A huge THANK YOU TO YOU ALL for everything you have been doing through these first weeks of the academic year, despite new levels of challenges and stress! MEA will keep doing all we can to provide support, keep you up to date with the latest information, and to urge everyone to do what is needed to keep educators, students, and our communities safe, until we are through this prolonged pandemic!
That includes urging you to be sure to take care of yourselves and to help support one another. Please be sure to reach out to MEA any time. With the new MEA App, MEA is literally at your fingertips. Take a few minutes now before reading the rest of this message to download the new MEA app and see how it is the quickest way to access information and to contact us! Information is on our redesigned MEA website: https://maineea.org/
Your career
NEA has a number of free tickets to attend professional development on strategies to support the academic, emotional, social and mental needs of students, offered by NEA and National Network of State Teachers of the Year on Oct. 16th, from 12:00-3:30. Register here by Oct. 14th and use the promo code NEALeads: All for Equity National Convening Tickets, Sat, Oct 16, 2021 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite
Hispanic Heritage Month continues—find resources here: https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/hispanic-heritage-month
And Higher Education Month begins—register for NEA events here (the first one is TONIGHT): https://www.nea.org/nhem
It is also National Bullying Prevention Month: National Bullying Prevention Month | Youth.gov
And LGBTQ+ History Month: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth | NEA
Your association
The First-Ever Read Across America Sweepstakes | NEA Enter this first-ever sweepstakes to have the chance to win a free set of books from the 2021 – 2022 Read Across America calendar—for every classroom in your public school! HURRY—DEADLINE TO ENTER IS TOMORROW—OCTOBER 7TH!
Watch for registration coming soon for the MEA Virtual Fall Conference, “Building Strong Locals”, on October 23rd & 30th from 9:00-11:00. See more details here: https://maineea.org/conferencesandseminars/virtual-fall-conference-2021/
Check out the opportunities and resources available from The NEA Foundation: Teaching Grants & Leadership Programs for Educators – NEA Foundation
Applications are now available for the Clyde Russell Scholarship for seniors planning to attend either two- or four-year college. The fund for these scholarships was established by the MEA. Encourage your students to apply and read more about the Trust here: https://clyderussellscholarshipfund.org/ A group of members will be needed to read the applications in late February. If you are interested in helping with this, it’s not too soon to let me know!
Most MEA Committees had their first meetings last month, but if you are interested in joining there are some vacancies on these: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), Educational Support Professionals (ESP), Government Relations (GR), Instruction and Professional Development (IPD), Resolutions, Statewide Bargaining (SWBC), Structure and Bylaws (S & B), Young Education Professionals (YEP) ad hoc committee. Next meetings for most committees are Jan. 8th (Strategic Budget will have its first meeting then). Let me know if you are interested! Descriptions of committees are here: Maine Education Association Committees (office.com)
Your support
MEA is continuing to host biweekly conversations (via zoom) for our members of diverse ethnicities. If you have not been receiving the invitations to these (one was sent just yesterday for the next conversation on Oct. 14th) and you think you should be receiving them, please contact us to look into what the problem may be—often it is an incorrect email address.
Remember that there are a number of helpful resources and programs to support those of you who are participants in MEA Benefits Trust plans: www.meabt.org
The FrontLine WarmLine is available 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week, for support in managing anxiety and stress. Dial (207) 221-8196 or text the word “frontline” to 898-211.
The Maine Department of Education continues to add various resources for educators, many of them developed by some of you! https://www.maine.gov/doe/home
Of interest
This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, October 11th, there is another opportunity at 7 pm for those who have not yet seen “Dawnland” and “Dear Georgina”. Info on this and other films and resources can be found here: https://upstanderproject.org/ and here for additional screenings: Screenings – DAWNLAND
An “Advocate’s Guide to Supporting Indigenous Peoples’ Day” can be found here: Indigenous Peoples’ Day – IllumiNative (illuminatives.org)
Important!
The deadline for nominations for the RISE Award (Recognizing Inspirational School Employees) is October 13, 2021. NEA was instrumental in creating this federal award to recognize our education support professionals and the many important roles they fill in our public schools. For more information: https://www.maine.gov/doe/educators/educatorrecognition/outside/rise Nominate today by clicking here.
Also, it’s not too soon to be thinking about submitting nominations for the many MEA Awards! Information is on our website: https://maineea.org/award-grants/ as well as on the new MEA app! While there, notice the various grants and contests, too!
Reminders
The next MEA President’s Virtual Office Hour is Oct. 12th at 7 pm (you should have already received the invitation). These meetings (via zoom) provide a chance for local presidents and vice presidents across the state to network and share ideas. (Many local presidents have recently checked in with me—and I thank you all for taking the time to do that!–so hopefully more vice presidents will attend this next Office Hour—of course, both are welcome!)
The fall sessions of the MEA Pre-Retirement Seminars are now full—if interested, be sure to watch for registration for the spring sessions. It is recommended to attend these seminars if you are planning to retire in the next few years so that you can make the best plans. The dates for the spring sessions are here: https://maineea.org/pre-retirement-seminars/ (And when you do retire, be sure to stay connected by joining MEA-Retired! Find information on benefits and the link to join here: https://mearetired.org/ )
In closing, please know how important you and the work you do for Maine’s students are. Our students and communities depend on you, so please do take care of yourselves—we all know what they say about putting on your own oxygen mask first!
Reach out any time—MEA is here for you!
In Unity,
Grace
