VEA Committees, Teams, and Other for 2025-2026
2025-2026 VEA Convention Mic Spotters
Assist at the VEA Delegate Assembly in recognizing members who wish to be recognized.
Member Local
Lois Switzer, Chair Retired
Sylvia Hutto Retired
Amy Lamb Northumberland
Catherine Malley Retired
Melissa Peters Retired
Alternates:
Connie Coates, (Alt.) Retired
Denise Davis (Alt.) Retired
Mary Ellen Haines (Alt.) Retired
Cathy M. Smith (Alt.) Retired
Staff Liaison: Shawn Brown sbrown@veanea.org
2025 2026
Jan24 Virtual (Saturday10am–3pm)
September 19 & 20
Delta (Downtown), Richmond, VA
All Committee Day to follow after lunch on 20th Feb 15 TBD, Richmond (Sunday–12-5pminperson) (tobenearlobbydayFeb16)
October 17 & 18
Wintergreen Resort, VA
March16–Virtual -6:00p.m. (ifneeded)
Nov18–Virtual -6:00p.m. (ifneeded) April16–VEAConventionin Norfolk,VA
Dec9–Virtual -6:00p.m. (ifneeded) May12–Virtual–6:00p.m.,ifneeded
June13 Virtual (Saturday10am–3pm) (ECinpersonat8:30am)
Schedule of VEA Delegate Assembly (Convention)
Note: Convention Dates have been approved previously by the Board.
April 16 – 18, 2026 .............................. Norfolk, VA
April 8 – 10, 2027 ........................Spotsylvania, VA
2028 To be determined – date/location
Last Name First Name Dist/Role Role Email
Sheppard Danielle R. A - President president.a@bod.veanea.org
Blair Pamela B - President president.b@bod.veanea.org
Lovelace* Stephanie C- President president.c@bod.veanea.org
Bassett Nancy D - President president.d@bod.veanea.org
Houston Leslie E - President president.e@bod.veanea.org
Okouchi Carla E - Director director.e2@bod.veanea.org
* F - President president.f@bod.veanea.org
* F - Director director.f@bod.veanea.org
Countryman Kris G - President president.g@bod.veanea.org
Kockler Suzanne G - Director director.g@bod.veanea.org
Simmons Rosina H - President president.h@bod.veanea.org
Williams Shaniqua H - Director director.h@bod.veanea.org
Foster Cory I - President president.i@bod.veanea.org
Archer (Dr.) Kimberly J - President president.j@bod.veanea.org
Sizemore Ben K - President president.k@bod.veanea.org
Freeman James L - President president.l@bod.veanea.org
Strauss Stephen M - President president.m@bod.veanea.org
Anderson Arthur N - President president.n@bod.veanea.org
Sipe Heather O - President president.o@bod.veanea.org
Cason Andy P - President president.p@bod.veanea.org
Butler Kathy Q - President president.q@bod.veanea.org
Brace Melissa Q - Director director.q@bod.veanea.org
Hickerson Kevin NEA Director director.nea1@bod.veanea.org
Parham Alynn NEA Director director.nea2@bod.veanea.org
McDowell Lola VEA-Retired -Dir director.vear1@bod.veanea.org
Walton Dorothy VEA-Retired -Dir director.vear2@bod.veanea.org
McCall Nyia SVEA-AE - Pres. president.svea@bod.veanea.org
Edwards Gwen NEA Director-atLarge director.neaesp@bod.veanea.org
Bauer Carol VEA President cbauer@veanea.org
Jones (Dr.) Jessica M. VEA V. President jjones@veanea.org
Notes: SVEA-AE Presidentident = 1-yr. term, NEA Directors = 3-yr. term Alternate ESP-at-Large seats are determined by 8/31/25 membership.
