MEA Board of Directors

I was appointed interim director by the MEA Board of Directors at the September meeting. My term will expire in July and a call for candidates will go out in January. With an election looming, I'd better look like an attentive representative of your interests by posting some of the most salient points from the recent meeting.

1. Political Action We endorsed a handful of legislative candidates. Most endorsements were done over the summer, but there are some late filers or replacement candidates that needed to be considered. To find the list of endorsed candidates, go to this site.

2. Political Action Having examined some unpublished poll results, MEA has decided to become more involved in the gubernatorial race. Please note that the decision to support Libby Mitchell was based on her career of support for MEA's positions, not mere partisanship. MEA endorsed several Republicans running for the legislature, including two state senate candidates in the most recent list. However, it is clear that Paul LePage does not seek to further the interests of public education in Maine and therefore, MEA will encourage its members to campaign actively for the election of Libby Mitchell, whom the directors see as the only other viable candidate. If you would like to help, please contact your UniServ director. If you can recruit other members, all the better.

3. Benefits Trust We heard from representatives of the Benefits Trust, which has come under increasing pressure from municipal leaders who would like to reduce costs by diminishing our benefits, raising our rates, raiding our risk pool, and ransoming our health. MEA and MEABT will be working to get facts about the system out to counter the impending assault on the integrity of our health benefits system.

4. Benefits Trust The MEABT is offering a host of new services, including the PathPoints program in which we will be paid cash for living a healthy lifestyle. Go to http://meabt.org and pull down the wellness menu for more info. [PathPoints is similar to the Anthem Rewards program that was offered a couple of years ago, except that this time they'll pay you in money instead of lunch boxes.]