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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