RGNEA Members,

At tonight's board meeting, there was a bit of "lobbying" in the patron participation session that created enough awareness of the extended year issue that the board voted tonight not to act upon the proposal until they have heard the facts from all sides. It has been tabled until the next board meeting. The board will meet in special session next Tuesday to vote on the issue. That has bought us some time to deal with the issue in discussions.

Certainly, your executive team will be talking about this issue with them. Now is the time FOR YOU to lobby your board members with emails. Let your opinions know to these board members. Hollis and Irby went to bat for us tonight with inquiring questions. The four board members present (Pierson, Oswald, Irby and Hollis) ALL voted to table the matter until further discussion. Now we need your help to further the effort.

Thanks to ALL that came to the meeting tonight in a show of support. We DO have an impact on the board when we show up in mass for the benefit of all of our members. It is making those board members accountable as well.

We'll talk in more detail at the RGNEA Building Representative Meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Corner Coffee House at 4:15. We will have in attendance at this meeting the Vice President of the MNEA, Charles Smith and we will share our thoughts on this subject as well as other items with him. Every RGNEA member is invited to come.

Remember, we together are the RGNEA. Tonight shows we DO make a difference.

Richard Thies
RGNEA President
518-4305