Wow! What a whirlwind! Am I on vacation yet? I spent one week at Spanish Camp in June (if you get a chance to do this, do it! It is incredible!).

Two days after Spanish Camp, six members of your leadership team met in Napa for Leadership Training. We heard about Organizing, the November Special Election Campaign and got a little time to meet as a group to plan a VTA meeting calendar for 05-06. Thank you Larry Baker, Daniel Rodriguez, Ken Ratti, Christine Williams and Chris Lindberg for attending!

Right after that, I attended the NEA Representative Assembly in Los Angeles as one of your voting delegates (Dean Vogel was the other Vacaville delegate). We spent four 12 hour days listening, debating and voting on NEA policy, new business items, the budget, etc.

I was also one the very lucky 300 (out of 8000) to march to the Governor's office in LA to bring him resolutions from every state and caucus delegation condemning the attacks on public education and the special election in California.

I also have some medical rate news. Because of the extra $250,000 we put towards medical, lower than expected CALPERS rate increases, and a bit of carryover from 04-05, medical rates will remain the same for 05-06! This is just an estimate; for example, we have a lot of positions open with no idea of what medical plan that person will choose. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A REBATE IN JANUARY FOR OVERPAYMENT. I want to make this very clear; no one should be expecting an extra little bump in their January check. October is open enrollment period, when you may change plans, etc. In November we will know how many people are in each plan. We may need to make a rate adjustment (increase or decrease) in December. But again, there will not be a rebate.

I have also recalculated the dues amounts based on VTA Rep Council's adoption of our budget, CTA State Council's adoption of the CTA budget (includes the $60 dues assessment per year), and the NEA's Representative Assembly adopting the NEA budget. Regardless of which payroll option you chose, you will pay dues every month (full time 10-month pay: $84.30 per month; full time 12-month pay: $70.25 per month).

If you have not yet sent me an email from your home address, please do so. This makes it easy for me to add you to my address book without having to type everything and then you can get information in the summer and things that are not appropriate for the district email. Email me now! mathgirl70@earthlink.net

In a few weeks, I will be attending the President's conference in Monterey and the Summer Institute at UCLA.

Enjoy your time off! Get some rest and relax before we come back in August. 

Brenda Hensley
VTA President