This blog is open to comments and different points of view. All will be taken respectfully. I encourage, encourage encourage more SWVEA members to take a more active role in their Association. Even if it's a small role, even if it's just to see the big picture.
VT-NEA has a great network of people in other associations. They are available to help. VT-NEA staff is available to help facilitate processes to make our local association strong. I get the feeling that SWVEA members feel that we are ignored or that VT-NEA doesn't do anything for us. Is it because VT-NEA won't do what some members want them to do because VT-NEA can't, legally, do those things?
To be honest, this latest incident with a proposed constitution for SWVEA has made me very sad. I think that it is very disrespectful toward the members to suddenly and without warning thrust a completely re-written constitution at them and tell them that they have three days to vote on it. Members don't know why changes have been proposed. Members have few opportunities to compare the current constitution with the changes. Members have not been asked for input. Members have not had the opportunity to look at other constitutions from around the state and country.
I am also very sad that our ESP members were not considered at all.
One member of the executive board did respond to questions (not mine) and attempted to respectfully put things into perspective. I thank her for that. There is still the fact that members do not always come forward to be an active part of their union. There is still a fear that too much will be asked of them. I think that we should start with one member at a time and ask that member to simply sit in on a meeting or a committee. Let's eliminate the fear factor instead of railing against the lack of involvement.
Challenge: How are you going to address your own concerns about our association? Are you going to continue to complain or are you going to do something positive?
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
A proposed constitution
Today (last night) the members of the SWVEA were suddenly presented with a new constitution and a ballot to vote upon it by Monday. Unfortunately there was no warning, there was no discussion about why changes needed to be made or what the changes should be.
Change is good and good change is better. A constitution is the heart of an organization and that is what the SWVEA is. An organization is just that, organized with a set of rules that ensure the smooth running of the organization and the rights of its members.
If the rules don't work or are no longer appropriate then the members work for change.
Sometimes, this blog becomes a forum for my rants. I think that it is an appropriate forum for that. Please don't be offended and please feel free to join in. Or tell me that I am all wet.
Our current constitution awards a lot of decision making power to a small group and the proposed one gives even more to the same small group. There are no checks and balances for the budget.
Change is good and good change is better. A constitution is the heart of an organization and that is what the SWVEA is. An organization is just that, organized with a set of rules that ensure the smooth running of the organization and the rights of its members.
If the rules don't work or are no longer appropriate then the members work for change.
Sometimes, this blog becomes a forum for my rants. I think that it is an appropriate forum for that. Please don't be offended and please feel free to join in. Or tell me that I am all wet.
Our current constitution awards a lot of decision making power to a small group and the proposed one gives even more to the same small group. There are no checks and balances for the budget.
A little positive news
There was something positive on Wednesday. The Negotiations Committee sponsored a survey for all of the members regarding the next contract. The results were tabulated and members received the first of the statistics. I hope that the Committee has met and reviewed the data. I will take a look at it later.
Here's to open communications!
Here's to open communications!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
SWVEA open elections
MAUMS and SVSU units do not have adequate representation to the SWVEA executive board. One person volunteered to represent SVSU but latest account she says she is representing both MAUMS and SVSU. When told that she couldn't do that she said that she was doing it anyway. It is a serious violation of the constitution for her to have made that claim. It is a serious breach of trust in the SWVEA president that she supports this nonsense.
There are three members who would be willing to volunteer to represent MAUMS and SVSU. Currently, there are two positions for each unit. However, we feel that we should present the problem to the members of these two units, ask for volunteers and run elections in both units. This would encourage more members to become involved and keep everything open and above board. Those of us who have had the positions of unit representatives would be happy to mentor and do anything to be supportive.
There are three members who would be willing to volunteer to represent MAUMS and SVSU. Currently, there are two positions for each unit. However, we feel that we should present the problem to the members of these two units, ask for volunteers and run elections in both units. This would encourage more members to become involved and keep everything open and above board. Those of us who have had the positions of unit representatives would be happy to mentor and do anything to be supportive.
