">besides management?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Another example, sad to say, is that some crazy accusations are</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">made about teachers….some are true,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">but most are not. If you did not have a</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">union to stand behind you, how would</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">those crazy accusations be treated,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">even if they were false? How would</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">you be treated? Would there be any</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">guarantee of fair treatment or of</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">maintaining your job?</span></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<div class="BodyFragment">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><div class="PlainText">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">No union contract can be perfect and</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">sometimes people are not protected or</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">represented in a way they wish, but</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">what if the union did not exist? I think</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">a lot of us would not have jobs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Certainly, my salary and benefits</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">(especially in these really financially</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">strapped times) would not be what</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">they are.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">We need to stick together and I believe</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">the union, the MEA/NEA/WLEA, is</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">the best way to do that. There is</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">power in numbers. We can't do this</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">without support and thus, there is an</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">expense to these services; thus, our dues.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Over time,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I have no doubt that I have benefited</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">from the cost of my dues I have paid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">They have more than been returned</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">in services, salary, and benefits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Times are difficult for educators right</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">now, and this is the very best time for all of us to
<br />
stick together and support our union at all levels!<br />
<br />
T</span></div>
</span></span><br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-74040578076872032482015-04-08T22:40:00.002-04:002015-04-08T22:40:17.741-04:00Supreme Court Rules Against Challenge to Retirement Changes
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The Michigan Supreme Court today
rejected an appeal that has been in the courts for almost 3 years that
challenged changes made to the public school employees retirement service. The
MEA and AFT maintained that it violated both the Michigan and U.S.
Constitutions.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">This law change concerning public
school employee retirement occurred in 2012, now called PA 300, requiring
school employees to pay between 1% to 4% more of their salary to keep the
multiplier at 1.5% or have the multiplier lowered to 1.25%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The MEA and AFT argued that PA 300 was
unconstitutional because it was contrary to statements in Office of Retirement
Services publications over many years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
new statute changed the retirement benefits in the middle of people’s careers.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A challenge made through the
courts regarding the mandatory 3% deduction to pay for retiree health care
(PA75) made in 2010 is not affected by today’s decision regarding PA 300.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> The case involving this 3% remains
before the Court. It had been rumored that the courts were holding off on
the decision regarding the retiree health care case pending the decision on the
constitutionality of the PA 300 case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, no one seems to say when they expect the PA 75 decision to be
made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This decision will be different
because there is no constitutional mandate for retiree health care subsidies.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">(Newly elected Justice Richard
Bernstein did participate in the decision as he was not on the court when the
court). </span></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-15061635225080619162015-02-24T07:53:00.000-05:002015-02-24T07:53:09.180-05:00ESEA - Email, Tweet, Sign a Petition or Tell your story!<b><i>Please take advantage of one OR ALL of the links below to tell Washington to fix the ESEA. Tell them that good teaching and learning is NOT about more testing. It is not about giving schools a label like "priority". It is not about punishing schools whose students do poorly on tests!</i></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Take action today! House ESEA rewrite expected to pass this week</b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The U.S. House is expected to pass a
rewrite of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) this
Friday. Unfortunately, this rewrite does nothing to help students learn
or teachers teach. The focus has shifted to more testing,
labeling of schools and then punishing them for their "failure," while
doing nothing to close achievement gaps.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Your help is needed. Here are four things you can do.</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://webmail.wlcsd.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=83e675790deb424d9649eb5356525dce&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d56eee3e46b7e4a85141e316d7d51487099ad1cb48a8fef206a165b4691dcb1ee7bf86a58346a0e0b" target="_blank" title="Email your members of Congress">Email
your members of Congress</a> and tell them to get ESEA right.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://webmail.wlcsd.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=83e675790deb424d9649eb5356525dce&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d56eee3e46b7e4a850fdb283b41814bef00f455cbae2863976c34324cd5f63a4393183b9590d5ad2f" target="_blank" title="Send a tweet that targets your Senators and Representative ">Send
a tweet that targets your Senators and Representative</a> using NEA's
brand new tool with the hashtags #opportunityforall and #timetolearn.
You don't even need to know your elected officials' twitter handles.
Simply put in your zip code and it will be provided.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://webmail.wlcsd.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=83e675790deb424d9649eb5356525dce&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d56eee3e46b7e4a85bf4c0baa23ba8f84f10fdb9d78dfb7838267596e251448c38dc190f231600b84" target="_blank" title="Share your story on the over-use of standardized testing">Share
your story on the over-use of standardized testing</a> and how it has affected you and your students.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://webmail.wlcsd.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=83e675790deb424d9649eb5356525dce&URL=http%3a%2f%2fclick.email.nea.org%2f%3fqs%3d56eee3e46b7e4a853a74338aea598713e7820e9eae9c3878f561703cdf55186ab1aaa9eb65c6056a" target="_blank" title="Sign the ESEA petition">Sign
the ESEA petition</a> along with thousands of other educators, students
and parents to tell Congress that any reauthorization of ESEA must
include time to learn and opportunity for all students</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">.</span></li>
</ol>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-78785616877026057172014-12-04T19:35:00.003-05:002014-12-04T19:35:37.449-05:00More Lame Duck Legislation.........<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Information from
Steve Norton at MI Parents for Schools</u></b> –<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(The comments in the parentheses are me – Terese commenting).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Four Bad Bills being considered in the legislative lame duck
session –<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Bad Idea #1</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Let's pave the roads with our children's
education (Among other things, the idea to eliminate sales tax from gas sales…….sales
tax is used to fund schools……with no method set to replace those taxes except
for the guess that sales in other areas will increase. Really?)<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Bad Idea #2</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cut school funding and then take 'em over when
they have budget problems (the “Early Warning System”)<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Bad Idea #3</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cut school funding and then force them to flunk
3rd graders who don't test well in reading (We want students to learn, but what
is magic about 3<sup>rd</sup> grade?
