LCEA Mandatory Reporter Training Free to Members

CLICK HERE to see if we have your RSVP.


LCEA MANDATORY REPORTER TRAINING
Monday, February 11, 2013
Lewis Central Media Center
4:30-7:30ish PM

COST: Free for members, $30.00 for non-members
Coffee, soft-drinks and light snacks will be provided.
Please feel free to bring a packed dinner with you if you need to eat more than snacks.

Even if your certificate is not going to expire, feel free to join us and RSVP so that we will have enough certificates on hand. }

It is important to note that individuals MUST stay for the entire 3 hours in order to receive a signed certificate. The training features a 3 hour video and no test. When I did the re-certification this summer it was better than I expected.

Certificates will be delivered to Julie Williams at the Lewis Central ERC on February 12, 2013. This open to educators from other districts as well.

Thanks and remember to RSVP. Deadline for RSVPs is Friday at noon. We hope to see you at the training.

Think Politics Don't Matter? Take a Look at Your Paycheck

Payroll Tax Holiday Ends, Hits Take Home Pay

January 07, 2013| By Harold Brubaker, Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer

Despite all the drama leading up to New Year's Day, the tax deal signed Thursday by President Obama did virtually nothing to change the trajectory of the U.S. government's debt-laden finances.

The deal raised some taxes, but not enough to prevent the slow starvation of federal programs to help the poor and elderly, according to advocates for such programs.

By leaving spending cuts off the table for the most part, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 set up what is sure to be an ugly fight over raising the nation's debt limit by early March.

In the meantime, all wage-earners will see 2 percent less money in their paychecks, because the law did nothing to prevent the end of the so-called payroll tax holiday.

CLICK READ MORE to answer some questions and answers on key aspects of the law:

Make hundreds of Dollars in just a Few Minutes with NEA Member Benefits

Let your NEA Member Benefits not only help save you some hard-earned money; let your NEA Member Benefits help you MAKE some money.  CLICK HERE for a very quick check on what you can save.

Many of us actually use these easy tools to buy great services and make money by doing what professionals do--join three million of their colleagues in working to make public education stronger for students.

OR, paste this into your web browser.
http://www.neamb.com/assets/content/multimedia/savings8.swf

NEA Home & Car Insurance

The NEA Auto & Home Insurance Program provided by California Casualty offers coverage designed to fit your needs

Protection:

• $500 Personal Property Coverage Vehicle
• Vandalism Waived Deductible
• $500 Fundraising Money Coverage 
• $3,000 Personal Property at School Coverage

Value:

• Special Rates / Generous Discounts
• 12 Month Lock-in Rate Guarantee
• Free ID Defense

 Service:

• 24/365 Emergency Claims Service
• EZ Pay with Summer/Holiday Skip
• Peer Review for Fair Settlement of Claims

NEA Members Save for Valentines Day at 1–800–FLOWERS.COM | NEA Member Benefits

1–800–FLOWERS.COM NEA Member Benefits

Adopt a Classroom Program Might be for You

Calling all Bloggers

NEA Member Benefits has launched the first social networking website designed specifically with educators and Education Support Professionals (ESPs) in mind. The NEAMB Community is in partnership with TeachAde and can be found at http://www.neamb.com/home/1209_2421.htm.
My personal favorite blog is called “Money Talk” and is written by my colleague Elizabeth Schruefer, who not only works at NEA Member Benefits but is also a Certified Financial Planner. Elizabeth updates her blog every Wednesday with a new posting.
I encourage you to register (it’s EASY!) at http://www.teachade.com/register.do and then check out Elizabeth’s blog (and the others on the site). If you have suggestions for other blogs or communities, go ahead and get them started as it is something you are able to do on TeachAde.

