Although I am writing this before our long awaited and well deserved break, you will not be reading this until after the long awaited and well deserved break! The dilemma is what to say that is timely now and will be timely two weeks from now.

May I just say that given all we have been through over the first thirty weeks of school, and all that we face before ending on June 23rd, I still believe that our strengths are greater than our differences. And, it is not just from our collective agreement on issues, but also from our differences that we can grow stronger.

Truthfully, it’s not too difficult to get people stirred up about contract proposals, BOE antics, Cross Pointe, construction problems, uneven enforcement of building and district policies and procedures, etc., etc. What is difficult is to get members stirred up enough to become more involved in their union.

Between now and the middle of June there will be ample opportunities to come forward and join in an activity or two. It could be taking in a Board of Education meeting, working on the political action committee, attending the MTA sponsored Board Candidates’ Night, contributing to VOTE-COPE, spending an afternoon at the MTA social in June, or perhaps giving serious thought to running for a building rep position in May. There is a place for everyone and we welcome (and need) your participation.

For those of you who think I may have gone “soft” with this edition have no fear! A little down time for the “three r’s” (rest, relax, and re-charge), and I’ll be back to take on whatever is before us!