The Race is Run

Although my race was unsuccessful, there is much to celebrate! The following is an email sent to some of my supporters:

Hello, Everyone!

  The race is run and those of you who were at
RA know that I was not successful in my bid to become
Region III VP. I do feel good that I was able to run the
kind of campaign that I wanted to run and that so many
of you were supporting me through this past year of
campaigning. With a final vote of 102-72 I feel good
about coming so close as a relatively unknown vs. 
an incumbent. 30 votes is not a mandate!

I am convinced that I need to take a larger role in
OEA and will take steps to do just that in the future.
I believe a good starting point will be running for
state NEA-RA delegate and, when the seat opens,
running for the OEA Board of Directors.

Thank you to all of you who sent positive thoughts
and support during my campaign! The "roller coaster"
is, indeed, filled with ups and downs. Thank you to
all who gave advice and spent time helping with
phone calls, letters, and all of the other things needed
for a successful campaign. And thank you to those who
helped me financially. I covered more than 3,000 miles
and Vern and I financed most of it; your contributions
allowed me to have first class materials and meet my
goal of putting "boots on the ground" in nearly every
UniServ in Region III.

I'll rest now (heaven knows the past month has taken
a toll on my body!) but I'm not going away soon. We
are the OEA!

Judy

The Speech

On Friday night of the OEA Representative Assembly I made this speech:

Good evening! I am Judy Trohkimoinen and it is a privilege to be here with you tonight. This weekend we will set OEA’s course for the coming year and make important decisions about how we work together as an Association, our quest for adequate and stable funding, and other important issues that impact public education. I know I am preaching to the choir. We all understand these issues because we face them daily. As an Association we have always worked together to find solutions and we will continue our efforts for years to come.

I’ve spoken with many of you during my year long campaign as I’ve traveled from Baker City across Region III. I can identify with you and want you to know me. My qualifications and experiences speak for themselves so tonight I will share a snapshot that might give you some insight as to my character and values.

The first time I visited the Principal’s office I wasn’t breaking the rules. No, I went of my own accord. There was a change to the playground rules that I thought was unfair. After complaining about it to no avail I decided to take action. I wrote a list of reasons why the rule was unfair and spent most of a Saturday afternoon working on the project. On Monday morning, I marched into the Principal’s office and asked the principal to organize an assembly so I could speak to the student body and rally them to my cause. There would be no assembly; there would be no change in the rule; but he did listen respectfully. I’ve often wondered what he might have said to the school secretary after I’d left his office. You see, I was a second grader.

As an 8-year-old I saw what I thought was an injustice and I set out to correct it, not by throwing a fit but by making a plan and sticking to it. In that moment I became an advocate, a title I wear proudly to this day. It is no wonder that I became an Association leader! Some things just don’t change!

Now is a time when we need strong advocates because many of us are fighting for our professional lives. We nurture and support students every day whether we are in the classroom, the lunch room or the bus barn but we are bogged down by senseless regulations from No Child Left Behind, rising health care costs and salaries that aren’t keeping up with inflation. We work in a crumbling infrastructure with sick buildings that are a danger to both students and staff and we struggle to make ends meet. Still we survive and thrive against the odds.

If you make me your Region III Vice President I will give you my best and most focused effort. I will listen to you, our members and leaders. I will be your advocate to the OEA Board and Executive Committee. I will be your advocate in Salem as we work to find solutions for adequate and stable funding, for affordable health care and finding state responses to the federal NCLB. I will work with President Wolf and the rest of the Executive Committee to find the best solutions to meet the needs of members from Portland to Paisley; from Eugene to Umatilla and from Brookings Harbor to Baker City. I will support and respect the OEA President, Vice President and Executive Committee but most of all; I will support and respect the will of the members as represented by you sitting here tonight.

I am asking for your vote. Vote Judy T. for Region III: Judy Trohkimoinen, for OEA Region III Vice President. Thank you!

Another Day, Another Mock RA

This is 2008 but sometimes I feel like one of the emigrants who traveled the Oregon Trail. This past year I have logged thousands of campaign miles and have traveled much of Oregon (my last trip was more than 1,000 miles). Certainly my journeys have been safer and more comfortable than those of the pioneers jumping off from St. Louis or Independence, MO, but they have been both memorable and interesting.

On Saturday, April 12, I attended the Cascade UniServ Council Mock RA. There were 24 delegates present, all of them interested in the process. Many asked good questions about the budget and about some of the action items we will address at the RA. One delegate, a 5th Grade TAG teacher, had just had 3 students suspended. Ah, the joys of post spring break hormones!

Monday, April 14, I attended the Southern Oregon's Mock RA at Medford. This was a room full of delegates! Southern Oregon does a tremendous job of engaging members to keep them active. I had the opportunity to visit with Rogue River's president about life post-strike. The community has done a better job of supporting its educators and the ESP members were able to resolve their contract without striking because of what teachers had done the year before. Still there is work to be done and there are challenges in working in a small district.

Tonight I attended my own Eastern Oregon Mock RA in Baker City. We were a small but energetic group as we listened to each of the candidates and then discussed the particulars of the coming RA.

This was the last Mock/Mini RA and we are all headed west to Portland for the weekend where we will make decisions both about who will lead us and about what our priorities will be in the coming year. I look forward to seeing democracy in action once again and am hopeful about my chances in the upcoming election. Serving Region III would be a privilege!

