more constitution thoughts

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?

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.

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!

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.