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---THE CONNECTING LINE--IEA-NEA Regions 17-18 Newsletter
Volume 1
April, 2015
Issue 7
High quality teachers are the key to high quality schools, and IEA is working toward the day that every child in the
state has the best teachers and education possible. IEA is more than a union; it is a professional organization
committed to providing ongoing training, mentoring, and support for teachers and other school staff and advocating
for policies such as smaller class sizes that will improve schools for students across Illinois.
WELCOME SARAH BIRD-REGION 17
UNISERV DIRECTOR!
Sarah Bird has accepted the position as
the new UniServ Director for Region 17.
She is currently the UniServ Director for
Service Area J out of the Rushville IEA
office. Sarah comes to us with 12 years of
experience as a UniServ Director.
As of today, a start date has not been
established, but we anticipate she will begin
in mid to late April.
2015 NEA-RA DELEGATES
The NEA-RA will be held in Orlando, FL,
July 1-6.
Region 17: Delegates are: Galesburg:
David Sharp, Stacy Boettcher, Lynly Triplett
and Estella Campbell, Delegates; Tracie
Sharp, Colleen Noonan and Christine
Thompson, Alternates; Orion: Dr. Linda
Anderson,
Delegate;
no
alternate;
Monmouth-Roseville: Kristina Gashaw,
Delegate; no alternate; Cluster 1 (AlWood/
Wethersfield EA/ Knoxville EA), Susan
Winters (AlWood), Delegate; no alternate;
Cluster 2: (Annawan EA/ Cambridge EA/
Mercer Co PEA/ Mercer Co TEA/ Mercer Co
EEA), no delegate elected; Cluster 3
(ROWVA EA/ ROWVA SEA), no delegate
elected; United EA, Sherrard EA, Mercer
Co EA, Geneseo, Henry-Stark, Kewanee,
Sandburg; no delegates elected.
Region 18: Delegates are: East
Moline: Andrea Schafman and Maureen
Glendon, Delegates; Alexandria Hamm,
Alternate; Moline: Shelly Rumler, Susan
Hafner and Sue Blackall, Delegates;
Katherine Schutte, Alternate; Rock Island
EA: Belle Jordan, Julie Black and Jackie
Cobb, Delegates; Laura Hofer-Steiner,
Alternate; Rock Island ESPA: Selena
Wellington,
Delegate;
Karen
Long,
Alternate; United Twp: Deb Holmes,
Delegate; BHASED:
Rebecca Wilson,
Delegate; Theresa Oprondek, Alternate;
Rockridge TA: Curtis Oelschlaeger,
Delegate; Nicole Hall, Alternate; Moline
ESPA: No delegate was elected; and
Cluster #1 (Colona, Eagle Ridge, Erie ESA,
Erie TA, Riverdale ESA, Riverdale TA, Silvis
EA, Black Hawk Police) No delegate was
elected.
REGION OFFICERS ELECTED
Isaac Triplett (Galesburg EA) will
continue as Region 17 Chair. Isaac has
been an involved IEA member for many
years.
Kristina Gashaw (MonmouthRoseville EA) will be the Region 17 ViceChair. DeAndre Henderson (Galesburg EA)
was elected Ethnic Minority At-Large
Representative to the Council.
The new Region Chair in Region 18
will be Belle Jordan (Rock Island EA).
Belle also is a long-time involved IEA
member. Alexandria Hamm (East Moline
EA) was elected the Region 18 Vice-Chair.
Region 18 elected Elvia Goins (Rock
Island EA) as their Ethnic Minority At-Large
Representative to the Council.
The effective date for these changes is
July 15. All are 3 year terms, 2015-2018.
LOCAL OFFICER ELECTIONS
Most local associations elect officers in
the spring. Terms of office are usually 1-3
years. Some limit the number of terms an
officer can serve. Some stagger terms so
that all officers are not new the same year.
Any member may run for open positions.
Positions open in your local may be
president, VP, secretary, treasurer and one
or more region council representatives. If
you are interested, ask your local president
how to get on the ballot.
LIVING LIBRARY FOR TEACHERS
The Living Library is a community of
online file cabinets created by IEA retired
and active mentors and used to support the
ongoing mentoring of future and new
teachers (mentees). Download the brochure
or visit the site.
ESP CORNER
NEA ESP Virtual Career Resource
Center!
Available to all IEA NEA members
and staff!
This website contains
publications, research data, and an array
of useful links to other websites and ESP
specific resources.
Topics include bullying, health care,
privatization,
school
transportation,
grants, green schools, worker health and
safety and much more!
Access is easy!
 Log on to www.neaespcareercenter.net
 Register your name and password.
 A system administrator will check your
credentials and approve you within 3
days.
 Start exploring this valuable resource!
NATIONAL TEACHER DAY
The next National Teacher Day will be
celebrated on May 5, 2015. Thousands of
communities will take time to honor their
local educators and acknowledge the crucial
role teachers play in making sure every
student receives a quality education. The
NEA website provides planning materials
and activity ideas to plan your Teacher Day
event. Visit http://www.nea.org/grants/1359.htm
IEA RETIRED SPRING CONFERENCE
Newly and nearly-retired members are
especially encouraged to attend this
conference to discover how informative and
enjoyable the IEA Retired Conference is.
The conference will be held April 11 at
Oakbrook Doubletree in Oak Brook, IL.
Registration fee is $25. You may view the
agenda
and
register
online
at:
http://www.ieanea.org/members/retired/.

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
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
Access to Conferences and Training
programs.
Up
to
$50,000
accidental
death/dismemberment insurance.
Access to NEA Membership Benefits:
IEA
members
save
money
by
purchasing low-cost car insurance,
home/rental insurance, travel programs,
high-yield CD and money market
certificates, and other discounted
programs.
Individual assistance and advice when
you need help.
Attorney referral program including an
hour of free consultation for non jobrelated business.
MESSAGE FROM W.I.R.E
A large number of teachers will be
retiring over the next few years. If you
would like to stay informed and be involved
with protecting your pension and health
benefits, please consider joining our IEA
retired group. You are able to join before
you retire as well.
For additional
information, contact Stew Adams at 309781-4889 or [email protected].
Local Presidents – PLEASE send a list
of your retirees to the Moline IEA office
ASAP.
UPCOMING EDUCATION EVENTS
National Child Abuse Awareness Month
Autism Awareness Month
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April 3
Good Friday
April 5
Easter
April 13
Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday
April 19-25 National Library Week
April 19-25 Environmental Education
Week
April 22
Earth Day
April 23
Shakespeare’s Birthday
April 24
National Arbor Day
April 26
Take Our Daughters & Sons
to Work Day
April 30
Pay It Forward Day
WHAT YOU GET WITH YOUR DUES?
A few of the major benefits are:

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

Full legal services for job-related
problems.
$1,000,000 liability insurance protection.
Professional
assistance
with
negotiations.
Grievance/arbitration assistance.
Published by Illinois Education Association-NEA, 1530 46th
Avenue, Suite 1, Moline, Illinois 61265; Sarah Bird, UniServ
Director Region 17; Jeff Conrad, UniServ Director Region
18; Leslie Kahler, UniServ Secretary. Telephone: (309) or
(800) 797-4126.