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ISSUE 3 2019 VOLUME 28
Opportunities ...…...……..…..….......3
Kudos ………….. ................... …...2
Upcoming Dates …………....….…….….….4 PSUU
issues A PU BLI C AT IO N O F T HE POL K SU BU R BAN UN I SE R V UN IT
Organizing Lesson One
Does your local have an organizing philosophy or a philosophy of apathy?
Organizing is an attitude. It’s the attitude you and your co-workers together can do something to make things better.
It’s the attitude action is better than complaining. It’s the attitude problems are just waiting for a solution, and
strength in numbers is part of that solution.
It’s the refusal to be discouraged—at least not for long. It’s the willingness to listen to others with respect, so the action
plans you create reflect the good ideas of many people.
An organizing attitude compels you to respond to unfairness, commits you to building power with your co-workers and
promotes a belief in collective action.
Apathy, on the other hand, is often masked as something else. Here are some common masks of apathy and ways to respond to them:
“No one seems to care.”
Everyone cares about something—but the something might not be what
you expect. Talk with co-workers to discover what they care about.
“Nothing will change.”
Inspire a belief in your co-workers that change is possible if you work
together. Develop a credible plan to win. Start small. Look for fights
you can win.
“No one’s willing to do anything.”
Figure out some very small, specific requests and personally approach
co-workers. Be respectful of the time constraints in their lives.
Show appreciation for anything someone is willing to do.
“No one comes to meetings.”
Individually invite people. Make meetings productive by giving attendees
a role to play—such as developing an action plan.
Which attitude is yours—organizing or apathy?
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TO MEMBERS! PSUU recognizes the following members and locals for their recent accomplishments:
*Dallas Center-Grimes EA recertified with 207 yes votes and 0 no votes.
*Four PSUU locals had success in the election of their recommended school board candidates:
Ankeny EA – 3 out of 4 candidates
Johnston EA and Johnston ESPA – 2 out of 4 candidates
Southeast Polk EA – 3 out of 4 candidates
West Des Moines EA – 4 out of 4 candidates
Statewide of the 16 locals that recommended, they had a total of 63 candidates running for
election/re-election. Of those 63, 51 were successful. That is an 80.95% success rate for our
recommended candidates. When we engage and recommend, we win!
*Saydel EA reached its “Good” membership goal and received $50.
congratulations on these recognitions!
Send information about members’ achievements to Peri Van Tassel at [email protected].
Whether you’re looking for
clothing for your family,
planning a movie night or
dining out at a restaurant,
always make sure to visit
neamb.com/clickandsave.
You’ll be amazed at what you can save!
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Getting caught up in the holiday whirlwind can leave us overscheduled, overtired and overspent. These tips can help
you rein in spending and set new boundaries without feeling guilty!
Hold a family meeting to discuss holiday plans and traditions. Ask everyone to choose a single favorite
activity and focus on those this year.
Plan ahead to spend less. Create a realistic holiday budget by calculating
how much you can and want to spend—and write it down. Include everything
from family gifts to year-end tips for service providers to travel costs.
Establish gift boundaries. Discuss ways to cut back on the number and
cost of gifts. Set per gift/per person limits. Inform extended family and
gift-exchange friends of your new plan as soon as possible.
Try gift alternatives. Choose gifts that show caring, not cost. Showcase
your skills through homemade gifts. Try a gift grab bag instead of exchanging individual presents. Consider
group or family gifts. Make a family donation to charity. Give time and shared experiences such as shoveling
a neighbor’s snow or hosting a caroling party instead of purchased presents.
Simplify decorations. Decorate only the room(s) that matter most. Skip buying new decorations. Find used
ones or make your own.
Dial down dining. Have potlucks to share the expense. Limit your menu to a few simple, less expensive dishes.
Rethink gift wrap. Use recycled comics pages, old maps or other novelty items.
Cut holiday card costs. Create and print your own cards or send electronic cards.
Simplify, modify and enjoy the holidays with your loved ones!
Managing Holiday Expectations
ISEA will host its annual Legislative Conference January 17-18 at the Sheraton West Des Moines.
The conference will begin with dinner at 6 p.m. Friday evening and is scheduled to conclude at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Presidential candidates who have completed an NEA questionnaire will be invited to participate in a presidential
candidate forum Saturday morning.
Online registration is now open. Early registration and double occupancy rooms are
strongly encouraged for this event. Registration is due Friday, December 20.
ISEA sponsors seven major awards programs which recognize outstanding achievement by students, association
members, school administrators and citizens. Nominate a special person today!
Detailed information about each award and the nomination process is available on
the ISEA website. The nomination deadline is January 15 unless otherwise noted.
If you are looking for some professional development classes, visit the ISEA
website and check out the ISEA Academy Course catalog. ISEA Academy
courses are offered at truly affordable prices!
Opportunities
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POLK SUBURBAN UNISERV
UNIT
Peri Van Tassel
UniServ Director
Suzy Card
UniServ Director
Aubrey Atkin
Associate Staff
777 Third Street
Des Moines, IA
515-471-8050
Denise Blobaum PSUU President
Josh Baxter
ISEA Executive Board
Representative
Mike Beranek
ISEA President
Josh Brown
ISEA Vice President
Click to follow PSUU
Our mission is to promote quality public education
by placing students at the center of everything we do while advocating for
education professionals.
Ethical Issues - Social Media *
Upcoming Events
DECEMBER:
7– ISEA Executive Board conference call
9– Metro Advocacy training
15– Resolutions & New Business items due
20– Registration due for Legislative Conference
23– Holiday break - office closed until January 2
31– Deadline for NEA RA nomination forms
JANUARY:
8– PSUU Executive Board meeting
15– Metro Pre-Retired seminar
17-18– ISEA Legislative Conference
Social media continues to cause issues for both
educators and students. As educators, we must
refrain from any activities that may reduce our
effectiveness in the classroom.
Before posting, liking or retweeting online, use this
checklist on the left as a guide to determine the
nature of the content or comment. This is a helpful
tool for students as well.
Educators should also evaluate the risks involved
with the following activities:
• Accepting friend requests from students
• Posting grievances about the school/district
• Complaining about a difficult day
• Liking or retweeting controversial posts
There is no such thing as privacy online, even with the most stringent settings enabled.
Instead of posting - think of it as publishing.
*From the November 2019 BOEE Quarterly Newsletter
Happy Holidays! Aubrey, Peri & Suzy
