AAP RALLY RSVPs NEEDED!!!!

Thank you for your responses in supporting Camden County College's AAP. This local is continuing its fight against premium sharing and they need your help!

We strongly urge you to reach out to your members and ask them to attend the rally on May 6. Details and directions are listed below. Please RSVP with the number of attendees from your local no later than May 2 to Gale Quinn (gquinn@njea.org)in the Region 3 office. They are counting on you!!!

Don't forget to wear red and bring a sign identifying your local association!

Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Location: Camden County College - Blackwood Campus
We will meet at the Madison Connector Building -
(off of Peter Cheeseman Rd.)

DIRECTIONS

From Cherry Hill/Voorhees/Marlton

From Rt. 70, take Springdale Rd. South approximately 9 miles (note that the road name changes to White Horse Rd., Laurel Road, College Drive) until the traffic light at Little Gloucester and Peter Cheeseman Roads. Turn left onto Peter Cheeseman Road; the College is on the right side.

From Philadelphia/Camden

Take Rt. 42 South. Exit at the Blackwood/Clementon exit. Turn right at the bottom of the exit ramp (onto Blackwood-Clementon Road.) Turn right at the first traffic light (onto Erial Rd.) Follow Erial Rd. to the second traffic light and turn right (onto Little Gloucester Rd.) Continue straight past the next traffic light. The Blackwood Campus is on the right side.

From 295

Take Rt. 295 South. Follow directions to Rt. 42 South (in the direction of Atlantic City.) Proceed exactly as above (from Philadelphia/Camden.)

From the South Jersey Area

Take Rt. 42 or the Black Horse Pike North. Exit at the Rt. 168/Blackwood/Sicklerville exit. Turn right at the bottom of the ramp. Turn right at the first traffic light (onto Rt. 168 North.) Turn right at the first road (onto College Drive.) Turn right at the first traffic light (onto Peter Cheeseman Rd.) The Blackwood Campus is on the right side.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Region 3 UniServ office at 856-782-1225.

AAP RALLY - MAY 6

Our colleagues at the Camden County College (local AAP) continue to fight premium sharing in prolonged negotiations. The climate is deteriorating in light of the college’s unilateral change into SEHBP.

The last Board meeting of 2007-08 is scheduled for May 6 at the Blackwood Campus. Each CCCEA local is asked to send at least two representatives to rally from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Please wear red and bring a sign identifying your local association.

Our unified action is key in protecting benefits for all of us!

Region 3 is on the Move!

The Region 3 office is scheduled to move on Friday, March 14. Please note – our phone lines and computers may be down from noon Thursday, March 13 through Monday, March 17. If you have an urgent matter that cannot wait for our return, please contact the Region 4 UniServ office at 856-964-2800.

Our new address will be 1020 Laurel Oak Road, Suite 101, Voorhees, NJ 08043 and is located at the corner of Laurel Oak Road and Haddonfield-Berlin Road. Our phone and FAX numbers will remain the same.

We look forward to seeing you in our new office!

This is a reminder that the Governor will be holding Camden County’s town hall meeting about asset monetization on Monday, January 28th. Please try to attend and encourage your members to go, as well.

MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2008 7-9 p.m. – CAMDEN, Voorhees
Voorhees Middle School - Performing Arts Center
1000 Holly Oak Drive
Voorhees, NJ 08043
RSVP: 609-292-9763
http://www.state.nj.us/townhallmeetings/rsvp/index.html

Here are some sample questions you could ask:

As we all know, funding for new school construction and repair was depleted. But the needs are still out there. How do you plan to address these very real needs in your debt restructuring plan?

It’s been reported that the portion of tolls paid by New Jersey residents falls disproportionately on those living NEAR the toll roads, while ALL residents will hopefully benefit from debt restructuring. Why wouldn’t you consider an increase in the income tax, which is not only evenly distributed, but more progressive than toll increases?

You just signed a school funding law to provide aid to districts that have not had aid increases in a very long time. How will you pay for that if the Legislature agrees to your freeze on state spending?

URGENT REQUEST FOR YOUR HELP!!!CRISIS RALLY, CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 5:30 p.m.

AAP, an NJEA local affiliate at Camden County College, is in a bargaining crisis. They are fighting against premium sharing, an issue which impacts all Camden County locals.

As of this date, less than 10 of our county members have signed up to attend. Their administration and trustees are fully aware that a rally is planned. WE CANNOT LET DOWN OUR COLLEAGUES WITH LOW ATTENDANCE!!! Please organize a group from your local (at least two per local, more if possible.) Bring your local sign and WEAR RED.

