From Vickie Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Hello Chapter Members,

Please see the agenda below for our April 19 chapter meeting 3-4pm in the Board Room at MCOE.

Superintendent Mary Jane Burke will be joining us promptly at 3:00 for a brief update.  Please try to arrive by then if at all possible.  Personnel Director Tracee Edmunds will also stop by to answer any questions you may have.

In addition, we will vote for our Area B Alternate Director at this meeting.  There are two candidates, whose names and candidate statements can be viewed by clicking HERE.

I hope to see you on the 19th!

Chapter Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

3:00-4:00pm, Board Room

Approval of agenda
Secretary’s report
Treasurer’s report

Chapter business
• Superintendent & Personnel Director visit
• Annual Conference Attendance
• Alternate Area B Director Election


Good of the Order
Adjournment


Next Chapter Meeting:  June 7 - Year End Celebration at Hopmunk, 4-6pm

CSEA/Recognition Picnic 5.6.17

Please join us for this special event in recognizing CSEA’s Classified Employees and the tireless union activists who volunteer each and every day helping others, who takes pride in protecting our human and workplace rights, who passionately believes in the livelihood of others and breathes the union’s mission, who are always bragging about what the union can to do for you and always encouraging everyone to participate in actions of the union…spread the word – all members welcome, this is a CSEA family affair!

CalPERS seminar - April 6

From Vickie Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Dear Members,

Please see the attached flyer (click HERE) I just received today regarding the retirement seminar on Thursday, hosted by San Rafael Chapter 304.  This is a great opportunity to receive important retirement-related information brought to you by CSEA Member Benefits.

Also, watch for upcoming info. related to our April 19 Chapter meeting, which Superintendent Mary Jane Burke and Personnel Director Tracee Edmunds will attend.
I will be sending out an e-mail soon.

Happy Tuesday!

Celebrate labor leader's legacy

Cesar Chavez still serves as inspiration to continue fighting for worker rights more than two decades after his death. We remember this great leader and celebrate his legacy during March, as we observe the anniversary of his birth.

Chavez was born near Yuma, Ariz. on March 31, 1927. He and his family worked the fields of California from Brawley to Oxnard, Atascadero, Gonzales, King City, Salinas, McFarland, Delano, Wasco, Selma, Kingsburg and Mendota. He studied civil disobedience and nonviolence, and eventually became an organizer for the Community Service Organization, where he worked on voter registration projects. In 1962, he founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW).

By 1970, the UFW got grape growers to accept union contracts and had effectively organized most of that industry. Chavez's tireless leadership and non-violent organizing actions included the Delano grape strike, numerous hunger strikes that focused national attention on the working conditions endured by farm workers, and the famous 340-mile march from Delano to Sacramento in 1966. The hunger strikes throughout his life took a toll on Chavez body and he died in his sleep on April 23, 1993 near Yuma at 65 years of age.

Chavez’s persistence, hard work, faith and willingness to sacrifice of himself helped the downtrodden farm workers of that era earn collective bargaining rights and are the reason why Chavez is still widely believed to be one of the labor movement’s greatest leaders. Join CSEA as we remember and celebrate what Chavez did for farm workers, and to advance the causes of the labor movement.

REMINDER: Chapter meeting tomorrow

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Please be reminded of our CSEA Chapter meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb 15 from 3pm to 4pm in the Board Room.

Hope to see you there!

Chapter minutes and other info

From Karen Ayala, Chapter 327 President:

Hello Everyone:

Please click here for the chapter minutes from this month’s meeting.  Also, Markey Lees, our Labor Rep has asked me to list the info below for you. This should be my last email to everyone as your Chapter leader, so I will take the opportunity to say thank you to everyone for your continued support over the years during my presidency. I appreciate all of you and hope for the best for you in the future. You are in great hands with the new President, Vicki Ascher and the new, yet seasoned Chief Union Steward, Adriane Lommel. Good Luck to all of you. Vicki will email you next month the phone number of where she can be reached if need be. Please remember communication with each other is always first and best! 

Be safe always, happy holidays and the best new year for everyone!

From Markey Lees:

California Classified School Employees Teacher Credentialing Program 

Grant Opportunity – Applications Due January 12th at 4:30 pm

Sonoma County Office of Education has been awarded the California Classified School Employees to Teacher Credentialing Program Grant on behalf of interested districts in the region!

Commission on Teacher Credentialing grant funding is available to provide financial assistance for up to five years to current classified staff to become credentialed teachers. Funds pay for college tuition/intern credential tuition, books, and fees (approximately $2,800/year) and to provide guidance/support and credential program preparation.

This program could be particularly helpful for districts with current classified staff who already have a bachelor’s degree and want to become a credentialed teacher. This program would pay more than half of the tuition and include fees for the North Coast School of Education’s intern teacher credential program.

Eligibility: Must be a classified employee at time of application with an AA or 2 full years of college. 

Classified Staff: Any classified employee is eligible to apply for the program. We received fewer slots than requested in the state application. This means, classified staff will be selected based on:

• Districts’ needs

• Alignment of credentials to be earned with districts' needs 

• Districts' support for preparation to become a certificated teacher.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Sherry Navarro snavarro@scoe.org or Karen Ricketts kricketts @ scoe.org

How can you apply?

Complete this short application at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TCPGrantJan2017 by January 12th at 4:30 pm.

Email one letter of district support and one letter of recommendation to Kathy Parnay at kparnay @ scoe.org by January 12th at 4:30 pm.

Funding Announcements:

Funding announcements and selections will be made by January, 13th at 5:00 pm.

Thank you for interest!

Karen Ricketts

Executive Director

North Coast School of Education

Sonoma County Office of Education

5340 Skylane Boulevard

Santa Rosa, CA 95403

(707) 524-2814 phone

(707) 524-2815 fax

webpage: ncsoe.org

Planning Retirement Workshop-SAVE THE DATE

From Karen Ayala, Chapter 327 President:


Good Morning:

As promised, there will be a "Planning Retirement" Workshop on February 28, 2017 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm in the Marin Room at the Marin County Office of Education.
Please email Vicki Ascher (vascher @ marinschools.org) to sign up.  If you have any questions before the Holiday break, please go ahead and email me (kayala @ marinschools.org).
Happy Holidays to all of you and be safe!