June 30, 2021

Day One!

It's day one of the 159th Annual Meeting of the NEA.  It is the first ever virtual representative assembly!  At VEA's caucus meeting, we heard from several of our committees 

A few highlights:

• VEA celebrates #Red4Ed.  Sandy Sullivan from Loudoun showed up in style!

• VEA remembers VEA Member Jonathon Kite.  We accessorized our red with crazy socks to remember and honor Jonathan.  Katie Bochert & Shaniqua Williams were the first to kick it off with a picture of their socks this morning!

• VEA conducts business.  
• The Issues Committee, led by Vice President Carol Bauer, shared positions on New Business Items through NBI 15.  As a caucus, we voted to accept the Issues Committee's recommendations.  These recommendations can be found in the VEA File Box.  The Issue Committee provides recommendations to help guide delegates.  If you do not agree with a position, please vote your conscience when voting.
• If an NBI is amended during new business, VEA leadership will make a recommendation on the amendment.  This recommendation will be posted on the Facebook page.  As always, take this as guidance, listen to the debate, and vote your conscience.
• The Candidate Screening Committee, led by Kimberly Adams, shared recommendations for the upcoming NEA Executive Committee elections.  The committee recommended Ronald 'Duff' Martin and Gladys Marquez.  We heard from all candidates and you can view their speeches on the NEA Delegate Resources webpage: https://ra.nea.org/delegate-resources/.

• NEA conducts business.
• After a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance, the first business session included remarks from NEA President Becky Pringle and NEA Vice President Princess Moss.  The second business session was devoted to New Business Items (NBI).  You can keep up with NBIs here.

Your Blog Teams Top 3 Things from today:

1.) NEA Becky Pringle's speech!  Very inspiring and gives all the feels.  Seriously, take 30 minutes and watch the entire speech!

2.) Our first time delegates! It was great to see so many new faces and some of them spoke on the convention floor! 

3.) After a non RA last year, it's great to have an RA this year.  Everyone's making it work virtually, so we can do the work of the NEA!  Did you know that the NEA RA is "The World’s Largest Democratic Deliberative Assembly." ?!

 

Reminders for Tomorrow:

• Caucus Meeting @ 11:00 AM using the same link from today. Wear your favorite Racial or Social Justice themed t-shirt
• NEA Fund:  Don't forget to visit the PAC room and donate to the NEA Fund for Children & Public Education.  You can also visit https://educationvotes.nea.org/donate/ to donate.
• Join the NEA RA - Virginia Facebook Page.  If you do not have Facebook, please share your pictures with Jennifer Rokasky and forward any questions to Dominique Hubbard.
• Check your email for the next issue of NEA's RA Today.  Here is a link to today's issue .

NEA RA Virginia Delegation Pre-RA Caucus Meeting 6/7/2021

 The NEA Representative Assembly (RA) is almost here!  

On June 7th starting at 6 pm, VEA held it's first Pre-RA Caucus Meeting!  First a few orders of business: 

• VEA President James Fedderman was elected to Chair the Caucus,
• VEA Vice President Carol Bauer was elected to serve as Vice-Chair, and
• Sonia Smith, of Chesterfield Education Association, was appointed Caucus Secretary. 
• Adopted Polices and Procedures of for the Virginia Delegation for our caucus meeting

We were introduced to our NEA Directors:

• Charlotte Hayer, our senior NEA RA Director from Richmond City
• Christina Bohringer, our junior NEA RA Director from Alexandria
• Gwendolyn Edwards, an NEA ESP Director At-Large from Prince William

NEA New Business Item (NBI) A was introduced to our caucus and we adopted a position of support.

Shout out to our Team Captains! These captains are responsible for various tasks including attending NEA Committees and reporting back to the caucus or fundraising or communicating (howdy ya'll!)

• Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules: Christine Hawley from Staunton
• NEA Resolutions: Chuck Ronco form Prince William
• Candidate Interviews: Kimberly Adams from Fairfax
• Issues Committee: Carol Bauer from York
• Strategic Plan & Budget: Meg Gruber with VEA Retired
• NEA Elections: Ethel Williams from Suffolks
• Legislative Program: Clarence Collins from Spotsylvania
• Virtual Fund Table: Steve Whitten from Mecklenburg
• Communications Blog: Jennifer Rokasky from Prince William 

Fundraising for the NEA Fund - Virginia's Goal is $35,000 for the NEA Fund! This Fund works to elect public education champions!

Each delegate is encouraged to set up their PACtivist page! Go to http://www.edvotes.org/fundraise  

VEA Delegates have the following goals:

• FTE Delegates $200
• ESP Delegates $100
• VEA Board Members $350

Setting up a PACtivist page will help delegates meet their goal! They can email their colleagues and family members and ask them to join in supporting public education champions running for office. 

Check out the NEA Retired auction website! NEA Retired: NEA-Retired Auction | Powered By GiveSmart 

Items coming to your local's UniServ Office that will be distributed to delegates:

• Stickers
• VEA Bandana
• A pin with the NEA Virtual Design
• and first Time Delegates will receive a VEA Face Mask!

While we wait for NEA RA to start, check your wardrobe! On the following dates, VEA has an assigned shirt color:

• June 30th: #Red4Ed 
• July 1st: Social/Racial Justice Shirt
• July 2nd: Black VEA Polo (don't have a VEA polo, wear a black shirt of your choice!)
• July 3rd: Local Color Shirt

ON DECK: To register and receive Zoom access to this town hall, please select the event via your online delegate registration. Check your email registration from rasupport@nea.org

• June 30th: 8-9:30 pm 1st Virtual RA Delegate Tele-Townhall with President Becky Pringle
• June 21st: 8-9:30 pm  2nd Virtual RA Delegate Tele-Townhall with President Becky Pringle