RSVP to gquinn@njea.org ASAP and no later than Friday, January 25.

YOUR HELP NEEDED!!!

Camden County College Association of Administrative Personnel is asking for our help. They are negotiating, and premium sharing is on the table. Our colleagues at the college negotiate with a Board of Trustees. The county freeholders assigned to the college have made premium sharing a priority. This has potential impact on ALL associations throughout the county. Therefore, they would like you and your local association to join them as they rally at their Board of Trustees meeting. EACH LOCAL IS ASKED TO SEND TWO OR MORE REPS,AND PLEASE WEAR RED. Participants are asked to please bring signs identifying your local's support, for example, GTEA SUPPORTS AAP.

WHERE: Camden County College, Blackwood Campus

WHEN: Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 5:30 p.m.

RSVP: gquinn@njea.org by Friday, 1/25

More details regarding parking and directions will be supplied when you register.

OVERRIDE OF EDUCATION BUDGET VOTE

We need your immediate help!

The President has vetoed the Fiscal Year 2008 Education Appropriations bill. This bill contains critical programs including: special and early childhood education, dropout prevention and student aid for the college bound.

NJEA is appealing to Congress to stand up for children and public schools by overriding the President’s veto. Therefore, we are asking both Democrats and Republicans to work together to override the veto when it comes up for a vote prior to Thanksgiving recess.

We are urging all local leaders to call their Congressional office (either their DC or District phone number) stressing a “yes” vote to override. The phone list for the Congressional offices is below.

Your calls and help are greatly appreciated as the time frame for action is very short.

Thank you.

110th CONGRESS

U.S. SENATORS
Frank Lautenberg (D) 202-224-3224
FAX: 202-228-4054
EMAIL: www.lautenberg.senate.gov
District Office: 973-639-8700
FAX: 973-639-8723

Robert Menendez (D) 202-224-4744
FAX: 202-228-2197
EMAIL: www.menendez.senate.gov
District Office: 973-645-3030
FAX: 973-645-0502

U.S. CONGRESSPERSONS
CD 01
Robert Andrews (D) 202-225-6501
FAX: 202-225-6583
EMAIL: rob.andrews@mail.house.gov
District Office: 856-546-5100
FAX: 856-546-9529

CD 02
Frank LoBiondo (R) 202-225-6572
FAX: 202-225-3318
EMAIL: lobiondo@mail.house.gov
District Office: 609-625-5008
FAX: 609-625-5071

CD 03
H. James Saxton (R) 202-225-4765
FAX: 202-225-0778
EMAIL: jim.saxton@mail.house.gov
District Office: 609-261-5800
FAX: 609-261-1275

CD 04
Christopher Smith (R) 202-225-3765
FAX: 202-225-7768
EMAIL: www.chrissmith.house.gov/zipauth.html
District Office: 609-585-7878
FAX: 609-585-9155

CD 05
Scott Garrett (R) 202-225-4465
FAX: 202-225-9048
EMAIL: www.house.gov/formgarrett/contact.shtml
District Office: 201-712-0330
FAX: 201-712-0930

CD 06
Frank Pallone (D) 202-225-4671
FAX: 202-225-9665
EMAIL: frank.pallone@mail.house.gov
District Office: 732-571-1140
FAX: 732-870-3890

CD 07
Michael Ferguson (R) 202-225-5361
FAX: 202-225-9460
EMAIL: www.ferguson.house.gov/index.cmf?
District Office: 908-757-7835
FAX: 908-757-7841

CD 08
William Pascrell (D) 202-225-5751
FAX: 202-225-5782
EMAIL: bill.pascrell@mail.house.gov
District Office: 973-523-5152
FAX: 973-523-0637

CD 09
Steven Rothman (D) 202-225-5061
FAX: 202-225-5851
EMAIL: steven.rothman@mail.house.gov
District Office: 201-646-0808
FAX: 201-646-1944

CD 10
Donald Payne (D) 202-225-3436
FAX: 202-225-4160
EMAIL: donald.payne@mail.house.gov
District Office: 973-645-3213
FAX: 973-645-5902

CD 11
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R) 202-225-5034
FAX: 202-225-3186
EMAIL: rodney.frelinghuysen@mail.house.gov
District Office: 973-984-0711
FAX: 973-292-1569

CD 12
Rush Holt (D) 202-225-5801
FAX: 202-225-6025
EMAIL: rush.holt.@mail.house.gov
District Office: 609-750-9365
FAX: 609-750-0618

CD 13
Albio Sires (D) 202-225-7919
FAX: 202-226-0792
EMAIL: www.house.gov/sires/
District Office: 201-222-2828
FAX: 201-222-0188

10/11/07

PRESIDENTS' OVERNIGHTER - NOV. 16-17

The Camden County Presidents' Overnight Workshops will be held at the Princeton Hyatt on November 16 - 17. Due to NJEA Convention and vacation schedules at the county office, RSVPs MUST reach the CCCEA office no later than Friday, November 2. Don't miss out on this very memorable event. Get your RSVPs in today!

