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 .
