Secretaries and Assistants Association of Anne
Arundel County 2521 Riva Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401
VOLUME 1, ISSUE # 2 DECEMBER, 2014
SAAAAC Informs
www.NEA.org President Dennis Van Roekel
SAAAAC members are worthwhile
I became your SAAAAC President on July First. When I was elected, I put some goals in
place for myself to achieve. The top goal is to do more for our members. It started with a
good Membership Committee who put together a great first meeting for members and
nonmembers. I loved seeing everyone come together to enjoy great food while interacting
with good people. This is a first step to developing a strong and collected SAAAAC.
When members are united as one body, the Board of Education takes notice.
I am looking for ways to build more committees that will help keep SAAAAC strong. It
takes good teamwork to establish a solid team with everyone involved in some way. We
are working on ways to get additional members more involved and are open to new ideas
and perspectives on upcoming events. Please feel free to send me an email at Edod-
[email protected] with any ideas which I will share with other board members.
I will always find time for everyone and if I cannot help I will have our UniServ, Brad
Darjean, get back to that person. If you do not hear from Brad or me in a timely fashion,
please try again. It is a great privilege to talk one on one with members so I can relate to
what is happening to you.
I hope to see a big turnout for our Building Representatives training. They are the first in
line to get information out to schools. That is also a big help for SAAAAC.
With Holidays approaching we may have more things coming our way. Just remember,
stay calm, breathe deeply and do your best.
Also, a big sincere and heartfelt thank you to all who attended the General Membership
meeting. We are eager for SAAAAC to become even bigger and stronger.
Thank you,
Liz Dodson, President
Geo. Cromwell Elem. School
410-222-6920
President’s Letter
410-263-6600 President Betty Weller
Board Members
Liz Dodson, President
Debbie Schaefer, Vice
President
Della Voss, Secretary
Pat Dudley, Treasurer
Michael Burdelas, Director
Helen Wilkerson, Director
Kristie McWilliams, Director
Lynne Baughman, Director
Brenda Weishaar, Director
Brad Darjean
UniServ
410.266.3133
PAGE 2 SAAAAC INFORMS
Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.
By: Henry Ford
Pats Select delivers to schools
in Pasadena, Glen Burnie, Severna Park and Mil-
The SAAAAC Board of Directors asks that all of you join us in sending well
wishes to Pat Dudley for her upcoming retirement in December!
Pat has served with SAAAAC for the past six years. She served out a term as
President which ended this past July and is currently serving as our Treasurer
while training her replacement.
You may have noticed her over the years speaking at a County Council Meeting,
Board of Education meeting or holding up a sign at a Rally!
PAGE 3 VOLUME 1, ISSUE # 2
Membership Committee News
Welcome New Members!
Stephen Stielper Erica Bentley Leornia Jackson
Dawn Bevis Melanie Cooper Susan Clevenger
Laura Wilson Tina Valenzia Barbara Schott
Dana Connett Austin Melcavage Kerri Barbour
Jessica Sarnaik Tammy Jones Renee Banner
Karen Strandquist Marc Heyl Allison Jones
Lauren Worsham Jennifer Batten John Payne
Jenny Broseker Angela Capuano Eileen Lee
Sherri Watson Tamra Spano Bernecia Aughtry
Amy Hemmerle Tara Chafin Iris Sharps
Stacy Lynch Peggy Pugh Laura Smith
Rebecca Walker Elizabeth Evans Andris Rivers
Jessica Lechuga Kimberly Jackson
SICK LEAVE BANK REMINDER
CAN YOU GO A MONTH WITHOUT PAY?
Please read the Sick Leave Policies and Rules which can be found on our website
www.saaaac.com.
Debbie Schaefer, Sick Leave Bank Committee Chair
410-647-7900
PAGE 4 SAAAAC INFORMS
It is important to us that you know your rights as an employee and understand how to protect them. The following is meant to be an overview of what you need to do and/or what you need to know if you are asked to attend a meeting with your immediate supervisor or other school official(s). Ask the following questions immediately:
What is the purpose of the meeting? Is this a disciplinary meeting or could this meeting result in disciplinary action being taken against me?
If the answer is NO to the second question, take detailed notes during the meeting and keep them for future reference. If the tone of the meeting changes and accusations/allegations are suddenly made against you, do not make spontaneous re-plies to any charges presented to you. By virtue of a memo (see attached) authored by the Director of Employee Relations (Oscar Davis), you have “the right to have an attorney or a representative from the appropriate collective bargaining unit” present in any disciplinary meetings. Request an adjournment of the meeting by requesting representation, then immediately contact your UniServ Director and/or SAAAAC President. If the answer is YES, immediately inform them that you wish to have union representation present for the meeting. Imme-diately contact your UniServ Director and/or SAAAAC President. Your UniServ Director will ensure that the memo refer-enced above is being adhered to. He/She will also assist you in acquiring from the immediate supervisor or other school official(s) information relative to the accusations/allegations being made against you. If the meeting is disciplinary and if you request representation, but the administration refuses to reschedule the meeting, attend the meeting, take detailed notes, keep responses brief or simply indicate that you will have to consult your notes to respond more fully, and when you are free to leave call your UniServ Director immediately. Other things to remember:
Be sure to get advice early; don’t wait to “see what happens.” Contact your UniServ Director or the SAAAAC President when you see the first hint of any difficulty with your job security. Your UniServ Director will see to it that you receive the legal advice and counsel you need.