Has flunking a kid ever really increased academic performance? Because, if it did, wouldn’t it be done more
frequently?)</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Bad Idea #4</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cut school funding, and then slap a simplistic
letter grade on them to show how badly they're doing (I’d like to know the
criteria for a grade and schools are never simply ONE thing, so how can there
be one grade that would reflect how a school is doing?)</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Go to the “MI Parents for Schools” site for full information on these
bills!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://capwiz.com/miparentsforschools/issues/alert/?alertid=63971636&MC_plugin=4461">http://capwiz.com/miparentsforschools/issues/alert/?alertid=63971636&MC_plugin=4461</a><o:p></o:p></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-68890579061472857202014-12-03T16:11:00.000-05:002014-12-03T16:18:58.801-05:00"Taking Away Our Schools" from Michigan Parents for Schools<em>The Lame Duck Sessions are revving up in Lansing and the following bills are predicted to skip committee hearings and come to the floor of the legislature as early as Thursday.</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>Go to the link below to read more information from "Michigan Parents for Schools" and CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR......leave a message!</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em><a href="http://capwiz.com/miparentsforschools/callalert/index.tt?alertid=63960631">http://capwiz.com/miparentsforschools/callalert/index.tt?alertid=63960631</a></em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>Here is the basic information about these bills. Walled Lake could become one of these schools if only because the STATE ITSELF has caused us to spend less per pupil over the years with their school aid cuts! This is ludicrous!</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>From "Michigan Parents for Schools" -</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 17px;">Here is a good example of why we need to tell our story. A package of bills now before the Michigan Senate would give the state even more power to take over school districts that "might" be in financial distress. What's wrong with this picture?</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 17px;"><a href="http://www.mipfs.org/node/225" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8d6e00;">As we argued in our recent article</span></a>, most districts are having financial troubles because the state has not given them decent funding, not because they have been throwing money to the wind.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 17px;">There are over 19 indicators the state could use to say your district could be in "financial distress." The MI Assn of School Boards says just 2 of these indicators could catch over 250 school districts in its net - close to half!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 17px;">The bills give broad new powers to the state Dept. of Treasury to take over districts and demand sweeping cuts. Are the folks who process our tax returns the right people to make sound decisions for our schools?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 17px;">The emergency manager rules are bad enough, but these bills would allow Treasury to skip over any review process or local objections and ask the Governor directly for an emergency manager for a school district. Why be so eager to strip us of control of our local community schools?</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 17px;">This is bad law no matter how you look at it.</span></div>
</div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-34759099183093991732014-11-03T09:07:00.001-05:002014-11-03T09:07:02.160-05:00ONLINE Voter Guide from the MEA<span style="background-color: white; color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">If you did not vote by absentee ballot.....</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Click on the link and it will take you to an MEA site where you can enter your address and get the MEA endorsement list for your very own home area! No lists to wade through! No congressional numbers to remember! GIVE IT A TRY!!!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><a href="http://www.mea.yourvoterguide.com/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #669922; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-68288628607570746172014-10-31T14:28:00.000-04:002014-11-01T09:36:00.654-04:00You HAVE to read this!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I was sitting watching TV with my husband a week or so
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those Snyder ads came on
and they were telling we viewers that Snyder had actually paid money to into
the retirement system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband
looked to me and said, "Is that true?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sat there for a minute. If someone I’m married to can ask
me that question ….and I’m not one to stay quiet….then, there are a whole lot of
people listening to that ad and not bothering to ask, “is that true?”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am so passionate about the topic, I can not let this go
unaddressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am communicating with you
member to member, and you can communicate this with other members and
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Tuesday’s election will be
one of the most important ever in the history of public education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our survival is dependent on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But first, I believe I need to address some
of these financial claims made on TV by the Snyder group.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s start with Mr. Snyder’s first year in office - He did
make over $1 billion dollars in cuts to the School State Aid Fund.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This amounted to $470 per student cut for
Walled Lake!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That has NEVER been
replaced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been different ways over the
last 3 years that our district could earn some of those funds back. Remember
