And in the End----

Well it is over. The last day was very busy. The NEA Fund for Children and Education auction was a huge success. People look forward to my "witty" comments. If I say so myself I can be pretty funny- outrageous but funny. Besides, I love doing the auction.
During the day we finished the legislative program, the resolutions and the latter half of the 97 new business items. All the winning candidates gave speeches and Lenny very graciously said his goodbyes. His loss is a loss for NEA. Earl, a cross between Truman Capote and Dom DeLuise, is a loose cannon.
This could be my last RA. It is very competitve to get elected as a retiree. There are usually 40 people running for 11 slots. What the heck, I will go for it!
Now I need to get ready for Africa. I had my last shot today. Chicago by tomorrow will be a vague memory. It is however, "a toddlin' town"! BTW, I never did see Frank Sinatra, He must have been in Las Vegas. Maybe another time.

Delegates at work. Kay Roberts, in front, will be 97 in Sept.

The Malden Crew- Gerry, Vin, Kathy, Pam, Bonnie, Marguerite, Paula and Karen. The members in Malden are lucky. They have a truly dedicated and hard working group.

That Toddlin' Town

Flags on the Navy Pier.

Busy, Busy and More Busy!

The last 2 days have been very tiring. Yesterday started with campaigning for Len Paillilo. Our caucus was canceled as we needed to be in the hall seated to hear the Vice President. I was told that the first bus was at 7:30. It was at 7 but, no problem. I waited for 2 1/2 hours in line to go through secruity. The agent checking bags in my line wight have been twelve. Anyway Junior emptied my camera case and looked for a false bottom. He was also making everyone drink from their water bottles.(no one clutched thier throat, fell to the ground and gasped for air.
One seated, we waited another hour and the mmod was pretty festive for the most part. Biden finally spoke around 10:45. He was very good. He talked of repecting teachers and letting them make decisions in their jobs. Once he left we resumed business as usual.
Voting was over at 3:30. Len lost by a lot. I can't figure it out. I counted states that had endorsed him and he should have won. It certainly made a very somber mood in the delegation. People in the delegation worked very hard.
Last night was dinner with Cambridge at the Chicago Chop House. Another filet, lovely atmosphere, Cambridge paid. Yahoo!!! Thank you Cambridge.
Today was another busy day. The delegates passed the policy statement on teacher evaluation. It follows the MTA plan quite closely. The delegates also voted to endorse President Obama for a second term and voted to assess members an additional $10 for a ballot initiative fund to help fight ballot questions in states across the country. Busy today.
Tonight I fore went (I think that is a word)supper and went to the White Sox game. It was a terrific game and a very nice stadium. The  rest of the evening I just relaxed. The city is mobbed and it was time to go in.
Last day tomorrow. Looking forward to going home.

Waiting for Joe!

Dancing while waiting for Joe!

A couple of Malden Delegates showing their enthusiasm.

President van Roekel introducing Vive President Biden

The VP delievering his speech

Out!

Cellular Field

Night view out my window. Fabulous!
Good Night!!

A Blur of Meetings!

The last 2 days have been a blur. Yesterday was all day talking about resolutions. Resolutions are the beliefs of the NEA. Commas, periods and will/shall are all crucial issues in the resolutions.  Unfortunately, it can be tedious and I was able to watch at least 3 pieces of paint peel off the wall.

Today was the first day of the representative assembly-10,000 people in one room(really about 7750). Very impressive.! Today we approved the standng rules which govern the meeting. We passed a several new business items:

1. NBI A- gives a list of changes that NEA would like to see in the No Child Left Behind Law and launchs a campaign that would affect these changes.
2. NBI B-which directs the NEA President to commnicate "agressively" to President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan how unhappy we are about some of the policies that they have developed.
3. NBI 10-which directs NEA to define school and workplace bullying and giudline on how to prevent it.

