Convention Delegates Elect New AFT Washington President
Karen Strickland (on left) elected President of AFT Washington (info below)
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Convention Delegates Elect 2013-2015 AFT Washington Officers
Delegates elected Karen Strickland as the new president of AFT Washington at the 78th Convention on Saturday, May 4. Karen will replace Sandra Schroeder who is retiring on July 15th after 12 years as president. [see all 2013-2015 elected officers by clicking on the headline or the word "more."]
State Senate Wants to Cut Health Care Benefits for Part-time Employees
Senate Bill 5905, introduced on April 10th by Senators Hill and Hargrove, is a serious threat to health care coverage for part-time faculty and other public employees. The bill essentially eliminates state health care coverage and forces part-time employees into a new federal program created under the Affordable Care Act called the "Washington Health Benefits Exchange."
Education Scholarships Available for Members, Families
We are now accepting applications for the 2013-2014 AFT Washington/Schwerin Campbell Barnard Iglitzin & Lavitt Scholarship Awards!
Three $1,000 education scholarships are available to eligible applicants who are AFT Washington members in good standing, or spouses, domestic partners, children, or dependents of AFT Washington members in good standing. Qualified applicants must plan to attend an institution of higher education at the AA or BA level during the upcoming academic year for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certification. A scholarship committee will review the applications for eligibility and determine the winners.
Eligibility requirements, application guidelines, and the scholarship application are available from your local president or can be downloaded here or requested from the AFT Washington office.
An original and two copies of the application and supporting documents must be received in the AFT Washington office no later than Friday, June 28, 2013. Application packets should be mailed to AFT Washington/SCBIL Scholarship Fund, 625 Andover Park W., Suite 111, Tukwila, WA 98188.
For questions, please contact Elizabeth Ferrell at 206-432-8088 or eferrell@aftwa.org.
Common Core: Do What It Takes Before High Stakes
In her latest column appearing in the New York Times, AFT president Randi Weingarten writes about the promise—and the possible pitfalls—of the new Common Core State Standards. If implemented properly—namely, by ensuring that frontline educators are prepared to teach these rigorous new standards—we can provide all children with the problem-solving, critical-thinking and teamwork skills they need to compete in today’s changing world. If not, they will end up in the dustbin of abandoned reforms. Read her full column.
AFT NW Leadership Forum
The Union Beyond Today's Struggles
Staying Strong ~ Leading Smart
July 11-14, 2013
Hilton Vancouver Washington
Vancouver, WA
Download the registration brochure here. Register online here. Co-sponsored by AFT-Oregon, AFT Washington, Oregon Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals, and Oregon School Employees Association.
Want A Website For Your Local?
In this day and age, people look to the Web for information. As a result, organizations almost always need to have a website to compliment their communications. Unfortunately, not everyone has the expertise or time to maintain a local web site.
For this reason, AFT hosts free web sites to affiliated locals. To take advantage of this benefit, contact Sylvia Watson, AFT Washington Communications Coordinator, at 206-432-8084 or swatson@aftwa.org. Sylvia can help get your site set up and even provide hands-on training.