“best practices” and “performance money”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>WLCSD has been able to meet “best practices” for two years, and we did get some
“performance money” in one year, but not to the tune of $470.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some years the government put money into the School State Aid Fund, but it went to community colleges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite these bits of money over the years,
they never stay as part of our state aid from year to year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are not accumulative. They go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, at the beginning of each new school year,
we have $470 less per student than we had the year before Snyder’s cuts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past year Mr. Snyder says he put over $700,000 new
dollars into education, but here’s how that worked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “poorer” districts in the state received
an extra $175 per student in state aid (this does not fill in the $470 hole
from previous years).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walled Lake was
considered a “richer” district because we get about $8165 per student, so the
state gave us an extra $50 per student.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Huron Valley, our neighbor, got the $175. Farmington didn't get $175 per student,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b</span>ut Farmington’s state funding per student
is closer to $10,000 compared to our $8100.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just to measure ours against some other neighbors; Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham get over $11,000
per student, Southfield gets $10,800 per student and West Bloomfield get $8676.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feeling “rich” yet?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just to give you a few facts:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2009 WLCSD’s per pupil payment amount was $8926.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2011, it was $8165</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2013, it was $8195</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2008 WLCSD’s total fund revenue was $162, 991,000</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2013-2014, their total revenue was $153,954,661.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fund Equity…..our district is spending plenty of its fund
equity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2012, the fund equity in Walled Lake was a little over $16 million</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year our fund equity is $8,383,329.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have spent close to 8 million out of the
fund equity to make up for lost state funding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, that could be considered a good thing. Why save that much
money?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, that kind of spending
cannot be sustained too much longer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next funding piece that the Snyder group brags about is
when they say they have helped the school districts pay the retirement costs for
teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, they have, but there
is WAY more to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it is a bit
of a shell game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To explain it I need to
go back to the recent retirement reforms.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During the retirement reform year, all of us needed to go to our ORS Retirement Accounts
with the state and make choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had
to agree to pay more to retain a 1.5% multiplier, and we had to agree to pay 3%
to have a health care subsidy in retirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You could choose not to pay those things, but then your retirement income
and healthcare would be figured in different ways and would be reduced.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In exchange for these INCREASED COSTS TO YOU, the state was
going to lower the percentage of our incomes the school districts had to pay
into the state retirement system themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the
time, the schools were paying a bit over 26% into the system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(the amount varies a bit because it is determined by how many teachers at any particular time are enrolled in the multiple
different retirement plans that have different costs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well,
the state did lower that amount to around 25%, not much of a savings. However, they then raised it to
30%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what the SNYDER group has
done is that they send the school districts the extra 5% above the initial 25% charge in real dollars, but
the next week the school districts are billed for that SAME 5%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is just money IN and money OUT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The school districts don’t get to keep it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, the school districts are still paying
the SAME 25% into the retirement system as they have in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Snyder then tells the state voters of the millions of
dollars he is paying into the teacher retirement system. He says he is "shoring it up", and that this means
the schools should have more money to spend on other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this money being given to the districts
is not money they have to spend. They just send it back to the state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> There are no new savings on retirement costs for the districts. </span>They are still $470 down in per pupil funding…..they
hope they can meet “best practices” requirements to get $50 more…..they are
still paying 25% into the retirement system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Snyder tells a story that distorts the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The schools are being broken, caused to slowly fail, between funding
cuts and new requirements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a
