2012 DSEA Representative Assembly (RA) Information Page

March 16, 17, 2012
Dover Downs Conference Center

Questions? Contact Sandy Dearman at 1-866-734-5834 or by e-mail.
2011 RA Highlights
2011 RA Photos

Annual Celebration Dinner Dover Downs Conference Center kicks off Representative Assembly (RA) weekend Friday evening, March 16, 2012

4:00pm Registration and social
6:30 Celebration Awards Banquet

On Decmeber 1, 2011 DSEA e-mailed to all local association presidents delegate registration information for our 2012 Representative Assembly or annual meeting. All locals must hold open nomination and elections for delegates to the RA. Local lists of RA delegates must be returned to DSEA by February 17, 2012.

Fundraising for the DSEA and NEA PACS (Polical Action Comm.), the non-dues fund that we use to help elect public education-friendly candidates to school boards, the legislature and to statewide offices are a big part of each RA. Locals are encouraged to put together creatively themed baskets that are part of a Silent Auction to benefit the NEA-PAC.

Proceeds from the auctioning of teh 2011 RA baskets came to $2,005, donated to the NEA PAC on behalf of DSEA's delegation to the NEA Rep. Assembly this summer.

Delegates also have a chance to visit with vendors and enter to win door prizes that are given away on Saturday.

Following dinner is a social time -- sponsored last year by the Stecher Financial Group - in the Atrium at Dover Downes featuring drinks, snacks, karaoke and dancing with D.J. Karl Veit.

2011 RA HIGHLIGHTS:

At our annual 2011 Celebration Dinner, DSEA awards were presented to:

ESP of the Year: Julie Harrington, president of the Appoquinimink Paras
Legislative Friend of Education: The Honorable State Rep. Terry Schooley (unable to come due to illness)
Community Partnership Award: Courtyard Marriott in Downtown Wilmington (unable to be present because of Open House because of recently-completed renovations)
Susan B. Roushey Award for Advocacy: Vanessa Cordiero, Appoquinimink E.A.
Helen D. Wise Award for significant contributions to public education: Diane Donohue, president, DSEA

In attendance as DSEA guests were all three members of the Delaware delegation - U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Rep. John Carney - plus Governor Jack Markell, Sec. of Education Lillian Lowery, State Reps. John Kowalko, Darryl Scott and Rebecca Walker.

RA 2011 featured information sessions on pension and budget discussions with the state, election of Exec. Board member, one New Business Item, and vote on DSEA budget

Consideration and vote on proposed two-year budget for DSEA for FY2012 and FY2013 - PASSED

New business item: to continue the $1 dues increase to support Communities for Quality Education, a consortium of public groups whose purpose includes: building broad-based support for a positive education agenda, while laying the groundwork to fix and fund the No Child Left Behind Act; and to develop and implement targeted, integrated issue campaigns in select states to impact both federal and state education policies by linking state issues to a federal agenda. The CQE is a 501c3 organization that works to support public education and public educators by focusing on priority initiatives that directly impact NEA/DSEA members. It is issue-oriented, not politically aligned with one party or another. - PASSED

Consideration and vote on proposed DSEA Resolutions - PASSED

Nominations and elections for vacany Kent County Exec. Board seat
Clay Beauchamp of Lake Forest E.A. (left) was elected in a very tight race, requiring two votes, against Judy Purcell of Milford E.A. He begins his two-year on September 1.

Legislative Update included an update on the discussions with the Governor's office, State Workers United representatives (including DSEA) and legislators working to find $100 million in savings to the state budget from employee benefits costs. Jeff Taschner reviewed progress to date, saying that everyone is quite optimistic that we'll have an agreement soon. Our goal? Not to diminish benefits to career state employees.

Questions? Contact Sandy Dearman at DSEA at 1-866-734-5834 or by email.

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