IEA’s Director of Government Relations reports on the first meeting of the 2012 Illinois General Assembly. Jim Reed is urging IEA members to lobby lawmakers in their home districts via the IEA’s Back Home Lobby Days initiative.

The key dates lawmakers should be available in their home districts include: Feb. 13-17, March 12-16, April 2-6 and 9-13.

Click here for more information on Back Home Lobbying.

GPAs meet at the state capitol

Grassroots Political Activists and their GO-Team members met Feb. 3-4 for a legislative update, preview of the 2012 elections and a simulation that followed a bill through the committee process. The GPAs role-played as members of various advocacy groups and testified in a mock committee at the state capitol. After committee, GPAs and their teams enjoyed special access to the Senate floor and heard from Sens. John Sullivan (D-Rushville) and Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) about their roles in the legislative process.

Find out more about the GPA program on the IEA website

NBPTS candidate fee subsidy opens Feb. 15

The National Board Resource Center at Illinois State University has announced the window for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards candidate fee subsidy will open Feb. 15, for 500 first time candidates. Click here for more information on the ISU website.

Let your imagination soar with The Lorax and Read Across America

NEA’s Read Across America campaign will showcase the Lorax book as well as NBC/Universal’s The Lorax (featuring the voices of Taylor Swift, Zach Efron, Danny Devito and Betty White). The film opens nationwide March 2, and Universal, Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Random House have joined NEA’s Read Across America, creating new posters and classroom guides for the campaign.

Let us be part of your plans by contacting IEA Listens. It’s not too early to begin the Seussational celebration!

Give your valentine a gift that sparkles

Shop for jewelry or that next vacation package with NEA Member Benefits Click & Save program. You’ll save money and make your someone special very happy.

Visit the NEA MB website to register or sign in to find all the values that your membership allows.

You could win tickets to see the Chicago Symphony     

Send us an email message with “Symphony” in the subject line and you’ll be entered to win two tickets to the April 5 performance at the Symphony Center.

The IEA Store is back, featuring your old favorites, new items and a new way to order!

With IEA Store items, you can:

• Show your pride in being a member of the Illinois Education Association-NEA;
• Provide incentive gifts for meeting attendance;
• Thank your members who volunteer;
• And more…

All with items available to you, at cost, featuring the IEA logo

In Wednesday’s State of the State address, Gov. Quinn restated his belief that the Illinois pension problem, which, along with Medicaid, is having a major impact on the state budget, needs to be addressed in 2012. The key legislative leaders are echoing that belief.

Illinois Labor Pension Coalition

The unions representing the government employees who pay into the state pension systems intend to actively participate in the pension discussion.

IEA, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, AFSCME, SEIU and the Illinois AFL-CIO have coalesced around the belief that it is in the best interests of our organizations’ members to be engaged with policymakers whenever and wherever changes in pension policy are being discussed. To that end, the labor pension coalition has been meeting with key players in the state pension discussion. Click here to read more.

Be part of the process

More than 70 IEA members attended candidate recommendation hearings  Jan. 28 in the suburban Chicago area. These meetings help to ensure education-friendly candidates are elected to vote for legislation affecting you and your students. Visit the IEA website to watch a video on how IPACE recommendation hearings are conducted and be sure to attend those held in your area.

IEA UniServ Intern program

All active IEA members, associate staff, and administrative assistants interested in securing professional staff positions are eligible to experience UniServ professional staff work. IEA is actively seeking minorities and women to apply. Visit the IEA website for more information and to download an application.

Give your valentine a gift that sparkles

Shop for jewelry or that next vacation package with NEA Member Benefits Click & Save program. You’ll save money and make your someone special very happy.

Visit the NEA MB website to register or sign in to find all the values that your membership allows.

You could win tickets to see the Chicago Symphony

Send us an email message with “Symphony” in the subject line and you’ll be entered to win two tickets to the April 5 performance at the Symphony Center.