Consult with your UniServ Director prior to submitting any written replies you are asked to make in reference to accu-sations leveled against you. Keep copies of all correspondence related to your situation, including your own state-ment as well as any postmarked envelopes containing information mailed to you.
Do not accept any proposals without first checking with your Association/Union. If offered an “opportunity to resign,” under no circumstances should you submit a resignation without first conferring with your UniServ Director or SAAAAC President.
Make no public announcements about your situation. Make no public statements whatsoever. Keep an up-to-date “Professional Papers” file. In case of a problem, you may not have the time to find all the records
you need. Keeping an up-to-date file — with at least these items — will help you avoid the frustration of last-minute searches:
College transcripts Any letters of praise or reprimand All Performance Ratings and your responses/rebuttals Brief accounts of parent encountersYour SAAAAC Contract Any correspondence(s) to or from the school administration/immediate supervisor(s) Summaries of any conferences with school administration/immediate supervisor(s) Records of any incidents which may increase liability, such as student discipline referrals, student accidents,
workers compensation documents, etc. Proof of your SAAAAC/MSEA/NEA membership
A Word From your UniServ
About Disciplinary Meetings
PAGE 5 NEWSLETTER TITLE
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS:
PASSED BY THE SAAAAC BOARD ON 1/28/14: From this date forward, if you have committed to attending an event and you have a change of plans and find that you are unable to participate in a summer, evening, or Saturday workshop or an SAAAAC, MSEA, NEA fee required event you will
be responsible for reimbursing SAAAAC the cost of the fee.
See the World Your Way with NEA
® Travel
Created exclusively for educators, NEA Travel can help you go anywhere, from a trip to a U.S. state park to a safari in Eastern Africa—for less! Through NEA Travel, you can:
▶ Explore: G Adventures, the “ Great Adventure” People—Members save 15% or receive the best special offer
price, whichever is greater.
▶ Discover: Trafalgar Guided Vacations—NEA members and their travel companions receive an additional 10%
discount on the land price of their itineraries.
▶ Drive: Alamo, Enterprise, Hertz and National—Enjoy exclusive member discounts and a selection of benefits
including: no daily mileage limits, no charge for a second driver, rent from local or airport locations, 24-hour emer-
gency roadside assistance, and coupons for additional savings.
▶ Stay: Red Roof Inn—With nearly 350 properties in 36 states, Red Roof® is proud to offer NEA members a 20%
nationwide discount on already economical rates!
Sign up for our NEA Travel e-newsletter Get great articles and advice on how to get the most out of your vacations, including exclusive member deals and discounts. Visit www.neamb.com/travelsignup . Your next adventure awaits!
IGN UP FOR NEA, NEA Member Benefits and the NEA Member Benefits logo are registered service marks of NEA’s Member Benefits Corporation.
PAGE 6 VOLUME 1, ISSUE # 2
PAGE 7 VOLUME 1, ISSUE # 2
9th Annual ESP Professional
Development Day Please save the date and join us for MSEA’S 9th Annual ESP Professional
Development Day
February 21, 2015 - 8:00am to 4:00pm
DoubleTree Annapolis Hotel
210 Holiday Ct.
Annapolis, MD 21401
Contact
Jackie Harris
(410) 763-6923
Topic: Communication Skills
Five locations in Anne Arundel County-
Annapolis, Crofton, Glen Burnie, Hanover and
Severna Park!
PAGE 8 VOLUME 1, ISSUE # 2
A very special THANKS also to Hella’s
for donating food for our General Membership Meeting!
Hellas is in Millersville!
Hope you will be there for the Christmas
Party!
Two other Restaurants-
Buffalo Wild Wings and Bill Bateman’s Bistro also donated
food!
Planet Fitness donated the water and Massage Envy
donated the door prize!
Secretaries and Assistants Association of Anne
Arundel County SAAAAC
2521 Riva Road
Suite L-7
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410.266.3133
Web: www.saaaac.com
Applications, forms, and other information can be found on our web site
www.saaaac.com and MSEA’s web site
www.marylandeducators.org.
PAGE 9 VOLUME 1, ISSUE # 2
December 2014
Hot Deals and Discounts from NEA Member Benefits
NEA Click & Save “Buy-lights” for December 2014
NEA Click & Save, the online discount buying service for NEA members, highlights select retailers
and merchants each month. Check out these featured “Buy-lights” for December—all designed to
make your holiday entertaining and gift-giving bright!
Shoes.com: Get 10% off site-wide and enjoy a 60-day return period and
pre-paid return shipping
Brooks Brothers: Get 15% off in-store and online
Zales: Save $50 on orders over $300; plus free shipping on orders
of $149 or more
PerfumeWorldwide.com: Get 10% off perfumes, colognes, hair care, skin care, cos-
metics, and more
Omaha Steaks: Receive 50% off site-wide, and free shipping on orders of
$75 or more
HomeDepot.com: Enjoy 10% off appliances $396 or more; free shipping on
orders of $45 or more
Be sure to check C&S often for unadvertised, limited time offers, including discount dining certifi-
cates from Restaurant.com. Join the 348,300 NEA members already registered for NEA Click &
Save. Go to www.neamb.com/clickandsave or http://www.neamb.com/shopping-discounts/nea-click-
and-save-retail-discounts.htm and start shopping today!