teacher, you live this every day in your classrooms through increased class
sizes, increased testing and curriculum, and you get very little if any extra
support services for students who need help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can you live through another 4 years of these kinds of
stories and mis-truths?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Can your
families continue to have you working day and night just to do the basics of
your job because so much has been piled on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Has the education of Michigan’s children been improved by Snyder fiscal
policies????<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Ask yourself, what will be
the next move of a Snyder-based state government?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will it make your situation better?<br />
<br />
Please
have no doubt, we need a new state government to be able to survive as an
institution and as individuals. TUESDAY!</div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-52423014924728958342014-10-23T10:42:00.003-04:002014-10-23T10:42:42.408-04:00Online Voter Guide from the MEAGood morning!<br />
Some of you may have already received this link through MEA's "Capitol Comments", but just in case I wanted to share it again!<br />
<br />
Click on the link and it will take you to an MEA site where you can enter your address and get the MEA endorsement list for your very own home area! No lists to wade through! No congressional numbers to remember! GIVE IT A TRY!!!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mea.yourvoterguide.com/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qUHXKR5ljkgFr2H0bRtgZndvSpey51v_zC0W2IS31NW7hHoSEiAYJ1cuA6dAefBMZ9Ga7bgvSToiB1oJrunejrFaIYS9fbvRjFoK84M7vl8yP4gRGA5eIfjM-joDmk68Furm5QggDr5j/s1600/mea-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qUHXKR5ljkgFr2H0bRtgZndvSpey51v_zC0W2IS31NW7hHoSEiAYJ1cuA6dAefBMZ9Ga7bgvSToiB1oJrunejrFaIYS9fbvRjFoK84M7vl8yP4gRGA5eIfjM-joDmk68Furm5QggDr5j/s1600/mea-logo.png" height="97" width="320" /></a></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-75452542508225612422014-10-21T14:32:00.005-04:002014-10-21T14:32:58.307-04:00How to Help out! - From the MEA<!--[if !mso]>
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+PnHJOO9PQiBwdV4URXdU9efjRMEy5cLtY2kOgahn2vE0uxbJGI1DLZpPWUl/fcvBFOhrnmpi4Qnkklcykwx9zMlQSz7c+9epfb3N87ONu2/Vdkxhh1SEtcJ4kwVAc8fGuI43+nI1lsJNExEGnpheuZSF8HTfVuin85n7Z+Gxj4xE4EAGQdOBb2v4s+YnTk2NwwCl9sJNY2EM5flmm9tcvbCxFLEEk4Eh2LiMOHHz1tZHJKDh+Px8H8BYvD/qMlXrCiajapBGOtrbvtkX/8FFAoPv8q+/hp/nfaokUrR5nW1cs5ehwZmkSj9PUOc1jhMJFpbupCo/BQzxCVxKBSWOfOvsnOalAo/qSW0OcyY4waaotdnD9/4vKS0qTV1oIfF4vRmP/CFWE/6hReuzHpuxluaUnbvbeE6TbhW6BWZ+4+zP+3lkTHQKy1UjB/acbBw3PDSKxjINE1iDQm5NgdyP71bK79xbwLF/PsLxZcufru6tVi+0tF+49lrt0cZ4wXfK8rWrC85l7AHDAquHillMX7vCAAoMH3gVhLT7RIT6JrINE15P9nUSxs2Z2aOuHMwUFZuLjAdrsXiciikDg0ChcisMzNXDdvcme4CuJiy+Zmsf23ZMYYVZUXs5mf35uso73IyTnCyFwwfynq0RbMXxq/cbNGMVGNAwAKXOgZhw4r+/omfjWImtjaoxgtWJq2d//cbCPhguXiZUY5v5xpT0uVt7fLOzpl7R2y9g55R6e8q0ve3jFUW9cSEZF94pRw4TLBT0tq/GaNkaZDWnDjurK///OvAADtCfEpW7eLdFeKFq2Q6BoJftSNMMJWeNxGxpnJKpUmKCjnxLEnFBIbTTQjEdkEPNNq9R0WM7wgv16p/HN5F6eVGWNUWVbMncSMABrNYGVF4sYtof9ZhDqQxNorhTor33v7TVQ5Mln6ll1F5y9PUklfX/qOvZ9itG9u2kg4b1m4nlkpkw7AlP50oFQMVFVl7DsgWWzw3nNiO78sAIBSF8ZU6hZBENXw0Hs/P/EKE8FPSyS6huJFK8U6+knWW3py89AT5Erw4nnawf2BRIhFIrIpJC4exzQ2dNqxzUciKuruVqjVXznD9Q+QGSfRFhUVMRmTPjsAQMGv9vwftEezInUMw/7fgoztu5GBT36vI6kpyRttpLGTuAOATJax6yA64EcxSrXbM2eMIvTMix0Z05aShoVFY8gVbh6zw6h/IGXt5pxTZ2Wd7aqRIY1sWD0yrBroU/Z2q4cGNbIRjWy4/uUryUpTwY+L0WCtcN4yyVLDzuAQoFEADSgv7z5y+LGJsROEZ6EJrzabvByuCyIkhcNDIzNvyZ9KZoqRMiPrCxjVBQVH4WCRlp5E20CiY8j/UTeKSO0VCDQfjFBlX1/Fxcs5J09OWjkAIHPPkY+20YKlSVu3/+7ux+bWpLWbyyYzcaYSjUIxmJgQhadEEqnlbE7boyfSR0/bHj1t9Q9o9vFre/i47fHTWi/v9L2HBAuWCectlSw2kugaChcsF2nrFV6/BlobpNIRHjdyteUtLIZOI3OJBBYO4+pwLaSyvPWvZQxNkJliJE+MK+VN6UnTKJWZR34WzFsiXrRSomsoXLRCoL0sff+hwfp69IT2+KQ4eHWtp+/kIGo0mXuPjmKkrS9YuCx+o83vHQzR9PXlX7jccP/BzC801NCQf/HSW1NcpAkuhbYua83mrDWbs6xsslbbZFnZoB/TLa2TyWsTMJRwXcPRgKPWSomOfqq1TU0wXxhettHaC2vuSiFxaGQuEc8ikzivX2b9pRlCZo5Rv1hY5j4lRgCAcrab4KfFaGBErGvA/047FraUFRSiJ7QEPovG0dqF4VPps+wjp9BgiFhrpWDhsvgNm373mJpGPVRU2hMbP/MLjRQUx9PWZh/5ufnVq86IyE5RRIcoXBoUIg0O7RSFd4jCO0SSTsnb7siohoCAeMoaNMNYomso0daPXGqQeZP94lX2xo2eBBwDzT5bY+l2+UJQeUnLt4JR9+uXJdwpp84AAHojo2MIZJH2CrG2vkTXSPDD4ggjXPWDB+gJOafPZB45NtTYNFXx3JNn+WhoVmulYOGyuNVr/5gIv7x9FjmK1f4PIw2h7lC+Rob6gQACNECpAEoFAjSjBwIQBCi6O1v9A8L1zUZ/V9r6gu+1M4+eSAmKvnY1xHL1bTyOYWrsvH7NbbEof3h4cufkX0hmilHHw4BixiR+ozEZqqnJv3hJtET/Y87NMoOMw0cG6xv6ikoS19s0BwdNVRYAkHPkNP877bFOLZZqMVReMsO2/TH5RsMtLZlHf07dsHmgsmom54Pe7gTrLfzvtSU6BmIdQ8H8pSlWa4o8vV4+Tdm0w9/AwNGCwmMzYwcG/9p6CJWZYiT19ipynnKUi0qnJDzcGCv4QVeiayTS1hdqrXhrQih2pGcf/SXV2lY99Vw2oNFk7j0yOlLT1hcsXBZDtqh9PNPZJn8ARgCA2mcvYigWtczpx4BjRQrOXgj7XkusvRJNNY5Yop95/FSSIGXv0aeGxs6O18My0qtlsq85h+S/JTPDCIAmJrPg+pUvv9eegoJE6y2iRSvEWqO5bBId/RgTQjyeVnjVGcinfF5Ao8k6eEzwvc4oRouWR+GpNfcf/qkwKr3hFAWR+6MjZ16k4q6XeIWRUGs5amsLftBN37C59HnIzasvN2/zrq0Z+O/m4X9FmRFGg41NOQcO552bJuquGhpq8n8YiSHxf0JdJkZirZXB//eneKsNX+4IAADZR08LftD9iBGO8t7vv4DRcEPjVC2Mt1wXb7Fe3dAw89qG6uuTt+8Qai1HJ2MJflwcawblX3USPJAE8Qv/6mb1eJmZNmpoTNq4LfeX6SejgaaW5PVbQscmjWjr87/XLj43TfIQACDn6GnBd6MYCRetiMTAVZ/5waeSzzF6N8t5aqi0RsUNCCSTXlQaHSdeovfu+C/ILBPHylzpwoXL0ZQskZaeSGtFwmqb95LYju6hObTwTyszwqivoChpw9acU9MnbwAASq87CxcuE2vrS7T1xdr64XqmdU+fT4tR7omzgh8XoxMExForIwwxZW7uc8RIz7zAYaYWzMc29Pen2ewsvDBJDjhQKjJ27ZcYmDQGvZ5FUuyQYmhYUR349O1Kc9HC5egkY8GPiyNWmNU/fjzb5v3JZUYYdWflxNPWpx88PJOTldXvYyysBPOWihauEGutTN6+Uz0yzYAWAJB/4apo0XKxtj6qkCTLjYpcZjpVbWIwZCWmlMObScFxLdD0vnkdA1Eq3SaZ9K3KyYohkBM22KgHJgnHTipqNQiXFAklRdnPwtJ27Hy7zBh1zIrmLxctXpl57Dii/osFX78sM8MoIysWskzesWsmJwMAsk/+EvadluCnpaKFeqVM7kx0WMEVB5HWijGMRNor8q84zB4jI8G8peF6pqUc9kwKjkl3embGpm0xJGqbQDDhoorOruJzF/nfaeWePjdzVVSQ33b2TOjhn18E3+OXMehxZpBwHppqbCBapBeuj2mVvP3mbKPujOwYnEUM1bKvtHTakwEADb73hVrLBfOXRJlB/XHTu4kBAPnnLwvmjc56E2vrixYtz790fYYPuvVtZCSWxP9OS6JrJJy/TLzM4N35czMpiEpv3ruKMxeE2itSbHcOf4jefJTqqliSZei/F5RPpqgmvZfqKqnDdaGRCX2pIZ15/UWd/4NksqVw3lK0XxMt1OP/oFNx3fGbw6hFJI40gcSL9VvfBM+EiY60tIR11kKdFdnHjve/n95ZhwZDwv6jhS5UItY2EP60JN9+Gv8CKhqloiYg4K0Jnv+DLjo2FOnoxa9a019arpmu41AN9vfkvSv5xZ7/vY5g4dKcX89OOEHZ31/CYEj0TEXLDGqePptJe+rr+tmMSIjANMOzjWG3646iipCIZCtr0QeMJNr6woXLo2Fad867aWv7q8gUGGkAUKnUMpmip3ekuTXP3l6gvSLkf+YVXnAYaW5RDvSrZTKNXA5Uk7uCANDU3vFIsdogDQme6sJArdYoFKrhYXlX12Bubrzl+pD/mS+cv0y4YLlo/rKQ/zMvdfue4VapamhYo1BMWOEVqNXqkRHlwICso6MlPDx1u61Qaxn/B13RwhWihXrCecuEPy3NOHCk+e3bkeZmRVeXordX0den6OtV9PYqurvlnZ3DLa29hUW1jwKT1m8W/bg07