15-B Insider -- May 2004

  At the 2003 MEA Spring Representative Assembly, the delegates overwhelmingly adopted the All Inclusive Membership (AIM) proposal. The issue had been studied for three years before it was brought to the RA for action.
  What is AIM? It is a method whereby all members of the MEA family are brought under one umbrella. Unity was the goal so various political and/or administrative bodies could not divide and conquer the organization. For example, as soon as actives lost bargaining rights in 1994, the MPSERS board began reducing insurance benefits of retirees and increasing co-pays. Actives have now seen the same proposals showing up at their bargaining sessions.
  The AIM process adopted is relatively simple. Beginning September 1, 2004, all active members will automatically be signed up for membership in MEA/NEA- Retired. The cost of this membership will be $1.00 per month for 10 months each year for 20 years, for a total fee of $200 for a lifetime membership. However, during the phase-in year of September 1, 2003, to August 31, 2004, the lifetime fee for both organizations remains at $150. However, it is recommended that members take advantage of this savings prior to June 1, 2004, to allow your application to work its way through the membership process so you will not be charged $1.00 in September. Also, if you are using payroll deduction for this, your first $50 must be included with your application.
  For new members, the 2004-05 membership forms (available in July) will include an opt-out statement that members must sign to prevent AIM deductions. If new members decide not to join at some point after completing a membership application, they will need to communicate that to their local association in writing. Remember, though, any fees deducted for MEA-Retired up to that point will not be refunded. If existing members do not want to continue into retirement the considerable advantages they have through their MEA membership, there is a way to choose not to join MEA-Retired. You must file a letter stating your wishes with your local association. These letters are then forwarded to MEA membership. It is recommended that this letter be filed before June 1, 2004, so you are not charged the $1.00 monthly fee for September. This fee will not be refunded.

There has been a continuing labor crisis with MEA’s ESP bargaining unit at Lake Superior State University. Our LSSU ESP colleagues have asked that the Presidents Institute and Summer Leadership Conference not be held at Lake State this summer. This year, MEA will provide only a "Presidents Summer Training" August 3-5 at the Kewadin in Sault Ste. Marie. This "streamlined" Presidents conference will offer sessions that focus on leadership skills and information which are essential to local presidents. Due to the size of the facility, attendance will be very limited – registrations will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Pre-registration will be required. There will be no on-site registrations.

Settled: Evart EA; Wexford-Missaukee ISD

Bargaining 2003-04: TAS of Cadillac; Evart ESP and Transportation; Marion EA & Transportation

Although our attendance was down a little this year because of all the scheduling conflicts, we still had 209 persons in attendance at our 28^th annual Outstanding Persons in Education Banquet held April 15^th at the Timber Lake Lodge. Eight school districts and 15 local associations were represented. MEA president, Lu Battaglieri, was our special speaker. Lee Longfield, Northern Zone Director, and Barb Brotherton, MEA-Retired, also joined us as our guests. "This setting is awesome – and the atmosphere and decorations are beautiful. The food was delicious! This is another wonderful banquet!!" These are only a few of the many positive comments we have received from members and guests.

A special thank you to Norris & Tammy Ladd for the additional "sign posts" they made for us this year. We get many compliments on them. As usual, Harvey Miller did a great job as our emcee. A BIG thank you to Harvey for all the other hours he put in typing, proofreading, and for the many other tasks he took on to help get ready for the banquet. A HUGE thank you also to Kathleen Kelso for her computer "expertise" and her willingness to do whatever, whenever – before, during, and after the banquet. We also really appreciate Roger and Linda Hopkins for all of their help in proofing and assembling booklets as well as helping out before, during and after the banquet. And to each of the other MEA-Retired volunteers who decorated, worked at the banquet, and spent so many hours willingly doing all kinds of tasks resulting in everything running smoothly; thank you so much. The students of Manton Consolidated Schools did a wonderful job as our "wait staff" for the evening, with Patti Swanson managing to keep them all under control! We also honored Blair Bryant, daughter of Debra and Dennis Bryant of Evart, and Kathryn Sattler, daughter of Patricia and Joseph Sattler of Cadillac, as our MEA 15-B Scholarship recipients.

Many units in 15-B are experiencing layoffs. The good news is that MESSA does provide benefits to laid off members who qualify. If your association has MESSA healthcare, you can qualify for continued healthcare coverage at no cost to you for a specific period of time if you have had MESSA healthcare for one full year preceding a layoff. Information on this MESSA benefit, as well as other useful lay-off information, will soon be available at your local Uniserv office. Please give us a call if you need assistance.

Rumor has it that the majority of the school districts have their employees paying a portion of the healthcare costs. As with all rumors, it is not necessarily based on facts. In case your unit is at the bargaining table and heard this rumor, here are the facts:

Fact: In the Northern Zone MESSA provides service to 23,653 members and their families. This is a total of 315 bargaining units (associations), of which 269 are K-12 groups and 29 are ISD’s.

Fact: Only 23% of the Northern Zone associations pay a portion of their healthcare cost.

Fact: Not everyone is doing it!

It’s hard to believe the school year is close to the end – and maybe some of you are breathing a sign of relief!! Many of you will have a few months to recharge; others will continue to go to work each day; and yet others are beginning a new journey of retirement. Best wishes to each of you, wherever the next few months lead. For some, the possibility or reality of a layoff might exist or may have already happened. If so, we hope this is only temporary. For most of us, this has been a tumultuous year to remember – and we’re ready for a much needed break! For those of you (us) still bargaining, remember that patience is the key! (And lots of chocolate!!!) This is the last issue of the INSIDER until September. Our final thoughts for you until then are: Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. You are only here on a short visit, so don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers. Always put off until tomorrow the things you should not do today. Remember, you never know when you might be making a memory!