Pay for Your Dues with LCEA's Featured September NEA MB

Still not registered for NEA MB?  IT'S TIME!  Let's help you earn some money now that the dust has settled, we're up and running and you should check into all of the savings.  Scroll down the blog to check out "HOW TO" register.  Also check out LCEA's featured NEA Member Benefits.
Click the "READ MORE" tab right below this and follow these steps:

Register for NEA MB & Check Out Our August Savings

Thanks to all of you who continue to support the profession with your membership and involvement.  Now that some of our opening dash has slowed down a little bit, it's time for us to help you start saving money using your membership.


So, let's get you signed up if you're not already signed up.  You'll have to click the "READ MORE" tab right below this and follow these steps:

LCEA Member Benefits August Featured Benefits: Complimentary Life Insurance & Auto/Home Insurance

Register to use the NEA Member Benefits website  If you haven't been on the site since August 14, 2009, you will need to re-register to re-access the site.  You can also retrieve lost usernames and passwords here too.

The NEA Member Benefits Web Site is designed exclusively for NEA Members. Sign on often to take advantage of frequent updates, including new services and giveaways! To make your visits easier and more productive, the Web Site provides program information, a search feature, financial calculators, and easy navigation. In addition to getting the information you need, you can even use the Web Site to request free materials and apply for NEA MB products.

Suggestions for a Worry Free Year

from ISEA'S OFFICE FOR ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR MEMBERS

As a new school year is about to begin, there are a number of things that our members should review. Whether a first year teacher or a seasoned veteran, these suggestions are intended to help make your school year worry free. Here, in no particular order of importance, are some items to stop and think about.

LCEA's NEA Yearlong Member Benefits Plan—JULY—Building a Blueprint for Success

Register to use the NEA Member Benefits website  If you haven't been on the site since August 14, 2009, you will need to re-register to re-access the site.  You can also retrieve lost usernames and passwords here too.

JULY MEMBER BENEFITS

The exclusive services and programs of NEA Member Benefits (NEA MB) are some of our most powerful tools for recruiting and retaining members. By educating members about NEA MB programs we’ll help them save time and money while enjoying the added value of Association membership.

TEACHERS COUNT

Super Discounts for Super Teachers Did you save 40% on a Philips flat screen tv? How about a free Motorola RAZR cell phone? Did you save up to 70% off of watches and jewelry? You can receive these savings and much, much more by signing up at TeachersDiscount. It's totally free for teachers and totally great for your wallet.

Read the TeachersCount blog The TeachersCount blog is alive and well – please check it out! Recent topics include access to college, morale and safety in schools, the excitement of returning to school, the importance of supporting new teachers, the hype around failing schools, and great ways to get students of all ages engaged in the upcoming presidential election. Click here to catch up. Progressive Learning in the Classroom Ariel Sacks, who teaches English to 8th graders in Brooklyn, NY, fields questions for the latest edition of TeachersTopic, entitled, "Implementing Progressive Education in New York City Public Schools." Ms. Sacks discusses the value of designing lessons that focus on the overall developmental level of students. She discusses her experiences working in a high needs New York City public school, the impact policy makers have on the classroom, and much more. Please take a moment to check out Ms. Sack's wisdom and wit in this online interview . Do prayers belong in school? Tell us what you think Last year, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law requiring all public schools to reserve time at the beginning of each school day for "silent prayer or silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day." The law quickly generated controversy and a lawsuit regarding the separation of church and state. What role, if any, should prayer play in public schools? Click here to tell us what you think.

New faces join the PSA Campaign What do Private Practice actor Taye Diggs, Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines, and legendary NFL quarterback Steve Young have in common? They all want the world to know that they support teachers and the teaching profession. All three of these socially conscious celebrities have recently joined the "Behind Every Famous Person Is a Fabulous Teacher" Campaign. The PSAs featuring Steve Young and Taye Diggs are now available online. The ad featuring Cheryl Hines is coming soon. Find resources for new teachers The latest edition of Best of the Web features resources that are perfect for new teachers. There are a lot of education resources on the Internet, some better than others, of course, and Best of the Web will point you toward the cream of the crop. Be sure to check out Best of the Web archives also. There are over 25 archived editions in the vaults that cover a range of topics, including, "Stress Management for Teachers," "Financial Literacy," "The Traveling Teacher," and many others.

