Month: July 2014

Philly School Salaries Put Online

Kudos to the Philadelphia School System for putting employee salaries online.

The district published the information to promote transparency according to district spokesman Fernando Gallard.

The previous policy was to release the information only in response to  requests.

The project was done with OpenDataPhilly and the information can be found here under SDP Employee Information as a .ZIP file which you will have to download.

Topping the list at $270,000 is Superintendent William Hite. He is followed by Deputy Superintendent Paul Kihn at $210,000.

It should be noted that the list does not include benefit information.

Philly School Salaries Put Online

Philly School Salaries Put Online

 

Business Card Admits

A free networking event for business men and women will be held 4:45 to 7 p.m., Thursday at Ocean Prime Restaurant, 124 S. 15th St., Philadelphia.
A business card provides admission and about 100 people are expected.
To RSVP or for information: email  adcomtimes@aol.com .

Business Card Admits

Business Card Admits

Atlantic City Gambling Lesson

By Chris Freind

 

 

“If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time.”

— Chinese Proverb

Since China took a chapter from America’s playbook on working hard and smashing through any obstacle to achieve success, it’s too bad we didn’t reciprocate by heeding those prophetic words from the Orient. If we had, China wouldn’t be the massive tiger whose influence becomes more global each day, and we wouldn’t be on the fast track to becoming a paper tiger.

Yet, too many refuse to acknowledge the fact that the United States is, and has been, in a dangerous financial decline for decades, fueled by the self-interest of both political parties, and a public unwilling to demand accountability and a change in direction. In not believing that the rules apply to us, we continue to raise the stakes in a game we cannot win.

There is an extremely naïve mindset that we’re too big to fail (or fall) and that protests, righteous indignation and more money will solve everything, even when the books show we’re broke.

It is always easier to comprehend large issues on a local level. The recent spate of casino bankruptcies and closings in Atlantic City, and the reasons for their shutdowns, provide a microcosm of America’s problems. And it’s a sure bet that if America doesn’t turn things around soon, it’s bluff will be called and it will fold its hand, just as is happening in Atlantic City. Consider:

1. Former glory: The recent closing of the Atlantic Club Casino, along with the anticipated closings of the Showboat, Trump Plaza, and the new, $2.4 billion Revel would leave Atlantic City with just eight casinos, a whopping 33 percent decline since January. How could this happen?

Atlantic City was once a jet-set destination, the A-List place to see and be seen by the world’s rich and famous.

But that was then. As has been the case for decades, a huge percentage of residents live in extreme poverty, with an educational system so bad that even when the casinos were in full swing and had ample job opportunities, the city’s unemployment rate was double the national average.

Without education, and thus the prospect of gainful employment, crime and vice skyrocket, which we have seen not just in A.C. but nationwide, as America’s woefully inadequate (yet lavishly funded) public schools continue to fail our children. Despite all the promises of government leaders and industry officials to reinvigorate the city after building the casinos, the situation continues to deteriorate.

There are many who think that America’s glory days are behind her, as optimism in the future continues to wane, regardless of who occupies the White House. Jobs continue to be lost overseas, educational achievement levels are dropping, and the middle class is shrinking while an unaffordable and unsustainable entitlement class is growing. Despite blue ribbon commissions and campaign promises of a better tomorrow, things are going the wrong way with no solution in sight.

2. Resting On Laurels: America is still unquestionably the world’s most powerful nation — for now, but it has gotten sluggish. Content in its position, it refuses to see who is breathing down its neck. As a result, the competition is gaining while the U.S. remains stagnant. Each week brings news of the dollar’s further decline as more countries move to other currencies for their international transactions.

As America loses its reserve currency status, while continuing to print money to spend trillions it doesn’t have, the value of our incomes decline. But since no one wants to admit the mathematical certainty that insolvency is nearly upon us at municipal, state and federal levels, especially given the trillions in unfunded pension liabilities, the problems aren’t being addressed.

