The Maine Education Association Representative Assembly

The MEA holds an annual Representative Assembly (RA) in May. MEA’s RA is the largest democratic body of the association, made up of educators elected by their local associations to represent their district. The MEA RA delegates set the course of work for the Association in the upcoming school year, discuss and take positions on key education issues, pass the MEA Strategic Budget for the coming year, and elect new leadership. Being a delegate at the MEA RA allows educators to have a greater voice in their work and in the profession as a whole.

As a member of the Maine Education Association, you are eligible to have a voice. Proposed additions, deletions, or changes in wording to the Constitution, Bylaws, or Standing Rules and to the MEA Resolutions (our belief statements) are welcome from MEA committees, local Associations and/or individual members. If you have proposed changes or new ideas or would like to see the MEA take specific actions (New Business Items—or NBIs), then run to be elected as a delegate from your local and let your voice be heard!

The 2021 MEA RA will be held May 22nd -23rd at the Marriott Sable Oaks in South Portland. On the evening of the 22nd, MEA also holds its annual awards dinner where educators, students,

and community members are recognized for their achievements and outstanding commitment to education. (Note: in 2020, MEA held its first ‘virtual Representative Assembly’ in May, with a modified agenda, and held an 'extraordinary session' of the RA in August to the RA’ to take care of additional business.)

Check the updated list of delegate seats to see if there will be a vacancy in your local and plan to attend and/or encourage fellow colleagues to be a delegate!

Go to the MEA Elections section under the Member Center tab on the MEA website for more information: https://maineea. org/mea-elections/

Be sure to look for elections information in late December/ early January and return the necessary forms to MEA in a timely manner. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have about the process by clicking on the “contact us” button.

For the MEA Board of Directors:

Is it time for you to step up and be the voice for your region on the MEA Board of Directors? As a member of the MEA Board, you help make decisions to steer the MEA throughout the year to support all members.

For the MEA RA:

As a delegate to the MEA RA for your local association, you help set the direction of the MEA for the coming year and determine the positions of the MEA on many issues.

For the NEA RA:

As a delegate to the NEA RA, you help represent Maine educators at the national level in directing the actions of the NEA.

For MEA Officers:

The positions of all three officers- MEA President, Vice President, and Treasurer--are up for election this year. Officers are elected by the delegates to the MEA RA.

Visit Maineea.org/ mea-elections