ECOEA is the link between OEA, your local and you!

Professional development, conferences, and scholarships are open to all members.

In July I had the privilege of serving as a delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly in Houston. This was my fifth RA and it is always so impressive to be in the room with over 8,000 educators from all across the country. President Lily Eskelsen-Garcia always addresses the delegation and stresses our power as the largest labor union in the country . We belong to an association with over three million members! Three million educators who are working everyday to educate America.

Today, across the country, Americans are celebrating Labor Day.

Having Labor Day off of work is about more than the county fair, mattress sales or even helping us ease into the school year. It's a time to recognize the accomplishments of unions. We have the chance to celebrate the rights gained through the labor movement over the last 100 years! Here are just a few of the rights that unions have gained and protected.

How are you contributing to the protection of these rights? Do you know what your local collective bargaining agreement says? Have you attended an Association meeting in the last year? Have you opened Ohio Schools Magazine ? The strength of our union is only through the power of our membership. While the new school year always brings new challenges; I hope you will find ways to be informed of what is going on with your union-- at the local, district, state, or national level.

Our ECOEA newsletters will share examples of how your union is working for you and more importantly, ways that you can be an informed and involved member. Labor Day is not just one day off of work in September. It is a reminder that there is still work to be done. Our Association must continue to gain and protect rights for our educators and students. Happy Labor Day!

Julie Nelson

ECOEA President

IMPORTANT DATES:

What is ECOEA and why am I getting this newsletter?

The East Central Ohio Education Association is one of the ten governance districts of the Ohio Education Association. We represent members in Carroll, Columbiana, Holmes, Stark, Tuscarawas, and Wayne Counties and our officers and representatives come from the membership located in those counties. We provide leadership opportunities, scholarships, and professional development within our district as well as connect and facilitate activities with the Ohio Education Association.

ECOEA officers and representatives are elected at the Spring ECOEA Representative Assembly where delegates gather to do the work of our district association. We encourage your local association to elect delegates this fall to the Ohio Education Association Representative Assembly so that your local association's voice can be heard.

You are receiving this monthly electronic newsletter because you are a member of ECOEA and are invited to participate in our activities. Our activities are paid for through your association dues. We invite you to attend our workshops, apply for scholarships and become a leader in your local, district, state and national organization.

The ECOEA Executive Committee meets monthly through the school year at our office at 129 Easton St. NE, Canton. Pictured below are President Julie Nelson, North Canton EA; Vice President Spencer Geraghty, Canton Professional EA; and Recording Secretary, Kelli Green, Perry Classroom TA. Business Manager is Valerie Heban, OEA-Retired, from North Canton EA.

Our next Professional Development Event-

ECOEA Fall Roundtable-A Legal Updat e will be held at the Hartville Kitchen on Monday, October 28, 2019 . Join us for dinner and PD led by Attorney Kathleen McKinley as she brings valuable information regarding court cases and changes to law that you need to be aware of in your job as an educator.

There is no charge to attend but you do need to submit a deposit of $10 that is returned when you attend.

Come for the dinner, door prizes, and one hour of PD plus great networking with other educators from our district.

Non-member guests may attend for a $15 fee.

Deadline is October 23rd for reservations and receipt of deposit OR when capacity is reached. Register today at the link below! Don't miss this event!

Augusta Unit Scholarships of $500 are open to all members for continuing education. The scholarships are awarded by lottery drawing from each of the three voting units in ECOEA. The winners will be drawn at the ECOEA Fall Representative Assembly on November 9th. The scholarships are named after long-time ECOEA leader and advocate David Augusta from Louisville EA. Application is easy and can be done online at the ECOEA website. Deadline to apply is November 1st . Use the button below to apply!

Public Relations Grants of up to $500 are available from ECOEA. The goal of a Public Relations Grant is to promote and enhance the image of your local in your community. You can use the funds to participate in community events, fundraisers, service projects, and other creative ways to let your community know that your members support them.

This is a competitive application process and the deadline to apply is October 1st . You must have the approval of your local president to apply and your local association had to have elected and sent delegates to the ECOEA Representative Assembly in the previous year. Grants will be awarded at the ECOEA Fall Representative Assembly on November 9th.

Use the link below to read more about the ECOEA Public Relations Grant process and link to the application. Last year ECOEA awarded over $4,500 to local associations to support community projects around the district.

Congratulations to Morgan Steinbach, Plain Local TA, for becoming the O.N.E . ambassador to the ECOEA district. Morgan received extensive training this summer to become part of the ONE team. She will be reaching out to new educators in the ECOEA district on social media and through your local associations with activities and support. She also serves on the ECOEA Executive Committee as Stark County Rep #2. Good luck in your new role Morgan!

It's been a busy summer!

Delegates from ECOEA attended the NEA Representative Assembly in Houston July 2-July 7. Representing ECOEA were:

Over 90 members attended and presented at the ECOEA Summer Leadership Workshop at RG Drage on Monday, July 15. Topics included OEA Treasurers' Training, Code of Conduct for Educators, Mandatory Reporting, and Google Your Way to a Stress-Free Day. Member presenters were Stefanie Lyons, Plain Local TA, Brian Richeson, Plain Local TA, Mary Grunder, Minerva Local EA, Gretta Patrick, North Canton EA, and Julie Nelson, North Canton EA. Thanks to our presenters and members for making this a successful day!

Congratulations to Angela Stewart, Past President of ECOEA , and current NEA Director #4, pictured above left with NEA President Lily Eskelsen-Garcia at the EI World Congress. Angela was chosen to attend the Education Internationale's 8th World Congress in Bangkok, Thailand this summer. The World Congress meets every four years and represents over 32 million educators in 172 countries. Read more about her trip in the Times Reporter at the link below.

Angela has served ECOEA in many capacities, beginning as a Tuscarawas County Rep, OEA Board of Directors, and now as an NEA Director. Due to a job change this year, she has moved out of the ECOEA District and will now be in the Central District where she will continue her advocacy for our students and members. We will miss you, Angela! Good luck in your new job!

ECOEA Representative Assembly Incentive Grants of $250 are available to encourage local associations to elect and send delegates to the ECOEA and OEA Representative Assemblies. Locals who have not elected and sent delegates for the past five years are eligible to apply.

Does your local send delegates so that your local is represented at the district and state level when policy is decided and officers elected? Delegate elections must take place in early fall with results sent to OEA by October 10th.

NEA Member Benefits has a new tool available free to all members and their familes that can identify which of the variety of repayment plans are most economically advantageous and available for each member's situation. The tool also outlines the steps necessary to receive student loan forgiveness. Use this button to find out more!

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

Check us out on Social Media. ECOEA is everywhere!