Very Sad News

John Warms, former NSO president, was killed Saturday night in a car accident in Philadelphia. John was on his way home to New Jersey when his car left the road and hit a construction barrier. It’s believed he suffered a heart attack and died before impact.

We were lucky to have him at the RA and to have him share his wisdom and union sprit with us. He presented the Emil Oxfeld Advocacy Award on Saturday, a fitting way to remember him since he, too, was a dedicated union advocate. As sad and shocking as the news is to NSO, to unionism, and to all who knew him, we will remember him as a union brother, the heart and soul of NSO, and a great  leader. He will be greatly missed.

Please keep John and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Viewing will be held at the Hillsborough Funeral Home in Hillsborough, NJ on Thursday, June 18, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 19, 2009 at 10 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church on Skillman Road in Skillman, NJ.
A luncheon will be held at the Princeton Elk Club at 518 Skillman, also in Skillman, NJ, immediately after the services.

To read the obituary notice and send a Guest Book message, go to www.nj.com/times.

Message from President Agerstrand:
I will be representing NSO at John’s funeral. I know how much he meant to you and his legacy will be everlasting. News of John’s death has been difficult to accept. In many ways, John has been like a brother to me, having known him as a friend first, and then as a colleague since 1975. More than anything, he was my union hero and mentor. We will all miss him.

NSO RA - Election Results

Delegates have chosen the following directors to the NSO Executive Committee:

Region1, Cheryl Singleton

Region 3, Emmitt Jimmar

Region 5, Kathy Hill

Region 7, Catherine Alexander

At Large Director A, Robert Blackwell

At Large Director B, Patrick Chavez

RA Update:

Diane Thompson is the recipient of the 2009 Emil Oxfeld Advocacy Award.

Hear from first-time delegates at the 2009 NSO RA

They came prepared to learn and to share what they've learned back home. If this is the future of NSO, we're in good hands!

Jackie Nelson, Alaska

Marcus Thomas, Louisiana

Please open you hearts and wallets for a good cause!

Dear NSO Member and State Affiliates;

As a member of the National Staff Organization, you have the opportunity to make a critical difference in the lives of our members who have experienced some sort of life-altering disaster in their lives. 

Please consider making a donation to the NSO Disaster Relief Fund that will provide financial assistance to our brothers and sisters who encounter emergency situations-- hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, job loss or other disastrous hardships.
The Fund helps support our members financially as they work to rebuild their lives after surviving the devastating circumstances of such disasters.

Because of your donations, the Fund makes vital resources available at a time in our members’ lives when the need is greatest. 

Consider helping your NSO colleagues by making your contribution to the NSO Disaster Relief Fund today.

Please make checks payable to the “NSO Disaster Relief Fund.” Checks can be sent to:

Vera Stafford
NSO Comptroller
1363 S. Village Court
Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Thank you for your generosity.

In Solidarity,
Chuck Agerstrand,
NSO President

Are you interested in being a trainer at the 2010 Winter Advocacy Retreat?

If you are, download a Request for Proposals.

The form must be completed and returned to Lynn Adler, Vice President for Program, at lynn.adler@ieanea.org no later than Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The entire form must be completed in order to be considered.

Sessions are two and a half hours in length. Sessions can be presented as a half-day or as a full day (five-hour) session.

NSO will pay for up to two (2) presenters if one Associate Staff and one Professional Staff are the trainers. Otherwise, NSO will pay for one trainer only.

Pension Plans – Relief and Threats

NEA and its pension counsel have analyzed the devastating impact of the Pension Protection Act rules on NEA affiliates. In an attempt to provide relief for single and multi-employer plans, NEA has put together a proposal to address the issue called, Separate Liability Funding Solution. Click here for an update on NEA’s proposal.

Threats to defined benefit pension plans continue and nothing could be worse during our current economic crisis. NEA’s Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy has issued a paper, “Ensuring Realistic Employer Costs for Retirement Plans.”