"Sara Says," A Message from the NEA-Retired President

Sarah Says (From the February Issue of The Clarion)

By Sarah Borgman, President National Education Assoc. Retired 

Another year has rolled around and I’m ready to see some changes...all good ones, we hope! 

While our PAC Captains are busy working to gather funds, I trust you are assisting, encouraging, and doing your part. We MUST have a victory in the elections or we can count on more losses in our schools and democracy. Not wanting to start the year with a doomsday message I’ll just say once more--- “Let’s keep on keeping on!” It takes money to run a campaign, so please help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to give. 

PAC—The NEA Fund 

Please keep your projects going for The Fund. If you would like to have your own state website, please contact Kari Coppersmith at (kcoppersmith@nea.org). She is willing to do this, and will ask for pictures or logos you might want to use. Election 2020 looms in front of us. Let’s give and give to elect Friends of Edu- cation! As of this writing, there has been NO movement to endorse any candidate. 

COMMUNICATIONS: When the Communications Committee met in November, they asked to see copies of the Communications 2019 winning entries. So, I took that one step farther and asked that we share these with state retired presidents. I’ve already sent a copy of California’s and New Jersey’s was attached to my original note. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of sharing information with members as well as with each other. Our Communications Chairperson is Roberta Margo at r.margo3@gmail.com or feel free to contact me at whadyapple@frontier.com. We are ready to help in any way we can. 

MN and WI Join Efforts: I had the opportunity to participate in the joint conference held November 19 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. John Stocks addressed the group as did the state retired presidents, Julie Jagusch and Ginny Bosse. After addressing the group, I also conducted one of the four workshops. It was a well-organized effort, and I certainly would encourage you to try the same. Finding a central location is tricky, of course, but not impossible if you search logistics. 

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS NEEDED: The virtual Legislative Committee seeks at least one main issue from the many that staff sends monthly. Then that separate issue is sent to you for action. 

While we encourage you to contact your legislators on any issue, this particular one is usually highlighted as the committee chooses what is most timely. Please keep those emails, letters, and phone calls going!  

Committees: All four virtual committees have been working all year on communications, membership, and legislative/lobbying issues. Now, once more the PAC Fund raising committee is beginning to gear up for the Retired Conference and this summer’s Annual Meeting. I had promised committee members that each would serve two years; so when we begin anew in September, I’ll be needing another name from your state for someone to serve on committees. 

We invite a person from your state to be nominated to serve on one of those four committees. I do not want to overlook the work of the Grant, Scholarship, or Bylaw Committees; they are just not virtual committees. NEA Retired Council Chairs work hard to thoroughly cover the goals set out in September. 

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. —Helen Keller