More News You Can Use
MEA mourns the loss of Larry MacQueen
Larry MacQueen
MEA is mourning the unexpected death of one of its own with the passing of Southern Zone Director Larry MacQueen.
MacQueen, 57, died Oct. 18. He started working for MEA in 2000 as a UniServ director serving Lansing and, later, worked as a statewide bargaining consultant. In February 2007, he was named Southern Zone director, one of the association’s top management posts.
As a lifelong educator, his life’s mission was to help children and teachers strive to be the best they could be.
“Larry was a very special individual willing to help others at all times,” said MEA President Iris K. Salters.
MEA members appreciated the help MacQueen provided. Mary Radant, president of the Madison EA in Adrian, called him “our guardian angel” in ongoing contract negotiations.
“He jumped on board, and our battle was his battle,” Radant said.
“Things just won’t be the same for our team and the other teachers at Madison who got to know him.”
MacQueen was a graduate of Central Michigan and Michigan State universities, He was a high school teacher and middle school principal in Grand Blanc. He had served as superintendent in the Kearsley and Dryden school districts, and as associate superintendent of human resources in the Lansing district before joining MEA.
MacQueen taught school law classes at Grand Valley State and Michigan State universities. He is survived by his wife, Karen, and two grown children. His family is establishing a scholarship fund in MacQueen’s name.
Levin, Farough headline Bargaining/P.A./P.R. Conference
Headline speakers U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Michigan) and Dan Farough, executive director of Progress Michigan, will highlight the 2008 MEA Bargaining, Political Action and Public Relations Conference in Detroit.
MEA’s largest conference, slated Feb. 7-9 at Cobo Hall, will feature some 75 training sessions to enhance MEA members’ skills in the important areas of bargaining, political action and P.R.
Levin, scheduled to address the conference at lunch on Friday, Feb. 8, is seeking his sixth U.S. Senate term in the 2008 general election.
Elected to the Senate in 1978, Levin is a strong supporter of public education, believing we must expand educational opportunities for all Americans if our nation is to remain strong and productive.
Levin, named one of America’s 10 best senators by Time magazine in 2006, has long championed efforts to make government both more efficient and more ethical. He has been a critic of the handling of the Iraq war and is a respected voice on issues of national security.
Farough, scheduled to speak during lunch on Thursday, Feb. 7, will discuss how we traditionally talk about education issues and demonstrate how to turn those old-school messages around to get more attention and better results.
His group, Progress Michigan, dedicated to creating hard-hitting earned media that holds public officials and government accountable, assists in the promotion of progressive ideas and uses state-of-the-art Web-based new media to creatively build grassroots support for progressive ideas. Progress Michigan works collaboratively with other progressive organizations to help advance and strengthen the progressive community in Michigan.
Farough formerly served as press secretary for the Michigan House Democratic Caucus, where he worked as part of a team using focused messages to regain control of the state House, picking up 11 seats over two election cycles.
For more conference information, go to www.mea.org/conferences. Preregistration forms must be postmarked no later than Friday, Dec. 14, to receive a discounted rate. Participants can register anytime up to and including on-site at the conference.
Time to brush up artwork for annual exhibition
The 44th annual MEA and Michigan Art Education Association Art Acquisitions Purchase Exhibition will be open to the public March 17 to May 1 at MEA headquarters in East Lansing.
The juried exhibit provides the opportunity for MEA, MAEA and MEA-Retired members to display their artwork. Some pieces will be purchased to enhance MEA headquarters and MEA regional and UniServ offices throughout the state.
Entry forms and information to enter the exhibit can be found online at www.mea.org/awards/art on Dec. 1.
Artwork not purchased by MEA/ MAEA is available for purchase directly from the artist. To view last year’s exhibit, go to www.mea.org/awards/art/2007/.
Feb. 1 deadline for Brunner Award nominations
Nominations for the Leon A. Brunner Award, MEA’s highest honor for ESP members, are due Feb. 1, 2008.
The award recognizes support staff who have made significant contributions to ESP and who have exhibited a high degree of commitment to ESP issues and concerns.
Margaret Hemenway, a classroom paraprofessional of 33 years and a member of the Durand ESP Association, received the 2007 Brunner Award at the Statewide ESP Conference earlier this year.
Named after the late Leon Brunner, who set the standard for quality ESP leadership and involvement while working at Manistique, the award will be presented at the 2008 Statewide ESP Conference April 4-5 at the Grand Traverse Resort.
Questions and requests for nomination forms can be directed to Monica Ritchie at the MEA ESP office, telephone 800/292-1934, ext. 6667, e-mail mritchie@mea.org. A downloadable nomination form can be found at www.mea.org.
New PAC cookbook missing main ingredient—recipes
The MEA Local Leader PAC Committee is missing a key ingredient for a cookbook being published to raise money for MEAPAC— recipes.
The third in a series of cookbooks— Politically Active Cooks/Stirring Up FUNd$—will feature entrees.
Members are invited to send their favorite recipes for entrees to Jennifer Tobel at jtobel@mea.org before Feb. 15 using the following format:
Your Name
Local Association (EA or ESP or MEA-Retired) or Staff Position
Region
Name of Recipe
Prep Time
Cook Time
Oven Temperature
Servings Recipe
This cookbook will be available for a $20 donation at the MEA Spring RA on April 25-26. The first two Politically Active Cooks/Stirring Up FUNd$ cookbooks featured appetizers and soups and salads.
Copies of the soups and salads cookbook remain available for a $20 donation to MEA-PAC by contacting Linda Myers at lmyers@mea.org, telephone 800/292-1934.
Japanese Student Exchange Program chaperones needed
The Michigan State University Gifted and Talented Education Office’s Michigan/Shiga Student Exchange Program is seeking current or retired high school teachers interested in traveling with 20 students to Shiga, Japan, for two weeks. To learn more about the program and to download a chaperone application, go to www.msu.edu/user/ gifted/shiga/shiga.htm. Application deadline: Dec. 28.