Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Spring Meetings Yield an Abundance of Information

Here is a brief report on both our final
local meeting of the 2013-2014 year and the
 District 8 meeting which followed soon after.
President Sandi Keyser welcomes us to the meeting
at Table on the Green.

State NCRSP President John Hoffman is our honored
guest today.

President Hoffman reviews our over-arching goals
of increasing membership and ensuring benefits.
He discussed our legislative agenda, including supporting
active teachers in the "Decline to Sign" effort and
other moves to protect and strengthen the teaching
profession in North Carolina.


Vivian Kelly led a moving memorial for several
long-time educators in Moore County, notably
Philip McMillan and Robert E. Lee.

Other highlights were the announcement that we
had once again achieved Gold Star status for our
district portfolio and that Celine Bullock of Union Pines
High School will receive this year's scholarship.
Even better, by the end of the district meeting, we had
surpassed our goal for the $750 scholarship.
District 8 Meeting
Leaders from throughout District 8 gather at West
End Methodist Church for annual meeting and
legislative update.

Gene Griffith, our legislative chair welcomes us
and introduces our guests from the legislature.

Rep. Pat Hurley states that she hopes to make amends
for some damage done to educators during the last
budget session.  She said that many things were part
of the budget that were never submitted as a bill, and
thus no input from most legislators was sought.

Members listen intently, as we are concerned not only
for retiree benefits, but for the health and survival of
the teaching profession that we hold so dear.

Rep. Ken Goodman of Richmond County is married
to a school superintendent, and is aware of some unwise
legislation that passed last year.  While acknowledging
budget constraints, he is hopeful some changes will be
made during the short session, which begins May 15.
One of our members, in an incisive observation, suggested
that the best thing the legislature could do would be to
repeal everything they did last year!

In other news, both Randolph and Moore County
units earned the coveted Gold Star award at state
convention.  If Moore County wins it for a third
year we will achieve Platinum status.

District President Sandi Keyser guided us through
a full agenda, next introducing state vice-president
Terry Mitchell. 


Terry explained in detail the reasons NCRSP must
convert from districts to regions beginning July 1, 2014.
For Moore County, this means a realignment including
counties all the way to New Hanover.  There is a
possibility that our new Region 6 will be split into A and B.

Joan Bass, our state Legislative Report Chair
reviewed  several pertinent items and reminded us
of the varied ways we can participate in electing
friends of education.

Pam Deardorf, our legislative lobbyist, spoke
passionately about the critical state of things in
the legislature and the need for grassroots input.

We all left our meeting feeling a sense of
urgency in our role as advocates for the 
profession we love, and better equipped to
play and active role in the important days ahead.

Monday, April 7, 2014

April Meetings for Local and District NCRSP



Dates to Remember for Moore County NCRSP:

Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Moore County's Local Unit Meeting at 11:00 at the Table on the Green Restaurant, Midland Country Club on Midland Road, Pinehurst.
This is our meeting and social gathering for the year.  We will have our meeting, order lunch from a special menu, hold a Raffle for the Scholarship Fund, have Door Prizes, and tentatively, our speaker will be our State President, John Hoffman.  Let's have a good turnout to support the restaurant and our speaker.

Monday, April 14, 2014
District 8 Members Annual Meeting.  This meeting will be a Legislative Round Table.
The meeting will be at West End United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on Highway # 73 East, West End.  All legislators of each county unit in District 8 are invited as well as our lobbyists, Pam Dearforf and Lacy Presnell, and State Vice President, Terry Mitchell.  Please invite friends and neighbors to make this meeting a success.  Please come prepared to ask questions and share our concerns with our legislators. 
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting will be from 10 until noon.