1,063 Miles

The campaign trail is a long and winding road! My last trip logged in at 1,063 miles and made a large loop through Oregon, from Baker City to Klamath Falls , to Roseburg and home to Baker City.
The April showers this time were snow showers! It snowed hard on U.S. 97 between Bend and Klamath Falls on Sunday and the flurries continued Tuesday over the pass into Ashland but the worst was yet to come! It was snowing and blowing at midnight as we drove over the Blue Mountains from Pendleton to LaGrande. Naturally, there were four snow plows on the road; all were traveling from east to west instead of west to east!

The good news was that I was able to visit with OEA members from the Lake-Klamath UniServ and Douglas County. I heard from a retired archaeologist turned alternative education instructor who lamented the lack of funding, consistency and solidarity in alt ed programs. He noted that many staff in alt ed programs are not Association members when they are at high risk for incidents by virtue of the students whom they serve. I heard from a cook concerned that elementary students and high school students are eating the same portion sizes with only 2 oz. of protein per lunch while older students pay more for their meals than elementary students. Cooks are stuck with menus that fail to allow for differences in school culture or allow them to prepare favorite meals from the past. And I heard from a first-year teacher who is a former construction contractor now working in a sixth grade classroom in Camas Valley where contract mediation will start soon and school board members are saying "My way or the highway." Each of these members are facing different challenges but turn to OEA for help and support. We offer strength for all members.

I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to members from across Region III and to speak with them about education issues. I hope to serve them as Region III Vice President.

On the Campaign Trail

I've been out on the campaign trail this week. So far I've logged 740 miles attending just two Mock RAs with much more to come this week. The photo at left is the Oregon Trail as it crosses the Blue Mountains. I often think of those travelers as I drive I-84 over the Blues and down the Columbia Gorge. Certainly my ride is more comfortable than their ever was!

It was a beautiful afternoon/evening to travel on Wednesday to the Mt. Hood UniServ Micro (clever; it was at a local microbrewery!) RA. Coming home the sky was clear and the stars were bright through Henry's moon roof.

The room was cold for beer storage but the people were warm.
After I had spoken to the group, I was asked whether I've made arrangements to do the duties of Region III Vice President and how I could manage being from a place as small and "far flung" as Baker City.

An excellent question! My Principal, Superintendent and School Board support my quest and know that if elected it will mean 20-25 days out of my classroom per year. Naturally OEA will pay for the substitute expenses so it really costs the district nothing. And I am blessed with two good friends who happen to be retired elementary music teachers. They are familiar with my classroom and materials and each is willing to substitute for me when the need arises. It is good to know that my students will learn music from certified music teachers when I am out of the classroom! I have the added advantage of a retired husband who is willing to chauffeur from time to time.

Thursday evening was the Columbia River UniServ Council Mock RA in Umatilla (actually, it was in the tiny town of McNary, next to the McNary Dam). Barb Gornick drove us to to Hermiston where we picked up Sharon Shannon. It was a lively drive home!

This is an active UniServ for its size and is sending 21 delegates to OEA RA. The dinner was wonderful and the conversation interesting. For this event each candidate was given 2 minutes to speak and no one asked any questions.

I felt good about both events and was comfortable with speaking to the groups. The most important part of campaigning is having the opportunity to visit with members and listen to their stories. There will be more listening this week!

Have wheels, will travel!

This is "Henry" my trusty HHR (short for "heritage high roof"). A few years ago Chevy got into the retro look and came up with this design based on the 1949 Chevy Suburban.

In May of 2006 because of all of my statewide involvement I'd driven my trusty Cavalier into the ground (more than 100,000 miles in just over 4 years!) and was looking for a new vehicle. The HHR was a standout because it not only has lots of room for gear of all sorts (if you're interested, ask what my husband and I do for fun in the summer!) but has a highway mileage rating of 30 mpg. It has the added benefit of a 6 CD changer, XM satellite radio and Onstar, giving me entertainment and safe communication for those long trips across the state. SOLD!

One of the unwritten requirements of the OEA Region III Vice President is having reliable transportation. The Regional VP is expected to attend meetings not only at OEA Headquarters in Portland but UniServ meetings in Coos Bay, Klamath Falls, Medford, Redmond, Roseburg, Pendleton, Hood River and yes, Baker City with side trips to Salem, Eugene and other points west. As a Wyoming native and 19 year resident of Eastern Oregon travel is second nature (when Baker City's only theater was closed a few years ago I thought nothing of a 90 mile round trip for a movie, sometimes on a school night!). I have several maps, studded tires and a healthy respect for the road.

Henry is covered in snow and a layer of winter road film at the moment, but with a good brushing and a fill-up he's ready to be called to action. Have wheels, will travel!

Trying to get my ducks in a row.

So far I'm enjoying spring break. For those of us in education it is a welcome relief from "March Madness." This month we are not only helping our students with their latest round of government-ordered tests/assessments but witnessing an awesome display of hormones in full-bloom. Our fifth-graders just aren't the same kids they were back in December! Of course as spring progresses things only intensify. Which is why spring break is so important to our mental and physical health!

When April arrives I will be spending a good deal of time traveling to UniServ Mock/Mini Ra's across Region III so this year spring break will be spent at home, getting my ducks in a row. I've already had some time in the garden to make room for spring growth. Here in eastern Oregon it is still quite early to put out flowers I find myself fighting the urge to at least look at pansies and consider fertilizing my roses. I've taken care of routine maintenance; there was a trip to my family doctor and one to the local salon. I spent just an hour at school tying up odds and ends so I could relax at home guilt-free and have run some household errands around town. I will likely break out the household cleaning supplies and vacuum up the latest layer of hair my three lovely kitties have deposited throughout the house (According to Barb Gornick no outfit is complete without cat hair and I'm inclined to agree). All in all it has been relaxing so far.

