Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for December 7, 2007 NEWELL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Hey...THAT line felt good to type!

You can say that again...

And I think I will...NEWELL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT!

Okay, let me tone it down a bit and clarify.

The OLD history teacher in me was striving for one of those dramatic "December 7th" headlines...that would live in infamy!

Here are the details...

I, Ron Newell, being of tired mind and “tireder” body, do, hereby announce that the 2007-2008 school year is my last year as President of the Cairo Association of Teachers...and that’s a fact, Jack, Jill and whoever ye be!

Since 1989...

And before ya’ll go saying “But, Ron, that’s only 19 years...you need to do 20.” Got that covered also! I did a one-year term as President prior to that consecutive run.

So...done my 20!

Gosh, it seems just like yesterday! (Yesterday WAS 1945 was it not?)

Folks, twenty years spanning three decades is more than enough “fun” for any one person.

So...my decision is FINAL...NO NEGOTIATIONS!!!

In fact, if the financial stars align as I hope they do, this year will be my last year teaching as well. However, I’m not going to “pull the trigger” on that one just yet because I already did that once this year. (Back in late September when we learned of Julie’s cancer prognosis, I told Superintendent Bill Rogers that I was retiring...just didn’t know when. However, I had DEFINITELY done my last day at CJSHS! Since I am typing this from Room 104, you can see that THAT did not happen.)

BUT, let me repeat myself. This year is it for me being CAT President, regardless of whether or not I continue to teach.

I WILL offer this assurance...whether or not I am teaching next year. To insure a smooth transition, I will be available to “assist” whomever you elect as your new President...informing her/him of deadlines...things that must be done. If requested, I will offer "sage advice" on how to handle situations...as they arise. In short, I’m a phone call away.

Hopefully, we will have a new multi-year contract by the end of this school year. (Hey, Superintendent Rogers has expressed his desire to make it happen and we certainly concur!) If this goal has NOT been accomplished by the end of the school year, I will continue to serve on the negotiating team IF THAT IS THE DESIRE OF THE MEMBERSHIP. I am committed to seeing the negotiations through no matter what the time line. Gave some thought to that scenario back when I was thinking of retiring mid-year. A person does NOT have to be a CAT to serve on the CAT Negotiating Team. Each side is free to pick their own team. The Cairo Board of Education made that perfectly clear years ago when they picked a member of the Cairo Association of Educational Support Professionals to be on their team...against the CAESP!

So, I’m in it for the long haul if necessary, sincerely hoping that it is a short run indeed.

As I think you know, CAT Vice President Deborah Hammel has made it plain that this is her last year also. (In fact, Debbie always told me that I had to give her at least a two-week notice if I ever stepped down...so that she could quit first.!) So, unfortunately, we cannot have an "ideal" transition where the Vice President takes over for the President.

So start thinking and talking. The CAT will conduct an election for new officers at the regular time...May 2008. Specific dates for nomination and election will be forthcoming at the appropriate time.

The purpose of this “Early Warning” is to let you know that the “Standard Operating Procedure” will NOT do for this election. In the past, the membership "allowed" the serving officers to continue serving. That was sooooo sweet of you!

BUT...(at least) two of those officers (in the immortal words of Lyndon Baines Johnson) “shall not seek, and...will not accept, the nomination...for another term”.

In closing, I will make a personal observation. As they say..."Necessity is the mother of invention."

There is one among you who has "learned the ropes" of the organization...first as a friend and, this year, as a necessity. De De O'Shea "pitied the fool" as he (me) sat for long hours alone at school board meetings and decided to start attending. De De learned first hand the issues and the "players". Then, this year, she was dragged into the fire as she "covered" for me during the two months that I took off for personal reasons...handling the concerns and grievances that arose during my absence.

De De is NOT seeking this office...who would? I didn't! In fact, when I mentioned (playfully...maybe wistfully) to De De during the summer that "you're ready", she threw up a hex sign (guess it could have been a worse sign) and all but ran from me.

However, in my experience, it seems that in the most successful situations, the office seeks the individual. I chose to "seek" the presidency of CAT after I had seen too many folks wronged. De De has been moved to participate for the same unselfish motivations...putting the "duty" above her own personal comfort. So, I would encourage you to encourage De De to seek/accept the position of CAT President.

BUT...regardless, there are TWO positions to fill and depending upon who runs and who is elected, other positions possibly to be filled. It is time for ALL of you to do a little soul searching and decide if it is time for YOU to step up and accept responsibility for moving the CAT forward during the coming years.

I believe - through the past efforts of ALL of us - that the CAT is on a sound foundation. The CAT is recognized as a strong union throughout the State of Illinois. The CAT is poised to continue that fine tradition.

YOU CAN HELP!

How about a JFK moment...

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your CAT can do for you - ask what you can do for your CAT.