Choosing a voice
Missouri NEA is gearing
up for elections and seeking delegates for the national representative
assembly.
The nation’s largest democratic body will meet in Washington
D.C. July 1–6 for the 2008 NEA annual meeting. Delegates
will hear from lawmakers and national newsmakers, as well
as debate the Association’s business.
Open nominations are required in all elections, and secret-ballot
voting is required (except when the number of candidates equals
the number of positions to be filled). No dues money may be
used to promote candidates.
Minority involvement is a Missouri NEA commitment; minority
members are encouraged to seek election as NEA delegates at
both the state and local levels. The Association’s goal
is to attain at least 16 percent minority representation in
its delegation.
State delegates
State delegates are elected by the entire MNEA membership,
based on a ratio of one delegate per 1,000 active members.
According to this formula, MNEA will be allotted 27 delegates
in 2008. State delegates are reimbursed up to $900 plus super-saver
airfare for expenses while attending the NEA R.A. Additional
expenses must be paid by individual delegates.
State delegates are elected in two categories. Category I
delegates are teachers, education support professionals and
other members not serving as administrators. Category II delegates
are administrators and others serving in supervisory positions
that include evaluation of employees. Missouri qualifies for
26 Category I delegates and one Category II delegate.
Members who wish to nominate themselves for state delegate
must submit a declaration of candidacy form, a 100-word statement
and a photo (printed photos only) to MNEA by 4 p.m. on Jan.18.
The statement should take one of three forms: a summary of
biographical information and Association experience written
in the third person; a personal statement written in the first
person as a direct quotation; or a combination of the two.
Statements should be written as complete sentences.
The statements and photos will appear on the MNEA Web site.
Only the first 100 words of each statement will be published.
The president and NEA directors are automatically ex officio
delegates. Except for the MNEA vice president, the placement
of candidates’ names on the state ballot will be determined
by a drawing. The first name drawn will appear first on the
ballot after the vice president.
The state delegate election will be conducted by a statewide
ballot distributed in February. For members who do not have
an affiliated local, the ballot will be sent by mail along
with instructions for returning the ballot.
Local delegates
Local delegates are elected by the members of a local affiliate,
with one delegate per 150 members. Members should contact
their local presidents to learn the procedures, timelines
and reimbursement procedures for local delegates.
Cluster delegates
Cluster delegates are elected by members of several locals
who have networked to attain the minimum 76 members required
for delegate eligibility. Members interested in being elected
as cluster delegates should contact Beeb Gillis at (800) 392–0236.
Cluster delegate elections are conducted during March and
April.
Student NEA, NEA-Retired delegates
Student NEA members elect two delegates to the NEA R.A.,
and MNEA-Retired members elect four delegates.
Only student members may nominate, vote for and serve as
student delegates. Likewise, only MNEA-Retired members may
nominate, vote for and serve as retired delegates.
sb,
winter '07
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