I'm also taking this time to make campaign plans and get my ducks in a row with regard to people and places. It will be fun to travel again and meet members across the state. One thing I can say for certain: OEA members are not dull!

So until April comes you know where to find me. Quack!

How does your garden grow?

Ah, the first day of Spring Break! Since the weather forecast is predicting rain later in the week I took advantage of the sunshine and spent several hours cleaning up the winter debris from my flowerbeds and pulling a few weeds.

After working with my brain every day in the classroom it is always a nice change of pace to be outside and working with my body and allowing my mind to wander and ponder questions from small (What should I serve for Easter dinner?) to large (Clinton or Obama?).

Things look good so far. Amazingly when the leaves were cleared away I found a few pansies not only surviving, but blooming! (The picture at the left is from several springs ago, but that is where the blossoms are.) The rose bushes all have signs of life and tulip leaves are pushing their way up. The rhubarb is coming up in force and will be ready to put into a pie in a few weeks time. My hubby, Vern, is happy about that! A new season is beginning.

As I was in the garden I couldn't help but think of OEA. It is a season of change for us too. With the coming election we have the opportunity for new growth and new direction. Fortunately our OEA forebears had the wisdom to stagger the elections for OEA President and State Vice President with the current election for Regional Vice Presidents and NEA Directors. We are fortunate to retain President Larry Wolf and Vice President Gail Rasmussen who have led us so faithfully for the past 3 years. With their energy and direction we will continue to prosper and to serve our members well. It is time to add new members to the team to help them.

Tony Crawford has also worked hard to serve our members as Region I Vice President but has termed-out so is running for NEA Director. Tony knows OEA, knows NEA and besides being an accomplished teacher is a passionate advocate who would do an excellent job as NEA Director. His leadership would be a continued advantage for our members. Allan Bruner, Oregon Teacher of the Year in 2006, is another outstanding candidate for NEA Director. He is a National Board Certified Teacher so understands the classroom and has served in many positions in his local and UniServ Council. His gentle but focused energy is just what OEA needs now. These two leaders would make an effort to keep all of us "in the loop" on NEA happenings that matter to Oregon.

Al Spencer is an excellent choice as Region I Vice President. He has a vast amount of teaching experience both in Oregon and in other states as well as being an Association leader in many capacities. Al has a level head and has a tremendous amount of drive to get the job done right. Jo Cooper has an amazing 30-year career in education so has seen how much education has changed during that time. She can also appreciate how collective bargaining has changed working conditions for those of us in education here in Oregon. She, too, has a variety of Association experience that would serve members well as Region II Vice President. I am the right choice for OEA Region III Vice President. As a 19-year veteran and long time education advocate I have proven my mettle both as a teacher (I was in the first group of National Board Certified Music Teachers in Oregon and was successful the first try) and as an Association leader. During my term as president I saw Oregon's economy tank. I guided BEA members through lay-offs, severe budget cuts and lost days as well as mediation, an Unfair Labor Practice filed against my school district and a vote of no confidence in our Superintendent. One could say that I survived a trial by fire. This experience helps me to understand member concerns and gives me qualifications unique to the position.

Yes, OEA is in a season of change and with the right leadership we will grow stronger for it.

Joe Republican (Conservative)

This article has circulated through cyberspace a number of times but it still rings true today.

A Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican
by Donna L. Lavins and Sheldon Cotler

Joe gets up at 6:00 AM to prepare his morning coffee. He fills his pot with good, clean drinking water because some liberal fought for minimum water quality standards. He takes his daily medication with his first swallow of coffee. His medications are safe to take because some liberal fought to insure their safety and that they work as advertised.

All but $10.00 of his medications are paid for by his employer's medical plan. Because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance, now Joe gets it too. He prepares his morning breakfast -- bacon and eggs this day. Joe's bacon is safe to eat because some liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

Joe takes his morning shower, reaching for his shampoo. His bottle is properly labeled with every ingredient and the amount that is contains because some liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and the breakdown of its contents. Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some tree-hugging liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air. He walks to the subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work; it saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees. You see, some liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Joe begins his work day; he has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe's employer meets these standards because Joe's employer doesn't want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed he'll get worker's compensation or an unemployment check because some liberal didn't think he should loose his home to temporary misfortune.

It's noon time. Joe needs to make a bank deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe's deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some liberal wanted to protect Joe's money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the depression.

Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae underwritten mortgage and his below market federal student loan because some stupid liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his lifetime.

Joe is home from work. He plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive to dad's; his car is among the safest in the world because some liberal fought for car safety standards. He arrives at his boyhood home. He was the third generation to live in the house financed by

Farmers Home Administration because bankers didn't want to make rural loans. The house didn't have electric until some big government liberal stuck his nose where it didn't belong and demanded rural electrification (those rural Republicans would still be sitting in the dark).

Joe is happy to see his dad, who is now retired. Joe's dad lives on Social Security and his union pension because some liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn't have to. After his visit with dad, Joe gets back in his car for the ride home. He turns on a radio talk show. The host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. He doesn't tell Joe that his beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day. Joe agrees, "We don't need those big government liberals ruining our lives. After all, I'm a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have."

In the years to come, Joe's life will change dramatically. The U.S. dollar will be devalued as a result of our huge deficit, our living standards demolished, our standing with the world diminished and our social security gone...all because some conservative Republican made sure he could take care of himself and his buddies.

Aghast, I remain...

