ECOEA January 2024 Newsletter

UPCOMING DATES:

January 1-March 1 ECOEA Nominations period for expiring terms
January 27-Winter Workshop on Zoom
January 29-Deadline for OEA Declaration of Candidacy Board of Directors Unit 2
January 31-Deadline for OEA Scholarships & Awards
February 22-24-OEA AOI, Columbus, register now for an ECOEA scholarship if you have not attended before!
March 1-Deadline to register & pay deposit for Legislative Dinner, deadlines for Quinn Scholarships, PR Grants, Internal Organizing Grants, deadline for Letter of Intent for ECOEA Spring elections
March 8-ECOEA Legislative Dinner, LaPizzaria, 6:00 PM
April 12-Bowling Party Fundraiser for the OEA Fund at Park Centre Lanes, Canton
April 13-ECOEA Spring RA-Stark State College
May 11-12-OEA Spring RA, Columbus Convention Center
June 20-22-SAVE THE DATE! OEA Summer Academy
July 3-6-NEA Annual RA, Philadelphia

ECOEA WINTER WORKSHOP-There's still time to register!

Join us for a cozy morning zoom where a variety of financial topics important to our members are presented. Build your schedule based on your financial literacy needs:

Understanding Your Paycheck with North Canton EA President Julie Nelson
STRS sessions (two sessions--early and late career) presented by member education specialists Tamla Cole and Christine Elliott from STRS
SERS session by member education presenter Cameron Vaughan
Student Loan Forgiveness by Guy Kendall-Freas from NEA Member Benefits
457 Deferred Compensation, a tax-free alternative to the 403B presented by Tom Tornabene

PD certificates for the hours you attend, door prizes, and FREE to all members, all from the comfort of your home. Grab your hot chocolate and join us in your jammies! Register now at the blue button below!

ECOEA WINTER WORKSHOP REGISTRATION

OEA Advocacy & Organizing Institute February 22-24, 2024

Register now to attend OEA's winter training event in Columbus where you can choose from a variety of member advocacy topics such as grievance and collective bargaining, and organizing issues such as workplace safety and diversity. AOI is open to all members interested in developing their leadership skills.

ECOEA has scholarships available with preference given to members who have not attended an OEA training before. Apply for a scholarship today at the green button.

Link to OEA AOI Registration

ECOEA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION TO AOI

ECOEA will hold our annual Legislative Dinner at LaPizzaria Restaurant in Canton on Friday, March 8, 2024. Join us for dinner and conversation with area legislators, and then hear what they have to say during the moderated panel discussion about topics important to public educators.

The dinner is open to all members for no charge; guests are welcome for a $25 guest fee. See full details and make your reservation at the red button.

We look forward to seeing you there!

LEGISLATIVE DINNER REGISTRATION

OEA-RETIRED ADVISORY COUNCIL NEWS

Retirees continue to work for issues for ALL members. See the upcoming webinar below.

Do you know about WEP/GPO? This is a huge issue for members who had a public sector job and are expecting to collect Social Security as part of their financial plan when they retire. Also, did you know that you cannot collect your spouse's Social Security if they pass before you? Don't be surprised; be informed! Join the upcoming webinar on January 22, to learn more.

QUINN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MEMBERS AND CHILD OF A MEMBER

Applications are now being accepted for the Quinn Scholarships. Two scholarships are offered, both chosen by lottery drawing from all qualified applicants. The Member Scholarship is for $500 and is open to all members who wish to continue their education. The Scholarship can be used for tuition or conference registration fees and is paid by reimbursement upon successful completion of the class.

The Child of a Member Scholarship is for $1,500 and is for a student enrolled or accepted in a program leading to a degree in education.

The scholarships are named in honor of William and Dolores Quinn-the first Executive Director and Executive Secretary of ECOEA. Mr. Quinn was the ECOEA Executive Director for 36 years, beginning in 1959 when ECOEA was founded. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2024.

QUINN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

ECOEA EXPIRING TERMS AND VACANCIES

The ECOEA expiring terms and vacancies for 2024 will be elected at the ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Stark State College. According to ECOEA policy, any eligible member who would like to their name on the ballot, must file a Letter of Intent for their desired position. The Letter of Intent should be filed with the ECOEA Business Manager no later than Friday, March 1, 2024. The Letter of Intent may be filed electronically or hard copy through the mail but it must be received by the deadline. County Representatives must be from a local in that county to be eligiible. All expiring term positions are for a three-year term. The Letter of Intent is at the black button below. There are no nominations from the floor except for positions that have no declared candidate.

Also on the ballot is the OEA Board of Directors member for ECOEA Unit-2, three-year term beginning July 15, 2024 through July 14, 2027. A Declaration of Candidacy must be filed with OEA by the January 29. 2024, deadline in order to appeare on the ballot. A copy of the Declaration of Candidacy is at the gray button below. Only ECOEA members from ECOEA Unit 2 are eligible to run.

Expiring ECOEA Executive Committee terms (2024-2027):

Columbiana County Rep #1
Stark County Rep #3 (correction)
Wayne County Rep #1
Education Support Professional (ESP) #1
Education Support Professional (ESP) #2
MInority Member

Expiring OEA Board of Directors (2024-2027):

ECOEA Unit-2

Vacant Executive Committee (2023-2026):

Carroll County Rep

ECOEA Representative to OEA Standing Committees (2024-2027):

Legislative Committee
Resoutions Committee
Local Training and Development Committee
Human and Civil Rights Committee

ECOEA LETTER OF INTENT

DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNIT 2

ECOEA INTERNAL ORGANIZING GRANTS

Internal Organizing Grants of up to $500 are available to eligible locals to strengthen and retain membership. Grant proposals should promote member engagement in the local. Examples of past grants are listed on the ECOEA Website along with the link to the grant application. Deadline to apply is March 1, 2024. Activities and documentation must be completed by December 31, 2024.

ECOEA INTERNAL ORGANIZING GRANT INFORMATION

ECOEA SPRING PUBLIC RELATIONS GRANTS

ECOEA will offer another round of Public Relations Grants of up to $500 to promote the image of your local by giving back to your community. Only locals that elected and sent delegates last year (2022-2023) are eligible. Locals that received a Fall PR grant are ineligible for a spring grant. Visit the ECOEA website to see past grant projects and a link to the application. Deadline to apply is March 1, 2024.

ECOEA PUBLIC RELATIONS GRANT INFORMATION

Did you know that the Pro Football Hall of Fame has field trips for students in grades K-12? They have a wonderful list of in-person and virtual field trips, teacher guides in all disciplines, Q&A sessions with Hall of Famers, mini-training camps, and more! Their mission is "Honor the Greatest of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence Together".

To find out more, you can reach out to their Youth, Education and Leadership Team at Education@ProFootballHOF.com.

Website ecoea.ohea.us

ECOEA Office Phone (330) 499-8587

ECOEA Email ecoea@sbcglobal.net