Take Advantage of NEA Member Benefits & Enjoy a Pizza Lunch on NEA MB

Nancy Haig of NEA Member Benefits is buying lunch for all of you who are interested in starting or changing over your IRA or other 403B programs to the NEA Member Benefits program. There was a change in the law last spring. Please make sure that your retirement savings will continue to grow.

Nancy represents NEA Valuebuilder and will be meeting at 11:00 on Tuesday in Room 403 in the High School. Please let your Association representative (see the sidebar for your building representatives email address) or Kim Muta know if you plan on attending by the end of the day today. We want to make sure we have enough pizza for everyone.

Hope to see you there.

A Brand New Benefit for Brand New Members

If you’re new to the NEA in the 2008-2009 membership year, you’ll be getting off to a good start with a new benefit from the NEA Members Insurance Trust®!

The NEA Introductory Term Life InsuranceSM Program provides you $15,000 in term life coverage—at no cost—for your first full year of membership. The coverage begins on your effective date of membership and continues for twelve months. At the end of the twelve months you may purchase the coverage at great members-only rates with no evidence of insurability!

Starting in September, register your beneficiaries online on the NEA Member Benefits Web Site at neamb.com. While you’re there, take a look at the other insurance options for protecting yourself and your family. For more information, call our Member Service Center toll free at 1-800-637-4636.

Get Your FREE Subscription to Instructor magazine!

The NEA Magazine Service is excited to help NEA members—especially elementary school educators—start the school year off right. At http://www.neamag.com/instructor you can sign up for your free one-year subscription to Instructor, the K-8 resource filled with innovative and practical teaching ideas. While you’re at the site, check out over a thousand other titles at up to 85% off newsstand prices. Great deals for you; great deals for gifts!

403B Webinars available on iLinc

We have great news!

The Iowa Department of Administrative Services, Retirement Investors' Club (RIC) has scheduled several live 403b webinars for education employees through iLinc (our online conferencing tool). iLinc gives individuals the ability to attend live presentations online at their worksite or from their homes. Attendees only need access to the internet and a phone.

There is no cost to attend. These 90 minute sessions begin the week of August 11, 2008. An educator from the State's RIC will present basic information about the development of the

403b plan as well as pending changes updates. More sessions may be scheduled if needed. The sessions will be recorded so individuals who are unable to attend may still receive the information.

Registration is on a "first come, first serve" basis. Since seating is limited to 50 phone line connections per session, we encourage employers to consider the option of a group connection (see below). To register, check the box to the left of the session you wish to attend and scroll to the bottom of the list. Select the "register" button at the bottom of the page. Some email systems are rejecting the confirmations that come from iLinc. If you can, please add iLinc as a contact in your email system so you can receive their emails, or ask your technical support staff to allow iLinc emails for all employees.

Once you register, you will receive an email invitation with a link to test your system in advance of the session to make sure you are able to access it. Attendees will be able to view a Power Point presentation and submit questions for discussion during the session.

Register at the Iowa Department of Administrative Services iLinc Page or paste the following URL in your web browser https://iowa.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/event.pl?pp=403bPlan.

Employers are also able to request onsite sessions in which a Retirement Benefits Educator travels to your location to present program information and answer questions. Onsite sessions are available beginning September 2, 2008. There is a cost associated with onsite sessions.

Pension and Retirement Security Resources from NEA

The publications linked below will help you understand, defend, and strengthen the quality and level of retirement benefits for yourself and other public education employees.

