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Alpena
teachers volunteer to help build
Habitat for Humanity home
Alpena EA and Alpena Community College faculty members routinely help build the lives and careers of students. Now they can say they’re literally building the community. This past summer and fall they constructed a Habitat for Humanity home for a worthy family in their city. Read more.
Nominate sophomores for youth leadership conference
High school teachers can nominate sophomore students to participate in the Michigan Youth Leadership (MYLead) conference May 11-13 in Ann Arbor.
MYLead’s goal is to help students realize that they can be positive leaders and to give them the tools they need to be successful leaders, both now and in the future, especially in the area of community service.
The three-day conference, at Concordia University, includes motivational speakers, workshops, a community service project, panel discussions, debates, team-building exercises and other activities to increase self-confidence, insight and perspective.
One sophomore from each high school in the state is eligible to attend MYLead without cost to the student or school. The experience is funded entirely through donations from community groups, businesses and individuals.
To nominate your student, go to www.mylead.org.
Questions? E-mail recruitment@mylead.org.
Nominations due for ESP Caucus Executive Board
Nominations are being accepted for several three-year positions on the MEA/ESP Caucus Executive Board.
Openings on the board, beginning Sept. 1, 2007, include:
- Director at Large (three positions).
- Director by Classification (one each for Custodian, Food Service, and Maintenance).
- Director of Minority Concerns (one position).
- Director of Minority Concerns (one interim position beginning April 28 and ending Aug. 31 of this year).
Election to the ESP board will take place at the MEA Spring RA in Lansing on April 28.
Information needed for each candidate includes: name, home address, home and work telephone numbers, school district, name of nominee’s local ESP association and written consent of the candidate running for office.
Candidates must be members of MEA/NEA. To have the candidate’s name printed on the ballot and in the RA delegate mailing, information must be received no later than Feb. 28 and mailed to: Yvonne Williams, MEA ESP Department, PO Box 2573, East Lansing, MI 48826-2573.
Nominations also will be accepted from the floor at the MEA ESP Caucus meeting on Friday, April 27, and candidates will be given five minutes to address delegates.
A table will be provided outside the ESP Caucus meeting where candidates may place a brief biographical sketch for distribution before the meeting starts.
Direct questions to Maxine Rogowski, ESP Caucus elections chairperson, at 616/453-8875, or e-mail at mrogow8604@aol.com.
Preferred Savings Plus puts an end to ‘bankers’ hours’
MEA members can put an end to “bankers’ hours” by participating in Preferred Savings Plus from MetLife Bank.
As a direct bank, MetLife Bank is always open online. You’re able to access your account online, over the phone, at ATMs worldwide or by writing checks.
MetLife Bank recognizes that some people don’t want to conduct their banking online, so MEA members have the option of speaking to specially trained banking advisers by calling toll-free 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
See more details about this exciting opportunity at www.mea.org.
Film on women’s movement in Michigan free to teachers
“Passing the Torch,” a documentary about the
women’s movement in Michigan from 1965 to 1985, is
offered to high school and college educators in time for
Women’s History Month in March.
Narrated by Lily Tomlin, the documentary takes viewers behind the scenes to look at the role Michigan women of both political parties played in one of the most profound social movements of the 20th century.
Rights that most women take for granted today were nonexistent 30 years ago. In interviews and oral histories, activists tell of the struggles for women to get credit in their own name, to establish domestic violence shelters and pass legislation to promote more available child care. A brief study guide with questions designed to evoke discussion accompanies the film. The documentary is a good way to:
Generate discussion with young people, across generations, about the historical changes that affected women.
Evoke an analytical view of the current status of women in the United States and in Michigan.
Inspire young people to have confidence in their ability to challenge and change inequities.
Luminaries such as former Michigan First Lady Helen Milliken; Erma Henderson, the first African American woman elected to the Detroit City Council; the late Maryann Mahaffey, retired Detroit City Council president; the late UAW executive Millie Jeffrey; and other long-time supporters of women’s rights reminisce about the excitement of opening doors for women.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow discuss the significance of the women’s movement in their own lives.
Requests for “Passing the Torch” should be sent to gerbarrons@att.net. The documentary is offered free (mailing costs not included).
Call for entries in 43rd MEA/MAEA art exhibit
MEA
and the Michigan Art Education Association are seeking entries for their 43rd
annual juried art purchase show.
The exhibit—to acquire artwork to enhance the MEA headquarters complex in East Lansing and MEA regional and UniServ offices throughout the state—provides an opportunity to display art by MEA, MAEA and MEA-Retired members.
To enter, go to the Awards & Grants section of www.mea.org and get an entry form and exhibit guidelines. Entries will be accepted from Feb. 23 to March 10 at MEA headquarters.
The 2007 exhibit will be on display at MEA headquarters 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays from March 13 to May 1 (excluding April 6).
Art work 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/2006.