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".