* Special Election to follow
Local
Bristol
Wythe
Franklin County
Rockingham
Fairfax
Fairfax
Prince William
Prince William
Loudoun
Loudoun
Alexandria
Manassas City
Pittsylvania
Amelia
Mecklenburg
Chesterfield
Richmond City
Chesapeake
Virginia Beach
Williamsburg-JC
Stafford
Spotsylvania
Fairfax
Williamsburg-JC
VEA Retired
VEA Retired
SVEA-VA State Univ.
Prince William
York
Pittsylvania
The responsibilities of the Board as a whole:
1. Help the VEA:
• Achieve ✓ credibility ✓ accountability ✓ visibility ✓ equity ✓ justice
• Develop ✓ good management policies and practices
• Maintain ✓ fiduciary control
✓ proper financial management ✓ sustainability ✓ confidentiality
2. Exercise the general authority of the Delegate Assembly between DA meetings and oversee the implementation of policies and programs adopted there.
3. Intentionally promote and explain Board recommendations, positions, and actions.
4. Receive reports of VEA-appointed groups.
5. Elect a minimum of six (6) Executive Committee members from among VEA Board members.
6. Approve the proposed final budget to send to the VEA Delegate Assembly.
7. Employ the executive director.
8. Provide direction for the executive director.
9. Review all management and staff contracts.
10. Direct the Board Liaison to maintain current, approved governance documents and archival documents.
11. Be familiar with VEA’s Charter (Articles of Incorporation), Constitution, and Bylaws.
12. Consider the best interests of the entire VEA while keeping the Board apprised of viewpoints and issues that directly affect her/his constituency.
The individual responsibilities of a Board member:
• Proactively represent and promote VEA’s mission, vision, and goals to the community at-large, members, and not-yet members.
At Board meetings, the member shall:
1. Come prepared, having read all Board materials and reports prior to the meeting.
2. Come ready to participate and be fully present.
3. Attend all VEA Board, District, and VEA and NEA Representative Assembly meetings.
4. Represent the viewpoint of the members at District Council and/or programs while also considering the best interest of the entire Association.
5. Serve on committees as appointed.
6. Follow the attendance policy.
7. Follow the voucher policy and submit all vouchers in a timely fashion.
Back home, the member shall:
1. Maintain confidentiality of executive sessions.
2. Know, support, and promote VEA policy, and be able to communicate to members and local leaders the background leading up to policy decisions, as well as the interpretation of policy.
3. Present Board decisions and positions honestly and objectively, including major points of view from Board discussions, offer supportive information when necessary, and be prepared to answer questions and/or provide further information.
4. Reach out to locals in the District and make periodic contacts with local leaders to offer assistance and to solicit reactions from members, without undermining the Local President, the Local Board, State Officers and VEA Board.
5. Assist locals in membership drives, if requested.
6. Develop a leadership relationship with locals, including serving as a mentor to future leaders and encouraging members who are potential leaders to participate in training opportunities provided by VEA and NEA.
7. Be considerate in all requests to headquarters staff, as you may not be aware of their work loads and impending deadlines. If you have an involved request, please send it to the President, who will determine how best to proceed.
8. Promote Student VEA and encourage student members to become involved in District meetings.
9. Hold regular meetings of the District Board and make regular reports to the affected UniServ Councils.
10. Participate in District meetings and present VEA positions and actions.
11. Contribute to the VEA Fund and NEA Fund for Children and Public Education and encourage all members to join you in doing so.
The VEA Board scheduled to meet:
1. September training and meeting
2. October meeting
3. January/Feb meeting
4. Convention meeting (half of one day)
5. Summer Meeting (June / July) – virtual meeting
6. As needed for “called” meetings to vote on or discuss an urgent mater (usually virtual)
1. Roll call will be conducted at the beginning of each session. If a board member is tardy they will need to report to the Clerk of the Board to have their attendance corrected.
If a board member is absent for any part of the board meeting, they shall inform the President and Clerk of the Board, Adria Stagg (astagg@veanea.org), by email, who will inform the board for her/his absence at either the beginning of the next session or at the end of the session prior to the session being missed. Failure to report to the President will result in the District being charged for costs incurred by VEA for the board member’s absence.