N+LBAuXFdxwBBqNRqlUDw8r+vpkra3V/oERhpjQ7xYJl64sYbJlUqlqcFAtk2nkCjDZhH8AgLtbFIRnr1t7+/ihexdOB9z3jUl/Iowmrhb8e5Fw/nLhguWiBcuF85eF/M/8+DXWw9nZ8o4O1eDQbOfX/tlkcoxUPT39ZaXS+Lgqr3uZh0+8NcSItJYLFyyN1Mdl/3yqIehle3xCR0rK4PvyqUKtXWlpJQzmUGXFpPUDAAbrarszs5ol4cU8XtKGzWLdlaJFy8XaemIdPbG2nnD+krdG2LxzF5qFkp6crMGyT5JKhxoaWmOia1++KHR2zthqK1qiL1i4VLRIT6KtH66jH66tL164IkbfPMt6a97Pp0oY9Eo/n0p/v8p7fpV+vuW33IscHcsvXMndtjvdcn3kUkPBT4sFP+qIlxhU+/opOjsHystbwiVVDx9knTiTQrQULVwqWrhUpK0XS1qVf+VqU1hoe3xCd2bWSPMks1cBAOfPvtqx3fdlYFzOs5A8X/90F3bsjr3hK0xFC5aJtfVGb1BHTzh/Sbi2XraNbYHDjYbg4N6i0r90HzcJRqP3k5uJRL9Vhwn6/R+1efm2+we0+fg2cnid3j5IbBSSEIfERiH1NVPdvKK/v7/6/VQzIhAEQaqrkPhYJOqt7OXzJja32f12m9/9joBH7f4Brd6+rZ5eze53Wm7fVUvCkeR4pPjT1dwa6kH0297Xz+v9fMrYnBI6q4zNLWOwyh0dKxyuVd24XnXTofTSheJzv1Zeu9J5x6Pnnk/P/bvdD3w6Hj0cefG0x8er9ubNyrPnquwv1jjcqL3pWHvjZquXN9LYiCAI8r4SiAXK4NddXt7N3FvSe/5t3j4tHp6NXPd2Lx8kKgJJiEWSEpGOidPMAQAifpadnS/TKUSakT74JqDdh1PPdik6a9/Ac2/3f9AR8Eh6/0Grl3frXc9Wb58m3u36m64Dfr4aQShSUvx3wwhBkJHWJmlinDQ+ujs3d7i+UdXTo+jpHpG2jLQ2DdVVd+flticntEW/7ZnrMtBApezOzmyLftuRnNiTnzfSWDfS1iRvb1P19Ch6OkfaWkZam0YaG/tKSztSk9viojvTkj+WBWCkprovK2UwP2eooV7d34fIBzUDvUMtLaUJmeEPwsK8g/i+IZGPhNGPRXyvoCDGk9c3/V453I3xfNqantGTl9OTm92Tn9tXmI8ePQV5/cWFI02NQK1S9ff35GW3xUZ3piYPVlUoOqWK7tH2DNfX95WUdmZmtCfHS+Oj+z998SqVOimhZq+dD0xmnfvlicA7SOjiFXz9VoiLf15Q8nBDvaKnU9XXo+jsHGltGmlpHGltGmlq7K+o6MzMkCbEdmdnTv6gEKSttaespLGxoVs+dTTpvy5/vc0eAAAjMmX/gKyvf6SopC33XVNn95BMoWlrH3rxKvvosUdbt/ls2uJ94NDDI0cCt273ttnitWmL1/qNdy9eDKqp+fqLuQAAZDJ1UlLl0cMPCTiGOZZJsXDbssVrl939rdt9fz72JDd3+iV1J4hSqe7qGmxo6EpJrfb1jnW48ubli6zOrqE/rcb6S2L0vrpdKCp89izj8uWQQ4ceetyNzsioTkioYHMi7OzuW1ndJlB4VAs3q9XuFBoPT+ZhKTxDDGvDFl+xuOz3aE9qSu3+fYEQgQnhWWSYQyZxSCQuFuYZYNmXrgtG5LN+99U1HV6esadOPNu9K2C15Z0N6z153Gip9B+MvqrU1XZ5eyXv2ulPhFhYc7r1xjuX7J/euPb68KEHa9bcIlF5MJlDhtlkIosEsyEimwizTcbxDr0AABzfSURBVM3pNAveHffw3p6vOQ8VANDRMXDLPcrM1BVrTqeQPqwOS2RTaNxDR57GxVXP4d3n5Un37X2CwzKxZnSDlY4QxLrhEFZTM+s1Bf8w+Uti1Nc79PRJ2ro1t40NnSACi0hgUsl0q9VcSwsuDLNgCpdK5dLIHDLMoZA4H/Y8YJEg5pGD/vl5c1nCeyoZGgKBD9N2bPdF9RCVzKVReHgcA49j/HL6WXJiRWf7XNaREQkLIALLzMSFRuHhsQwa1c3ZSVD9vv0fjL6mqJWqzIzqIwf98RgXdI4OkcAi4FgwxKKQORZULo3CRZcbp5K5FJhNIXGoZA4BxyDB7GtXQ377TiuoyGSq6KgGq9XuJsZOVNLo5cgkLg7jar3hTuTb8jnX/PZtEY3Kw5rTaRQuHsuwoLk5Ownev5f+g9HXFPmIIi218pdTAWSYTiKyqWQuhcSlkDgU0kd6Pj/IMAePY9DI3Af3E2SyidPvZysaDcjJqj15/AkeyyASWGNXweMYayx57hxxU2PnnCuPjir5gBEPh2FQKTxnJ2FD/R+0Vvoc5K+HEQAAaDRFBXWX7J+TYRaEZ30BnQkHicjGmNN32d579XLui6yh0tbcc98nwdLCDYthjCk/CwqXTGKdOP64rLhj/PYuAACNWi2TKdVqzUyuGxVZbGnhNqaNaFSei7OwqbF7JpEopXKmV/m8rEKhVCqVcyj7l8QIQZDBATWHIaDALHMzOrpA4gwPmMgx1L9x7uwrpXLuGAGgKS1u22XrjcPQiRALxQgmsslE1vlzL5OTKzXq0cqlrX0ZGdVCQb6AX/rmVaEgrDQqsiImprS2dhJ7ua6uPyqqSCjMY9BFq2huqJIjEpg0KvfkiScPHiQFB2enpFT29IxMKNsu7U9OKn/9Jis4OC8kpFgkLAt6nRkRUVhe1jrtElsD/SNFhU3hkoJwSWXwm6LgoCKhsCw0JDMvu7q/b3iGSP31MEJloH8kLqbw0vlXeBzd3NSVRGSPt4e+fJgaO9vYeEZHV/f1zWWyMwBgZFDu6xUFE5k4DB3tUskwm0bhbNvsJeQXouf0943k5dUHBmRdvyratsXHgsYjE9kWVN4m67unT772vJucmlzf2NA1vuakxIbLF/k7be9vWH+HSuahfTQZ5tAo3PVrb2/c6LHZxufmzfD8/I+TooaHldlZNU8Cs65cEu7a9XC1pTuFzLGgcmys7546+crdLSE6qrqirFU1WdK3XK6sKG8JDipkMqL37X242tKdSuJQSRwLGs/O1s/5higkuKixcWgmq97+VTFCEAQAkBxbeONqqM1GbwKOAUNT9G6f4UUhcWAi69DBh1mZc1kBXT6ikIje7bPzwWFdYYhFo/DIMIdIYK6xdHNxFGSkV8lGZAqZUhCWs2+vP5HAhonoPkNMAo6JjitJRA4Bz7be4OXGiywtbRlL7E9Jbt68ycfY0AU1+D5RohALh2UYGTqvX+fhfy+pt2cEQRCZTCngF9jZ+sEQm0Zxo5B4RAILwjOxGDoexyDDHBKRS6O6XbR/k5JcqZB/Gt4GICuz+vzZVxQyDyKwYYhNJDAhPBPCjy5QQSSwaVR3+/NvsrNqpp168BfGCEEQuVxZU9H88F7MVhtPdCn7zxmyoHEnKCpLCx4eQ7dafTsqctbeSABAUkL5qZNPYYiJbgGDKgwIz9i0wSPodbZsWKHRaMoKWo7//BSHYRFwTJQhiMDE45kQnkkkMGGIDeFZWHM6jcq9dpVfmD86jyA7o339Go8Vy24QP/tJkIgsPI5hoH/T0oLn5Rnb1TkAAIiNKdtp+wBj7krA0WGIBUMsCsyxsnRbRePBEAsiMCE8E2NOJ0Js+3Mh+fktinHhFACAx514EuyGwzAgPBMtjpYiEdlkmANDLIwZnYBnMhnhpaXTzOv9a2OESmd7b2xMhd1OfxMjZ+gzkj7v7CyoXAjPoJK5zs780rI2tRrMYjUIAJh0CQHHQCdQo7qNgGVssbn74H5if68CQZD6+o4bV0NxGFdzM1cqmUchcVavctu7+/6pk8/27XlgZekOE9kUEpdEZJsaO5OIrJcv8rq7h1QqTU5O0+mTT9etvb1hvQeVzBlbnN+CyrWxvmO73XuzjcfB/f6BD5M7OwbaWwd47EgTYxcchkElcygk9qaNd8//+pLLjmC4io8cCly9yo0Cs8kwx8TImYBnOjnye7vlY3fa0wnsbH0NDZ3JMIdK5qy2dNu10+/EsccH991bu9qNDLMtqDwYYpkYO+/Y7h0bM82yXX8HjBA0ui7MP3XyBQHPxGGZqD3xxcE/m0JiW2/04HEj6+tnut+qSqWuqOi023XfYOXNMbse3RXP4Vpob68KAAAASE9vtKDyzExcKGQODLFpFO6hgw/v30tMTKwMC82zP/fKgsrD45g0CheG2Dgs49dfnlWWSxEEkcuRpOT33t6xJ088RTdKo5K5EJ5pQeOd+eXZ/Xvxz5+nv3yRkZpa1SYdePUibeNadyLERjfns7LkXbJ/JREVNDUNd3eq4+OqTxx7QqVwiRCbRGTjMPTNm+7Gx5aoVBoEQRQKVVhIpQWVAxFYJCIHJrJ22vrevh0VG10iFuScO/OMRuGQiBwSkY3HMdetcQsMTFJ8sV/7m2CESmxM8fVrglU0Hh7LmGh0UyaqJTKJg8cx8TgnT4+Z7r00MqLyv5ewfu0djDn9gyri4jAuhw48lIgLZLLREf4D/2QSiYPF0GkULoRnrrG6xaCLc3MbEARRaxCJuNB2u5+ZqQvqgMBhGTu3e4WL8hB0uK7StDQP3HZ/SyFx8DgG6jeiUblON8OKi5pGRjQjMgQApE06xKCLceauZJhDIXGxGMbWzXcf3IurreuSy9UAgN7e4SeP0zas98CY0ykkDgFHt6TxHgWmDA0pEAQZGFBeOP8aa+5KIbFhiA0RWCdPPI2JLkXTRZ8/y7DZ5Ik+QwKeZWXJ8/ON7R/8kqftb4WRUqkuLW5m0QUWVI65qet4RwCNyrWgTuJGMtB3vHThlUqhRqYDCQBQWtp6+uRjGGKhXSeFxCUROastmJ4e4SMjH58yky4mkTgEHJNK5hLwDOuNHvd845ubelBdVd/YferkM1NjJzLMJsMcAp65Yd2dF8/SUT8TAEClVIaFZn/0YuOYVDLn5tU3Ne+l4IO0tPTccOCbGrmgGGHM6bts/ULeZMvlH51VRcXtO23vmRg5oyqTRuG68yJbW/oRBOntlZ859RRj6kIlc4kQCyKwzp55mZVZi1aemlx19MgjczNXGGJBeNbaNbfv+cX39X1pes/fCiNUGhs6r10LgSEWDsMY24T1c22EcoAxZ+yy9ZEIcgYGptnONz+v7sqlV1aWbjDEGt3KA2LjcczL55+1tHwybr9+NYQEc9AdPwg4+rbNns+fpnd3DaI6T6nSXLr4BmPqTIbZJJhDwDPXrb0TGJgik6vAh400IiOLPnqxsQwqmevoEFpb83F7E7lcccMhzNQYxYhjbua60/YePzRvvFptbBrcs9vf2NBpDCMXZ2FlRSuCIF1dg7+efmZu4jyG0bmzr3Jz6tDi/X0jF8+/NDNxJRJYEJ61ZrW7r09Mb++XfEh/Q4wAAAUFDfzgwjMnX+IwrkQCcyo7iULiEgnMdWvc3LmSwYEvqaPsrPeuzmII74o6zdEKCTgmGWaFBeVNeL43b/BhIpuAYoSl79ji9epFVk/P0Fjzrl4Owpq5jGG0ft2dgMCU8eGZiIii8cEQGtXN2VlYXf0RIwDADYcwEyPnMYxsd/iFheSOb0lz88DePQ+MxmHkdDOsrLQZQZCenuGzZ56PYUTAM08df5yZVjXG8fkzz5Yvu2lq7GJi7EIls7w8I785jBAEAQDIh0ciJe+OHQ2EIRa6cvnkTm2ItcqC63QztK1tyqmMchlwvBGKx7liMXTUeCcROXgsfY0l74ZDUF5e3YTzmXQxCWbjcaMYbd/i9fJ5Znf3R4yuXJqI0cPAlMHhj1EIibhwfGiWRuU53gitqmwbOwHFyHgUIy7GnL7T9t4EjJqa+j/BiMp1duSXl7UgCNLbO3z2zHMzE2e0Z4cIzB1b74r4OWMYOd8IgfDMVTSuJY2zaePte76x3d1fynb6e2KEikajSUut2WzjZWTg+LlDb0wh4bH0Y0cCKyulUy0BW1LUY7fznpmpC5oKQiVzIQKLSKBfPP+8pqbz82gD3UVIJnEIs8dorIZPMMIxqWTOjatv3k+HET90AkYDY50aDLEsaFwXJ355aQuCIEoluHIpCGPm8mE5ZRYJYro4CwcHZWjl4aI8ulMIyzWUTQ9j0oUiYeHQ0Jd82X9njAAAnZ3DNxxCIQIDY+46lULCYehbbbxev8zsmWx5hoEB2eOA5E0b7qAmM5rAZGXJO3r4wfOnafKRSfKjr18LhYns34LRuE6Ni8cy0P6oprp9Oow+6V7b24f27X1gZPCxUxvTRioVuOUeSSGzsRhXColLJXMIOKbV6lueXrEd7QMAgO7uoYqKtvLSlvKSltLilsaGHsUXQ5B/Z4wQBFEoVIUFja5O/FVUNgHPmjSTBI9jbLK++zgwTSmf+IPr6RlKiK85uN9/zBmIbjK0c4fPu7zapsYe9WTeFMebfCJxLp3aWA3h4Z9qIwr35vXg6nH5RmMYkYhsKomLw9B32fq9eZ09MCgfG83V1XUe2B