ECOEA...the link between your local
and the Ohio Education Association

Professional development, conferences, and scholarships are open to all members.
The East Central OEA district serves OEA members in Carroll, Columbiana, Holmes, Stark, Tuscarawas, and Wayne counties.
IMPORTANT DATES:
  • April 1, 2021-Deadline to apply ECOEA Spring Public Relations Grants and Internal Organizing Grants
  • April 1, 2021-Deadline to apply for ECOEA Quinn Scholarships
  • April 17, 2021-ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly-virtual
  • April 5, 12, 19, 26 & May 3-April Showers with NEA Member Benefits
  • May 6, 2021-OEA Spring Representative Assembly-virtual
  • June 1, 2021-Deadline to submit for ECOEA COVID grant
  • June 21-23, 2021-OEA Summer Leadership Academy
  • July 2-6, 2021-NEA Annual Representative Assembly-virtual
ECOEA EVENING WITH OUR LEGISLATORS

We didn't let COVID stop our annual event with the legislators; it just looked a little different this year like most things. Instead of a dinner and panel at LaPizzaria, we met on Zoom with our guests in breakouts and then large group panel discussion. There were 48 members and guests in attendance.
We welcomed the following guests:
  • Representative Scott Oelslager, HD 48
  • Representative Don Jones, HD 95
  • Representative Brett Hillyer, HD 98
  • State Board of Education member Dr. Christina Collins, District 5
  • State Board of Education member Michelle Newman, District 9
We welcomed from OEA:
  • OEA President Scott DiMauro
  • OEA Vice President Jeff Wensing
  • Isabel Bozada-Jones, OEA Governmental Services
  • Sarah Drinkard, LRC
  • Kelly Miller, LRC
Door prizes were won by Jacalyn Woods, Minerva LEA, Roxann Long, Wooster EA, Ramona Cochran, Lake LEA, and Ed Sims, Rittman EA.
It was nice to see a wide variety of locals represented at the event to talk about the different experiences in teaching through COVID. Very large locals, small locals, urban and rural, all have handled the response to teaching differently and our state legislators and school board members heard from members directly. Local associations represented at the event were:
  • Alliance EA
  • Canton Professional EA
  • Chippewa EA
  • Claymont EA
  • East Canton EA
  • East Holmes TA
  • Lake Local EA
  • Malvern EA
  • Minerva LEA
  • Newcomerstown TA
  • North Canton EA
  • Plain Local TA
  • Rittman EA
  • Southern Local TA
  • Tuscarawas Valley TA
  • Wayne JVS EA
  • Wellsville TA
  • Wooster EA
  • OEA Retired
You can read the questions that were pre-submitted or asked during the event. The questions have been sent to all members of the State General Assembly and the State Board of Education so that they know your concerns. Put Friday, March 4, 2022 on your calendar for next year's event at LaPizzaria in Canton
The William and Dolores Quinn Scholarships-
Applications are open now for the Quinn Scholarships honoring our first ECOEA Executive Director William Quinn and his wife Dolores who was the first ECOEA secretary. Mr. Quinn, a teacher and principal in the Canton City Schools, served as Executive Director for 29 years and was one of the founders of ECOEA.
There are two Quinn scholarships:
  • Member Scholarship-open to all members, chosen by lottery drawing from all applicants, this scholarship provides $500 by reimbursement for continuing education in the member's field. It can be used for tuition or conference fees. It may not be used for travel, books, food, or other extraneous expenses.
  • Child of a Member-open to all children of members who are enrolled in a course of study leading to a degree in education. This scholarship of $1,500 is paid directly to the university upon documentation. The scholarship is awarded by lottery drawing from all qualified applicants.
Both scholarship drawings will be held at the April ECOEA Executive Board meeting and awarded at the ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly. Deadline to apply is April 1, 2021. Use the button below to apply.
ECOEA SPRING
PUBLIC RELATIONS GRANTS
ECOEA is again offering a spring round of Public Relations Grants of up to $500 to help your local support their community. It's a win-win--your community benefits from your grant and your local benefits with the positive message it sends your community.
To be eligible, your local must have sent elected and sent delegates to the ECOEA RA last year and this must be for a first-time project. The deadline to apply is April 1 and will be awarded at the ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly on April 17.
ECOEA INTERNAL ORGANIZING GRANTS
Internal Organizing Grants of up to $500 are available for locals that elected and sent delegates to the ECOEA RA last year.
Internal Organizing Grants are for the use of the local to engage and retain members through projects within the local. Back-to-School breakfasts, summer picnic, member incentives, T-shirts, meeting attendance rewards, etc. are all reasonable ways to recognize your members by using Internal Organizing funds. Deadline to apply is April 1 and will be awarded at the April 17 ECOEA Spring RA.
March 2021 East Central OEA-Retired Briefs
Kathleen Purdy, OEA-Retired Advisory Council Rep
“S  P  R  I  N  G      H  A  S      S  P  R  U  N  G “
Welcome to our newest members to become pre-retired! Being a pre-retired member is so important to continue your advocacy beyond the classroom!
SENIOR SAFETY AWARENESS TIPS:
Choose a Home Caregiver carefully! Thefts of the elderly by caregivers and family members are on the rise. If you are looking to hire a home caregiver, keep these tips in mind:
1.    Use an agency that is bonded for hires and do background checks on their employees.
2.    Install a camera in the home if you suspect any type of abuse or property theft.
3.    Review bank accounts and other financial records every month for abnormal spending. Be cautious when choosing your Power of Attorney.
4.    Make a written inventory of your valuables. Check regularly for any missing items.
5.    Notice any changes in your friends? Call Adult Protective Services at 330. 643. 7217 if you suspect abuse or theft. Call police immediately if you feel threatened or suspect theft.