2. It is the responsibility of the board member to inform, by email, the President and the Clerk of the Board when the board member will be absent for a board meeting at least 72 hours in advance. It is also the responsibility of the Board member to contact and arrange for the duly elected alternate to attend in their place. The President and Clerk of the Board must also be notified of the name, position and contact information of the alternate board member. It is the responsibility of the absent board member, not the VEA, to contact and arrange for the duly elected alternate to attend in their place.
The 72 hour requirement is 1 pm on Tuesday before a board meeting that starts on Friday or 1 pm on Wednesday before a board meeting that starts on Saturday.
3. If an emergency arises during the 72 hour window, the District member will be responsible for all costs incurred by the VEA unless the absence is excused by the VEA President. If the board member disagrees with the ruling, the board member needs to appeal to the Executive Committee. The board member shall submit any appeal by email. In extenuating circumstances, a phone call, followed by email notification, is permissible. The reason for the absence to the President and the Clerk of the Board. The reason for the absence shall remain confidential.
4. Whenever a board member misses a required VEA function, the local presidents of that District will be informed by email. Once a board member misses a second meeting the local presidents will be informed not only of the absence but the procedure the district may choose to follow to recall the board member and replace said board member.
Consequences for absence(s) that do not meet the 72-hour requirement window:
1. First Absence -
a. All local presidents in the district will be informed in writing by email of the board member’s absence; and,
b. The District will be billed for any costs incurred by VEA.
2. Second Absence –
a. All local presidents in the district will be informed in writing by email of the board member’s absence;
b. Local presidents will be informed of the procedure to follow if they wish to recall and replace said board member; and
c. The District will be billed for any costs incurred by VEA.
Emergency absence during the 72-Hour requirement window:
The District will be responsible for all costs incurred by the VEA unless the absence is excused by the VEA President. If the board member disagrees with the ruling, the board member needs to appeal to the Executive Committee. The board member shall submit in writing by letter or email the reason for the absence to the President and the Clerk of the Board The reason for the absence shall remain confidential. It is the responsibility of the Board member to contact and arrange for the duly elected alternate to attend in their place.
1. Board Attendance Policy and meeting dates for upcoming year will be included with call for board elections.
2. Include a disclaimer on “petition for office” form that would clearly identify the duties/ responsibilities of a VEA board member in regard to attendance and commitment of office. This would be required to have signature of the petitioner.
Prior to each Board meeting, you will be sent an email reminder which includes the following:
• a draft meeting agenda (dates, times, location, items to discuss)
• housing reservation link – please respond by the deadline – that deadline is the date the hotel will release our block of rooms. The VEA will make room reservations based on the RSVPs o the reservation link will also include meal choices. If you do not respond by the deadline it will be assumed you are not eating any of the provided meals – meals are paid using Federal per diem rates so no receipts for meals are needed
Reservations are guaranteed for arrival after 6:00 p.m. It is the board member’s responsibility to notify Adria Stagg (astagg@veanea.org), Executive Assistant to the President/VP/ED and Clerk of the Board, and Carol Bauer (cbauer@veanea.org), VEA President, 3 days prior to the date of your stay, you will be held responsible for the charge.
Room charges will be billed direct to the VEA for Board meetings and conventions. Each individual is responsible for incidentals, such as telephone calls, movies, alcoholic beverages, etc. Most hotels require a credit card for incidentals upon check-in.
If you have items to add to the agenda contact Adria Stagg (astagg@veanea.org) by the deadline to submit agenda items.
The week prior to each Board meeting, materials will be posted to BoardPro, including a final agenda. Board members are requested to either print their Board materials from BoardPro and bring with them to the Board meeting or plan to view them online – only a limited number of copies of materials are available on-site at the Board meeting. Any additional materials will be distributed at the meeting.
Minutes of the meeting will be posted to BoardPro prior to the next board meeting for approval at that next meeting.