Atlantic City, located within driving distance of well over 100 million people, also rested on its laurels, as it had the casino industry all to itself. Until it didn’t — but by then it was too late. In its complacency, it never strove to better itself, nor was it proactive in re-inventing who it was and what it offered. That blindness made it impotent to compete when neighboring states started permitting casinos.

And then there was Vegas (a desert, without the allure of being next to an ocean), whose leaders had the foresight to make that town not just a gambling mecca, but a family vacation destination, a remarkable feat since the vast majority of visitors must fly there. Las Vegas markets itself brilliantly, keeps the city relatively safe and continues to attract people from all over the world. The numbers tell the story: Atlantic City’s gaming revenue has declined 50 percent since 2006, yet for the most part, Vegas continues to post moderate gains, and, unlike Atlantic City, the city still prospers even when revenues are down because of its diversification. The spoils go to the victor and Las Vegas is winning every hand.

Likewise, nations and financial institutions are parking their investment money in places other than America. And not only aren’t they buying American debt at previous levels, viewing it as an increasingly risky bet, but many are dumping it altogether. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that our house of cards strategy will, at some point, collapse.

3. Denial. Two plus two always equals four. If America continues to spend uncontrollably without reforming entitlements and rebuilding its moribund manufacturing base, there will be unprecedented pain. And no amount of protests, lobbying or complaining will change this.

In Atlantic City, casino employees and union members continue to protest the closings, playing the blame game and hammering owners, despite the mammoth losses being incurred by the casinos, with one union official even labeling the closing of one casino a “criminal act.”

Really? What planet are these people living on? If there’s no money, there’s no money. What part of that can people not comprehend?

If these casinos were profitable, they wouldn’t close. But they’re not. That’s why they are declaring bankruptcy and closing their doors. And the true blame must be shared by all: The city, which has for decades done nothing to improve itself; the industry, which sat on its derriere, arrogantly betting that people would always come; and the employees and unions who never prodded either to keep up with the times.

Now, with over 6,000 layoffs looming and certainly more to come, a city in despair, and the negative image associated with dying casinos, the few high-end stores that still remain in Atlantic City will eventually leave, furthering the death spiral.

Is there a solution? For Atlantic City, probably not. It would take a generation or more to turn that city around, yet there is not an iota of political or corporate will to do so. So the implosion will continue until that once great city won’t even be a shadow of itself, but just a sad ghost of the past.

Luck always runs out, so if America is to avoid A.C.’s fate, it needs to stop gambling with its future. Otherwise, it’ll be left holding a Dead Man’s Hand.

Atlantic City Gambling Lesson

Sean Bergin Speaks Truth, Gets Suspended

Sean Bergin Speaks Truth, Gets Suspended

Sean Bergin a reporter for News12, which is a “cable-exclusive service” for the New York metropolitan area, was suspended for what he said while reporting the death of rookie Jersey City police officer Melvin Santiago.

Santiago was shot in ambush in Jersey City by area-resident Lawrence Campbell who apparently was motivated “to be famous”.

He was 23.

Campbell acquired the murder weapon by assaulting a security guard at the  Walgreens drug store where the shooting occurred.

Campbell was subsequently shot by police leaving behind a wife, Angelique, and at least one child, a six-year-old girl.

Mrs. Campbell did not express much regret for her husband’s passing. She did say that she wished he had murdered more human beings serving as police officers before his date with judgement.

Campbell’s friends set up a small shrine at the store featuring candles, balloons,  a bottle of cheap liquor (empty), and gang paraphernalia urging the late citizen to “Thug in Peace”.

It was too much for Bergin. He said this:

“It is worth noting that we were besieged, flooded with calls from police officers furious that we would give media coverage to the wife of a cop killer. We decided to air it because it is important to shine a light on the anti-cop mentality that has so contaminated America’s inner cities. This same, sick, perverse line of thinking is evident from Jersey City to Newark and Patterson to Trenton. It has made the police officer’s job impossible and it has got to stop.