NEW MEMBER FAIR

The new member fair scheduled for October 17 is rapidly filling up! If you have members who are interested in attending, please let us know ASAP. As of today, we have some exciting vendors that will be participating. Some include Borders, Unlimited Day Spa, who will be on hand to give massages and discounts on services; Camden River Sharks have tons of giveaways for those attending; clowns, jugglers, and caricatures will surely be part of the fun. Our endorsed vendors, such as Buyers Edge, Prudential, Wachovia Bank, Camden Children's Garden, Philadelphia Soul, and many others, will be on hand to share information with our members. Don't miss out on this fun event.

Check your emails on Tuesday for a poster you can add to your bulletin boards.

ATTEND THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SUMMIT

The 2007 NJEA Jim George Collective Bargaining Summit will be held in New Brunswick on Saturday, October 13. Please note that there have been problems with the lock box, and to date, we have no one registered from Camden County. If you have sent in registration forms for you or members in your local, please contact this office immediately.

This year's summit will be our 40th anniversary celebration of the Asbury Park rally and is designed specifically for NJEA members involved in the bargaining process. Local presidents, negotiations teams, and other members involved in the bargaining process will benefit from discussions on NJEA’s success in protecting the health benefits they negotiate, as well as post-retirement medical benefits.

COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS WORKSHOP

On October 27th, the NJEA's Communications Tools Workshop will be held in our headquarters office in Trenton. This is a great workshop for association newsletter editors, PRIDE chairs, and even ARs! For a registration form, please contact lgalley@njea.org. This is a great opportunity for you, as president, to recruit someone to do this much needed job.

LAST CALL!! NEW MEMBERSHIP WORKSHOP

As you know, there will be a Membership Chair workshop at the CCCEA office on Monday, September 17. To date, we have attendees from only five locals (Educational Assistants of Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Black Horse Pike, Haddon Township, and Clementon.)

Please encourage your membership chairs to attend this training. They will hear all about NJEA's latest membership and organizing resources, how to update membership records on NJEA's electronic membership system (MARS on the web), and much more. And last but not least, they will receive an exclusive Year of the Leader golf shirt just for attending!!!

Please contact the CCCEA office at 856-489-1267 today to confirm your seat. It's important that your records and ours are kept as up to date as possible for accurate funding purposes.

If you have any questions, please don't hestitate to contact us.

BILL LOCKING IN POST RETIREMENT HEALTH BENEFITS PASSES LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES

We will soon witness an historic moment in NJEA history:

In 1988, NJEA secured state-paid health benefits for teacher retirees. The state budgeted money for these benefits on a yearly basis. Benefits were guaranteed for that year.
In 1992, we secured the same state-paid health benefits for ESP and higher ed members.
In 1997, we secured a legal “lock” (a contractual right) on members’ pensions.
And in 2007, in a political climate openly hostile to public employees’ pensions and health benefits, NJEA will soon secure a legal guarantee to premium-free retiree health benefits for all members. Once this legislation is passed, the state, regardless of its fiscal health, can never renege on our retirees’ health benefits.

Earlier today, S-3004/A-5005, which guarantees public school employees’ post-retirement medical benefits, unanimously passed from committees in both houses of the legislature. The legislation is expected to pass, and Governor Corzine is expected to sign the legislation soon.

As you know, the new health plan will be a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) with an extensive, national network of doctors. An appointment with a doctor would cost $10 dollars. In the event that a non-network doctor or facility is needed, members will still have access to the doctor or facility of their choice without a gate-keeper. If they choose an out-of-network doctor, their co-pay would be 80/20, although the out-of-pocket maximums will increase for out-of-network services.

In addition, the plan will be governed by a new independent body of nine individuals, with NJEA having a significant voice on the board. The board will be comprised of the State Treasurer, the Commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance, a member appointed by the Governor, a member appointed by the Governor from among three persons nominated by the New Jersey School Boards’ Association, three members appointed by the Governor from among five persons nominated by the New Jersey Education Association, a member appointed by the Governor from among three persons nominated by the education section of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, and a member appointed by the governor with agreement from NJEA who shall be the chairperson.

Most importantly, the legislation guarantees that there will be no premium sharing for retirees now or in the future, a guarantee similar to the “lock” that school employees now have on their pensions.