The President, Vice President, Executive Director, Parliamentarian, and the Clerk of the Board will be seated at a head table. Members of the Board of Directors will be seated at the front of the room at tables designated for them. This will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. All other visitors and staff will be seated at the back of the room at designated tables.
Board/Committee Travel/Expense Reimbursement Request VEA Division Use Only
Virginia Education Association
8001 Franklin Farms Dr., Ste. 200, Richmond, VA 23229
Cost Ctr #:____________ Project ID:
Approved by: _________________________________Date: ______________ Comments: _______________________________________________________
See Board/Committee Expense Reimbursement Policy on reverse. o This is a cash voucher Use this form for out-of-pocket exenses only .
Please
were incurred by me on official business of the Virginia Education * GT - I hereby certify that the expenses listed above in the total amount Association and include only such expenses as were necessary in the conduct of this business.
** Advances - Record expenses (such as hotel, meals, plane/train fare, etc.) relating to an advance on the applicable lines above. Then record the total of the advance in the “Less Advance” block. Receipts are required – please attach to form.
*** Due VEA: Hotel/Motel - If the hotel was billed directly to VEA, do not include on this form; however, must be shown as expense if relates to advance. If you requested a “single” room, deduct ½ the cost of the room in “Due VEA” – VEA reimburses for housing based on double occupancy, unless approved in advance. If total expenses are less than advance, attach check for difference.
Please attach receipts to the back of this form. Travelr's Signature:
information requested must be submitted to VEA (along with receipts) within 30 days of incurring expenses. More information on reverse.
The VEA will reimburse Board and Committee members for reasonable actual expenses while on official VEA business. Only expenses related to travel, individual meals, and lodging are reimbursable. Reimbursement is allowed only when reimbursement has not been, and will not be, received from other sources.
Each individual is responsible for personal expenses, such as (but not limited to): personal telephone calls, lounge charges, snacks, dry cleaning, PAC contributions, travel check expenses, movies, dues to special interest caucuses, and tours. Personal charges should be paid at time of hotel/motel check-out.
Please note: Most hotels require a credit card or a cash deposit at time of check-in for miscellaneous, incidental expenses, such as telephone calls, movies, etc.
Each traveler is responsible for his/her own meals. VEA will provide the traveler a per diem according the USG General Services Administration Per Diem rate. This means that itemized receipts are NOT required for meals. If VEA provides a meal for the traveler, the per diem will be reduced for that meal’s portion of the per diem.
Mileage reimbursement rate for travel is the IRS issued rate A Google Map or MapQuest showing milage should be attached.
Double occupancy for lodging unless prior approval from the VEA President. Reservations are to be made by the VEA. To make reservations, please respond to the housing request that accompanies your meeting notice letter. Room charges will be direct billed to the VEA for Board meetings. If a single room is requested, you are responsible for the cost of ½ the room per night. The cost can be deducted from your travel reimbursement.
Expenses are paid for the following meetings for Board members:
• VEA Board meetings;
• VEA Convention; advance checks are issued prior to convention;
• Any VEA Committee to which you are a liaison or member;
• Any function to which you are officially invited to attend by the VEA President or staff;
• NEA Convention:
• airline tickets should be purchased as soon as possible. Tickets may be submitted for reimbursement by filing a voucher at the time of purchase;
• all air travel shall be coach class;
• travel by car (to the convention) - VEA will reimburse the lesser of coach airfare or current mileage reimbursement rate;
• advance checks are issued in early June
VEA will pay the following fares: airport bus, taxi, and other forms of ground transportation as required, tolls, parking garage, reasonable gratuities [limit of 20%]. Self parking in lieu of valet parking should be chosen if available.
Receipts are required for housing and commercial carrier tickets (airline, bus, train), airport transportation, and parking.
Documentation to substantiate advances must be submitted within 30 days of related travel. Those not submitting timely documentation will receive a 1099 for tax purposes and will no longer receive advances.