“The underlying cause for all of this, of course: Young black men growing up without fathers. Unfortunately, no one in the news media has the courage to touch that subject.”

His employers were displeased and suspended him.

We say God bless Sean Bergin for speaking truth to power.

Here is the report itself:

Sean Bergin Speaks Truth, Gets Suspended

 

Advertising Booms In 2014

Advertisers worldwide will spend $545.40 billion on paid media in 2014,  reports eMarketer.com.

This is a 5.7 percent increase over last year which, more than doubles the growth rate of 2. 6percent from a year ago.

It sites  the FIFA World Cup and the Winter Olympics as factors in the boom but also notes the steady increases in online and mobile advertising “as consumers globally shift their attention to digital devices.”

eMarketer notes that the US is by far the leader in total media ad spending at $180 billion.  On a per capita basis, the U.S. also leads at $565 which is $26.13 more per person than second place Norway.

 

Advertising Booms In 2014

 

Advertising Booms In 2014

Switching Bodies In Bad Times

This link courtesy of Cathy Martin shows what happens in a bad economy when there is a surplus of out-of-work actors and video editors:

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202129812517526

 

Switching Bodies In Bad Times

Switching Bodies In Bad Times

Mezvinsky Clinton Corrupt Connection

Do you know this guy?

Ed Mezvinsky Mezvinsky Clinton Corrupt Connection

He is Edward “Ed” Mezvinsky, born January 17, 1937.
Then you’ll probably say, “Who is Ed Mezvinsky?”

Well, he is a former Democrat congressman who represented Iowa’s 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for two terms, from 1973 to 1977.

He sat on the House Judiciary Committee that decided
the fate of Richard Nixon.

He was outspoken saying that Nixon was a crook and a disgrace to politics and the nation and should be impeached.

He and the Clintons were friends and very politically
intertwined for many years.

Ed Mezvinsky had an affair with NBC News reporter Marjorie Sue Margolies and later married her after his wife divorced him.

In 1993, Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, then a freshman Democrat in Congress, cast the deciding vote that got President Bill Clinton’s controversial tax package through the House of Representatives.

In March 2001, Mezvinsky was indicted and later pleaded guilty to 31 of 69 counts of bank fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud.

Ed Mezvinsky embezzled more than $10 million dollars from people via both a Ponzi scheme and the notorious Nigerian e-mail scams.

He was found guilty and sentenced to 80 months in federal prison.

After serving less than five years in federal prison, he was released in April 2008 and remains on federal probation.

To this day, he still owes $9.4 million in restitution to his victims.

About now you are saying, “So what!”

Well, this is Marc and Chelsea Mezvinsky.

Mezvinsky Clinton

That’s right; Ed Mezvinsky is Chelsea Clinton’s father-in law.

Now Marc and Chelsea are in their early thirties and purchased a 10.5 million dollar NYC apartment (after being married in George Soros’ mansion).

Has anyone heard mention of any of this in any of the media?

If this guy was Jenna or Barbara Bush’s, or better yet, Sarah Palin’s daughter’s father-in- law, the news would be an everyday headline and every detail would be reported over and over.

And yet liberals say there are no double standards in political reporting.

And people are already talking about Hillary as our next President!

And then there is possibly Chelsea for president in our future!

The cycle never ends!

Lying and corruption seem to make Democrat candidates more popular.

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty. ~~ Thomas Jefferson

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
~ ~Abraham Lincoln

Mezvinsky Clinton Corrupt Connection

Hat tip Judy McGrane

HIV Explodes Says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a warning, July 11, that HIV infections are “exploding” among gay men.

The group is  now 19 times more likely than the general population to be infected with HIV says Gottfreid Hirnschall of WHO.

The organization says that “transgender women” and injecting drug users are about 50 times more likely than the general population to get HIV.

WHO is recommending that all men who have sex with men to take antiretroviral drugs prophetically.

Here’s an outside-of-the-box suggestion: How about men just don’t have sex with men?

