ESSA - Fairbanks

Memorandum

To: All ESSA Members

From: Vice President, Marie Fletcher, Election Committee Chair

Subject: Candidate Biographies for the February 3, 2009 General Election

All members who have turned in their Biography by the deadlines and met the requirements under our Constitution and By Laws will have their names pre-printed on the official ballot. Additional space will be provided for write in candidates.

Vice President – one seat open – one entry submission:

Beth Davis – My name is Beth Davis.  I am running for the office of Vice President.  I have been active in ESSA for the majority of my 17 years with the school district.  I have been a member of and /or chairperson of nearly all of the standing committees.

I understand how the ESSA should be run by the executive officers and the executive board.  I’ve seen the right way and the wrong way.  I will be committed to doing things the right way, putting the needs of the entire membership first. 

I am currently the lead custodian at Joy Elementary where I have been for 12 years. 

I would appreciate your vote.

*Secretary* - one seat open – one entry submitted:

Melodee Turk - Hi, I’m currently working for the District as a teacher’s aide at Denali Elementary.  I have been involved with ESSA since 2001 having pursued in several areas.  Such as Executive board secretary, building representative, bargaining team member and Delegate Assembly representative.  I’m asking you for your vote to Executive Board secretary in this election.  Many thanks.  Melodee Turk

Executive Board Member at Large – ten seats open – seven entries submitted

I became an active member of ESSA/NEA while taking classes offered through the union to become Federally Highly Qualified.  From these classes my interest was to go farther in leadership. A few of the classes that I have taken are: PALS, Political Organizing and Communication, Advanced Minority Leadership, and Bullying in the Work Place.

In the past three years I have served the membership in the following committees and projects.  They are Employee Rights, Executive Board, and Member reconciliation, Building Rep, Delegate Assembly and also Representative Assembly.

I am currently running for another term on the E-Board and would appreciate your vote.  Thank you.  Marlis Homoleski

Stanley King – Hello, my name is Stanley G. King.  I have been an ESSA member for 25 years, as a paraprofessional in the Intensive Resource program the entire time.  I currently work at West Valley High School.  My union activities include 6 years on the E-Board, Delegate Assembly representative, building rep/rep council, finance committee and the membership committee in which I conduct new member orientation. After a short hiatus I am ready to perform all the duties required of an Executive Board Officer, hence I would greatly appreciate you vote. Thank you.

Billy Smith – My name is Billy M. Smith; I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bellevue University in Psychology June 1988.  I’ve been employed by the FNSBSD for the past six years as After School Program Coordinator at Hunter Elementary School.  I have served on the E-Board for one term.  I am the President of the American Legion Baseball Program in the Fairbanks area. I really enjoy my job as an after school program coordinator and working with youth in our community to build better citizens for tomorrow.  I want to work with you to build a better union for our future.  Unity is strength so let’s make a difference.  I would really appreciate your vote to serve you again on the Executive Board in 2009.

Kids are my business. Union Strong is my Life.  I want to represent you.  Billy Smith

Beth Davis – My name is Beth Davis. I am running for a seat on the executive board.   I have served the members for several terms on the board and would appreciate the opportunity to do so again.

John Davenport – I have worked for the FNSBSD for over twenty years and I am the custodial supervisor at West Valley High School.  I am currently an active member on the Executive Board and I will be representing our local at this years’ Delegate Assembly.

Over the last year there has been a lot of positive changes within ESSA and I’m running for another term on the E-board to help keep a good thing going. 

Thank you for your time and your vote.

Carlene Cummings - Hello….Hello…I am Carlene Cummings.  I have been employed with the District for 13 years as the Intervention Aide at Ben Eielson Jr. Sr. High School.  This has been my first term with the E-Board. I am a member of the Rights Committee and Bargaining Team for our upcoming contract.  I have come to learn just how important ESSA is to all of us, and would like to spend the next two years putting what I have learned to good use.  I want to continue learning all I can in order to work with and support you in whatever job you do and continue to help make our working conditions progressively better each year  It has been a fast two years, a lot of work, and, yes some fun along the way.  I would appreciate your vote for the E-Board.

Candidates for Executive Board General Election Feb 3, 2009

B.J. Cortez – I work at West Valley High as a swing shift custodian.  I have worked for the District eighteen years.  I am West Valley’s Building Rep and the Public Relations Chairperson

for ESSA.  I’ve been on the Executive Board for four years.  In the past I have represented ESSA’s Region V on four occasions at Delegate Assembly and Representative Assembly.  I plan to promote a strong statewide union.  As union members, we know if we do not stick together we will not have a strong union.  I would appreciate your support for the Executive Board.  Thank you for your vote.

B.J. Cortez – I work at West Valley High as a swing shift custodian.  I have been working for the school district for 18 years.  I am currently our Building Representative and Public Relations Committee chair for ESSA.  I have also been on the ESSA Executive Board for the past 4 years. In the past, I have represented ESSA’s Region V on four occasions at Delegate Assembly and Representative Assembly. I plan to promote a strong statewide union.  As union members, we know if we do not stick together we will not have a strong union. I would appreciate your support for the R.A. Thank you for your vote.

Beth Davis – My name is Beth Davis.  I am the lead custodian at Joy elementary.  I have been with the school district for 17 years.  I have been active in ESSA for many of those years.  One of the jobs I have done for ESSA is to be your representative at the national level.  I would appreciate your vote so that I can represent ESSA at Representative Assembly again.

Chrya Sanderson – I am an active member in the Fairbanks Education Support Staff Association.  I have served as Building Representative, Executive Board Member, Multi-Cultural Committee Chair and PACE Committee.  As a local I have attended numerous trainings by NEA-Alaska that have prepared me for a leadership role.  I believe I can effectively represent all members of Region V and NEA-AK.  I currently hold this position and will listen and make our voices heard to best represent our future.  We need a strong voice and I believe I can continue to do that for all.  I need your vote for Representative Assembly.

Stan King – Hello, my name is Stanley G. King.  I have been an ESSA member for 25 years, as a professional in the Intensive Resource program the entire time.  I currently work at West Valley High School. My union activities include 6 years on the E-Board, Delegate Assembly representative, building rep/rep council, finance committee, and the membership committee in which I conduct new member orientation.  I would appreciate your vote for delegate to Representative Assembly.  Thank you.

In the past 3 years I have served the membership in the following committees and projects.  They are Employee Rights, Executive Board, and Membership reconciliation, Building Rep., Delegate Assembly and also Representative Assembly. 

I’m a candidate for Representative Assembly 2009.  I want to experience Regional Assembly for the second time for these reasons.  I learned a lot the first time and it was very intimidating to be with so many people at one time.  I know that if I went again I would be able to represent us better this time.  Now that I know what is to be expected of me. Please consider me as your representative. Thank you.