I keep hearing people ask, “Where did September go?”—and I admit, I am wondering that myself! It was a busy and beautiful month (except for Tropical Storm Lee).
October is shaping up to be just as busy, and hopefully just as beautiful with fall foliage and lots to do and celebrate!
MEA AND NEA EVENTS AND RESOURCES
First, don’t miss the MEA webinar, happening TODAY: Mentoring for Retention—Oct. 4th at 4:30-6:30. Register here: https://maineea.org/event/mentoring-for-retention/
Hispanic Heritage Month continuesuntil Oct 15. ICYMI, there are resources on NEA’s website: Hispanic Heritage Month
Other observations this month include:
World Teachers’ Day 10/5
Indigenous Peoples Day 10/9 – Resources
Mental Health Day 10/10 – resources
National Coming Out Day 10/11
Non-Apparent Disabilities Week 10/15-21
National Safe Schools Week 10/16-21
Higher Education Month – resources
LGBTQ+ History Month
SAVE THE DATE!
Join us at “Winter EdVenture,” an enriching conference designed exclusively for MEA members! Delve into a wide range of sessions that promise to enhance your professional journey. From “Mentoring for Retention” to “Leaders for Just Schools,” we’re covering the essential topics you need to excel in your role.
Discover strategies for certification, harness the power of membership data, and gain insights into working with multi-lingual learners. Explore behavioral interventions, learn about Equality Maine initiatives, and discover effective interventions for chronic absenteeism.
Elevate your impact by focusing on school culture and delve into the world of Ed Techs with our 101 Training. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge and connect with fellow educators!
MEA Grants—Find information and applications for several MEA Grants here—check them out! https://maineea.org/award-grants/ Deadline to apply is December 8th.
MEA Board District I Virtual Town Hall—Members in District I are invited to a conversation with their Board Director, Evelyn Atwood, on Thursday, Oct. 12th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. You should have received the invitation to register! Don’t know which Board district is yours? The information is here: https://maineea.org/board-of-directors/
Upcoming NEA webinars for our Education Support Professionals:
- ESP Rights and Respect: How to Build a Strategic Campaign—TOMORROW–Thursday, October 5, 2023; 7:00-8:30 p.m. — a webinar series to learn how members, staff, and leaders partnered to build a strategic campaign to increase ESP visibility, rights, and respect. REGISTER here.
- Also Using Your Authentic Voice to Galvanize and Inspire–Thursday, October 19, 2023; 7:00-8:00 p.m.explore ways to use stories from your personal experiences as ESPs to help advance student success, public education, and education professions. REGISTER here.
From the NEA Foundation:
New Up Close Podcast Episode: Public Education’s Road to Restorative Justice (mailchi.mp)
YOUR UNION WANTS YOU!
MEA Committees just held their first meetings—but there is still a place for YOU! This is a great way to add your voice to the work of your Association. For a minimal time commitment you have a GREAT opportunity to learn, network, and to make a difference! Here is more information. Just email me at gleavitt@maineea.org if you are interested or have any questions.
Here is just a bit of what you’re missing:
The Government Relations Committee and the Education Support Professionals Committee met together to have a conversation with Representative Brennan, House Chair of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, about the minimum wage for ESP, the minimum salary for teachers, pensions, and the upcoming legislative session.
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
NEA Superweek was September 18th-23rd. This is when there are many meetings in D.C.—of the NEA Board of Directors, state presidents, and other groups, and also when your NEA Director Rebecca Cole and I meet with our Congressional delegation and/or staff. The latest report on the NEA Directors’ meeting is now available: https://www.smore.com/z0ahe
Here is the latest issue of the NEA Leadership Development newsletter.
The Third Place ( https://www.thethirdplace.me/ ) is hosting a ‘meet up’ for BIPOC educators on October 12th at 5:30 in Lewiston. Here are the details.
The Maine Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (MAHPERD), an MEA academic affiliate, will hold their annual conference on November 5th-7th. Information is on their website: https://maineahperd.org/
If your academic organization would like to be considered for affiliation with MEA, the information is on the MEA website: https://maineea.org/academic-affiliates/
From MainePERS: invitations to register for the new online Member Portal are beginning to go out in phases. Participation in the portal is optional. You may continue to contact MainePERS via telephone, email, or in person. However, the portal will provide secure and convenient access to your MainePERS account information.
REMINDERS
NEA Conferences in 2024
NEA and MEA will provide some funding for a limited number of members to attend these conferences. If you are interested in being considered to be a funded attendee, please complete this form 2023 – 2024 NEA Conferences (office.com) to receive an application.
- Minority Leadership Training/Women’s Leadership Training Seminar January 26-28, 2024
- NEA Leadership Summit March 1-3, 2024
- NEA Higher Ed Conference March 15-17, 2024
- NEA ESP Conference March 22-24, 2024
- NEA Conference for Aspiring Educators June 29-July 2, 2024
- NEA Conference on Racial & Social Justice July 1-2, 2023
(Note: The NEA Retired Conference will be March 3-5, 2024—MEA Retired will be communicating about this later in the year.)
MEA President’s Virtual Office Hour—for local presidents and vice presidents—October 10th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. If you didn’t receive the invitation recently, let me know!
FYI: Last month the MEA Board of Directors voted to join the Wabanaki Alliance Tribal Coalition https://wabanakialliance.com/ , in accordance with the Board’s support of tribal sovereignty. We also discussed Referendum Question 6 on the November ballot. Please consider voting ‘yes’ on this. You can find information about it on the Maine Public website: https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2023-09-07/questions-about-novembers-ballot-measures-the-political-pulse-crew-has-some-answers
Be sure you are registered to vote in the November elections! Along with many referendum questions, there are a lot of important local elections for municipal and school board seats! These have taken on ever greater importance as they greatly impact the work you do with students. Information on registering is on the Maine Secretary of State’s website: https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/votreg.html
A COUPLE MORE THINGS
The MEA Black, Indigenous, Peoples of Color Committee (BIPOC) met and discussed ways to connect MEA members who are racially and/or ethnically diverse.But in order to do this and be sure we aren’t missing anyone members must have self-identified—you must have indicated your ethnicity and/or race when enrolling in MEA. If you are unsure as to whether you indicated this, you can contact me and we will check for you.
And every so often I hear that a member is not receiving communications from MEA. If you know of a colleague who should be getting this message, for example, but didn’t, please remind them to 1) check their spam or promotions folder, 2) be sure that they have shared any new email address with MEA, and 3) let us know and we will look into what the issue is. (And meanwhile, share this message with them, please!)
And of course, if that colleague is not yet a member of the Association, take the time to talk with them and tell them why you belong and how important it is that they do, too!
In closing, stay well, enjoy the season, and reach out any time!
In Unity,
Grace Leavitt, President
Maine Education Association