The RA preview Advocate is coming your way

Look for this important issue of the Advocate containing the tentative RA schedule, NEA Director candidate statements, proposed by-law changes and find out which of your colleagues have obtained National Board Certification.

The IEA Store is back, featuring your old favorites, new items and a new way to order!

With IEA Store items, you can:

• Show your pride in being a member of the Illinois Education Association-NEA
• Provide incentive gifts for meeting attendance
• Thank your members who volunteer
• And more…

All with items available to you at cost featuring the IEA logo.

When it comes to lobbying state legislators, where the contact occurs doesn’t matter as long as the member is well prepared for the meeting and will encourage support from the representative or senator.

IEA members are urged to participate in “Back Home Lobby Days” by meeting with the lawmakers in their home districts when the legislature is not in Springfield.

Legislators are not in session until the first week of February and are back home several weeks prior to the March Primary. Anytime legislators are not scheduled to be in Springfield is a good time to schedule a meeting in the home district with the people who make the laws that control teaching and learning conditions.

IEA will be making announcements throughout the 2012 legislative session about home district lobbying opportunities. Keep checking the IEA website  for details on Back Home Lobby Days!

Budget open hearings begin Monday

Meetings to discuss the 2012-13 budget will be held Jan. 30-Feb. 2. Specifics are posted on the IEA website . This is your opportunity to offer budget input. The 2012 IEA Representative Assembly will approve a new budget in March.

‘My Profile’ winners are …

Thank you for visiting “My Profile” on the IEA website Our winners are: Brina T., Taylorville; Carrie C., Galesburg; Tracy L., Roselle; Alysia J., Glen Ellyn; Jody H., St. Charles; and Matthew L., Vernon Hills. Look for your gift cards/guest passes in the mail.

All you need to do to be entered for future prizes is make sure we have your correct personal information and you will be entered to win.

Give your valentine a gift that sparkles

Shop for jewelry or that next vacation package with NEA Member Benefits Click & Save program. You’ll save money and make your someone special very happy.

Visit the NEA MB website to register or sign in to find all the values that your membership allows.

Spring election nomination forms due Feb. 22

Nomination forms for all spring mail ballot elections are due Feb. 22. Please submit your nomination forms as soon as possible. Nomination forms are in the January 2012 issue of the Advocate. Additional information available by calling 800/252-8076, ext. 2272. Ask for the Elections Committee.

Chicago Rush offers IEA special deal

Chicago Rush Arena Football is pleased to invite members and families of the IEA to games March 10 and April 21, to celebrate School Appreciation Days. Stay after the games to meet your favorite Rush players and Adrenaline Rush Dancers.

To order tickets call Shannon Allen at 219/628-2079, email Shannon, or fax your completed form to 224.567.8952. You can also mail your order to the Rush front office, 2340 S. River Rd., Suite 402, Des Plaines, IL 60018.

Website of the Week

Our Website of the Week is back by popular demand!

This week we are featuring the Kids In Need Foundation, working to  ensure that every child is prepared to learn and succeed by providing free school supplies nationally to students most in need.

Grant Opportunity Applications will be available Feb. 14 for the Elmer’s Teacher Tool Kit grants. Before then, you can view the projects available for replication on the Kids In Need website. The Elmer’s Teacher Tool Kit grants are given to teachers who want to replicate already proven projects in their own classrooms. These grant awards are based on financial need.

The Illinois Statehouse is under renovation, but IEA members cannot let the limited access to the State Capitol Building stop them from lobbying their state senators and representatives on school funding, pensions and all the other issues so important to public education.

IEA leaders are urging members to participate in “Back Home Lobby Days.”

IEA members can directly contact and lobby their state representatives and senators by meeting with the legislators in their home districts when the legislature is not in Springfield.

Legislators understand how important it is for them to meet with their constituents and the legislator’s home district makes for a setting in which IEA members can outline what they want and expect from their elected officials.

