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September 6, 2005 |
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The WEA produces this electronic
newsletter in an effort to share timely information with our members.
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SPECIAL
EDITION—
NEA
Hurricane Relief Plans WEA
has been receiving numerous contacts from concerned members, asking how
they can help provide relief for Hurricane Katrina victims. NEA has
been working hard on an organized response to this disaster.
The
NEA Department Directors met this morning to finalize the plans and
prepare for execution. NEA President Reg Weaver wanted you to know
immediately:
1.
We
hope to raise $1,000,000 to support school employees and children who were
impacted by the hurricane. In order to help get assistance to where
it is needed as quickly and effectively as is humanly possible, NEA's
Health Information Network [a 501(c)(3) organization] has agreed to serve
as a centralized location to which members and affiliates can send
donations. Checks should be made
payable to NEA HIN/Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund,
2.
On
the NEA website, we will have a bulletin board for affected school
employees to list their needs and donors to match their contributions. We
should have that capability for members only by the end of the day and for
the public in a few days.
3.
We
will have an adopt-a-school website on
nea.org to receive requests for
schools who want to adopt an affected school in the next few days. Working
with state affiliates, we will match these schools.
4.
We
are setting up a toll-free line at NEA to handle school employee requests.
We will know that number by the end of the day.
5.
We
are working with Member Benefits and Member Insurance Trust to forgive
premiums for 6 months to affected members, offer interest-free loans, and
offer any other financial benefit possible. We will know by the end of the
week if we can do this.
6.
We
are inviting our business partners and minority advocate groups to partner
with us on assistance.
7.
We
are working with Dollar General and AASL to offer grants to school
libraries that are affected.
8.
Currently, NEA
Foundation is administering $5,000 grants to disadvantaged schools. We
need to get this out to affected locals since their deadline is September
15th.
9.
We
will be posting all kinds of information on
nea.org, so please use that as a
source.
10.
NEA
staff has offered the Red Cross in DC to take the children in the
evacuation center on a back-to-school shopping trip, as well as to set up
a library in the center. For those states receiving evacuees, you may want
to do something similar. Just contact the local Red Cross.
11.
NEA
GR is researching all pertinent regulations and laws and will be
advocating for the best application that benefits the public schools.
12.
Remember to take care
of our members and staff who are experiencing this event personally or
with family, as well as those who are watching this horrific event. They
need to talk about this. They need comfort. Reach out and make sure your
colleagues are okay.
13.
Finally, NEA is
deploying staff to the affected states as well as to those who are
receiving significant evacuees.
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