Also as a result of this legislation, the uniformity clause that now requires all local governing bodies, including school districts that are in the State Health Benefits Plan, to receive the same level of benefits as state employees, would no longer apply. Consequently, it prevents school employees’ health benefits from being bargained by other unions.

The option for a district not to participate in the state plan will remain as it is now. A district that now has a private plan could remain in that plan.

S-3004/A-5005 also includes changes to the pension system and the State Investment Council that we have discussed previously.

As soon as possible, information about the legislation and the plan will be available on www.njea.org.

SUMMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE SPARKS SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

This year's Summer Leadership Conference program includes a first-ever scholarship program for Sparks. The five-day pilot program runs throughout Workshop I and II, beginning on August 4 and concluding on August 8.

During Workshop I, attendees will participate in the highly successful Sparks program, where they get to explore a variety of advocacy and leadership roles. This unique five-day program will then give the participants an opportunity to receive "on-the-job" training by attending one of a selected group of seminars during Workshop II.

At this point, the enrollment is low, and we are asking for your assistance in reaching out to your members to see who might be interested in this all-expense paid training opportunity.

A description of the program, as well as the information needed, is in the SLC brochure. Due to the late date, the interested member can either fax or email the information to Toni Boyle at UniServ HQ -- since the rooms can only be held for a short amount of time, we are asking for all participants to submit their information no later than Friday, June 22.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please let us know.

Thanks for your assistance in helping to make this pilot program a success.

Update on PRIDE

Many thanks to our Communications Division for all of their efforts – we just recently got the promotional items catalog and it’s already on the web. (For those locals that just can’t wait!) For PRIDE forms and information, simply click on "PRIDE Forms" on the right and enter your NJEA password and pin.

We hope to start approving next year’s projects sometime in July. Remember, proposals are due in this office no later than 60 days prior to your first project; however, we recommend that you get your proposals to us sooner, rather than later.

We applaude all of you who already participate in the PRIDE program. If you would like to participate, but just don't know where to start, contact the Region 3 office, and we'll be happy to provide you with assistance.

We wish you all a safe and relaxing summer.

ORGANIZE NOW FOR PAC

Now that school board elections are over, the UniServ office reminds all local presidents and LAT chairs that our PAC organizing campaign is well under way. Many of you have already met with either your UniServ rep or a consultant on this organizing campaign. As of yesterday's date, Trenton indicates that we have only increased our PAC contributors by three new contributing members. Gail and I would like to strongly urge you to do everything you can to get members to contribute to PAC. If you currently have PAC forms filled out, please send in what you have. Do not hold these while waiting for additional forms.

If you have already submitted forms to Trenton, please email us. If you need any further assistance from this office, please contact us immediately so that we can help you with this important organizing event.

2007 Summer Leadership Conference Mailing

A set of Summer Leadership Conference registration materials was recently mailed to you.

You may have already received these same SLC materials in an envelope with an incorrect name on the mailing label. This was due to a glitch in our computer system and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you have questions, please contact Toni Boyle at 609-599-4561, ext. 2232, or email aboyle@njea.org.

NJEA REACHES AGREEMENT ON PENSIONS AND BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS

We would like to confirm that newspaper reports saying that NJEA has reached an agreement with the governor on key changes to members’ pensions and benefits are accurate. We'd like to share the details of that agreement with you. You will receive an email with this same information from NJEA officers shortly. Please refer to www.njea.org and use your member password for further details.

URGENT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

At 4 pm on Friday afternoon, NJEA learned that by the end of the day, the Assembly was going to introduce a bad piece of legislation that will cap tax levies. To make matters worse (if that seems possible) the Assembly plans to vote on it on Monday afternoon. The Senate will introduce their version on Monday and is planning to put it up for a vote on February 5th. This legislation has the potential to have devistating and far-reaching impact on the collective bargaining process.

We have put an alert on the NJEA website, updated the Cyberlobbying Legislative Action Center with a pre-written message for members to e-mail the Governor and their legislators, and sent out a “Cyberlobbee News” to 65,000 members.

As always…. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please do your best to get this information out to your members. We need to put the pressure on by this afternoon. Perhaps you may want to have a quick cyberlobby activity immediately at the end of your workday. Click on njea.org at the right of the blog and then click on Cyberlobbying.

Many thanks for your support and your cooperation.

CONGRATULATIONS GIBBSBORO EA!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to the Gibbsboro Education Association on their recently ratified contract. This association was able to achieve a $51,000 start salary!!! This will be the first Camden County local to meet the NJEA goal of “$50,000 the first day.”