+AjtRgiGVB5bo48ctKWwAAajUoLW3et9ffyNCRRGSj8RxzM9d16+4+fJDR1DSxf1erNV9erftvjhGCIACA4sJ6R4dgGpVLhNifpwNABOZaK3cuWzghv7apqVvAL9q/9wFEYBHwo2F8CM8wMXI8uP9BX++UK8swXEUwxPotGE3s1Cjcm9eCqqsm6dRQjGCItWmjx7WrIYGBadFRlQlxNdGRlV6esVs3e6NKdAJGaA3PnmattbqFNXdFfaRkmGNm4gJDLFcXUVlZKxgn0z7kvz9GyOgQutDG+o7Zh42CPvVoc2ACfdtmd35YFmocoEX4/Jwd272IBOaYXYVuc2az0cudF12QP+Wu03QXIZHAxGMZXwcjLING5U3VqX1i81E4VArHgsazWuW+2sJt/A9mfKc2hlH1e6mPV+K6NbcJuNHMOzLMwWOZEJ5+9XJQW0uPWjXTZU++FYxSkyv2731gQXWD8MyPzqQxhYRnwhDz6pXQgoKGsaf8+HEijeIK4T9uPA1DzI3rbru6CHNz6oaHp/Qz0V1F8G/r1CY1safURh8Qh/BMPJaOx9LRkB8BxyTDbNSYQ7fPdrr5ESMEQTQaUP1e6nk31majBw5DHyMJ3eb2ov2LnPQK1We7NE0q3wpGNZVt4cLiN6/zt2/zMzV2ntC1EQlsPJZpt+teX9/wWBEWQ4jHOI/ln0B4FoXEvnrhTV1t55dTcL4yRlgGjcJ1vBH6ZW1EhjkQnkXAMQk4NN/jk8Pc1JVIYN50CCsrbZnwZLq75Q/uJ2/f6ovDMMYC2xgzVxLEcXEU11R0qOTTOGaRbwejgb7Bns7+7u5BgSB/3do7Y5vbf4iKcGCItXXz7fLyZqBBEERTWtJ0YH+AmYnr2HsyN6OvW+Me/Cpr2ssxXEUk+EsD/ssX32DNZ4mRQ0jNpyb2zRthJsajmUlkmL1h7e39u+8d3B9wcH/AwX0BBz499tj5H9wfcPfW2/cVE1M+AAAtLX2hIfmHDgQQCQw8lkGGORZUHsaMjsPSr1x40VTfO6159K1gNP7vK5dDzE1dxqe5oemLFlTGLfe3fb3Kno5BugufREIH7aMn6K903LHFq6y45QsXQoXhKiLBXxrwT4tRuGSiif15p4ZihA74CTiGna2P1523YSG5cbFV8bHVCXHVCfHV4eIisTBfLMoX8t+JBPl52XWyIdXnTAAAentHkhKqzpx+SiFz8DgmhcQlkzg4LIMEs3w8Y/t6J6btTpBvAqPxAgDw8YqD8HQigTleIZFhDsbM9crl0PTU2tcvsrds8jQ1+dj3ESG2uanLxfOvR0amX0KU7iKEIdZvMbHfTvAbTW1ij/mN7HbeC36T3S7tHx6W9/QM9/UNKxRKpVKtUqnVarVcrpbLVcPDcpl88ox9AIBCrsxIrz539iWa+4DmsWDM6fvs/OKiiv7B6BMBAISLCzZvugsRWGMdFoXEJRFZEJ5x7UpwYEDykcOB6McP33JwGMbPRx+lJFXNZPQ7rTaa3m80S22ETnfhh02M7k1Qw+P/lkr7m5u6W1p6mpp62ttGJ+4plOqk5PdHjzwm4BgUmINOybJaxQ0MSFAq1d9oMGQqaWrs+uX0M4jAGku6pZC4FBKbQmIfPeR//tcna63cSB/C+KNbL2Lp7m4R8pEZDYAZLkISkUX4igP+qW2jL8TUpO1DL19m8rgRdz1ibt+K8vVNKCxsRP1A/QPq4ODi2+6Jfj7pXp6p9/zSszNrZB9yXfx8k6ws3VEjiQixKGS2u3tk/8A3k280c/G8G0OEWHgsfUJ8zcqSs2Et15KGTp4cxQiGWASsq9fd2JmoIuT38BtNPVL7Akbva/q3b/Vbuviquamrob4jHksPfJiOJqaVV7Tvtru/bMl1HIZuYuSMw9K9PRO7u2QoZFmZtXv3+JuZupCIbBKRTYbZTk7C2tovTbb8FjECAKSm1mxYfweHoY9FW8c8eDQK51O2OEQCk0piBz5MmilGnw34X734BKPPE0Xm4DdyuB76ZYyaWwZ32/kbrLwJQywchk4isl2dRTXVnQiCtLT0HjoYqK93k0Rk47EMGGI5OvDLSlvHfGbnzr4yNRnFiELiOFwLLftiVv+3iBGCIDXV7VevBFMpXDRWMNVBo/CIBCbW3PXY0cddXTNdimRajOaQKOLkGFb76YoiVy4Hmxh/CaO2tsEJ+UaON0b9Rm1tvUcOPzI0QIP/bAqJc/1qSFFh4xhG16+FGBs5waO74XIcroWUljT/g9FEkcmUsTElmzd5mpm40ChcGnn0GKVn3IExczE1dn78aBYbMHLZETCRjccyqGQuHku32ejx5FFq9wcKAQDnz740M3Ee2/B6k7XH06epCsXH2Of4CD8Bx6SQOVcuvxk/0RYAcP0638TYmQyzUYy2b/N98/qTRtbW9uy2u29sNJooQqNynR3DystaEQRpbe09cugDRkQ2jcJxvMkfAwUAcPlSkImxMwyxiRCLSuG4OAuqKtr+wegTUSMIAKC9T3HibLAehmsM38JQbn9+mJFumxLdLdd7OzhHlNdN3PT9C+L/JJtEdcNhGBYULgHHXGXBo7sIGxu7UMujpKR13x5/8w8p/RCBvf/wk8iE9+ODoG8T3lMt3DHmdHTUDUOsA/v8ExMrxiaaAQA4dxJMTF3JRBaFxMFhmWvX3PLzi/vImQZEhBdvsvZC5w7ABOYqCx6TF13TMoQgSHu/4ufjz4wMnWjonHES6+L5l0UF9Wjx6mrpwQMPMeZ0GGIT8EzL1bfu+Ca1D35pXYB/DTfUD9XWDdV8M0d9vTS/pLu4vKu03Mfh0SbYwQJzbSPs8PmxjuCwxuyyvZ17QXTWSEPDYHXtTOofrql55SOmUtnmWAaVwiNBbCLE2rXTLygoq6GhOyuz7oZD6JrV7kQCk0LmEiEWGWKcPeCT9CZusKZmtJL370MfRpEs3LA4lgU6VIRYa1e7O90USCSFmZk15cWN3XWN99ghBJObhNF62DCRaX/+RU11Z0d7n1Tal5tVe+li0IcYIgePpVtRmLcdnlUn5QzX1NZmFB7f72tm6kyh8Egwh0hg2e3wefY4ua6+q7S0jcUUr7FyJxJYJJiDxzHXWHB8WCHSwvLBmtpJUKmtG26o/1eh8838yw75567ln/+7H+eu5V+4VubiWn7lasFZ+9zLV6Ns998jWHNNbW6ZT35wjK39V+3Od7hZdtNphlcps7fnH7u83dIZS2RBMIeKrtNF5mzb7Hn85yeHDj5evcoNTaCGiRwCxFpPcb5BOvLW9kD+efuCC9cKLlwvP/vrI7vzJDIbQ+RRR33oHDLMplG4azd6b9lx//x+z/grzkH7zu7A2WPwLCI8Opxca+V+5vRTNlPAcBWcPvXC0sINDc1CEBuHZ9pQnR5YHyk8dqLawSnnguOvm5zxRCYeHl3Tx4LC3brZ6+iRx0cPPV639g5akARz8QTWdsJlX+sTuad+Kb18Pd/++sRHetmh0Pnmv+QCoSxEIAvifwvHSBC/68mLnqeP3nn63z3K5FAPcMy3MbC7GNhdzM8Ohtl2l1XH/U5xqu4FyoNDZnSJN2GKoNflz4K4jq83reVgTW4S8CwyzCYR2QQcA4+hE3AMNPMEwjPxOKaV1Z0TB31fnnCocnXuefVyJJgve8MfeflE4uK5fv2tlVg2Bs8iw2wyzIaJLKy5q6GRy0oDR2vcxbADv1TevOR3mm252t3UnEHAM9Hp0jCRuX3Lva02vugcSBLEIuAYEMTeYH33zBHfcHvH1tucgTevWl+8uc94vcHa09DYGSKwKCQ0ssvEYegELAOdxg/hmTg8e93aW+57HNLPXajgsFvuB/S/CJ54yyECuUD4r1FdXfutHIPVtaq25ta6FrGk2P6w9zbo6ibCtc3E6zbQtfHHJujaemP7/VvcRaKKrqo6Wd3M6q+plTc3DLS1N9T3+tyK2L7pDkRg4TGueCwDY07HmLniMHQ8Fp24zbHd4XP9WujL5xnSwsqRyhJZa8tQXf1Qda1a2tzX3OXhEWW93YdAZBPxTAKWDuHoEJ6BxbhizJx3buS89Xkjz0+vSc+7cztq8xYvAp5OwDHwWIaZqYuZiQvG1BVrTkdH8pY03m67e07OgqA3WV3ltbKaCmV760hba1V5E5f71oLKwZrTcRgGHsvAYuhYc1e0eQQsAyYybWy8HK6HJD0PH36X0/++anDyW64brK79Fk3sMfHyTqBaeRji2DiyGwbmjT/MibyVRi62tn6lhbNejhhBEABAVZU0OPjd5Utv9trd27zJc93aO2vX3N643mPzJk/b7T7nzz739Y2Niynv7dWoPpsUoAGgs1P2+lXmlYuvfz70cP+e+7t3+e3e6btzh8+uHb5XLr9JSqtFPep9/ZqXLzMvnX+xZ5efjfXdDevubFh3Z/26O5s2ethu9z16OPDa1SD/+/GpKe8HBoFa80k8pLV1OMA/7fjRR1s3e6HNQ4vbWHvusvX75dTTW+4RUZEl7Z1ymXKaHMhvFyMAgERctHt/oAmGAcMcMplHIfPIZB6JxCUSOQQC2xxD/+XU06K82mlXmpqq/oGBkerqrqjIsudPs3x9k27diva4HfPoYXrQm9ykpKrKys7W1kGFYvJYLwCgr19WWd6WklgRFVku4BeEhbwLDXnHDyuIj3v/vqZPqUHQwd3AgKy6ojVSXBj4MM3bK+HWrSge9623V1xo8LvoqPKszPra2u6+vokhegCARgO6uwZzshtev8zx8U68cyfGjffW3S3y/v2UsND8lOTq0pK2jvah4RHFP4kiX5Ke7iFf3wQazQ2HZZCIHNpo6IONxzGx5sw1Vrf87ycMDsx0xbHPBS2oUiED/cpW6VB1ddf79x0trUPdPbKREQ0AyJfXDUKLq1WITAaGhtR9/cr+AeXgoGpwSCVXfDwB/VepAN3d8sbmweq67qqq9pqarvaOkf5BFZoHO34Fwc9lcEDZ3j5UX99dWSV9X93Z1DzQ3S2XjWjQLP5/crGnl/raTs+7iXgc3VDf0cjQ0cTIcZ3VncsXRdevhnvdSXxf3jlnhj4XjQZoNOBL73PGAqZ+uxoUPo1GA6Zdl+DTOsf5Nmd7z986RgiCVFS1ubu9vXThzZHDj06dfHLfLy4+riw5sTI/p6azdfpVO2clX7e2r36V8S7QWck/GCEIggCAdHYMpiRX5ebW/TFv+m8m/x+AaRK+noE1nwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" /> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">IT’S TIME TO GET OUT THE VOTE!<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #17365d; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Member-to-Member Virtual Phone Banking</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The last two
weeks of the 2014 Election will be critical to getting out the vote. <br />
We need your help to make phone calls to MEA members to make sure they head to
the polls and support Mark Schauer and other friends of public education.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This year,
we’re using a new technology – Virtual Phone Banking – to help make these calls
quickly and efficiently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best part
is you can volunteer make these calls from the comfort of your home – all you
need is a phone and a computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To volunteer, please email us at </span></b><a href="mailto:pac@mea.org"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">pac@mea.org</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> – let us know your name, home email address, local association, and
which days you can volunteer. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can also
