NEA-Alaska


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For Our Members —

Candidates for NEA-Alaska President Barbara Angaiak Ron Fuhrer Deedie Sorensen	Candidates for NEA-Alaska Vice President Richard Lum Tim Parker
Candidates for NEA-Alaska President
Barbara Angaiak I am ready to be your next president. My experience and working knowledge of NEA-Alaska has prepared me to serve you. During the last four years as your vice-president, it has been my responsibility to learn as much and do as much as possible to prepare for being president. In addition to the official requirements of being vice president, such as chairing the budget committee, chairing the constitution and by-laws committee, and serving as a trustee for the NEA-Alaska Health Trust, my opinions and ideas have been incorporated into the leadership team approach that has worked well. I am F.I.T. to Lead for these reasons: Focus- I understand the issues facing school district employees in Alaska and am ready to make our issues the highest priority. Integrity- I believe in honesty and have no “hidden” agenda. My purpose in running is simply to serve and to lead by example to achieve our goals. Teamwork- My record of working with members, staff and other leaders speaks for itself. I value the opinion of others and seek it out. This has always been my method of problem solving. The importance of making your voice heard by voting cannot be understated. We must keep focused on our internal need to strengthen each local association and we must keep focused on our external need to use our strength to build coalitions and assure fair and equitable treatment for members, students and our schools in Alaska. Barb Angaiak, your next NEA-Alaska President.
Ron Fuhrer Personal Data: 27 years married, 26 years teaching & coaching, 2 children NEA-Alaska Experience: 28 year member of AEA/NEA-Alaska, 17 year DA delegate, 12 year trustee on NEA-AK Health Trust (founding trustee), 6 year NEA-AK Board of Directors AEA Experience: 20 years working with Employee Rights Committee), 4 bargaining teams, 2 terms as Vice President of Communications, Current President Public Speaking Experience: Rotary Clubs, Lions Club, Kiwanis, State School Board, Anchorage School Board Media Experience: Live Radio talk shows, In-person interviews: reporters and editorial board of Daily News, Live interviews: NBC, CBS & ABC news reporters and in-studio news programs, Compass piece & Letters to the editor. We stand at the threshold of exciting opportunities and a promising future. Some opportunities include: Task Force and Governor’s increased funding proposals, Governor’s forward funding proposal, Coalition of labor organizations to return to a defined benefit plan, Legislative elections in November. NEA-Alaska has a promising future with a President whose belief is the organization exists to support and represent it’s members. A President who’s experienced in taking a splintered local to a position of unity, strength and clout. A President that is recognized by the media as an authentic voice of the members who speaks with integrity. I hope you will consider my qualifications and proven experience and support Ron Fuhrer as your 1^st choice for President.
Deedie Sorensen, candidate, NEA-Alaska President, has the experience, skills and credibility to position NEA-Alaska as the most knowledgeable, the most respected, and the most powerful voice for public education, and public education employees in the state. A thirty-year Association activist, Deedie recognizes that our association leaders and members are volunteers who deserve NEA-Alaska’s appreciation, commendation, and assistance. Deedie has been an active member in the Juneau EA. She will work to improve communication with, and support for locals. She will work to ensure that NEA-Alaska and its locals are healthy organizations, thus effective advocates for their members and public education. For the first time in decades we may see real increases in education funding. Deedie has the skills and experience to represent NEA-Alaska’s political agenda Deedie has lobbied for education funding since her college years. She has lobbied and testified on behalf of NEA-Alaska positions on many education and employee issues over the years. She researches her information, chooses her words carefully, and delivers them honestly. Deedie has taught elementary level regular, and special education in Juneau since 1981. As an activist and advocate, Deedie was JEA president for the first time in 1984, and has been continuously active since that time. She served 5 terms as a Region I director. For a complete look at her state and local experience, go to www.ddforachange.org. Deedie will be a strong, credible voice for all NEA-Alaska members. Make Deedie Sorensen your #1 choice for NEA-Alaska President.
Candidates for NEA-Alaska Vice President
Richard Lum: I'm Richard Lum, an Anchorage music teacher, a dedicated colleague, and a committed and dependable leader. I’m running for the office of Vice President of NEA-Alaska. I have over twenty years experience as a military officer and served in combat. These many years of working among the men and women of our armed forces have honed my leadership skills and makes me Fit To Lead! My many years of service on the Anchorage Education Association Board of Directors, my current service on the NEA-Alaska Board of Directors and Budget Committee, and my involvement in NEA¹s minority caucus affairs have given me a keen sense of the issues and challenges facing the association and public education. I¹m focused on the issues. I¹m Fit To Lead! My philosophy of life is honesty, openness, and integrity. This is the mantra by which I commit my service to the members of our association making me Fit To Lead! Always answering the call to serve is the essence and purpose of my involvement in the association. When the NEA-Alaska president and vice president, my local association presidents, or fellow members contact me for assistance, I have answered the call. I remain a strong and dedicated member of Team NEA-Alaska. I am Fit To Lead! Elect Richard Lum, the next Vice President of NEA-Alaska!
Tim Parker: An energized union membership is the best way to get great public schools. Because I believe in that statement, I’m running for NEA-Alaska vice president. Early in my career, I discovered that working in schools and being an association activist are two sides of helping children. To do one is to do only half the job. These are some of my experiences in schools and in the union that I will bring to the office: • FEA bargaining spokesperson twice • Teacher representative on ESP bargaining team • FEA vice president, 4 years • Chair, FEA teacher rights, 5 years • NEA-Alaska board of directors, 6 years • Ten-year teacher in Fairbanks—5 years at high school, and 5 years at middle school • High school football coach • 2007 BP Teacher of the Year, Fairbanks As an English teacher, and former professional journalist, my strength is my ability to communicate with members inside our own organization, as well as with politicians and the public. I majored in economics in college and worked seven years in the newspaper business. As your NEA-Alaska vice president, I will be a voice for careful fiscal management and improved member relations. Because I believe in NEA-Alaska, I’m excited about where we’re heading, and I ask for your vote. Together, we can!
Watch for your NEA-Alaska ballot in the mail
NEA-Alaska elections: Preferential ballot gets first use in 24 years Bylaws, Article III, Section 4.A. "Members shall mark their ballots in order of preference (1, 2, 3, etc.) if there are three or more candidates...