A LIBERAL SISSY

The Gift of Life

Today the Red Cross came to town for their quarterly blood drive. I'm always surprised by the number of people who turn out for the event. There are business people, U.S. Forest Service folks, retirees and, of course, educators. The favored time slot for school employees is between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. because most of us are finished at school around that time, or can get out early for an occasion like this. Since people are creatures of habit we often see the same people there at the same times from drive to drive (the 4:15 slot is my personal favorite!).

A plethora of retirees volunteer to keep the donors moving, organized and fed once our blood is drawn and local businesses often donate food for the cause (very popular for the school employees who are always hungry!).

This spirit of giving helps everyone. Genes, the blood technician who drew my blood today, reminded me that each unit of blood given can save 3 lives. Over a lifetime that adds up; I am approaching the 6-gallon mark and many donors have given even more. What an easy way to help someone in a life or death situation! Of course it doesn't hurt that there are usually homemade cookies on hand for donors and volunteers. It is a win-win situation.

So it is with OEA. The vast majority of our leaders are volunteers who work tirelessly trying to do something positive for members and communities. For our efforts we sometimes get the satisfaction of knowing that we made a difference for another member or for a student. It feels great to give!

The Center for Union Fiction

Why, oh why do people who supposedly value education continually bash unions like NEA and AFT? The "Center for Union Facts" is launching a multi-million dollar campaign against us and are going so far as to run a contest for the "Ten Worst Teachers in America." (see OEA's latest "Leader Letter" for talking points and check out the "CUF" website http://teachersunionexposed.com/ to see what they are really saying about us)

Clearly "CUF" finds us to be a threat for some reason because if they really cared about education they would be lobbying congress for better education funding, changes to ESEA and education reform that might actually help students learn. They would be demanding money to repair crumbling school buildings across the nation and investigating ways to improve teacher preparation courses at colleges and universities. Instead they are actively working to undermine education by attacking us.

We know something that they don't: in order to have a quality education system we need educators who are paid a fair salary, are physically safe where we work, are not afraid that wey will be terminated for no good reason or without due process and are highly qualified for the job we do. NEA and our state affiliates are in the business of protecting educators from injustices so we can work with students enthusiastically and with our whole hearts. OEA's Center for Teaching and Learning offers workshops of every kind to help us in our classrooms every day. And we are all indebted to the bargaining teams who work tirelessly to contracts that insure a fair salary and working conditions.

Long live NEA and OEA!

Oregon's Senior Senator

Ron Wyden is a great guy. He consistently votes in favor of legislation that strengthens public education and advocates for a national health care system that would insure everyone. He also listens to his constituents.

When he was first elected he promised to have an open meeting in every county in Oregon at least once a year and he has honored that promise with town hall meetings across the state. Happily today was Malheur and Baker Counties' day to shine!

Senator Wyden attended town hall meetings in Ontario and Baker City as well as an evening potluck with the Baker County Democrats. The only rules for his town hall meetings are 1) each person may ask one question and must wait to ask a second question until everyone else has had a chance to ask a question, 2) town hall meetings are for topics of concern for everyone, not for party rhetoric, and 3) even if a listener disagrees with his/her neighbor assault is heavily discouraged.

Being an education advocate and a political enthusiast I make it my business to attend these town hall meetings whenever I am able and to ask an education question if possible. Today I attended both events and was able to ask two questions.

First, I asked for his thoughts about restructuring ESEA in a way that has accountability for schools but doesn't put educators in a stranglehold, unable to teach anything but the test. Senator Wyden has worked with our State Superintendent Susan Castillo and advocates the model that she suggests. They helped a number of schools last year who had met AYP in all but one or two areas and only then missed it in those areas by a slight margin. Even though students showed great gains these schools were going to be designated as failing. He sees the need to retool ESEA and would be amenable to NEA's suggestions.

Second I asked when full funding for IDEA could be expected. Currently schools are funded at a mere 17% and the federal government is supposed to fund it at 40%. Who fills the gap? Local schools. Which budget funds this? The general fund. Senator Wyden responded that fully funding IDEA is expensive and worth every penny. And we can't expect it to happen until we have a major shift in foreign policy (e.g. we are out of Iraq). While his answer isn't the most pleasant it has the virtue of being realistic. He sees the need for fully funding IDEA, something that not everyone else does.

I'm grateful to have a hard working, progressive senator like Ron Wyden advocating for us. I am also hopeful that Steve Novick can join him soon!

PIE Recommendations

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, good PIE Convention! This was a wild weekend and as always there were surprises in store both for the candidates and for the delegates.

The Salem Convention Center provided an excellent backdrop for our festivities with a red carpet to greet us and a location close to the state capitol building to remind us about the task at hand. As always the OEA staff did a fantastic job of preparing delegates and taking care of all the details.

President Wolf started the convention on Friday night without a color guard as they were delayed due to an accident on I-5 (not in it, but caught behind it) but we continued with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star-Spangled Banner anyway. The reception to my singing was warm and once again it was gratifying to make a musical offering for the members of OEA. I was also very glad to have a voice healthy enough to sing after an extremely busy few weeks of campaigning and teaching.

Hearing the Congressional Candidates speak is always a thrill. David Wu, Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio know how to light up a room and "preach to the choir" in terms of education issues. Steve Marks and Kurt Schrader, candidates for Darlene Hooley's District 5 Seat, also made impressive speeches. Delegates recommended Kurt Schrader overwhelmingly in this contest.