When should members lobby?

Legislators are not in session until the first week of February and are back home several weeks prior to the March Primary. Anytime legislators are not scheduled to be in Springfield is a good time to schedule a meeting in the home district with the people who make the laws that control teaching and learning conditions.

IEA will be making announcements throughout the 2012 legislative session about home district lobbying opportunities. Keep checking the IEA website.

Get the details on Back Home Home Lobby Days!

Budget open hearings

Meetings to discuss the 2012-13 budget will be held Jan. 30-Feb. 2. Specifics are posted on the IEA website . This is your opportunity to offer budget input. The 2012 IEA Representative Assembly will approve a new budget in March.

Jan. 30 (Mon.)
Bloomington, Edwardsville, Lombard (Cook County), Matteson, Moline, Rockford, Rushville, Skokie

Jan. 31 (Tue.)
Decatur, Elgin, Libertyville, Lombard (DuPage County), Mt. Vernon, Sterling, West Suburban

Feb. 1 (Wed.)
Carterville, Champaign, Chicago (Higher Ed), Effingham, Morris, Palatine, Peoria, Springfield

Feb. 2 (Thu.)
General membership webinar
Make-up day if necessary

It’s a new year – enjoy more prizes!

As a special thank you for visiting “My Profile” on the IEA website, we are offering three $25 gift tickets to the Rock Bottom Restaurant, One West Grand Ave., Chicago; AND three $25 Panera gift cards.

All you need to do is make sure we have your correct personal information and you will be entered to win. Winners will be contacted through their personal email account.

Let your imagination soar with The Lorax and Read Across America

NEA’s Read Across America campaign will showcase the Lorax book as well as NBC/Universal’s The Lorax (featuring the voices of Taylor Swift, Zach Efron, Danny Devito and Betty White). The film opens nationwide March 2, and Universal, Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Random House have joined NEA’s Read Across America, creating new posters and classroom guides for the campaign.

Let us be part of your plans by contacting IEA Listens. It’s not too early to begin the Seussational celebration!

IEA ads hit the airwaves     

We think you do a lot to make strong schools, strong communities and a strong economy. We want everyone to know what you do everyday in your schools and classrooms. That’s what the new radio campaign is all about. You – the 130,000 IEA members who touch so many lives and make such a difference in those lives.

Listen to the new radio campaign here.

Did you have a ‘star’ in your classroom?

The IEA CAPE committee is looking for famous people – athletes, actors, singers, scientists and other talents – who were helped along the way by our members.

If you, or someone you know, had a gifted student who went on to become famous, please let us know!

CEC awarded $2 million to increase teacher leadership in school improvement

The Consortium for Educational Change and the five regional Teacher Union Reform Networks will expand efforts to help educators and unions lead the education reform movement on policies, programs and practices that impact schools, teaching and learning.

Through this project, which is supported by funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CEC and TURN will:

• Expand work on improvements in the teaching profession and increases in student achievement,
• Build labor/management partnerships within TURN locals,
• Facilitate deeper discussions on teacher evaluations,
• Encourage and support teacher unions and their leaders to become more effective partners for creating a true teaching profession.

Read more here.

Share the savings 

Share the Click & Save savings with your friends and family by inviting four friends (or family members) to join. Just register or sign in on the NEA Member Benefits website and click on the “Invite a Friend” button.

Be sure to let us know how you’re planning to celebrate on (or about) March 2. We’d like to be part of your festivities!

Budget open hearings

Meetings to discuss the 2012-13 budget will be held Jan. 30-Feb 2. Specifics are posted on the IEA website . This is your opportunity to offer budget input. The 2012 IEA Representative Assembly will approve a new budget in March.