fill out our online form at </span><a href="http://www.mea.org/volunteer"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">www.mea.org/volunteer</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, or leave us a voicemail at
517-580-5029 with your information.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ll get
an email with a link to log into the website, which will tell you the members’
names and numbers you need to call, along with the script.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We’ll be
calling almost every day between now and Election Day, so you can volunteer as
much time as you have to give.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please, share
this information with others who are interested in helping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
The more volunteers we recruit for the Virtual Phone Bank, the more calls we
can make and the more votes we’ll get for public education on Nov. 4!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="color: #c00000;">Volunteer today for Virtual Phone Banking!<br />
</span></span><a href="mailto:pac@mea.org"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">pac@mea.org</span></a><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"><br />
</span><a href="http://www.mea.org/volunteer"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">www.mea.org/volunteer</span></a><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"><br />
517-580-5029</span></div>
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" /> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-68622039689217921402014-10-08T10:58:00.001-04:002014-10-08T11:00:52.288-04:00Cuts or no cuts - who to believe?As the November election for governor approaches, much is being said about cuts to education......with the current governor saying he has given over a billion dollars to education. I have even heard it referred to as "new" dollars. I am still not sure I understand that....and I will try to explain that in another post.<br />
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But what is undeniable is that in his first year in office, spending to education was cut by over $1billion dollars by which a tax break was given to corporations. This amounted to a $470 dollar cut in per pupil funding that has never been replaced. EACH year since that first year, the per pupil funding is $470 less than it was the year before Snyder took office.<br />
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For more information, go to Kids Not CEO's. You can look at the funding cuts for each school district by choosing from a drop down menu. <br />
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<a href="http://www.kidsnotceos.com/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to go to the "Kids No CEO's" Website<br />
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Here's a picture of the cuts to Walled Lake:<br />
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<br />Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-52124598264500005932014-09-30T09:11:00.000-04:002014-09-30T09:11:51.939-04:00Voting - Registered? Did you need to request an absentee ballot?<h1 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6156" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; margin: 0.67em 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6155" style="font-size: 10pt;"><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6187" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6186"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6185" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Walled Lake Schools is asking the community to RENEW the non-homestead and hold-harmless operating millage on the Nov. 4 ballot. THIS IS A RENEWAL and is NOT AN INCREASE in taxes.</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6188" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6154" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6190" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The 18 mill non-homestead (<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6189" style="text-decoration: underline;">generally applies to businesses or those with second homes</span>) millage represents $23 million of the District’s operating budget while the 3.9 mill hold harmless renewal millage represents $7 million of the District’s budget.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6157" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6158" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6160" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6159" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This is a total of $30 million 20 percent of the District’s one year only total budget. (Current yearly budget is $154 million). This loss of revenue would be devastating for our district.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6160" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6161" style="padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6162" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">If you have not done so, please register to vote at the link below BY OCTOBER 6<sup>th</sup>!</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6163" style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">Click</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6173"><a href="http://wleaonline.org/index.php?subid=2242&option=com_acymailing&no_html=1&ctrl=url&urlid=13&mailid=55" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6172" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #196ad4; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6171" style="color: purple;">HERE</span></a></span> to register to vote by the October 6 deadline.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6164" style="padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6170" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">To vote by ABSENTEE BALLOT:</span></div>
<ol id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6167" style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px 40px;">
<li id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6166">An Absentee Voter Application - <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6165">Click </span><span id="yiv6022366754yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_3200"><a href="http://wleaonline.org/index.php?subid=2242&option=com_acymailing&no_html=1&ctrl=url&urlid=14&mailid=55" id="yiv6022366754yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_3199" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6196"> for the absentee voter application</span></li>
