NEA - GOP News Brief

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	Volume 2: Issue 2 September 2009
NEA Elephant Educators GOP The Ripon Society Republican Main Street The Wish List	NEA Republican Leaders Conference III a big success! On July 21-24, 2009 NEA welcomed approximately 140 NEA Republican members to NEA headquarters in Washington, DC for the third annual NEA Republican Leaders Conference. This year's conference focused on the importance of grassroots organizing and had several prominent speakers, including Republican National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele.
	RNC Chair Steele Thanks NEA Republicans By Tyler Miller, NEA Interactive Media Wednesday, July 22, 2009 – Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele spoke to Republican members of the National Education Association, touting the importance of politicians listening to educators on matters like No Child Left Behind and thanking teachers for doing what he called "the hardest job in the world." Steele addressed nearly 140 teachers and education support professionals during the first full day of the Republican Leaders Conference at NEA's headquarters in Washington, D.C. The former Maryland lieutenant governor promised to help quiet the political noise surrounding educational policy issues so more can be done to improve the quality of education in the United States. "I think the voices of teachers need to be raised just a little bit louder [in future legislative decisions] in saying, 'This is what we need in order to educate your children as we move forward,'" he said. For example, Steele called NCLB "a good idea poorly implemented." Further discussion of the law must "include you in the discussion to get your feedback," he said, garnering loud applause. Stressing the importance of parental involvement in children's education, Steele said parents must assist educators by emphasizing the importance of education to their children. His own mother worked long days for minimum wage at a laundry service but never failed to ask him each night if he'd done his homework, he said. "The education of your child doesn't end at 3:30," he said, drawing nods and applause from the conference attendees. An attorney by trade, Steele recounted his year as a high school teacher at Malvern Preparatory School in southeastern Pennsylvania as "one of the most profound and moving experiences I've ever had in my life" and one that shaped his opinions about the classroom. Educators' work is "fundamentally so important, it changes the nation, it changes the world entirely," he told the audience. In sharing his admiration, he put to rest one myth about the profession's grueling demands: "A lot of people don't know teachers actually do work during the summer." Elected Republican National Committee chairman in January 2009, Steele is believed to be the first RNC chairman to visit NEA's headquarters. About a third of NEA's 3.2 million members identify themselves as Republicans. "You're all Republicans?" he joked with the crowd after taking the lectern. "That is absolutely freakin' awesome." Steele began his 30-minute remarks by speaking about health care reform – an issue on which he has made headlines in recent weeks by butting heads with the Obama administration. He encouraged audience members – who traveled from across the country for the conference – to get involved when they head back home. That's what attendee Karen Bell plans to do. "I'm going to use some of his remarks when I go meet with my congressman," said Bell, an elementary school teacher in Hammond, Louisiana. Regardless of political party, Bell said educators need to be activists on behalf of public education. The third annual Republican Leaders Conference was designed to engage NEA's Republican members and equip them to advocate for public education. The conference included workshops, networking opportunities, and lobbying visits to Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
	NEA Republican Leaders Hit Capitol Hill As part of the NEA Republican Leaders Conference, NEA Republican Leaders spent an afternoon visiting their Republican elected officials on Capitol Hill. Many participants reported having very good meetings with their elected officials, and noted that many Republican legislators were surprised to learn of the activity of NEA Republican Members. It is critically important, however, notes NEA Chief Lobbyist, Randy Moody, that NEA Republicans don't stop there. He said if members participated in the Republican Leaders Conference and made a new contact with an elected official, they should follow up on that relationship. "Work to build a bridge with your Republican member of Congress," Moody says. "Through relationship building, you can serve as a resource for elected officials on issues affecting educators and public schools. To change the rhetoric that seems to persist in some circles about the value of educators and the public school system, it is critical that educators get involved in the discussion."
	NEA Republican Leaders Conference Participants Recognized at the Republican Main Street Partnership Dinner This year's Republican Leaders Conference coincided with the annual dinner of the Republican Main Street Partnership. The dinner featured an award presentation to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood, a Republican, and former Member of Congress representing Illinois' 18th congressional district. Each Republican Leaders Conference participant attended, along with several members of NEA's Government Relations staff, NEA Chief Lobbyist Randy Moody, and NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. During the dinner, the entire NEA contingent was recognized by Ohio Congressman Steve LaTourette and received a round of applause from the nearly 400 dinner attendees. NEA members also had a chance to mingle with the Members of Congress who were attending the dinner, including Repesentatives Mike Castle (Delaware), Pat Tiberi (Ohio), Judy Biggert (Illinois), and Lee Terry (Nebraska). This was the first time that such a large contingency of NEA Republicans have attended this dinner and, as the photos show, it was a huge success.
	Photos from NEA Republican Leaders Conference Available Online Photos from the NEA Republican Leaders Conference are available online at a special website created just for them: www.drop.io/rlc3. Feel free to download and enjoy these photos from this website. Please note, the website will be taken down on approximately October 31. Download the photos before it's too late!