Jan. 30 (Mon.)
Bloomington, Edwardsville, Lombard (Cook County), Matteson, Moline, Rockford, Rushville, Skokie

Jan. 31 (Tue.)
Decatur, Elgin, Libertyville, Lombard (DuPage County), Mt. Vernon, Sterling, West Suburban

Feb. 1 (Wed.)
Carterville, Champaign, Chicago (Higher Ed), Effingham, Morris, Palatine, Peoria, Springfield

Feb. 2 (Thu.)
General membership webinar
Make-up day if necessary

Did you know?     

As of last September, NEA members have spent $22,195,131 through NEA Click & Save and have collectively saved $5,972,525! Were you one?

It’s easy! Log on to the NEA MB website, register or login to the member-only section of the website and start saving!

Your award-winning Communications Department

The IEA Communications Department won two big awards at NEA’s PR Council conference last week. IEA’s awards were in the areas of training and government and political affairs.

Communications Year-Round is a training module designed to help IEA locals start and maintain a permanent local public relations program that will help them build support for the local’s goals. Media Relations Director Bob Ray took the lead on this project.

SB7, education reform and pension battle, focused on the materials developed to respond to the attacks on member bargaining rights and member pensions during 2011.

“This was very much an association success. Our department strives to support members by working with the various IEA departments,” said IEA Director of Communications Charles McBarron.

Mineral education award could net your classroom $500

The Interstate Mining Compact Commission (of which Illinois is a member), is offering $500 worth of classroom resource materials to the first place winner of the Mining Awareness Educator award.

For more information and to download an application, visit the IMCC website.

Deadline for application submission is Feb. 1.

Congratulations to Katy F., a member of the SPEED Education Association, on winning one of the $100 gift cards.

Will you be the winner of the other $100 Visa card? You could be if you log on to the IEA website, click on “My Profile” and check or update your personal data. It’s more important now than ever that we have a non-school, frequently checked, email address on file.

Budget open hearings 

Meetings to discuss the 2012-13 budget will be held Jan. 30-Feb 2. Specific times will be posted on the IEA website soon. This is your opportunity to offer budget input. The 2012 IEA Representative Assembly will approve a new budget in March.

Jan. 30 (Mon.)
Bloomington, Edwardsville, Lombard (Cook County), Matteson, Moline, Rockford, Rushville, Skokie

Jan. 31 (Tue.)
Decatur, Elgin, Libertyville, Lombard (DuPage County), Mt. Vernon, Sterling, West Suburban

Feb. 1 (Wed.)
Carterville, Champaign, Chicago (Higher Ed), Effingham, Morris, Palatine, Peoria, Springfield

Feb. 2 (Thu.)
General membership webinar
Make-up day if necessary

Longtime activist Marsha Zierk dies Dec. 14 

Marsha Zierk, who served 13 years on the IEA Board of Directors and six years as NEA Director, passed away Dec. 14, following a short illness.

Zierk took pride in guiding IEA through dynamic growth and worked tirelessly for her association during difficult budgetary times.

Donations accepted to the media fund

Public education has been getting a bad rap in the media. We want to change that. Delegates at the 2011 Representative Assembly voted to implement a media fund that can accept voluntary contributions above what is budgeted annually.

Checks and credit cards are accepted through the IEA website. We will continue to keep you informed about the positive image we are building for public education and our IEA members.

Shop online

The NEA Member Benefits Click & Save program offers discount shopping online. This exclusive shopping service offers savings on brand-name merchandise from hundreds of top retailers, online stores and even some select local merchants.

No insider next week

Enjoy your winter break. The insider will be back the first week of January.

You could win two seats to the Dec. 18 Bears game vs. the Seattle Seahawks. To be entered, send an email to us with “Bears” in the subject line. A winner will be randomly selected Dec. 12 and named in the next insider. Entries must be received by 4 p.m., Dec. 12. Watch your inbox! The winner will be notified by email.