On Friday night there were a record 12 hospitality suites for candidates! There was lively conversation between the candidates and delegates and tough questions were asked as well. Of course food and drink was plentiful and old friends enjoyed visiting together in between candidates' rooms. I was happy to have a room on the top floor; it allowed for a strategy of partying my way from the bottom to the top and then calling it a night! The hospitality suites are my favorite part of the convention, not because of the refreshments (which were exceptionally tasty in Salem) but because of the informal conversations they allow. More than once I've seen a candidate squirm or stick foot-in-mouth because someone asked a hard question that forced the candidate to show his/her true colors.

Saturday was scheduled to end at 5:20 but lasted past 7:00 because of a run-off election and the addition of a fourth Senate Candidate, David Loera, who was allowed to participate because he collected 25 signatures. OEA is truly a democratic organization!

I was surprised at the outcome of several races. For US Senate we recommended Steve Novick. I was amazed by this, not because he's a great candidate (his speech was by far the most passionate, IMO) but because he isn't the traditional politician. I'm thrilled as in my heart of hearts I was pulling for him despite the fact that Jeff Merkley, also an excellent candidate, seems more electable. We will find out how electable they both are in May. In the Secretary of State race the run-off was not between Vicki Walker and Kate Brown as I'd predicted (and been debating heavily in my own mind) but Kate Brown and Brad Avakian. The final total was separated by a mere 812 votes (of 84,585 possible). In PIE Convention terms that is a CLOSE race! Avakian is an impressive candidate as is Senator Rick Metsger. For us it was almost an embarrassment of riches when it came to the Secretary of State candidates. Each of them would do well in the office.

The State Treasurer's race was easy to call as Ben Westlund was the only candidate who had filled out his questionnaire and his opponent had only been announced the day before the convention. The Attorney General's race was a blow-out with John Kroger handily defeating Greg MacPherson. In terms of the PIE Convention the race for U.S. President is more of a "miss congeniality" title since OEA cannot contribute to the presidential race because of campaign finance laws. This year, as predicted, was a close call between Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama with a substantial amount of votes for No Recommendation (my personal choice because of the amount of passion for one or the other and the fact that it is the NEA-RA who will officially make the recommendation for NEA). OEA recommended Obama. It will be interesting to see what Oregon says about these two candidates on our May 20 primary!

All in all it was a great conference and a testament to democracy. Congratulations, candidates! Delegates, well done!

PIE Convention Anticipation

I'm really looking forward to the OEA PIE Convention on March 7-8 in Salem. Not only is this a chance to meet the candidates and ask them tough questions it is a great time to see the political process at work. I also have the pleasure of singing the National Anthem on Friday night when the convention begins.

Already many of the candidates have been contacting UniServ offices and calling members directly. When I was at Redmond for the Cascade UniServ Council meeting on February 28 there were 4 candidates present. These folks didn't just call in, but traveled to Redmond to speak directly to council members. Columbia River UniServ has had call-in candidates as has Eastern Oregon UniServ. Many candidates are anxious to make a good impression on members and garner support. It is a testament to how much OEA is respected as a major player on the political scene and the difference that our members make.

The two races that seem the most difficult to call are the Secretary of State race and the race for the US Senate. I've already blogged at length about Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick and the fact that both are excellent candidates (I read in today's Oregonian that former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber has endorsed Steve- a major coup for him!) and am still on the fence as to which one to support at this point. The speeches will make the difference.

The Secretary of State race is another one that is difficult for me because this year we are fortunate to choose between well-qualified candidates instead of the least-worst. I know little of Brad Avakian but one of my favorite former PIE Board members is thoroughly impressed with him and that is enough reason for me to pay closer attention to Brad and to his agenda. Kate Brown has done great things for us during her tenure in the Oregon Senate and is unquestionably a strong candidate. Vickie Walker has been stumping hard. She appeared in Baker City in January as well as calling our last UniServ meeting on February 22 (using her cell phone in a booth from the senate floor during the end of the session no less). She, too, has proven herself and clearly wants the job. I have heard little from Rick Metsger save for a letter to PIE Delegates but know that he, too, has been an OEA recommended candidate. It seems that whomever we recommend will be a good candidate and have the skills to make a difference in the Secretary of State's office.

In just a few days OEA members will flex their collective political muscles and Oregon will stand up and take notice. What a privilege it is to be a part of it!

NEA-Retired Oregon Recommends Judy T!

The NEA-Retired Oregon annual meeting was held March 3 in Salem. All of the OEA candidates were invited to speak or send others to speak on their behalf. Having visited with the NEA-R folks at their July 16 meeting I felt confident in sending two very competent and persuasive individuals to speak on my behalf: Barbara Gornick and Sharon Shannon.

Barb, a dynamic woman who has had a multitude of roles within OEA and NEA, has been a supporter for many years and spotted my leadership capabilities early in my career. She told me once that she knew I would be a BEA president when I sent a well-written but scathing letter to the executive board about a position they had taken. She and husband LeRoy, another strong Association member, have been through years of Association work and know what it takes to get the job done.

Sharon has been an OEA Board director, NEA-RA delegate, major fundraiser for the NEA Fund for Children and Education, TSPC panel member and local president. Besides having a strong math mind and being an excellent teacher Sharon has a knack for understanding people and what they want. She also understands the concept of finding and growing new leaders to keep the Association vibrant and relevant to our members.

I am proud to say that both of these strong Association members support me and represented me well at the NEA-R annual meeting in Salem, Barb by speaking before the group and Sharon by speaking with members one-on-one.

Thank you, NEA-R Oregon members for supporting my candidacy! Your members are a who's-who of Association leaders who recognize excellence and are skilled at reading the needs of educators everywhere and finding ways to meet them. Your recommendation means the world to me!

Congratulations, Milton Freewater EA!