	GOP Educators: We'll Fight For Public Schools By Emilie Openchowski, NEA Interactive Media Thursday, July 23, 2009 – That the National Education Association is now hosting its third Republican Leaders Conference may drop some jaws, but then again, so might the fact that almost one million of the organization's 3.2 million members identify themselves as Republicans. Leslie Dake, a high school secretary from Sioux City, Iowa said her principal was shocked that there were enough people to hold an entire conference. "There was a joke last year, at the conference," she said. "Somebody said they're going to the NEA Republican Leader's Conference, and the guy he was talking to said, 'Well, couldn't you hold that in a phone booth?'" NEA's conference is designed to engage its Republican members and equip them to advocate for public education. The conference includes workshops, networking opportunities, and lobbying visits to Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill. That's where attendees will head today, lobbying for increased school funding and support from politicians. "I believe in public education," Maryland educator and local leader Ted Payne said. "My values may not be the same as [NEA] relates to other issues, but I am very much a big supporter of public education. As it relates to public education, I don't see why we can't work together." Ken Mortland, a retired teacher in Bothell, Washington, couldn't agree more. "I'm a Republican, I'm pro-public education," he said. "I've never thought being a teacher and being a Republican had to be at odds with each other."
	Congressman Dave Reichert Delivers Well-Received Remarks At Republican Leaders Conference III Participants at the Republican Leaders Conference also had the opportunity to hear from NEA and WEA recommended Congressman Dave Reichert, a Republican from Washington State who has fought hard for educators in his years in Congress. Congressman Reichert shared with the RLC attendees stories from his life before Congress, when he served as the Sheriff who eventually caught the notorious serial murderer known as the Green River Killer. Reichert spoke about his passion for education and his strong belief that high-stakes testing should be deemphasized. As someone who struggled early in his very-successful career with high-stakes testing, Reichert said that he believes that educators must have other tools to use to determine whether a student is meeting his or her goals. This statement was met with a round of applause from the audience.
	Using the Voter List by Bob Carpenter, NEA Consultant, Vice President of American Viewpoint Consulting Attendees to the 2009 Republican Leadership Conference were asked to bring with them a copy of their precinct voter list…a list they had obtained from their local elections office or local party office and then enhanced by adding phone numbers, email addresses and party ID if not included. They were also asked to think about how they might use this list. Here is how I use my precinct list. When I began my campaign for Town Councilman in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland I obtained a list of all registered voters in the Town from the county elections office. My list was in Excel format, so sorting it any way I wished was easy. I divided up the Town by neighborhood, adding the name of each neighborhood to my list. This allowed me to sort the list, so that as I knocked on doors in any neighborhood, I would know how many doors I had to knock on (how long it would take and whether or not I needed help) and which houses to knock on and which to skip (no sense in going to non-voter houses). I added email addresses to the list. This allowed me to get information to potential voters quickly and without any cost. I sorted the list by registration date. This allowed me to send every new registrant a welcome letter. I sorted the list by party and sent every Republican a "Dear Fellow Republican" letter asking for their vote. Now that I am an elected Town Councilman, my voter list is more important than ever. I have gone back to the elections office and purchased a list of 2008 voters, so that I know which voters are most likely to turn out on Election Day…which voters I should be sure to contact. I also periodically update my voter list with new registrants, so that in 2012 when I am up for reelection, I have a complete list of voters. I also continually update email addresses, as I collect them. As I travel around town and meet new people, I make note of that on my list. A precinct list is only as valuable as the information that is included, whether that information comes from the election office or is enhanced by the holder of the list. What is the status of your list? And, how are you using it? Hopefully, you are using your list like I use mine…to greater involvement!
	Health Care Reform: Why It Matters We know that all Americans have been following the debate on health care over the last few months, and that as NEA Republicans, many of our readers may have questions about NEA's positions on health care reform. NEA has been very active in the debate on health care and supports a strong health care reform package that will ensure every American–including the 8 million children in our schools who lack health care –has access to health care. Did You Know? More than 46 million people in this country – including 8 million children – have no health coverage – and with the economy in a downturn, more will lose coverage unless we pass reform now. Health care premiums for 2008 cost, on average, $12,680 for a family of four. Between 1999 and 2008, health insurance premiums increased in cost by a cumulative 119 percent, while workers' earnings went up a cumulative 34 percent and overall inflation increased a cumulative 29 percent. Congress needs to pass reform this year. The public overwhelmingly supports reform – as do the President and key congressional leaders. Delay is the enemy of reform. Health care reform must ensure that every person in America has quality, affordable health care coverage. Not only is this a moral imperative, it is a key component of controlling spiraling health care costs. Sub-standard care is hurting millions of patients. Health care reform is a crucial ingredient for great public schools for all students. Students can't learn unless they come to school healthy. The lack of necessary medical services creates a serious impediment to learning. Families with access to regular medical care are more likely to keep the entire family healthy and create a better learning environment within the home. NEA continues to work with our allies in the House and the Senate to support health reform to ensure that every person in America has quality, affordable health care coverage. NEA opposes caps on coverage and we believe that health reform must guarantee a choice of plans and providers through a private health insurance plan (including one that employees may currently have through their employer) and a government sponsored public health insurance plan option. As we move into these next critical months, we know that this issue will continue to make headlines and generate controversy, but we want all of our members to know that NEA is advocating for the best interests of our members and the students they serve.


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