2021 Delegate Assembly is in the E-Books

North Dakota United

DELEGATE ASSEMBLIES

April 17, 2021

2021 Delegate Assembly is in the E-Books

Annual NDU decision-making gathering held online for second year due to COVID-19

By Kelly Hagen, NDU Communications

Early on the morning of Saturday, April 17, North Dakota United President Nick Archuleta welcomed delegates, leaders, guest speakers and staff to the 2021 NDU Delegate Assembly. For the second year, our DA was held entirely virtual, due to safety precautions for the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Last year when we met, I welcomed delegates to what I hoped would be our first and last virtual Delegate Assembly,” Archuleta said. “I think that’s a direct quote. Well, here we are again on Zoom, but hope springs eternal.”

In his opening remarks, President Archuleta expressed more of that hope for the future, as NDU has weathered the storm of COVID better than most. “You are the public employees that bind our society together, whether you’re an auditor, a counselor, a researcher or a K-12 teacher, an education support professional, higher ed faculty, or someone who plows our roads or keeps us healthy,” Archuleta said. “You are providing the remarkable public services that the citizens of North Dakota have come to realize are essential to the quality of their lives.”

This year’s special guest speaker was NEA Secretary-Treasurer Noel Candelaria. As the son of Mexican immigrants, Candaleria is a firstgeneration American who rose through the ranks of the Texas State Teachers

NEA Secretary-Treasurer, Noel Candelaria was the guest speaker at the 2021 Delegate Assembly.

Association to be elected to his current office at NEA this past year.”

“We all sometimes hear about leaders being born,” Candaleria said. “And I know that real leaders are not born. The ability to help others triumph over adversity is not written into genetic code. Real leaders are made, they’re forged in crisis. And as this COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the world in nation after nation, city after city, neighborhood after neighborhood and in our union, leaders like you have stepped up in this moment of crisis and acted in the face of great uncertainty, real danger and collective fear.”

One New Business Item was brought forward for a vote. NBI #1 was submitted by the NDU Board of Directors, and read as follows:

“The NDU Foundation Special Assessment Allocation be changed to onethird (1/3) for professional development and two-thirds (2/3) for the general operations of the Foundation. This would be effective for the fiscal year starting September 1, 2021.”

NBI #1 passed by electronic vote, and no other NBIs were introduced. Five board positions were filled without a vote, due to candidates successfully filing petitions and running unopposed. They were elected without objection after President Archuleta moved to elect by unanimous consent. These candidates and new board members are: • Denbea McNally, Minot – Education Support Professional (ESP) Director • Ernst Pijning, ND Public Employees, Minot State University chapter – Higher Education Four-

Year Institution Director • Danielle Borseth, Mandan

Education Association – K-12

Greater Than 600 Director • Darby Hart, Langdon Area EA –

Northeast Region Director • Alan Leintz, Minot Public Schools

Building & Bus Personnel #52 –

Northwest Region Director

Five more board positions were then filled by voice vote from their respected constituencies, after being nominated from the (digital) floor. Those individuals are: • Marcelo Campoverde, Grafton EA – Ethnic Minority Director • Jamie Eriksson, NDPE, Mayville State University chapter – Higher Education Support Director • Ellie Shockley, NDPE – Public Employee Director • Jared Adams, Fargo EA – Southeast Region Director • Alexis Rasset, Mandan EA – Southwest Region Director

Two positions on the board – Higher Education Two-Year Director and K-12 Less Than 600 Director – were left unfilled due to no nominations or petitioned candidates. The NDU Board of Directors can fill these two positions at a later date for one term at their discretion, according to the NDU Constitution and By-Laws.

Delegates elected to represent ND United at the NEA Representative Assembly this summer were: • Tim Thueson, Williston EA • Sara Medalen, Minot EA