Budget open hearings 

Meetings to discuss the 2012-13 budget will be held Jan. 30-Feb 2. Specific times will be posted on the IEA website soon. This is your opportunity to offer budget input. The 2012 IEA Representative Assembly will approve a new budget in March.

Jan. 30 (Mon.)
Bloomington, Edwardsville, Lombard (Cook County), Matteson, Moline, Rockford, Rushville, Skokie

Jan. 31 (Tue.)
Decatur, Elgin, Libertyville, Lombard (DuPage County), Mt. Vernon, Sterling, West Suburban

Feb. 1 (Wed.)
Carterville, Champaign, Chicago (Higher Ed), Effingham, Morris, Palatine, Peoria, Springfield

Feb. 2 (Thu.)
General membership webinar
Make-up day if necessary

Shop online

The NEA Member Benefits Click & Save program offers discount shopping online. This exclusive shopping service offers savings on brand-name merchandise from hundreds of top retailers, online stores and even some select local merchants.

You could still win a Panera gift card

Remember to update/check your personal data through My IEA Profile. Do it now and you’ll have a chance to win one of the $25 Panera gift cards. But, don’t delay – we only have three more cards to give away.

Who should be a SURS trustee?

We are looking for assistance with the circulation of petitions for the IEA and AFSCME candidates for the Board of Trustees of the State Universities Retirement System of Illinois (SURS).

The following are the two candidates seeking election:

• Andrew Matthews – IEA candidate
• Dorinda Miller – AFSCME candidate

The group of millionaires and billionaires who want to cut the pensions of hard working public employees are scrambling to put together a new proposal after their original plan was exposed as adding $34 billion to pension costs.

Since last spring, the Chicago-based Civic Committee has tried to ram through the legislature a bill that would have cut pension benefits for active employees. But, as IEA reported last week, the Civic Committee’s plan would have caused the state’s cost for pensions to skyrocket by $34 billion over 15 years, despite the plan being promoted as a way for the state to save money.

Now, in reaction to this embarrassment, the billionaires are reportedly tweaking their proposal to try to eliminate the additional damage to taxpayers.  It is clear that this group cannot be trusted when it comes to pensions. They have not made their proposal available for analysis by experts, so the impact of the plan on taxpayers and the financial health of the pension systems cannot be determined independently.

We need all 132,000 IEA members to participate in the battle to stop illegal and unfair pension legislation from becoming law.

The new plan, which may be introduced during next week’s legislative session, is unacceptable:

1. It is unconstitutional to reduce benefits for active employees.
2. For most education employees, their pension is only form of retirement security because teachers can’t collect social security.
3. It is unfair to ask teachers, who loyally paid their portion into the state’s pension system, to contribute 50 percent more if they want to benefit from the system they’ve counted on all their careers. The pension problem is a result of politicians using the pension systems as a credit card to pay for other state services.

All IEA members are urged to contact their legislators this week by: 1) Call 888/412-6570, follow the prompts to be connected to your legislator and use the above talking points, or 2) Go to the IEA website, click on the pension tab at the top of the page and you will see a link to e-mail your legislators.

On Sunday, you will be contacted with instructions on what you can do next week to make your voice heard with legislators. It is imperative we put forth our best effort to combat this proposal.

To make sure you have the most updated news, please go to the “My Profile” section of the IEA website and update your contact information with a non-school e-mail address that you check as well as an updated phone number.

Help us reach you instantly 

When things at the capitol happen, we need to mobilize members quickly. Please take a moment to check your personal information through “My Profile” on the IEA website. Once you have verified we can reach you at a non-school email address, you will be entered to win a $100 gift card or Panera gift card.

This week’s winners of $25 Panera gift cards are: Karyn Z. and Neal P. Keep reading the insider to see if your the winner next week!

Have you started your holiday shopping?

Take advantage of hundreds of exclusive offers available every day through NEA Click & Save. Just register or sign in to start shopping! New offers are added every day – from cell phones to Disney Cruises – and you can set email reminders for your favorite merchants so you’ll be notified in advance of upcoming sales and discounts.

