Juneau On The Move!

Wow are things moving in Juneau right now! As you have seen on our webpage, we are responding to the Governor's statement that she has reservations about accepting all of the stimulus package money bound for Alaska. Additionally, House Bill 30 was heard in the House Labor & Commerce Committee today. This bill would return public employees to Tier 2 TRS and Tier 3 PERS. Fantastic testimony was given by Holly Abel, Shawn Arnold and Lee Butterfield in person. Jill Showman and Ladawn Druce were both online at the LIO offices to give their testimony also. Be sure to watch for the LCS message coming out this week!

Working on Our Priorities

NEA-Alaska's top three priorities for 2009 are school funding, rural teacher housing and a return to a Defined Benefit pension plan. All three have been the focus of our work this month. If you didn't catch it, take a look at the February 22 Anchorage Daily News editorial on the Defined Benefit issue. The momentum is building to fix the problems associated with the change in our retirement systems. Public testimony was taken on Thursday on the senate side for SB 23. We anticipate it moving out of the Labor and Commerce committee in the coming week.

I had a very productive meeting on Friday with Senator Lisa Murkowski and representatives from a number of other groups on housing for public employees in rural communities. This was a preliminary meeting and the group agreed to meet monthly to address this huge need. The Denali Commission, AHFC, RuralCap, PSEA, AFL-CIO and NEA-Alaska were all in the room. We identified other groups we hope to include in future meetings. Several others were invited, but it didn't work out for them to join us. I will be setting up a schedule for upcoming meeting dates this week.

School funding is uncertain at this time. I should know more soon as I will be in Juneau all week.

Are you enjoying the sunshine coming back? This is my favorite time of year!

Barb

The New Year- Lots Happening

January 2009 has come and gone. We've seen a new President inaugurated, the opening of the 26th Legislature in Juneau, and just finished our annual NEA-Alaska Delegate Assembly. My mind is so full with all the things I've learned in the last week! This year's DA had many highlights for me. I've been at DA since the mid- 1980's and this was certainly the most unique for me yet. You get a totally different perspective when chairing the meeting instead of being a delegate. I am so thankful for the response from so many members and leaders who helped me throughout the weekend. I met new friends, greeted and visited with long-time friends, enjoyed the debate thoroughly, and learned volumes from our OUTSTANDING parliamentarian extraordinaire, Jon Ericson!

I hope those who read this and attended DA 2009 will post their opinions of this year's meeting.

I'm off to Washington, D.C. this week for meetings.

A Day of History

January 20, 2009 is a day that will live in the minds and memories of Alaskans for many years. We watched and listened today as the 44th President of the United States of America took the oath of office. President Obama shared his concerns and his hope for our country. I certainly wish him all the best as he takes on a job of unbelievable proportions.

2009 A Year for Action and Progress

Happy New Year to All!

2009 promises to be filled with exciting activity. I already met with the special assistant to our governor yesterday. My intent was to outline NEA-Alaska's priorities of returning to a Defined Benefit Pension System, Increasing School Funding, and Rural Teacher Housing. Anna Kim is now responsible for issues related to education in the governor's office. Ms. Kim was very responsive and understood the examples and explanations I gave to her. I am hopeful, still, to meet with Governor Palin soon. The governor has a real opportunity to help us recover our formerly great retirement and I am asking her to do so.

We are gearing up for this year's Delegate Assembly and Legislative Session. There is a Health Trust meeting on January 16th. Many locals are sending members to the Pacific Region Leadership Conference in Seattle during February in addition to the NEA funded members we send each year. Watch for more updates soon!

I hope you had a safe, restful and rejuvenating Holiday.

Barb

Happy Holidays!

I wish each of you a happy and peaceful holiday season. This is a perfect time of year to enjoy the company of family members and friends. I will be sharing time with my loved ones in Bethel during our office closure.

The NEA-Alaska staff and leadership made the lives of two families a little brighter this season by making donations through an organization called Stepping Stones.

A little bit about the Stepping Stones program--

The Stepping Stones and the Alaska Women's Resource Center (AWRC) are two of AKEELA familiy of programs, which provide essential and unique services to women and their families in support and opportuntiy to achieve positive life changes. The Stepping Stones Residential Treatment Program provides residential substance abuse treatment to women with children. Each family resides in an apartment within the treatment facility. The program includes services designed to strenghten and improve familly functioning and help women with children recover from the effects of addiction. The program provides services for 15 women and their children for up to one year. The program includes onsite licensed day care for infants through pre-school.

My best wishes to everyone for a joyous holiday and prosperous 2009,
Barb

Got an Opinion? Voice It!

During the upcoming Town Hall meetings, we will have a chance to tell our stories. It is very important that our elected officials hear what we have to say about concerns we have regarding what our lives will be like when it comes time to retire. Some of us are almost there. Many of us are in the early part or middle of our careers. Regardless of how long we have been working, a retirement with dignity is important and crucial to the well-being of our families and our state. Please, attend the upcoming meetings and step forward to tell your story. Policy makers and elected officials hear from leaders on a regular basis. It is crucial for them to hear from all public employees so they know that we are not the only ones with opinions. Your word as an individual is the single greatest way to have an impact on the minds of those who hold our future in their hands.