We also had a presentation by the President of Wisconson (WEAC) and the 14 democatic legislators who fled Wisconson during the anti union attack by Gov. Scott Walker. We have a candidate from Massachusetts-Len Paillilo- who is running for re-election to the NEA Executive Committee. We wore shirts, held signs and chanted, "Do it again, vote for Len." The voting is today.
It was a very full day! Well, I am up early. Vice President Biden speaks today and we have to go through the tight security!

Delegates with our "Len" shirts

Some of the almost 8,000 delegates

Vice President Lily Eskelson presiding over the Standing Rules

President Dennis van Roekel's keynote address

View from my hotel room

Remmeber these from the Bob Newhart Show?

Windy, Hail and Difficult Decisions

The Navy Pier

Today, Massachusetts held its first caucus. It went well. We voted to recommend that NEA endorse Barrack Obama for re-election. We voted to endorse the NEA policy statement on teacher evaluation (It is much like the one that MTA gave to the DESE as a guideline.) We also voted to support Bylaw Amendment 3 which would add a $10 assessment to the dues for 5 years to help fight initiative petitions and onorous ballot questions like Massachusetts' question 1.
I am doing an auction to raise money for the NEA Fund for Children and Education. (Our PAC.) I can do this now that I am no longer a public employee.
This afternoon we went on a "tall ship" cruise on Lake Michigan. It was a perfect day- windy, sunny and warm. We also go to spend an hour on the Navy Pier.
The Malden Crowd consists of  me, Marguerite Gonsalves-MEA President, Bonnie Page- MEA vice president, Karen Razzino-Malden High, Kathy DeVito, Paula Higgins from Beeebe, Vin Holquist from Linden.
Tonight it poured and we had golf ball sized hail. Unbelieveable. I went to a restaurant called EATT. I had eaten here before. Unfortunately, I had the same waiter as last time who told me that everything on the menu wasn't very good except the Porterhouse steak and the pork chops- the 2 most expensive dinners on the menu. As my credit card was still in shock from last nights steak, I had the Classic Burger which was a bacon burger with a fried egg on it. Different.
Anyway, time to go to bed. Tomorrow is a full day of decision making.

The Massachusetts Caucus

MTA Vice President Tim Sullivan and President Paul Toner

A moment to  take in the beauty of Chicago 

Vin, Karen, Marguerite, Paula from Malden and Marie from Cambridge

The "Tall Ship"

Jonathan Livingston Lakegull

Resolutions and the $110.00 steak

Hi Everyone.
Today was the first meeting of the NEA Resolutions Committee. The big issue of the day is the NEA policy statement on Teacher Evaluation. It is very controversial because it include the use of test score but they need to be bargained as to their use and importance. It was a very heated discussion. Tomorrow it will be discussed in the Massachusetts Caucus and Saturday by the 10,000 delegates. This will make for an interesting meeting.
Tonight I went to dinner to a restaurant called Maestro's. It was loud and dark and I had forgotten my glasses. I was, however, able to read the price list. I really have to focus on how good a piece of steak it was. I am not sure I could not have bought the whole cow but I certainly got the best piece.
The architecture in Chicago is fantastic. Here are a few shots:

The "L"

The River North

The skyline from Chinatown

Finally Arrived! Traffic And More Traffic!

I finally got here. The traffic from the airport was staggering. But now it is nice. The weather is beautiful but hot-high 80's.

 Say it all!

 The Real Chicago

 Wrigley Scoreboard

San Francisco's Barry Zito

I went to the Cubs game tonight. Wrigley Field is really nice and right in the city. The Cubs lost but it was fun just the same.
Outdoor cafes and retaurants abound. Great City!! No Frank Yet!

Will Frank Sinatra Be Here?

Doobee Doobee Dooo! DooDoo Dee Dah! Getting Ready for the NEA Representative Assembly. This is our yearly meeting when we get to see how the rest of the country lives and sees education.

Pictures From Last Year's RA in New Orleans, LA

Opening Session 10, 000 Delegates from the 50 States

A Hungry Delegate!

Some of the delgates on the floor.

NEA VP Lili Eskelsen sings.

Still looking for Frank!

The next edition will be from Chicago on June 28th and "All That Jazz".