Win tickets to the Bears game Nov. 20 

Send us an email with “Bears” in the subject line, and you will be entered to win two tickets to the Nov. 20 Chicago Bears game against the San Diego Chargers.

The winner will be notified by email Nov. 10.

While it is still believed that the bill won’t see action until after the Illinois Primary, IEA cannot be lulled into a false sense of security.

A “Call to Action” has been issued for IEA members.

Please share this information with your colleagues and all members with whom you have contact 

IEA members are encouraged to contact legislators and urge them to reject SB 512 and all other unconstitutional proposals.

Message - IEA opposes SB 512 because:

• It reduces benefits for active pension system participants, which violates the Illinois constitution.
• As our teacher members don’t receive Social Security, their pensions are their life savings.
• Our members have always paid their retirement costs; it is the state that has not kept its part of the bargain.
• SB 512 would cost taxpayers an additional $34 billion over 15 years.

More information on IEA and pensions

• IEA members are urged to contact state legislators at their home district offices between now and Nov. 8, when lawmakers return to Springfield for the last session days of 2011.
• Members are urged to tell lawmakers to oppose SB 512 for for the reasons cited above.
• More information is available on the IEA website
• Legislative update video with Jim Reed
• Capitol Report (coming Friday)

Now that the Illinois legislature is back at work, we’re hearing a lot of talk about public pensions (including TRS and SURS) and the state budget. We are keeping a close eye on the Statehouse. Bookmark the IEA website, “like” us on facebook, and follow us on twitter for the most comprehensive news updates.

Speaking of pensions, IEA’s chief lobbyist  has some thoughts on the new legislative session. Check out the Pensions section on the IEA website for more information.

Stay in touch for news and more           

The greatest weapon for protecting pensions of IEA members is “132,000.” That is the number of IEA members, each of them with a voice and the ability to impact public policy. If you haven’t already checked your personal information, click the “My Profile” link. Log in and verify/update your personal information – including an email address that you check frequently. Use a non-school email address as many school districts block IEA email messages.  

When you visit the My Profile site, you are entered to win $100 gift cards or Panera gift cards.  

Panera gift cards go to … 

Congratulations to Leslea T. and Michael S., this week’s winners of $25 Panera gift cards. It’s not too late to enter to win by clicking the My profile link to make sure we have your correct personal date, including a non-school district email address.  

IEA members are the BEST 

The Illinois State Board of Education has named IEA member Josh Stumpenhorst as the 2012 Illinois teacher of the Year. Stumpenhorst teaches sixth-grade language arts and social science at Lincoln Junior High School in Region 39.

IEA members have overwhelmingly been named 2011 Illinois Art Education Association award winners. They are:

Art Educator of the Year: Tricia Fuglestad, Schaumburg Education Association
Early Professional of the Year: Frank Bush, Henry Senachwine Education Association
Elementary Art Educator of the Year: David Smith, Indian Prairie Education Association
Secondary Art Educator of the Year: Greg Petecki, Homewood-Flossmoor Education Association

Great savings have never been easier!

Take advantage of hundreds of exclusive offers available every day through NEA Click & Save. Just register or sign in to start shopping! New offers are added every day – from cell phones to Disney Cruises – and you can set email reminders for your favorite merchants so you’ll be notified in advance of upcoming sales and discounts.

Go Bears! Nov. 20

Send us an email with “Bears” in the subject line, and you will be entered to win two tickets to the Nov. 20 Chicago Bears game against the San Diego Chargers.

The winner will be notified by email Nov. 10.

Nominate the next Friend of Education

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Friend of Education award. Submit your nomination for an individual who has demonstrated commitment to the success of public education and to the ideals and mission of the IEA. The award will be presented in March at the annual IEA Representative Assembly. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 1.

Visit the IEA website for more information and to download a nomination form.