Hat tip Agence France Presse (AFP)

HIV Explodes Says WHO

 

HIV Explodes Says WHO

Avrum Lapin Finding Emerging Donors

By Avrum Lapin

 

I am often surprised, even after three decades in the fundraising industry , by the often slow and resistant responses from many leading organizations in the Jewish community to the demands of the new circle of lead and major donors. Emanating from an ill – perceived notion of history and position, or from a sense of entitlement, many oganizations are slow to recognize that the emerging “class” of major donors – increasingly entrepreneurs and creators of ideas and solutions – is quite different from those who preceded them , and expect different things from the organizations and causes t hat they support.

Let me enumerate a few areas where things have continued to evolve and , in doing so, are transforming the narrative and many ways in which the nonprofit world functions and communicates.

1. Survival (or even existence) is not a goal. –Focus is on results Just because an organization exists does not automatically entitle it to support. Just because an organization has been around for a decade or a century no longer compels a donor to give. Donors are more interested in what you do, not so much that you have been doing it for years. The pace of change is so rapid today , and new actors pop up regularly and are aggressively competing for and entering the space historically occupied by traditional “ legacy” organizations. This phenomenon is happening largely because they tend to be more focused, they bring visions to the discussion that are contemporary , appealing and functional in today’s multi – channel world, and are more agile and less encumbered in their operations . Groups that do not see or resist this trend do so at their peril.

2. Loyalty is no longer the sole determinant of support We live in an increasingly competitive philanthropic marketplace – one that, as noted above, values outcomes , not only history or position. Understanding this should motivate organizations large and small to think about how they allocate resources and how that frames and communicates their “selling propositions.” And let’s stay with the notion of “selling.” We live increasingly in a transactional world, where value is determined by what you do, not only what you say you have done. And while we try not to be totally cynical, I am always struck by the number of times I see a prospective donor turn down a cause that should, by objective measure – including giving history, be a “slam dunk,” and who resists making the gift because of (lack of) efficiency, mission creep, market share, etc. Connecting with Major Donors

3. Bang for the Buck – Investing Charitable Dollars I was approached recently by a major donor at the close of a n event who asked me about my thoughts regarding the consolidation of asks for related organizations that occupy the same or overlapping program space . He complained that they were competing for resources, potentially diminishing the impact of the dollars that were donated to achieve a goal – not just support an organization. My response was the following: what was historically called the charitable are na has become the philanthropic marketplace , and that as a marketplace it is increasingly a venue where ideas compete and organizations were being rewarded at the intersection of relationship and results , not on relationship and history alone.

He went on to ask if I thought that we could create an appeal that would raise funds to achieve a goal and a solution, not necessarily fund a particular organization, and decide as part of the activity where the funds would be directed. He felt that the diminishment of loyalty and the focus on results would make it successful. I am thinking about it as well. In this vein, I also reiterate something that I have written and spoken about for years…the need for all successful nonprofits to invest energy and purpose in a business plan. This dynamic document concretizes the vision and makes it actionable financially. It demonstrates, with accountability, how it that vision would be realized and implemented over the ensuing months and years, with programmatic and financial milestones, deliverables and projected outcomes. And it would meet the expectations of many of today’s emerging major donors who seek to use their philanthropy to “invest” rather than just to “give.” While the functional end product for the organization may be the same – at least for the time being , the prompt for the donor is quite different. They want to see something happen rather than just funding an organization to do something.

Today’s emerging major donor is stepping up to leadership at a time w here the marketplace is still governed to some degree by uncertainty. This drives the expectation that, while they are prepared to be charitable, they want to see their money work and put to good and productive use. Successful nonprofits today must accommodate this imperative because it is not going away; in fact it is intensifying and becoming ever sharper. We therefore encourage our friends , many of who m lead very important organizations throughout the nonprofit world, to embrace this challenge. To continue to expect support because you believe that you should have it simply won’t work anymore.