Protecting the Retirement Security of NEA Members: A Toolkit has all the information you'll need to protect your pension plan from legislative attack. It includes the advantages of defined benefit (DB) pension plans and the weaknesses of defined contribution (DC) pension plans, what the research shows about converting DB plans to DC plans, how to respond to the arguments you'll hear, and how to conduct campaigns around pension issues.
http://www.nea.org/retired/tools/publications.html#toolkit

Characteristics of Large Public Education Pension Plans, December 2006, presents the results of a survey conducted during the summer and fall of 2006. It provides data in the areas of plan membership, assets, retirement eligibility, vesting requirements, purchase of service credit, state taxation of benefits, employee and employer contribution rates, plan benefit formulas and limitations, actuarial methods, funding, and board membership.
( PDF, 172 pp., 7 MB)
http://www.nea.org/takenote/images/char2006.pdf

The Status of Retirement Coverage for Education Support Professionals provides the facts about retirement programs available for education support professionals (ESPs) and includes a comparison of retirement benefits for ESPs and teachers in each state. In addition to describing the existing benefits, the report identifies and discusses recommendations for improving the way ESPs are covered and the adequacy of such coverage.
( PDF file, 24 pp., 216 KB)
http://www.nea.org/takenote/images/espretire06.doc

Post-Retirement Return-to-Work Programs: A Survey and Discussion reviews state policies for allowing retired teachers to return-to-work without forfeiting their pensions and the various ways states have acted to ensure that return-to-work does not adversely affect the retirement system. It discusses concerns relating to return-to-work, including the barriers, disadvantages and benefits of this complicated issue for employees, school systems, associations, and retirement systems.
( PDF file, 52 pp., 222 KB)
http://www.nea.org/takenote/images/rtw-aug2004.pdf

NEA Issue Brief on Pension Protections in State Constitutions examines the pension protections currently in state constitutions and offers model language for those advocating for such a provision to protect the retirement system and its members.
( PDF file, 24 pp., 216 KB)
http://www.nea.org/takenote/images/penprotect06.doc

Retirement Systems & Retiree Health Insurance summarizes the findings of a 2005 study of the various health insurance plans offered to public education employees by public education retirement systems in the United States.
(Coming soon…)

More information about Social Security Privatization:

• NEA's Position on Social Security Privatization
• Protect Social Security Benefits
• Social Security: Cornerstone of Societal Safety Net
• Privatization: A Bad Deal for Younger Americans
• Privatization: A Bad Deal for Public Employees
• Privatization: A Bad Deal for African Americans
• Privatization: A Bad Deal for Hispanic Communities
• Privatization: A Bad Deal for Women
• Social Security Privatization and Attacks on Public Education Pension Plans
• Other Resources

NEA Foundation Grants Available to You

The NEA Foundation is accepting applications for $2,000 and $5,000 grants.

Click here for a brochure with more details. Help us spread the word by sending your colleagues this link or by contacting Edith Wooten to order print copies.

The NEA Foundation supports a variety of efforts by teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to improve student learning in the nation's public schools, colleges, and universities.

• Learning & Leadership Grants: provide opportunities for teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to engage in high-quality professional development and lead their colleagues in professional growth. The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study. The next application deadline is June 6, 2008.

• Student Achievement Grants: provide $5,000 to improve the academic achievement of students by engaging in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection. (These grants replace the Foundation’s Innovation Grants program, which has been discontinued.) The next application deadline is June 6, 2008.
  
  
• Announcing the Recipients of the NEA's Books Across America Library Books Awards: In collaboration with the National Education Association, The NEA Foundation will make approximately 50 awards of $1,000 each to public schools serving economically disadvantaged students to purchase books for school libraries. Update: Click here to view the recipients!
  

• Closing the Achievement Gaps: Many economically disadvantaged and minority students do not have the same opportunities for academic success as their more affluent peers. With support from the NEA Foundation, partnerships led by NEA affiliates, school districts, and community organizations will take action to accelerate the achievement rate for disadvantaged and minority students, while raising achievement for all groups of students. Details. Application is by invitation only. Additional resources.
  

