Get Involved!

MEA Voice Online -- Feb. 21, 2011

Standing up for public education and public school employees

Here's what you can do to help NOW
While the ongoing political assault on public workers continues to be fought in and around the state Capitol in Wisconsin, that isn't the only battle going on for America's public schools and the middle class. Similar fights are well underway in Indiana and Ohio -- and Michigan.

MEA members need to stand up for public education and public school employees -- here in Michigan and across the country. Here's what you can do to help:

Wear red on Tuesday to show your support for public education and the rights of the public school employees who make our schools great. This effort is part of NEA's "Wear Red for Public Ed," which encourages members to wear red every Tuesday for the rest of the school year.

Sign a national petition supporting the rights of educators and other public employees -- go to www.educationvotes.nea.org and click on "National Petition."

Use your Facebook and Twitter accounts to show support for public education and workers. Share messages of support on your own pages or add to comments on MEA's pages or the pages of state affiliates in Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio.

This Tuesday, Michigan unions are organizing a lobbying effort in Lansing around Gov. Rick Snyder's budget proposal and a package of emergency financial manager bills that could gut employee rights. If you can join in the effort starting at 9 a.m. at the Central United Methodist Church (215 N. Capitol, across from the Capitol building) in Lansing, email dpratt@mea.org right away for more information.

And, as always, continue talking with lawmakers back home in your districts -- let them know how you feel about these issues as a constituent. Stay tuned to www.mea.org/gov for updates.

Reminder: Many school districts have policies about communicating with legislators on school time and equipment, so wait until you are away from school to contact your legislators or use your personal cell phone when you are off duty.

Stay informed -- get updates from MEA
If you're looking for regular updates on education-related happenings in Michigan and elsewhere -- including efforts in Wisconsin to strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights, be sure visit MEA on Facebook and Twitter.

We're posting daily updates there -- and on MEA's website, www.mea.org -- to provide information and opportunities for you to get involved.

Become a fan of MEA on Facebook at www.mea.org/facebook .

Come tweet with us -- follow MEA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MEAOnline .

Support for Wisconsin

Note passed on from Iris Salters.

Here is the latest request from NEA which is coordinating the efforts in Wisconsin. Please feel free to pass it on. Iris

Hello, Everybody.

All of our MW members can help their colleagues in Wisconsin by signing a national petition in support of them. The petition can be accessed at
http://www.educationvotes.nea.org/nationalpetition

I know our Wisconsin colleagues will appreciate the support.

Dennis M. Friel
NEA Midwest Regional Director
202-822-7408 (office)
202-255-0907 (cell)
dfriel@nea.org

Talking Points

Need some help with talking points for discussing education with family and friends? Need some ideas for writing letters to the editor to express your concerns about the direction our state is taking education? Want to write a letter to your representative but not sure what to say? Check out MEA's website:
www.mea.org/message_center/