Monday, November 30, 2009
More SWVEA thoughts
Today was shocking. A member of the SWVEA executive board simply announced that she was the unit rep for two units. I told her that she couldn't do that, each unit deserves their own rep. Her reply was that she was doing it anyway. ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY. Members are getting short-changed by people who want what they think is power.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Making Progress
All are welcome to comment. Opinions will be accepted openly and with respect.
The SWVEA Constitution Focus Group met in Pownal on Tuesday. This was our first meeting where members read the constitution. Many didn't even know that the document existed. I know that I only got a copy after a long battle. The SWVEA president didn't want me to have a copy and kept making excuses about how busy she was then when that wasn't effective she wanted to meet with me. Well, to my way of thinking if she had enough time to meet with me then she had enough to ensure that I got a copy of the constitution as is my right as a member. I never asked her to make the copy personally, I merely asked that she ensure that I got a copy. In fact, I even volunteered to make copies for other members who had requested them.
Anyway, the consensus of the group was that the current constitution is not being followed and that it gives way too much power to the president and the executive board. For example, the Nominating Committee is appointed by the president and approved by the executive board. The slate of officers that the Nominating Committee brings has to be approved by the executive board before it is brought to the membership. Talk about handpicking officers!
Additionally, there were no built-in safeguards when it comes to counting votes. I would hate to accuse anyone of being dishonest but it has happened. Only one person in each building is responsible for counting votes, there is no observer status for members. Ideally, there should be a counter and an observer and both sign the count sheet.
More later.
The SWVEA Constitution Focus Group met in Pownal on Tuesday. This was our first meeting where members read the constitution. Many didn't even know that the document existed. I know that I only got a copy after a long battle. The SWVEA president didn't want me to have a copy and kept making excuses about how busy she was then when that wasn't effective she wanted to meet with me. Well, to my way of thinking if she had enough time to meet with me then she had enough to ensure that I got a copy of the constitution as is my right as a member. I never asked her to make the copy personally, I merely asked that she ensure that I got a copy. In fact, I even volunteered to make copies for other members who had requested them.
Anyway, the consensus of the group was that the current constitution is not being followed and that it gives way too much power to the president and the executive board. For example, the Nominating Committee is appointed by the president and approved by the executive board. The slate of officers that the Nominating Committee brings has to be approved by the executive board before it is brought to the membership. Talk about handpicking officers!
Additionally, there were no built-in safeguards when it comes to counting votes. I would hate to accuse anyone of being dishonest but it has happened. Only one person in each building is responsible for counting votes, there is no observer status for members. Ideally, there should be a counter and an observer and both sign the count sheet.
More later.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
SWVEA Constitution Focus Group
The first meeting is Tuesday the 24th @ Pownal Elementary. We will take a look at the SWVEA Constitution to understand it and to identify where it is and isn't being followed. There are two or three areas that raise major red flags for me.
One area if the Standing Committees. The current president has not appointed any committees, except Negotiations, in the 6 years that I have been here. The Negotiations Committee has only been appointed during the negotiation year and not yearly as stated in the constitution. This denies the Negotiations Committee members the opportunity to get training and to be knowledgeable on contracts. To top it off, our Uniserv Director doesn't hold Regional Bargaining Council meetings because "there hasn't been any interest". That shouldn't stop the members from meeting with other RBC's.
Anyway, according to the constitution there is supposed to be a Budget Committee that prepares the yearly budget for SWVEA. The Budget Committee presents the proposed budget to the Executive Board the the proposed budget is sent to the members for review. The budget is supposed to be voted on at the annual meeting that is held in June. There has been no Budget Committee, a hand written budget prepared by the Treasurer and the president has been handed out to the Executive Board and the members never see the budget until the annual meeting, if they attend.
There is also supposed to be an Audit Committee. This committee is supposed to review the accounts each year. That has never happened. I wonder where our money is actually going? Why hasn't there been an audit?
Do you know that there is also supposed to be a Nominating Committee? There has not been one, the current president just decides who she wants to be on the ballot. And while we're on the subject, the officers are supposed to be elected in odd years. The president and vice president can be re-elected to 'a' successive term. The current president was elected to complete a previous president's term and just decided that she would be there for two years. She has also been in office for several terms.