After nearly a year of bargaining Milton Freewater EA reached a tentative agreement Thursday shortly after 12:30 a.m. It has been a long, hard haul for the group but they stayed strong and were united.

What happened to finally make the district move? According to bargaining chair Laurie Hackney and consultant Dave Fiore there were several factors. First, Larry Wolf and the strike assessment team arrived last week to determine the readiness of the group to strike. Members were united and had shown this through a series of pickets that included members from surrounding locals Pendleton EA and Athena Weston EA among others. This was a signal to the district that Association members were serious and would indeed walk out if the contract was not resolved and that these educators had support. Second, the full school board was in attendance during the last session. Apparently the bargaining team from the district included the 2 most conservative board members who were unwilling to move. When they had pressure from the remaining board members the district was willing to move. Finally, the mediator walked into the Association caucus unannounced during the talks and saw the time lines for strike on the whiteboard and must have reported back to the district that members were serious.

In an email Laurie Hackney said "It feels great to have it over. I didn't think that it would happen on Tuesday. I went in at 4:30 thinking that we would declare impasse by 8:00. But, our superintendent had our school board president call for an executive session so they were all there. Things started rolling pretty quickly, and we were able to get some huge concessions from them. "

But there is irony in the situation. Had the district been reasonable and made this offer last May the contract would have been settled right then and there. Why did everyone have to wait all these months to reach an agreement? Why did the district want to sit on a $6 M bank account yet leave educators underpaid and paying huge health insurance premiums? Power. The superintendent wanted to prove that she could control the Association members and that they would cave in at the first sign of trouble. Fortunately members stood up for their rights and made the district take notice.

A ratification meeting will be held later this week. The hope is that since the agreement is retroactive both for the salary increase and for the insurance increase that members will agree to the settlement.

Congratulations to the members of Milton Freewater EA! Thank you for standing up for yourselves and for members across the state!

A Little Different

In the spirit of the "old days" Steve Novick now has his own theme song. No, he hasn't borrowed someone else's music like some politicians who have been in hot water for using music without the composer's consent, but someone who supports Steve has written a song just for him. Folk singer and composer Darryl Icard has written the song "A Little Different" for Steve. Click here and have a listen for yourself:

http://www.novickforsenate.org/little_different

As a music teacher I've always found political songs interesting. Past politicians had all sorts of music for their campaigns, most of it "borrowed" and reworded for the occasion (an example is "Lincoln and Liberty" which uses the same tune as "Acres of Clams"). It is refreshing to have someone so inspired by a candidate that he wrote a song for him.

Some Key Endorsements

This is a campaign blog so from time to time I will list some of the people who are supporting my candidacy for OEA Region III Vice President. Here are a few.

One of the ways I have been able to serve our members in Eastern Oregon is by being an OEA PIE Board Director. I served for 8 years. Barb Gornick (former OEA Board director, NEA director and Jack of all trades within OEA- former NEA trainer of the NEA Women's Leadership Program and currently on the cadre for Bullying Prevention Training) retired one year into a three-year term and I was selected to fulfill the remainder of her term and was consequently elected to two consecutive three-year terms of my own. Through this process I learned a great deal about politics in Oregon and met wonderfully talented and hard-working people across the state.

During my term as OEA PIE Board Director from Eastern Oregon I had the privilege of working with three different PIE Board chairs: June Buck, Medford EA; Gary Sackley, Salem-Keizer EA and current chair Steve Anderson, Hermiston EA. All three former PIE chairs are active supporters of my campaign for Region III Vice President. They recognize and appreciate my ability to energize members and help to bring them together for the cause of OEA and have seen me doggedly lobby legislators on OEA's behalf.

It is also worth noting that Barb Gornick is a staunch supporter of my campaign as well as my treasurer. She has seen many changes in OEA through the years and knows that I am a person who can maintain our forward momentum and help our members grow into the 21st Century.

Jeff Merkley

In case anyone missed the signals it is campaign season in Oregon. The political ads are everywhere! Newspapers, television, radio and even the internet are full of them. I've been impressed with Steve Novick's ads and Jeff Merkley has put out some amusing ones as well. Check out Jeff Merkley's latest internet ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWeHHdFp4Vo


Jeff has been campaigning even though the legislature is in session.
Tonight as I was preparing dinner for my husband and myself (we had
enough sunshine to fire up the gas grill on the deck for grilled
pork chops- yum!) the phone rang and it was Jeff Merkley himself.
He stressed the need for a Democrat to unseat Gordon Smith and
explained that now is the time for that possibility even though
Smith has a large bank account and the advantage of being an
incumbent. He spoke of his accomplishments in Oregon and his
ability to inspire others to follow him in the Democratic House
Caucus and his desire to make a difference. There is no doubt in
my mind that Jeff Merkley would do a wonderful job for us in 
Washington, D.C. 

I still haven’t made up my mind and told him that I was waiting until the PIE Convention to decide who to support. I promised to come to his hospitality room in Salem and listen to what he has to say.

The OEA PIE Convention is a beautiful thing! This is one of the only opportunities members have to get the full and undivided attention of hungry candidates and ask them whatever questions are relevant. Candidates campaign intensely for those few hours and it is a great experience to hear them reveal their true selves.

The US Senate race is far from over and will be VERY interesting to watch between now and May 20.

Happy Birthday, Oregon!

History lovers will remember that Oregon became a state on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1859. Happy 149th birthday, Oregon!

