FAKE NJEA WEBSITE

On March 27, a website name was registered using a variant of our NJEA.org website name. On March 28, a hostile disinformation site went up using the “spoofed” website name. The purpose of this anti-NJEA website, which incorporates our name and trademarks, is to post radically anti-public education messages and falsehoods about NJEA and NEA. The site advertised itself on Google in order to draw traffic by pretending to be a pro-education, anti-Christie site. The purpose was obviously to draw unsuspecting members and supporters to see a negative message in order to drive a wedge between them and NJEA. It featured, among other things, a made-up set of talking points from an imaginary NJEA spokesman urging members to "use children" to advance their own cause.

The site was registered anonymously, in order to make it more difficult to track the site operator. Since yesterday morning, we have succeeded in forcing Google to stop others from using NJEA trademarked materials in advertisements. The site is still online, in a different format, and it is still using "NJEA" in its name. We continue to pursue all avenues to force the site operator to stop using NJEA’s name or any images which would mislead the public into believing that it is affiliated in any way with NJEA. We are pursuing available legal recourse against the site operator.

We are intentionally not providing a link to the site because we do not wish to drive any additional traffic or attention to it, which might grant it an appearance of legitimacy. However, we wanted to make you aware of it in case you get questions from members, or hear about it from other sources. It also serves as a warning to everyone who operates a website to be careful about what else is available online. If the opponents of public education are willing to stoop to this level of dishonesty, we should expect that there are likely to be more dirty tricks of this type. Be alert, and if you see anything suspicious online, please let NJEA know immediately.

POSSIBLE PERSONAL CALLS FROM THE GOVERNOR

As some of you may already know, we have received a report that a representative from the Governor’s office is calling local presidents DIRECTLY. These calls seem to be random. We are recommending the following response for you to say should you receive a call:

1. Thank you for your call.
2. Please tell the governor he may be surprised to know that my members
already pay towards their health coverage.
3. Even if we agree to freeze wages he has cut so much that layoffs are
unavoidable.
4. We have great schools here. I represent really terrific people and he has
demonized them beyond repair.
5. My local will consider your request very carefully.

We are sending this information quickly and have not had time to confirm the identity of the caller.

If you receive one of these phone calls, it would be helpful if you would kindly contact the UniServ office to let us know. This may help in identifying any pattern or assist us in identifying the caller.

As always, thank you so much for all that you do on behalf of your members.

STATEWIDE PRESIDENTS' MEETING - MARCH 18, 2010

As you know, an urgent meeting has been called for all local presidents Statewide on Thursday, March 18 at the East Brunswick Hilton. This meeting will begin promptly at 6:45 p.m. It is crucial that you make this your utmost priority.

Please RSVP to your UniServ office ASAP and no later than Friday, March 12, so that we can determine the number of buses that will be needed. Details will be sent to you early next week regarding transportation.

Additionally, we are asking every local president to do the following:

• Every local president calls to schedule a meeting with their legislators. No response? Then call again.
• Every local association put activities in place for members to call, write, fax, and email their legislators.
• Encourage members to sign up for the legislative dinner on March 25.

The message is simple. The issues before you, as a legislator, are important and deserve careful scrutiny and research. We are asking members of the assembly to support the principles of collective bargaining.

Consultants will be contacting each local president at the end of the week for a report as to what was done regarding the bulleted directives. Presidents who fail to respond to our consultants will receive a personal phone call from their UniServ office as to why an association would fail to carry out these directives.

Any president who needs assistance should contact their UniServ rep for additional help. We strongly urge you and your members to monitor njea.org to keep abreast of the issues. This site changes almost daily.

NEW JERSEY FOURTH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Senator Fred Madden

Assemblyman Paul Moriarty

Dear Neighbor,

As you know, the global economic recession has had a devastating impact on taxpayers across the nation and here in New Jersey. People are losing their jobs. Families are losing their homes. Everyone must do more with less.

We must demand no less from our state government. As our working families are forced to watch every dollar they spend, they have every right to demand that their government in Trenton do the same. In fact, it should be held to the highest standards of commonsense spending, cost-efficiency, and accountability. Cutting the waste out of state government spending is the only way we are going to get New Jersey's unacceptably high tax rates under control.

Your input is critical to us as we consider steps to meet the budget emergency here in New Jersey. As your state representatives in the 4th District, we want to know how you think we should reduce spending, and which programs or services you believe should be cut. We also would encourage you to offer any innovative ideas or proposals, however outside-the-box they may seem. No one's opinions are more important than yours.

The governor is seeking $500 million in unilateral cuts in school aid, but we want to hear your perspective on this before spending on our schools and other essential services is reduced in the weeks and months ahead. We will read every comment, so please try to be as constructive as possible.

Everything is on the table. No one's opinion will be ignored. All ideas will be considered on their merit, without regard to whether they come from a Democrat, Republican, or an Independent.

You may reply to this message with your suggestions through email at info@njleg4.com. Please be as specific as possible. All ideas are welcome, regardless of how big or small they may seem, and whether they come from a large organization or small household. All of us can and should have a hand in finding workable solutions to the state's serious budget problems.

Currently, we have two district offices to serve the residents of the 4th District.

Our Gloucester County office is located at 129 Johnson Road, Suite 1, Turnersville, NJ 08012, telephone (856) 232-6700.

Please take note, our Camden County office has been relocated to 1031 Little Gloucester Road, Suite 3, Blackwood, NJ 08012, telephone (856) 401-3073.

To meet the needs of our constituents, we are now open six days a week, with office hours on Saturday mornings from 8:30am-12:00pm. Please feel free to visit us.

Thank you in advance for your comments and ideas. Together, we can make New Jersey a more affordable place to live and work.

Sincerely,

Fred Madden, State Senator

Paul Moriarty, State Assemblyman

Senator Fred Madden & Assemblyman Paul Moriarty

P.O. Box 8831

Turnersville, NJ 08012