Join us on the 24th. Learn about your constitution. You pay a lot of money to belong, you should make sure that you are getting your money's worth.
One area if the Standing Committees. The current president has not appointed any committees, except Negotiations, in the 6 years that I have been here. The Negotiations Committee has only been appointed during the negotiation year and not yearly as stated in the constitution. This denies the Negotiations Committee members the opportunity to get training and to be knowledgeable on contracts. To top it off, our Uniserv Director doesn't hold Regional Bargaining Council meetings because "there hasn't been any interest". That shouldn't stop the members from meeting with other RBC's.
Anyway, according to the constitution there is supposed to be a Budget Committee that prepares the yearly budget for SWVEA. The Budget Committee presents the proposed budget to the Executive Board the the proposed budget is sent to the members for review. The budget is supposed to be voted on at the annual meeting that is held in June. There has been no Budget Committee, a hand written budget prepared by the Treasurer and the president has been handed out to the Executive Board and the members never see the budget until the annual meeting, if they attend.
There is also supposed to be an Audit Committee. This committee is supposed to review the accounts each year. That has never happened. I wonder where our money is actually going? Why hasn't there been an audit?
Do you know that there is also supposed to be a Nominating Committee? There has not been one, the current president just decides who she wants to be on the ballot. And while we're on the subject, the officers are supposed to be elected in odd years. The president and vice president can be re-elected to 'a' successive term. The current president was elected to complete a previous president's term and just decided that she would be there for two years. She has also been in office for several terms.
Join us on the 24th. Learn about your constitution. You pay a lot of money to belong, you should make sure that you are getting your money's worth.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
SWVEA thoughts
SWVEA stands for Southwest Vermont Educators Association. It is made up of staff from North Bennington Graded School, Shaftsbury Elementary School, Pownal Elementary School, Bennington Elementary School, Monument Elementary School, Molly Stark Elementary School, Mount Anthony Union Middle School, Mount Anthony Union High School, Southwest Vermont Career Development Center, Title I and Special Educators.
SWVEA is a member of VT-NEA. It is governed by a set of rules called the constitution which is supplemented by standing rules. I have been a Unit Representative, more commonly called a Building Rep, for the middle school. Last Spring I asked for a copy of the constitution, a document that I didn't even know existed until then. After much resistance from the current president I received a copy.
I have found several areas where the constitution is not being followed three of which have alarmed me exceedingly. These are Article V Officers, Section 2 F The Treasurer shall and Section 3 Selection of Officers; and Article VIII Standing Committees.
I think that right now I will talk about the Standing Committees. The president has not appointed any standing committees members nor has the board approved standing committee members in at least six years. The committees include Membership, Social Affairs, Public Relations, Grievance (this is the exception), Political Action, Professional Negotiations, SVSU Educators Convention, and Inservice (this one may be an exeption, too). The lack of a Professional Negotiations Committee alarms me the most, especially since we are coming up on negotiations. Because the committee members have not been appointed each year they have not had the opportunity to get training and to understand trends.
This is probably enough to start with. Get a copy of the constitution and start asking questions.
SWVEA is a member of VT-NEA. It is governed by a set of rules called the constitution which is supplemented by standing rules. I have been a Unit Representative, more commonly called a Building Rep, for the middle school. Last Spring I asked for a copy of the constitution, a document that I didn't even know existed until then. After much resistance from the current president I received a copy.
I have found several areas where the constitution is not being followed three of which have alarmed me exceedingly. These are Article V Officers, Section 2 F The Treasurer shall and Section 3 Selection of Officers; and Article VIII Standing Committees.
I think that right now I will talk about the Standing Committees. The president has not appointed any standing committees members nor has the board approved standing committee members in at least six years. The committees include Membership, Social Affairs, Public Relations, Grievance (this is the exception), Political Action, Professional Negotiations, SVSU Educators Convention, and Inservice (this one may be an exeption, too). The lack of a Professional Negotiations Committee alarms me the most, especially since we are coming up on negotiations. Because the committee members have not been appointed each year they have not had the opportunity to get training and to understand trends.
This is probably enough to start with. Get a copy of the constitution and start asking questions.
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