<li id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6168">A list of local offices that this application can be sent to or delivered to: Click <span id="yiv6022366754yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_3202"><a href="http://wleaonline.org/index.php?subid=2242&option=com_acymailing&no_html=1&ctrl=url&urlid=15&mailid=55" id="yiv6022366754yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_3201" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6169"> for a list of municipal offices.</span></li>
</ol>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1412081170665_6202" style="padding: 0px;">
You can request Absentee Voter Ballots through the Saturday before the election! But sometimes, sooner is better!</div>
</span></h1>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-33313146079938063852014-09-19T14:12:00.001-04:002014-09-19T14:12:10.493-04:002012 Amendments to Retirement Act Legislation & YOUR 2010 3% payment!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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REPORT FROM:</div>
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Michael M. Shoudy, General Counsel
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Michigan Education Association</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Oral argument on the 2012 amendments to the
Michigan Public School Employees Retirement Act (Public Act 300) is scheduled
to take place before the Michigan Supreme Court on October 9, 2014 during the
morning session. <b>THIS IS NOT THE 3% CASE BASED ON THE 2010 AMENDMENTS
TO <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Michigan Public School Employees
Retirement Act (PUBLIC ACT 75). </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The 2012 case relates to elections that
members of the retirement system were required to make in 2013. We lost
this case in the lower courts. After legal arguments on October 9 are
presented, the Court officially has until 2015 to render its decision.
However, we are hopeful that a decision will be issued in 2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>The 2010 case relates to the 3% withheld from
wages. That money is currently being held in escrow by court order.
</b>In that case, we won in the trial court and in front of the Michigan Court of
Appeals. The State of Michigan appealed the decision to the Michigan
Supreme Court. On May 22, 2014, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an
order putting this case on hold, stating they wanted to decide the 2012 case
first. While the MEA understands how important the 2010 case is to
our members, there is no mechanism to force the Court to decide the case.
We have asked that the Court to expedite its decision regarding the
3%. </span></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-65145791621678118102014-09-07T17:47:00.004-04:002014-09-07T17:47:50.956-04:00Check out new PRO-Union CommercialFrom Capitol Comments:<br />
<h3 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2173" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2172" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2171" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>MEA member Karen Koch shares the last name of the infamous Koch brothers who are using their vast wealth to "buy" the election of Republican candidates supporting their conservative agenda. But that's where the similarity ends. And that's why Karen is co-starring in in a new national advertising campaign sponsored by the AFL-CIO. </i></span></span></h3>
<h3 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2177" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2176" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2175" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><u>Karen is a business instructor at Mott Community College and she's featured in the ad </u>with Joyce Koch, a retired New Jersey teacher. The two ladies aren't related. However, they do share opposition to the Koch brothers' unlimited spending that pushes an anti-democracy and anti-union agenda.</i></span></span></h3>
<h3 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2204" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2203" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2202" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Karen and Joyce were chosen because they represent the middle class. In the ad, Karen says, "We're just two average women who've raised families and worked hard here all of our lives." </i></span></span></h3>
<h3 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2195" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2197" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1410126023394_2196" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>This is the first in a series of ads which will run nationally, but will also be seen in the Lansing area. The Koch brothers and their political arm, Americans for Prosperity, have spent more than $4 million here in Michigan attacking Gary Peters, MEA's recommended candidate for U.S. Senate. Last month, they also put big money behind ads encouraging MEA members to opt-out of the union.</i></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DXCAsqkecs" target="_blank">Click HERE to see the commercial!</a></b></span></div>
Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369907394025992434.post-51088487965377392822014-09-04T08:34:00.005-04:002014-09-04T08:34:50.725-04:00Stand up for KIDS!! Not CEOs!Follow the link below to the "Stand up for Kids, Not CEOs" website. There you will find the third installment of the "Kids, not CEO's" Commercials!<br />
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<a href="http://www.kidsnotceos.com/" target="_blank">Click HERE!</a><br />
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Gov. Snyder gave a $1.8 BILLION tax break to rich CEOs and corporate interests, paid for by cuts to local schools. These cuts have forced cuts to music and sports programs, and left parents picking up the tab for everything from arts the athletics.</div>
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Tfitzjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16516389285042680132noreply@blogger.com