One of the most enjoyable things I've discovered about being an educator is learning fun facts about topics the students are learning. Here are 10 facts you might not know about Oregon:

• The Columbia River Gorge is considered by many to be the best place in the world for windsurfing.
• Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is formed in the remains of an ancient volcano.
• Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets.
• At 8,000 feet deep Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America.
• The hazelnut is Oregon's official state nut. Oregon is the only state that has an official state nut (Bill Sizemore doesn't count!). The hazelnut is also known as the filbert.
• Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state.
• In 1880 a sea cave was discovered near what is now known as Florence. Sea Lion Caves is known to be the largest sea cave in the world.
• Silver Falls State Park is the Oregon's largest state park. It features 10 waterfalls and contains a wide variety of forested hiking trails.
• A treaty between the United States and Spain established the current southern border between Oregon and California. The treaty was signed in 1819.
• Haystack Rock off Cannon Beach is 235 feet high and is the third largest coastal monolith in the world.
  

I hope you are as proud to be an Oregonian as I am. Happy statehood day!

One Ringy-Dingy . . .

Our last Legislative Advisory Council (LAC) meeting was held last weekend on Saturday, February 2. It was to be held at OEA headquarters in Portland but because of the awful weather it was changed to a conference call.

What a great idea! First of all, the weather was universally hazardous across the state. Eugene had experienced 5 inches of snow earlier in the week and the coastal range had snow at 200 feet. As hard as it is for an Eastern Oregonian to relate to just a few inches of wet snow creating a huge obstacle for anyone driving in this area, the West-side snow fits this description. Here in Eastern Oregon Union County schools were closed on Thursday due to blowing snow (a condition that delayed school this week as well) and some schools in Klamath County were closed too. Second of all with 47,000 members in the Association many of them are far away from the I-5 corridor and spend several hours of travel time to attend a meeting (I count on 5 hours one way in good weather to reach Portland, in bad weather it is longer). Several members of the LAC would have been unable to attend the meeting because of these bad conditions and long distances to boot.

Conference calls are an excellent alternative to a face-to-face meeting. They are faster (our business was concluded in less than an hour), less expensive because of travel costs (the current IRS mileage rate is 50.5 cents per mile not to mention lodging and food expense), there is no travel time (minimum 10 hours round trip for me) and allow participants to do the business of the Association in the casual comfort of home. Certainly there are drawbacks. Conference calls are confusing because it is sometimes hard to track who is talking at any given time. Phone connections aren't always reliable and sometimes background noise can be a problem (I was harassed by my youngest cat and hoped that her talking wasn't a distraction to the other participants!). Face-to-face meetings allow participants to express themselves freely through raised eyebrows and other body language besides having side conversations during break times. Still, all things considered conference calls are efficient and allow members to meet with a minimum impact on their day.

With all of the technology available to us OEA should utilize some of these meeting methods when possible to get the most "bang for our buck" and still accomplish our goals.

Oh, Where Have You Been, Billy Boy?

Cue the music! "Oh, where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Oh, where have you been, charming Billy?" The answer is: hanging out with the press and whining about the new, tougher laws about collecting signatures for ballot measures.

Today's Baker City Herald had an article about Mr. Sizemore. Apparently because of the new rules regarding payroll records for paid signature gatherers several of Racketeer Bill Sizemore's proposed ballot measures have been suspended. He says, "Bill Bradbury has shut down the initiative process." Oh, poor Billy S.! Despite the fact that he knew the rules were being put into place in 2008 he failed to maintain accurate records and follow protocol by turning them in at the Secretary of State's office. Considering the charges OEA brought against him a few years ago and his conviction for racketeering this isn't surprising. Of course if he had a dedicated group of volunteers instead of paid signature gatherers this wouldn't be an issue. Because signature gatherers are being paid there are strict rules and the Secretary of State is watching for compliance.

Oregon's initiative process was in dire need of reform. Before this new law took effect signature gatherers were paid by the signature, a system that encouraged fraud and forgery. Some signature gatherers were caught signing voter's names to initiatives the original signer had no idea existed. According to an article from "Our Oregon Newsletter "4.24.07 "House Bill 2082 will require campaigns that hire paid signature gatherers to keep accurate and up-to-date payroll records and gives the Secretary of State audit authority to spot check campaigns . . . Additionally, HB 2082 increase the number of signatures required to file a ballot title from 25 to a reasonable 1,000, which would stop the current practice of campaigns marketing their ideas on the taxpayer's dime. If the campaign goes forward with the measure, the 1,000 signatures would count for the final total."

Until Sizemore complies with state election law he cannot continue to gather signatures for the following ballot measures:

• A proposal to make federal income taxes fully deductible on state returns.
• A requirement that non-English speaking students take English-only classes within two years.
• Teacher Merit Pay

These aren't the only ballot measures being suspended. Several measures by another anti-tax, anti-public employee group, "Freedom Works" are affected. This is good news for our members. OEA and other like-minded groups have fought these kinds of measures for years. We were instrumental in getting ballot measure reform in place because of Sizemore's racketeering and general abuse of the system.

Naturally there is a backlash. According to the article Kevin Mannix, another ballot measure backer, "is rounding up signatures for a proposed initiative measure to overturn many of the new restrictions recently put into place." Mannix says "It undoes the bureaucratic garbage that has been enacted by the powerful elites."

Hmmm. Without a doubt OEA is powerful. Our members make us strong. But elite? Hardly. This sounds suspiciously like sour grapes and a general distaste for an educated public. Why is it unreasonable for firms employing paid signature gatherers to prove that they aren't paying by the signature when this practice encourages fraud? Because it eliminates the industry of making money from ballot measures, something that has been going on in Oregon for years.

