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AFTNJ Superstorm Sandy Fund
A fund has been established in partnership with the AFT Disaster Relief Fund to assist AFTNJ members and retirees suffering losses from the storm and its aftermath. The fund is part of the Union's tradition of solidarity with members overtaken by natural or man-made catastrophes.
The fund will provide some relief - $250 per member household - to help members meet their immediate essential needs for this disaster. While we know it will not help members pay the lion share of the bills incurred by the catastrophic loss, it serves as a token to show that our Union stands together. To learn more or to access the application, go to AFTNJ's website.
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BKMUW Scholarship Applications Available
Encourage your undergraduate students to apply
Scholarships are available through the Catherine A. Becker, James P.Keenen III, Joseph T. Moore, Anita E. Uhia, and Connie Waller (BKMUW) Scholarship Endowment Fund. Members should encourage their students to apply.
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2012 Recipients
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The BKMUW Scholarship Endowment Fund was established in 1997. AFT Local 1904's scholarship provides financial support to full-time undergraduate students at Montclair State University who demonstrate a significant economic need. For additional information, please visit the Local's website and click on Scholarships tab.
The deadline to apply for the $500 scholarships is Friday, March 1, 2013 at 3 p.m. Students who wish to be considered for this award are required to complete an application, write an essay, and get two letters of recommendation from full-dues paying members of the Local.
Questions? Contact Linda Turano, Office Manager for AFT Local 1904 at 973-655-4453.
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Care Packages for Students
For Students Living On-Campus over Winter Break
AFT Local 1904 needs your help with assembling care packages and hosting a pizza party for students who live on campus during the winter break. At this time we estimate we will need 200 care packages. The care packages will be distributed to students during the first week of January at a pizza party the Local will be sponsoring and hosting.
Care Packages should consist of a plastic shoe box (which can be gotten at most Dollar Stores) that contain one of each of the following:
Small Travel Games
Playing Cards
Gloves
Gift Cards to Starbucks
Cough Drops
Travel Packets of Tissues
Cocoa
Ramen Noodles/Cup of Soup
Granola Bars and other snacks
AFT give-aways such as post-it notes, pencils, etc.
The drop off location will be at Charity Dacey's Office Suite 1160 University Hall.
Questions? Contact the Local's office at ext. 4453.
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Emergency Relief Fund for Artists
Affected by Hurricane Sandy
NYFA Emergency Relief Fund Supported by Warhol, Rauschenberg and Lambent Foundations, The Andy Warhol Foundation, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and Lambent Foundation have established an Emergency Relief Fund, administered by NYFA to assist artists with damages and losses as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Eligible artists can be working in any discipline and reside in Connecticut, New Jersey or New York.
Damages are broadly defined and include, but are not limited to: damage to physical work; damage to homes/studios/other facilities; loss of equipment or supplies; loss of income, and reimbursement for cancelled performances, appearances, or engagements. On average grants will range between $1,000 and $5,000, but there may be extraordinary circumstances in which slightly smaller or larger grants might be made. For more information and to access the application, click here. |
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Educators Helping Educators and Students
 At our November 14, 2012 general meeting, we passed the hat to raise money for the students and teachers of the Robert L. Craig School in Moonachie, NJ, who lost their school as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The amount donated was matched dollar for dollar by AFT Local 1904 and a total of $400 was raised. The money was used to purchase 40 -$10 gift cards to Staples and Target. The gift cards were sent to the Robert L. Craig School Relief Drive so the teachers and families can purchase much needed supplies.
"The members of Montclair State University AFT Local 1904 wanted to help the kids and our colleagues in Moonachie," said Richard Wolfson, President of AFT Local 1904. "We were fortunate at Montclair State University to suffer only minimal damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy and we wanted to help the families and teachers in Moonachie since they have suffered so much," Wolfson said.
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Current Events
Links to Recent Articles of Interest
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Member News and Notes
Join with AFT Local 1904 in congratulating our colleagues who recieved grant awards in October 2012.
- Eden Kyse received a contract from the Paterson Public Schools for $80,000 for a project entitled "Paterson Public Schools - District Procedural Manual."
- The NJ Council for the Humanities awarded Victoria Larson $3,000 for "Jersey: A Sense of Place."
- Robert McCormick received a $131,702 subcontract from Rutgers University for "SHIP: Summer Housing and Internship Program 2012-2013."
- The National Science Foundation awarded Sandra Passchier $118,937 for "The Stratigraphic Expression of the Ogset of Glaciation in Eocene-Oligocene Successions of the Antartic Continental Margin."
- Quinn Vega, with Dean Robert Prezant, received a $112,137 subaward from Rutgers University for the fourth and final year of "LSAMP: The Garden State Alliance for Minority Participation."
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Mika Munakata, Emily Klein, and Monica Taylor, along with Jackie Willis, received a $1 million dollar grant to fund the Wipro Science Education Fellowship program in partnership with UMass Boston for a teacher leadership program for experienced science teachers.
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 | Richard Wolfson, President
AFT Local 1904 |
President's Corner
This past month was particularly challenging for everyone, including your Local, as we dealt with one issue after another: sabbaticals, the new Lecturer/Specialists positions, the definition of "essential services," reappointments, tenure decisions, personnel issues such as salary mistakes, course-cap resets ... and Superstorm Sandy in the middle.
Many matters were brought to our attention by individual members, and in some cases we were able to help by clarifying, rectifying, or reversing decisions. Sometimes we were able to make referrals to people with the answers; other times we couldn't do anything but offer support.
But I'm sure that there were more things out there, things that didn't come to our attention. Important things. Things that we could have helped with. Issues we don't know about, and might not until it's too late.
Your Local officers are here to help. If you have a question or issue, get in touch with any of us. Our contact information is on our website. We meet regularly and are in constant communication with each other, the Council, and our attorneys. You are not powerless against inequity, injustice, an environmental issue, an unreasonable manager, or a contract violation. We can't help if we don't know about it.
I hope to see you on Tuesday at the University Holiday Party, at the next General Union Meeting this Wednesday, the Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, the Professional Staff Luncheon on the 19th, or the Promotions Workshop on the December 20th.
I wish you and your families' good health and happiness as you celebrate this holiday season.
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Upcoming Events
General Union Meeting:
When: Wed, Dec. 12th
Time: 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Where: SC 419
Prof. Staff Luncheon:When: Wed., Dec. 19th
Time: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Where: SC Ballroom A
Faculty Promotions
Workshop:
When: Thurs., Dec. 20th
Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: UN 1145, ADP Ctr.
Solidarity Walks:
On hiatus until the start of the Spring 2013 Semester.
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Using A Lot of Sick Time?
If you are using a lot of sicktime for either your own health issues or to care for a family member, it is in your best interest to obtain a doctor's note for each absence. Why? MSU's Human Resources monitors the use of sick time and when an employee uses more than 15 sick days in a 12 month period, he/she is required to provide a doctor's note for each sick day there after for a period of 12 months. However, if an employee provides doctor's notes during the year, the absenses are considered excused and not counted towards the tally used to identify individuals who might be abusing sick leave. Have questions or concerns? Contact Kathleen Hughes via email at hughesk@aftlocal1904.org. |
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Scholarships Available
The Essex-West Hudson Labor Council's scholarship award for high school seniors is now accepting applications. Eligible applicants must be accepted at an accredited college or post-high school education program. Children of full dues paying members AFT Local 1904 who meet the above stated criteria are eligible to apply. The application deadline is April 26, 2013. For additional information, please click here.
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