Avrum Lapin is the President at The Lapin Group , LLC, a prominent fundraising consulting firm located in suburban Philadelphia

Finding Emerging Donors

Finding Emerging Donors

Public Unions Why State Suffers

Scott Wagner, the Tea Party candidate who spanked the GOP establishment to win a special election, March 18, to represent the 28th District in the Pennsylvania Senate sent out this message on July 10 concerning the state’s budget problems.

Yes, he included the Pennsylvania State Educational Association content that was “intended for use by PSEA members and their immediate families” LOL.

Good job Scott.

(Ed note: the link above takes you to Sen. Wagner’s Wikipedia entry which says he was “born in 1955 or 1956”. A man of mystery is he it seems.)

Good Afternoon –
I would like to give all of you an update on the budget process in Harrisburg.
I am asked repeatedly why nothing has gotten done in Harrisburg.
Here is the number one reason: The Public Sector Unions.
Of the public sector unions, the PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association – teacher’s union) is the most powerful union in Harrisburg.
This morning at a press conference, Governor Corbett announced he signed the 2014-2015 budget. He announced that he is blue lining parts of the budget, which would stop funding increases to the legislature.
It is a tragedy that with a Republican Governor, Republican Senate and Republican House that paycheck protection, pension reform, liquor privatization and property tax reform did not get passed.
Below is an email from the PSEA President, Mike Crossey, claiming victory over the defeat of these much needed reforms that I have been fighting for in Harrisburg.
This is a slap in the face for every taxpayer.
By sending this email out on July 3rd, 2014, the PSEA has declared war on Pennsylvania Taxpayers.
I have a lot of respect for teachers and for the job they do educating our children. I have friends who are teachers and I genuinely believe they are good people, but they have no idea who they’re being represented by and how their dues are being spent.
Government Unions Use Dues For Politics.
Government unions spend dues money on mailers in support of candidates, lobbying, and TV and radio ads.
The PSEA sent mailers to Pennsylvania voters endorsing Barack Obama in the last Presidential election.
The PSEA has sent newsletters mocking Governor Corbett to fundraise for its PAC.
In fact some PSEA union members may be outraged to know that some of their dues were sent to Wisconsin to support the recall of Gov. Scott Walker.
The PSEA has over 185,000 members and will collect almost $100,000,000 (100 million) in dues from it’s members in 2014 through the use of taxpayer resources. That is what we’re up against in Harrisburg.
Since I took office, I have been asked repeatedly if I am getting frustrated. I give every person the same answer: I do not get frustrated, I get more motivated.
It is emails like this that fuel my fire to keep fighting for you, the taxpayers, in Harrisburg.
I ask that you share this email with as many people as you know in Pennsylvania.
Thank you,
Scott Wagner

From: Mike Crossey <noreply@psea.org>;
Subject: State budget scorecard – YOU made the DIFFERENCE
Sent: Thu, Jul 3, 2014 6:24:08 PM

To ensure that this newsletter is delivered to your inbox, add noreply@psea.org to your address book

State Budget Scorecard: YOU made the DIFFERENCE
Once again, Gov. Tom Corbett and his legislative allies attempted to ram through a range of attacks on our schools, our students, and our profession, along with the state budget. Thanks to the tireless advocacy and resolve of PSEA members like YOU, we were able to beat back the worst of them.
There remains no doubt that we need to send Tom Corbett packing in the fall and elect Tom Wolf as our next governor to win much-needed victories for public education. As governor, Tom Wolf will reverse Gov. Corbett’s nearly $1 billion in school funding cuts, protect our jobs, and defend the pensions we’ve earned and paid for.
You have done an outstanding job of speaking up for public education, and, believe me, legislators are listening. Thousands of your emails, your calls, and your letters made it clear that educators and support professionals oppose these attacks and that legislators have an obligation to protect our public schools and the students who learn there.
Thank you for all you do each and every day.
Here is a look at what your advocacy has accomplished:
Pensions: Gov. Corbett made a strong push for passage of a pension proposal that fails to fix the problems that need fixing. Pension experts said the plan, sponsored by Rep. Mike Tobash, would NOT save the pension system much money or help balance the budget but would make drastic cuts to retirement benefits for younger teachers, bus drivers, nurses, and other public employees.

