PCTA Action: January 24, 2008
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REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN IN THE FINAL STRETCH
Thanks to so many of you who have been taking it to the streets, waving signs and encouraging our community to get out and vote. Due to intensive efforts by our PCTA Faculty Representatives, 3500 yard signs (paid for by our members) left the PCTA building and are popping up in neighborhoods all across our district. Dozens of teachers, support professionals and their children targeted four main intersections this week just as the major networks opened their 5:00 p.m. news programs with the referendum campaign. Members handed out 9000 "Vote-YES!" pencils at the Martin Luther King parade on the 21st. As we head into the final lap of the campaign, we continue to need your help. Organize your school groups for after school sign-waving. On Tuesday, January 29th, take your yard sign to the polls when you go to vote. Encourage voters to vote "YES" on the referendum as they enter the polls. Contact PCTA to let us know which precinct you are covering. Your efforts will make the difference. WE CAN DO THIS - EVERY VOTE COUNTS.
SPEAKING OF ELECTIONS -
PCTA MEMBERS TO ELECT DIRECTORS AND CONVENTION DELEGATES
PCTA holds elections in March each year. In odd-numbered years, members elect a president and vice-president. Every year, directors and convention delegates are selected. In even years, like 2008, five directors are elected by geographic district. In the odd year, they are elected "at-large." Convention delegates are elected every year. This year, National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teacher (AFT) delegates will be elected in March. The Florida Education Association (FEA) has moved its convention to the fall, so elections will be held when school resumes.
PCTA Board Directors are elected for a two-year term. The Board is responsible for the business affairs of PCTA and meets monthly. Directors must have been Faculty Representatives for at least one year or a member for three consecutive years (except leaves).
Members elect both state and local delegates to the NEA Convention which will be held July 1-6 in Washington, DC. Any member is eligible to run. Based on our membership, around 20 will be elected as local delegates and 3 as state delegates. While there are technical differences in expense policies, either position has equal status in determining the affairs of the 2.7 million members of NEA. PCTA will be able to send three or four delegates to the AFT Convention, July 10-14, in Chicago, IL. Expenses are paid for all convention delegates.
RUNNING FOR OFFICE IS AS EASY AS TURNING THE PAGE
The official nomination forms are available here. It must be received at the PCTA office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5th. When using the pony, please allow enough time for your form to arrive prior to the 5th. For more information on offices or elections, contact your Faculty Representative or call Carol at the office. Additional information is available on the PCTA-PESPA web site, www.pcta-pespa.org.