November 12, 2019
Midland Paras Hit Organizing Goals
The Midland Federation of Paraprofessionals celebrated reaching 100% membership in all of their secondary buildings Thursday night. Congratulations to Building Representatives Denise Dekker and Jodi Spear for meeting 100% of their membership goals. Several building representatives celebrated meeting 50% of their membership goals as well. Great work Midland Paras!
Register Now for the December Union Building Institute!
Our next UBI is coming up on December 7, and you can sign up now by following this link. In addition to the 4 core courses:
- Union Foundations
- Member Organizing
- Collective Bargaining & Contract Enforcement
- Coalitions & Political Action
We will also offer advanced workshops on:
- Building the Organizing Structures of your Local: Mapping, Charting, Turf and Data
- Creative Actions: Songs, Art, Drama and Media to Build Unity and Power
Calling All Support Staff!
The AFT is calling all school support staff! Join us for an online focus group Thursday, November 21, from 7-8 p.m. EST to help shape your union’s priorities. Participation in the online forum will also enter you in a lottery to win a trip to see the AFT’s presidential forum.
How do we lift up our profession? What does investing in our public schools look like? How do we make sure our working conditions are safe and welcoming? What professional development do you need to do your job? We want to hear from you!
RSVP by going to: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/join-us-for-a-digital-focus-group-2
Local Leader Spotlight
Jamie Jankowski, the treasurer of the Hamtramck Federation of Teachers, is not only working hard to keep the HFT books in order, she has also attended every one of the in person and online financial management training sessions we’ve offered this year. 100% attendance deserves a shout out – thank you Jamie (and all the other hard-working local treasurers) for all you do!
Win a Class Set of To Kill a Mockingbird
Calling all book lovers! The AFT and First Book are giving away class sets of an AFT limited edition of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird!
If you are an AFT member teaching in a Title I or Title I-eligible school, you can win a set for your classroom or school library by:
- Answering a discussion question (worth one entry each) here:
- Uploading a Lesson Plan (worth 10
entries!) here:
- Upload a lesson plan that you use to teach To Kill a Mockingbird.
- Upload a lesson plan that you use to teach your favorite book.
Read the book giveaway entry details and terms and conditions. Drawings are held every two weeks, and you can enter more than once! We’ll look for 25 winners on Nov. 15, Nov. 29 and Dec. 13, so enter often! Not working in a Title I school? Stay tuned for another giveaway opportunity, coming soon!
Reminder: Check Out AFTVotes to Make Your Voice Heard
As you may or may not know, the national AFT has been doing a lot to involve members in the decision about whether or not, and who, our union will endorse in the Democratic Presidential Primary. Check out aftvotes.org for information on the candidates and ways you can get involved.
Upcoming Professional Development
Enhancing Student Development Essential Skills for the Classroom and Beyond
December 7, 2019
8:30-4:00 p.m.
AFT Michigan Office
This workshop will provide strategies for educators to integrate social-emotional learning activities into everyday content instruction, no matter what subject or grade level.
AFT Michigan members will receive 6 SCECHs after completion of this workshop.
Click here to register.
In Solidarity,
David Hecker, President