Support your ECOEA-Retired members vying to represent you at the NEA-RA. They are Carol Kinsey (Canton Professional Educators’ Association) and Kathleen Purdy (Plain Local Teacher’s Association).
                                          
OEA-Retired Celebrates Diversity with the Read Across America Grant Because of pandemic guidelines, the OEA-Retired has initiated an event for March by having volunteer members reading to students using a video.
Cindy Endres represented ECOEA-Retired on the Committee. A special thank you to our District Readers, Valerie Heban, who read three books: “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters” by John Steptoe, “So Far From the Sea” by Eve Bunting and “The Rough-Face Girl” by Rafe Martin and Kathleen Purdy for reading “All Because You Matter” by Tami Charles.
The videos will be available to OEA members during the month of March.
 
The STRS Elections are coming up in April. Please support our retirees on the ballot, Rita Walters and Robert Stein. Carol Correthers is running for the active seat. Vote- because it matters.
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Degrees, Not Debt!

Webinar Thursday March 25th at 6:30
Registration Link: tinyurl.com/degreesnotdebt2
Details: Join ONE and NEA Member Benefits to learn about repayment and forgiveness options, and together let's work towards a future of degrees, not student debt.
OHIO'S NEW EDUCATORS. O.N.E.
Kelli Repphun, Jackson Memorial EA and
Levi Kunselman, Wellsville EA
ONE Ambassadors
CALL FOR PRESENTERS-
ECOEA is looking for members to present relevant topics at our ECOEA Summer Leadership Workshop this summer. Our Summer Sessions will be held virtually on Thursday mornings and afternoons throughout the month of July. A stipend will be provided to member presenters. Use the button below to submit a title and description of your session for approval. Our members are awesome teachers!
Coming soon-
NEA Member Benefits April Showers

Choose a session on April 5, 12, 19, 26 or May 3 at 4:30 PM. Join NEA Member Benefits and be "showered" with information about dealing with student loan forgiveness! Click here for more information and links to register!
Retiring? Know before you go! Be sure you understand the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset that may have an adverse impact on your Social Security expectations.
NEA Member Benefits Affiliate Specialist Guy Kendall-Freas is super knowledgeable about all aspects of student debt and retirement advice. Guy will be your host in these on-line benefit sessions.
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ECOEA COVID ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO LOCALS-
Last year, ECOEA provided over $11,000 to local associations within ECOEA to assist with the purchase of PPE, sanitizing supplies, and member morale items needed because of the pandemic. Pictured are masks purchased by Tusky Valley TA with COVID funds provided by ECOEA last summer.
We are again offering grants to locals as we continue through this year of unusual teaching and learning conditions. Local presidents are invited to apply for this second round of funding which is available through June 1, 2021.
ECOEA Vacancies-
  • ECOEA Unit 1 on the OEA Board of Directors-open to any member from ECOEA Voting Unit 1
  • ECOEA Rep to the OEA Convention Planning Committee-open to any member
Please contact the ECOEA office for more information about these vacant positions. These will appear on the ballot of the ECOEA Spring RA.

The following positions and terms of office that will appear on the ballot of the ECOEA Spring RA are:
Officers (two-year terms):
  • ECOEA President (2021-2023) two-year term
  • ECOEA Vice President (2021-2023) two-year term
  • ECOEA Recording Secretary (2021-2023) two-year term

Executive Committee (three-year terms):
  • Columbiana County Rep #1 (2021-2024)
  • Stark County Rep #3 (2021-2024)
  • Wayne County Rep #1 (2021-2024)
  • Minority Rep (2021-2024)
  • ESP Rep #1 (2021-2024)
  • ESP Rep #2 (2021-2024)

ECOEA Representative to OEA Committees (three-year terms):
  • Resolutions Committee (2021-2024)
  • Legislative Committee (2021-2024)
  • Human & Civil Rights Committee (2021-2024)
  • Local Training & Development Committee (2021-2024)
  • Convention Planning Committee-vacancy (2020-2023)

OEA Board of Directors (three-year term)
  • ECOEA Unit 1-vacancy (2020-2023)
  • ECOEA Unit 2 (2021-2024)
Auto and Home Insurance Rep
Call Field Manager Beth Nagy
bnagy@calcas.com

Per ECOEA Policy 3.6 Access to Financial Reports-the monthly Executive Committee financial report is available to any member upon request.

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