Thankfully the new rules are in place now. Unfortunately we know that these prolific sponsors aren't going away anytime soon. With luck we will have slowed them down and may keep some ugly ballot measures off of the November 2008 ballot.

Milton Freewater

Are you bargaining this year? Maybe working without a contract? You aren't alone. One of Columbia River UniServ locals, Milton Freewater Education Association, has been working without a contract since July. Over the past few years MFEA has taken raises of 0%, 1.5%, 2% and 2% while the school district ended last year with a
$6.2 million ending balance (43% of their general fund). Hmmmm, that doesn't add up. In this wall-to-wall unit the ESP group has especially felt the pinch with rising health insurance costs, a rising CPI and a paycheck that can't keep up with inflation.

MFEA has been negotiating since November of 2006 with little movement from the school district. In October both teams agreed to go to mediation which was delayed because the Employer Relations Board is short-handed and the Multnomah ESD strike took precedence. The first official mediation session took place on January 24. The above photo shows MFEA employees and community members picketing to show support for the bargaining team. President Laurie Hackney indicated that there was some progress but another mediation session has been scheduled for February 27.

Please send these members your support and let them know that you agree with them. For the latest information click on the "Milton Freewater Education Association" advocacy link (below, right).

Steve Novick Ad

I've got to hand it to Steve Novick; he knows how to set himself apart from the other candidates. His latest ad points out that he is differently abled but still gets the job done. To see it, click on the link below:

http://youtube.com/watch?v =N2UesvrH-cs


Last week the US Senate candidates met in Pendleton for a debate hosted by the East Oregonian. Portland's Oregonian pointed out that there were few differences between the candidates. Both Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick are well known and the other four candidates, Candy Neville, of Eugene, Pavel Goberman, of Beaverton, David Loera, of Salem, and Roger Obrist, of Damascus are less so.

Steve has an edge, however. His knack for advertising and utilizing the internet is really setting him apart. One can't help but be impressed with his ingenuity and ability to remain a solid, down-to-earth candidate.

I still haven't decided who to support for the US Senate race but Steve Novick is definitely worth a second look.

Dr. King

April 4, 2008 will mark the 40th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. Today it is appropriate to look back and think of how things have changed in the years since he began his important work.


In 1968 some of us weren't born yet, others were very young and still others remember the events that came before and after the civil rights movement. As a young child in Wyoming I grew up knowing little of Dr. King's legacy. At that time most social studies classes didn't cover recent events and at age four I certainly couldn't understand the gravity of what happened to Dr. King or to Robert F. Kennedy. But I understand now.

As unionists all of us should appreciate Dr. King's work for equality. He not only fought for the rights of African Americans across the nation but for labor rights for everyone. He understood that a weekly paycheck should last for a week and buy a week's worth of groceries and rent. At a time when lynchings were common place Dr. King bravely took up the battle cry of civil rights, voting rights and basic human rights knowing all too well that he put himself in harm's way. He believed in peaceful protest, a standard that we as an Association have used in pickets lines across the nation and across the state.

On Martin Luther King Day 2003 OEA used Dr. King's peaceful protest model for a rally in Salem. We had approximately 6,000 people from across the state on the steps of the Oregon Capitol building speaking out, singing songs and carrying signs encouraging our legislature to step up and fully fund education in Oregon. The event was covered by news crews from across the state and even nationally. I am proud to say that I was there, shouting as loudly as anyone after traveling 350 miles one way to reach Salem. The 2003 Rally was a success because our members banded together and brought colleagues, students, spouses and friends to join the cause. It was a great tribute to Dr. King in the spirit of peaceful protest.

Thank you, Dr. King, for showing us that one person can make a difference and that many working together can change the face of a nation.

LAC, Here I Come!

Saturday will be my very first LAC (Legislative Advisory Council) meeting! Now that my 8 years as a PIE Board director are under my belt I'm excited to approach the legislature from a new angle. The issues facing OEA members are important ones and the upcoming legislative session promises to have its share of surprises.

If you don't know, LAC is the arm of OEA that writes OEA's legislative objectives. We discuss the issues, survey members within our UniServ areas and then bring the feedback to the group for further discussion. We write the legislative objectives based on this discussion. These then go to the OEA Representative Assembly for approval.

Serving on LAC will be a good opportunity for me to hear what members across the state are saying about these issues and whether or not it is time for OEA to rethink its positions. I look forward to Saturday and learning "the scoop" on open primary, fusion voting, virtual vendors, guns in schools and merit pay. The discussion will probably be lively!

Tough Choice!

Tonight at our UniServ Council meeting we had call-ins from two of our Senate hopefuls, Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick. We will have a tough choice to make at our PIE Convention March 7-8 in Salem!


Jeff called first tonight. He is every bit the skilled politician. By that, I mean that he is smooth and knows what to say. He has real substance and some great ideas. He would be an excellent advocate for education in Washington, D.C. and he has done good things for us here in Oregon as our House Speaker. I'll be watching him during the upcoming legislative session to see how he is able to handle the partisanship that has been so difficult for us in Oregon.

Steve also had great things to say. He is a renegade, an upstart, but he has enough political experience under his belt to prove that he can get things done. He has an amazing ability to pull coalitions together and has helped to defeat our foe, Bill Sizemore, on BM 91. His ideas about health care are interesting and the concept that by having everyone insured there will be more money for education (to say nothing for having healthier kids!) are worth considering. The question is, will he be able to build a coalition and get things done in Washington as a freshman senator?

I'm still on the fence about who to support in March. These are both great candidates and would give Gordon Smith a run for his money. Like many of you I'll be watching and listening between now and March 7 to get more details!