MEA IS ACTIVE ONCE AGAIN!

END OF YEAR WRAP UP:

TEA Assembly: MEA ended the year with a bang! At the TEA Representative Assembly, MEA walked away with two awards - one for the most increased membership (in our category) and one for coming closest to our potential. Our membership is up from 63% to over 80%. Cindy Lamb, Cindy Jones, Linda Alexander, Susan Menefee, Peggy Jackson and Donna Maloney attended. Dr. Linda Gilbert, who won an award inthe Distinguished Educator category, spoke with us and was most complimentary.

The MEA Banquet was a success. Aside from off-script remarks by the comedian (!!), then night was fun and fast-paced. MTSU's James Union Building is lovely, the decorations were simple and sparkly, and the food great. Pictures will be added, taken by Lauren Roche, who co-chaired the Banquet Committee with Janice Gilbert. Both ladies are doing the banquet again and welcome ideas, a clean up committee (we had no one!), and ideas for entertainment. You can reach that at the @cityschools.net address once school begins again.

Leadership Convention: Summer is here but Cindy Jones got a chance to tout MEA:s successes at the Leadership Convention hosted by TEA. President Jones told about revitalizing MPACE and its pitfalls and successes as well as how a total reorganization of MEA this past year has set the tone for another year of success stories.

NEEDED: A president! President Jones will help on negotiations and will chair the Distinguished Educator Committee next year - but, she is not our president. Sarah Catalano is willing to be president-elect. Nancy Ranier is willing to be secretary, and Cindy Bjork is willing to be treasurer. ALL WE NEED IS A PRESIDENT. If you or someone you know is willing to s tep up and help MEA continue this program of strong and steady success, please let Cindy Jones or Peggy Jackson or your AR know. Contact Cindy at 896-9575! Your MEA needs your ideas on this important post.

Your contract!

Do you have questions about your contract? Check it out here!

NEGOTIATIONS AGAIN!

April 10th begins our newest round of professional bargaining. Yes, we are at it again.

Come and observe. At these meetings you are invited to sit in and watch. You will be in the room with us. Board negotiators, Lee Wilkerson and his advisor, Gary Anderson, notice when teachers are present. It makes a difference - and helps us reinforce our points.

PLEASE COME AND TAKE PART. Central Office, April 10th! Stay as long or as short as your schedule allows.

MEA BANQUET!! Monday, April 28th!

James Union at MTSU. 6-8 pm.

Dr. Earl Wiman, the unpredictable president of TEA will speak.

Delicious menu and great entertainment planned.

Come honor our retirees and others.

MEA New Year's Update!

MEA continues to negotiate on the issue of salary. To date the Board team has not indicated a date to return to the table. MEA continues to press for substantive talks. Please look below and drop a line to a Board member. Indiate our willingness to talk and discuss a reasonable raise.

The MEA Banquet will be April 28th at James Union at MTSU. Speaker will be Earl Wiman, president of TEA. More details to follow!

Janet Paschal will be handling Read Across America in March. We thank her for her time and expertise.

JOIN THE SICK LEAVE BANK! You donate one or two days at irst, and then can submit requests if you are out of sick leave, personal, and professional days. This is a great plan for unforseen emergencies! Call Jo Lasater at Central Office for a form to join. I strongly urge all members to consider this important fringe benefit.