The result: REJECTED.

Even when Gov. Corbett threatened to take hostages – school funding for Philadelphia and the budget itself – in order to get this bad pension bill passed, lawmakers from both parties stood on principle and refused to give in. In the end, leaders in both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate adjourned for the summer without voting on it. In the words of Republican Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, there were “too many unanswered questions about this proposal.”

This happened because of YOU.

You called and emailed your lawmakers to tell them that this pension plan fails to address the real problem – the cost of paying the debt that employers now owe after putting their pension payments on a credit card over a decade ago, while you continued to make your full contributions.

School funding and the state budget: This year marked one of the most difficult state budget debates we have faced in years. A $1.5 billion funding gap threatened to erase even the modest increases in school funding that lawmakers were proposing.

The result: ADOPTED – BUT AWAITING GOV. CORBETT’S SIGNATURE.

The House and Senate sent a budget to Gov. Corbett on June 30 that takes a small step in the right direction by increasing education funding, but much more needs to be done to reverse Gov. Corbett’s nearly $1 billion in cuts to public school classrooms.

Unfortunately, the largest chunk of new school funding in the budget, $100 million, will be distributed with strings attached through the Governor’s “Ready to Learn” block grant. However, we succeeded in loosening many of the strings Gov. Corbett wanted to attach to the use of these grant funds, making the program more flexible and effective for school districts.

This budget also skirts the most difficult decisions by raiding special funds, using a variety of accounting gimmicks, and inflating next year’s revenue estimates. It is a testament to why we need Tom Wolf in the Governor’s Office, so that we can build a budget that relies less on short-term budget fixes and more on long-term, fair, and sustainable revenues.

What happens next remains to be seen. Gov. Corbett has so far refused to sign the budget, citing his disappointment that the Legislature has not adopted a flawed pension bill. During a July 2 press conference, he said that he was still considering all his options, including a veto of the budget.

Payroll deduction: Right-wing groups spent an incredible amount of time and money over the past five months attacking our right to pay association dues through voluntary payroll deductions. In the waning days of the summer session, a group of legislators made a last-ditch effort to force a vote on this bill.

The result: REJECTED.

When it counted, you flooded the General Assembly with letters, phone calls, and emails calling out this campaign for what it really is: a politically driven attack aimed at bullying middle-class Pennsylvanians like us. You explained how it unfairly singled out teachers, nurses, and public safety workers by prohibiting their voluntary payroll deductions – but continued to allow deductions that go to insurance companies, big banks, and financial companies.

In the end, neither the House nor the Senate had the votes to get it done.

Teacher furloughs: Legislators in the House tried to advance a bill that would give Pennsylvania school boards free reign to furlough you and your colleagues at will without regard to seniority.

The result: REJECTED.

Special interest groups, with the backing of deep-pocketed corporate donors, tried to use Pennsylvania’s school funding crisis to take away our seniority protections. Their bill would have allowed school boards to furlough employees for economic reasons and tie furloughs to the new educator evaluation system that has not even been fully implemented yet.

You fought back, telling your lawmakers to focus on finalizing a state budget rather than making it easier to fire good teachers. The bill languished in committee.
The Senate is scheduled to return for a brief voting session on Tuesday, July 8, and is expected to take up the following issues:
Special education: Lawmakers have spent several months debating legislation that enacts a new special education funding formula, based on the recommendations of a bipartisan legislative commission that received input from parents, educators, and special education experts, including PSEA.

The result: APPROVED IN HOUSE; AWAITING SENATE ACTION AND GOV. CORBETT’S SIGNATURE.

The House passed the new formula, providing a fair and equitable distribution of special education funding that more closely reflects the actual costs of educating students with special needs. The budget also includes a $20 million increase in special education funds – after six years of flat funding and rising costs for school districts.