Award recipients:

Student Achievement Grant Recipients:
Student Achievement, Summer 2008 NEW!
Student Achievement, Winter 2008
Student Achievement, Fall 2007
Student Achievement, Summer 2007
Student Achievement, Winter 2007

Learning & Leadership Grant Recipients:
Learning & Leadership, Summer 2008 NEW!
Learning & Leadership, Winter 2008
Learning & Leadership, Fall 2007
Learning & Leadership, Summer 2007
Learning & Leadership, Winter 2007
Learning & Leadership, Fall 2006
Learning & Leadership, Spring 2006
Learning & Leadership, Winter 2006
Learning & Leadership, Fall 2005
Learning & Leadership, Spring 2005
Learning & Leadership, Winter 2005
Learning & Leadership, Fall 2004
Learning & Leadership, Spring 2004
Learning & Leadership, Winter 2004
Learning & Leadership, Fall 2003
Learning & Leadership, Summer 2003
Learning & Leadership, Winter 2003
Innovation Grant Recipients:
Innovation, Fall 2006
Innovation, Spring 2006
Innovation, Winter 2006
Innovation, Fall 2005
Innovation, Spring 2005
Innovation, Winter 2005
Innovation, Fall 2004
Innovation, Spring 2004
Innovation, Winter 2004
Innovation, Fall 2003
Innovation, Summer 2003
Innovation, Winter 2003

Helpful Information for Applicants:

Information about Fiscal Agents

Learning & Leadership Grant Writing Tips

Student Achievement Grant Writing Tips

Helpful Information for Current Grantees:

Completing Your Learning & Leadership Grant Report

Completing Your Student Achievement Grant Report

Completing Your Innovation Grant Report

Just in time for holiday gift giving

Use your ISEA Access membership card to save big on holiday gifts from popular national merchants including Target.com, Eddie Bauer, Lands End, Lane Bryant, The Sharper Image, KB Toys, and more. To learn how you can get the most of this exclusive membership benefit, tune in to our latest ISEA In Focus podcast episode featuring an interview with Emily Hayes of Access Development Corporation, the company that administers this program for us. While you're there, be sure to tune into other recent episodes including an inspiring interview with this year's Excellence in Education Award winner Blake Hammond of Des Moines.

No Cost Ti-Vo for NEA Members with Sign Up

Hey LCEA Member--NEA has a deal for you!

What's on your "to-do" list today? Car pool? Doctor's appointment? Add some sanity back into your life this holiday season with a new TiVo. Take control of the TV for your family.

Imagine the possibilities: watching Lost when it’s convenient for you. A Grey's Anatomy marathon. And why bother about renting DVDs when you have a kajillion episodes of your favorite show at your fingertips?

Take advantage of this limited-time offer to get a FREE 80-hour TiVo® Series2™ Dual Tuner digital video recorder (DVR) (a $249 value) when you sign up for a TiVo service plan for only $12.95 per month, or choose one to three years service and save even more. A TiVo DVR, powered by the incredible TiVo service, automatically finds and digitally records all of your favorite shows, every time they're on. Watch your shows when you want to. With TiVo KidZone, easily find and record the best shows for kids, and keep out the bad stuff.
In addition, educators across the U.S. use TiVo as a tool to improve their curriculum. Have an upcoming lesson plan on the Civil Rights Movement? Enter the keywords and TiVo will search and find all programming related to the subject matter.

Let your family discover the magic! With more innovations than any other DVR, TiVo is the ideal way to personalize your TV time. Rewind great moments. Skip the dull stuff. Don't follow a TV schedule; make it follow yours.

Do we sound fanatical? Oh, yes. And you will be, too. That's why TiVo comes with a 30-day money back guarantee because no one ever wants to give this sucker back.Already have TiVo? Pass this awesome offer on to your friends and family.

Related Links
What is TiVo? »
TiVo® KidZone FAQ »
The TiVo Advantage »
Check out the new TiVo HD DVR! »