ROYAL
OAK EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Minutes of the General Membership Meeting
April 26, 2005
Keller Cafeteria
I.
Call to Order
at 4:25 p.m.
II.
Superintendent-
Tom Shorkey
A.
Made comments about
the Bond issue
1.
Stated that “we’ll
take another shot at it” in February
2.
Thanked the teachers
for all their hard work
3.
Made remarks about our
positive work in education versus the “cheap shots” we sometimes see in the
newspapers
4.
Reminded everyone to
vote on May 3rd for the School Board elections
III.
Former
President of the Royal Oak Schools Union- Jay Anderson
A.
Discussed the year end
election
1.
Talked about the
“Seniors Against New Taxes” group
a.
Stated that 90% of the
money for this group came from outside of the city
b.
Said they want to take
away the teacher’s health insurance and First Amendment rights
c.
Stated that more
information can be found at www.RoyalOakReport.com
d.
Urged people to call
their friends and/or send out postcards
B.
Discussed the 20/20
organization which has been started in Royal Oak
1.
Explained that it was
started in West Bloomfield when their Bond fell through and now it has spread
2.
Stated that there was
an article about the 20/20 group in the Metro Times
3.
Fielded questions and
comments
IV.
President- Sid
Kardon
A.
Asked the membership
to sign up on the sheets at all the tables to make phone calls before the
election
B.
Asked the membership
to also label and stuff envelopes with letters about the election which will go
out to the 1,000+ members
C.
Asked members
to write a letter to their State Senator that will be typed and addressed at the
ROEA office
1.
Sheets with the
various districts and Representatives names and addresses along with sample
letters were handed out to assist in the writing of these letters
D.
Stated that he wrote
an article to the Oakland Press about the “Right Wing political people” who
have it out for teachers
1.
Stated that we are
involved in a fight of privatization versus public education
V.
MEA Uniserv
Director- Paul Chambers
A.
Discussed the
State’s attack on teacher’s health insurance through Senate Bill 55 and
Senate Bill 56
1.
Asked the membership
to please talk to your colleagues about these Bills
a.
Suggested that using
his Power Point sheets entitled “Stop the Takeover- The Attack on Benefits”
might be helpful
b.
Stated that Senate
Bill 55 would redesign a new health plan for all school employees (K-college)
i.
Said the State
claims they can save money this way
ii.
Explained that
this would be the only plan
iii.
Stated that
Shirley Johnson is leading the effort
iv.
Stated that
both Republicans and Democrats support the effort
c.
Stated the Senate Bill
56 would amend the Public Employment relations Act (PERA) and eliminate
collective bargaining of health benefits
i.
Mentioned that
he thought our benefits would go down each year as a result and that “SB 55
and 56 are a warning to us that more is to come”
ii.
Stated that
these Bills would effect our bargaining
iii.
Stated that
there is more information at www.mea.org.com
iv.
Informed the
membership that a MEA rally in Lansing on June 21st is scheduled
VI.
PAC Report-
Betty Ann Garlak
A.
Stated she has met
with the two other unions to work together to fight Senate Bills 55 and 56
B.
Stated we must be
politically active by contributing to PAC
1.
40% of our donations
come back to us in Royal Oak
2.
Stated she would like
to see higher participation
3.
Passed out envelopes
for another opportunity to donate
VII.
President- Sid
Kardon
A.
We are working on the
Highly Qualified issue which goes into effect in the 2006-07 school year
B.
Fielded questions
C.
Picked the winner for
the 50/50 raffle that was going on during the meeting and Beth Morrison won
1.
She donated her
winnings to the ROEA Scholarship fund
VIII.
Adjournment