Charter school pension double dip: Since the charter school law passed in 1997, school districts have been required to include in their payments to charter and cyber school operators an amount equal to 100 percent of a charter’s employee pension costs. On top of this, charter operators receive a reimbursement from the state for 50 percent of pension costs. This means that charter school operators get paid twice.

The result: APPROVED IN HOUSE; AWAITING SENATE ACTION AND GOV. CORBETT’S SIGNATURE.

The House put an end to the pension double dip for charter operators in a companion bill to the budget.
How did PSEA end this contentious legislative session with so many victories? Because YOU spoke out. And legislators listened.
We have more work to do in the months and years ahead. But, if we keep making our voices heard, we will WIN.
Contribute to the ‘Defeat Tom Corbett’ Fund
Let’s make sure this budget is Gov. Corbett’s last.
From pensions to school funding to the future of our profession, Gov. Corbett has pushed for policies that will take Pennsylvania in the wrong direction. It is time to say enough is enough.
We need every member to go All In to defeat Tom Corbett and elect Tom Wolf, who will be a pro-public education governor. This is not an election to take for granted. Gov. Corbett’s re-election campaign will have the backing of deep-pocketed corporate donors and anti-public education groups.
Every dollar you contribute to PSEA-PACE will go directly to defeating Gov. Corbett in November and electing pro-public education candidates. Remember, no dues dollars go to PSEA-PACE, and contributions are voluntary.
Just as important, remember this: Your contribution makes a difference. Nov. 4 is only 123 days away.
Please contribute today.

Get ready for Gettysburg
There are just over two weeks to go until PSEA’s Summer Leadership Conference gets under way in Gettysburg. For those of you who are registered, get ready to spend a week learning innovative skills that will help you become a stronger leader in your local.
This year’s conference runs from July 20-24. Built around a theme of “Effective Leadership… Protecting and Preserving Public Education,” the conference combines learning with fun and is intended to generate the enthusiasm and camaraderie that is vital to good leadership and strong, effective locals.
Check out the Summer Leadership Conference web page for conference materials, including the conference schedule and information on how you can earn three graduate credits and 90 Act 48 hours from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In the coming weeks, you will also find more information about the popular Gburg PSEA mobile app.
Partners for Public Education helps parents understand Keystone Exam remediation
Many of you have made efforts in your schools over the past year to educate parents about the Keystone Exam requirements. At PSEA, we are also doing our part to help parents understand what’s at stake and how they can help their students prepare for the tests and improve their scores.
In the June issue of Partners Post, our sister publication for Partners for Public Education, we offer on overview of these end-of-course tests, including the supplemental instruction available to any student who fails an exam or a part of an exam in any of the three subjects – algebra, biology, and English literature. Check out the post at the Partners web site.
Anyone can join Partners for Public Education for free and receive the monthly Partners Postemail newsletter, full of valuable education news, tips for parents, and information on discounts at stores and restaurants.
Do you have friends, family, or neighbors who might want to become Partners? Tell them about it. Invite them to become a Partner for Public Education today and to Like the Partners’ Facebook Page.
Save some dough on your summer fun
Planning to take any day trips, family outings, or a big vacation this summer? Whether you’re planning some fun in the sun or to cool off indoors, PSEA’s Member Benefits can help you save big on a range of entertainment and recreation opportunities.
Save on admission to big theme parks like Six Flags and Sesame Place, get discounts on car rentals and hotel rooms, and find savings at museums, zoos, and countless other attractions near you.
To learn more, go to www.psea.org/mb/.
Note: This content is intended for use by PSEA members and their immediate families. PSEA-PACE supports friends of education in state and local elections. Contributions to PSEA-PACE are voluntary and members have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. A member may contribute more or less than the suggested amount, or not contribute, without it affecting his or her membership status, rights, or benefits in NEA, PSEA or any of PSEA’s affiliates.
Contributions to PSEA-PACE are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal or state income tax purposes. Only U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents may contribute to PACE. No dues dollars can be given to political candidates.

 

 

Public Unions Why State Suffers

 

Public Unions Why State Suffers