Legislative platform tops R.A. agenda Nov. 8

Missouri NEA Representative Assembly delegates will gather for their fall business meeting Nov. 8 at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, MO.

Leading the agenda is the adoption of the Association’s legislative platform. Delegates will debate the platform, presented by the legislative committee, to adopt MNEA’s priorities for the 2008 session of the Missouri General Assembly. This platform shapes MNEA’s positions on legislative issues related to public education such as funding, certification, retirement issues, taxation, collective bargaining and employee rights.

The R.A. delegates will also debate an issue regarding the allocation of state delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly. This new business item was brought to the April R.A. and then referred to the Bylaws Committee for further consideration. The Bylaws Committee’s revision will be presented to the R.A. for debate and decision.

“This bylaw was originally presented in an effort to guarantee representation of delegates from across the state to the NEA R.A.,” says MNEA President Chris Guinther. “The discussion that has followed its initial presentation has resulted in some of our large locals, Special School District NEA and Hazelwood NEA, helping to support NEA R.A. delegates from smaller locals.”

The agenda, proposed Legislative Platform and revised bylaw will be sent to R.A. delegates 30 days prior to the R.A. Find bylaw details at www.mnea.org, or contact Chris Guinther at chris.guinther@mnea.org.

Other highlights on the agenda include MNEA Political Action Committee elections, the presentation of the Shirley Cromer leadership award, the quality local association awards and a review of election results.

The MNEA R.A. is the highest decision-making body of the association. MNEA holds two representative assemblies annually—a single-day R.A. in November and a two-day R.A. in April. Besides making decisions on budget, resolutions, legislative platform and bylaws, the R.A. provides an opportunity to recognize achievements of members, hear guest speakers, network and share ideas and challenges of our members from across the state. Each local affiliate is entitled to send at least one delegate to each of the R.A.s.

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