October 13, 2004

Chuck Herring, Uniserv Director
Harriet Poch, Uniserv Field Assistant

WHERE’S CHUCK?

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

13 - Region 14 Council (BJ’s – Gaylord)
14 - Rogers City EA Bargaining Team (Rogers City)
15 - Lansing
18 - Travel to Lansing in p.m. for State-Wide Staff Meeting
19-20 - State-Wide Staff Meeting
21 - Legal Update Training (Lansing)
22 - Chuck on leave
25 - Hillman ESP meeting with cooks (Hillman)
26 - Alpena EA Bargaining (MEA Office)
New EA Member Focus Group (MEA Office)
28 - Alpena EA Mediation Nov. 1 - Student Teacher Presentation (ACC)
2 - Election Day – VOTE
9 - 14A Coordinating Council Meeting (NOTE: Will be changed due to required training in Lansing)
9-10 - Fact-Finding Training (Lansing)
16 - State-Wide Staff Planning Committee Meeting (Lansing)
17 - 14A MEA-Retired (MEA Office)
18-24 - Chuck on vacation in the U.P.
25-26 - Thanksgiving Break (all MEA Offices closed)

The next writing of the Eastsider will take place under a newly elected or re-elected President, U.S. House Representative and State House Representative.

The MEA (we) has interviewed the candidates on educational issues only and are recommending: John Kerry, Bart Stupak, and Matt Gillard respectively. Remember, no questions are asked about gun control, abortion or gay marriage. MEA is doing its best to represent its membership by actively advocating for only those candidates with us on public education issues.

Two of the aforementioned are incumbents and have an established pro-public education voting record. The third has no voting record as a President, but does hold dear those issues around public education that we also hold dear.

So…now we need to vote! Your building reps will have stickers for all who vote. Check with them after voting, get a sticker and "show off".

I also ask you to remember to "get" two others of like opinion to vote as well. The more voting the better it is for all.

Cash for Kids:

By now you should have received your "Cash for Kids" materials and donated. So far it appears as though the amounts collected are lower but more have participated. Thank you to all who put their money where it counts—toward a strong public education system. I hope to have all the results compiled for the next Eastsider. Thanks again.

Members:

Harriet has just completed a member count for MEA and the results are as follows:

	6/30/04 Membership	PROJECTED MEMBERSHIP	+ OR - INCREASE/ DECREASE
Alcona E	55	53	-2
Alpena CC EA	52	56	+4
Alpena CC ESP	52	49	-3
Alpena City EA	273	281	+8
Alpena ESP II	135	136	+1
Alpena ESP I	46	46	0
Atlanta ESP	20	20	0
Atlanta EA	31	28	-3
Hillman ESP	26	27	+1
Hillman EA	38	38	0
Johannesburg-Lewiston ESP	40	39	-1
Johannesburg-Lewiston EA	57	54	-3
Mio-AuSable ESP	20	23	+3*
Mio-AuSable EA	56	52	-4
Posen ESP	16	16	0
Posen EA	23	19	-4
Rogers City ESP	31	27	-4
Rogers City EA	48	46	-2
CC 14-A Totals:	1,019	1,010	-9

*Mio ESP has Agency Shop kicking in the 1st of January, 2005. This will increase their
total enrollment by approximately 20.

Did you know that…

...you can lose five pounds a year just by drinking two liters of water a day? Drinking water speeds your metabolism—in fact, you start to burn fat after you drink just two glasses. Jens Jordan, MD, professor of clinical pharmacology and medicine, Franz-Volhard Clinical Research Center, Berlin, Germany, and leader of a study published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

…right-handers don’t live longer than lefties? Contrary to a 1991 study that found lefties more accident-prone in a right-handed world, newer studies show that right-and left-handed people have similar life spans. The New York Times.

Buy term life insurance now before rates go up and underwriting criteria become more strict. Rates will increase by as much as 20% by year-end, and underwriting standards are being tightened so that fewer applicants qualify for the lowest premiums. Even a negative driving record can spark a rate hike. Of the most competitive companies, about half have already raised rates or tightened underwriting guidelines. Good news: Many life insurance companies have not yet taken action, and rates still are 60% lower than just 10 years ago. Byron Udell JD, ChFC, CFP, founder and president, AccuQuote.com, national life insurance brokerage firm, Wheeling, Illinois.

Faster check clearance: An electronic check-processing law takes effect on October 28. Checks that you issue will clear more quickly—but deposits are not likely to be available sooner.

Time change: Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. on October 31. Move clicks back one hour.