Inquiries should be directed by email to the VEA Director of Finance.
Expense vouchers must be submitted within 30 days and signed by traveler. Email the signed vouchers to Adria Stagg (astagg@veanea.org).
Per Diem Policy – Board and Committee Members
Effective 12/13/2023
Policy on Travel Per Diem for Meals and Incidental Expense (M&IE) Reimbursement
VEA Board and Committee per diem rates, follow the GSA per diem rates for reimbursement of meals and incidental expenses. The per diem rate are published on https://perdiemcalc.net/gsa-vea/ Receipts are not required where per diem is paid. In incidences where meals are provided, those meal amounts (see link) are subtracted from the per diem.
CRITERIA to meet per diem:
• Full Days Per Diem:
o Paid when both ends of the day are spent away from home.
• Partial Days Per Diem: Also referred to as Travel Day Per Diem
o Attendee traveled at least 30 miles to the location of the meeting. or
o If the day started or ended in a hotel stay.
Please submit your travel calculation with your expense request from the following website: https://perdiemcalc.net/gsa-vea/ The link on the page will do the per diem calculation, please print and return with your travel reimbursement request.
The VEA uses committees and commissions to accomplish its major (strategic) goals and objectives. The role of a committee/commission chair is to lead those groups through the process of developing and overseeing implementation of action plans to accomplish VEA’s goals and objectives. The chair sees that the committee/commission operates in an efficient and effective manner within guidelines established by the Board of Directors, the Delegate Assembly and/or the Association President.
The chair works closely with the staff liaison in planning and carrying out meetings, providing information, materials, resources, meals and housing to help the committee/commission function properly.
Reports to: VEA President and the Board of Directors
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Helps create major (strategic) goals and objectives directing the activity of the VEA.
• Develops and oversees action plans to implement strategic goals and objectives.
• With the liaison, monitors committee/commission expenditures and resources needed to accomplish tasks.
• Works with liaison to plan the meeting agenda reflecting the committees/commissions strategic goals, charges and objectives
• Chairs the meeting with attention to getting outcomes
• With the liaison, makes sure minutes are kept, produced and distributed to ensure the committee/commission has a record of its work Makes sure that a copy of the minutes is submitted to President and Executive Director
• Moves all committee/commission motions and recommendations to President
• Makes sure (w/liaison) that proper committee work is given to the staff responsible for that content area. This may not always be the staff liaison. Therefore, such work should flow through the Executive Director or designee.
• Prepares (w/liaison) all committee reports and presentations.
• Delivers reports/presentations at the pleasure of the President.
• Attends appropriate meetings of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, staff, committee chairs, etc.
• Presents to internal or external groups at the request of the President.
The staff liaison provides a direct link between the membership function of developing and overseeing action plans through the committee/ commission structure to the implementation function of the association staff.
The liaison’s primary duties are to advise the committee/commission on subject content and facilitate the planning and arrangement of meetings.
The liaison assists the chair in drafting a meeting agenda and providing a record of the meeting consistent with the committee/commission charges as established by the President, Board of Directors, or Delegate Assembly.
The liaison should not chair the meeting or take direction from the committee or commission for actions beyond the scope of their charges, unless such work is approved by the Executive Director.
Reports to: Executive Director or designee
Duties and Responsibilities:
Works with chair to create and distribute agenda.
Provides advice to committee/commission and chair on committee/ commission content issues.
Plans for the meeting space, location, food, lodging if necessary, administrative help (would coordinate this function with organization guidelines).
Helps the chair keep the committee/commission focused on strategic goals/charges.
Produces and distributes all materials, documents, and meeting notes needed by the committee to do their work.
Processes committee/commission expense vouchers and informs the chair of financial matters related to the committee/commission.
With the chair, produces and distributes to committee and appropriate individuals (i.e., President, Executive Director, Board of Directors, Executive Committee, etc.), recommendations and proposed actions of the committee/commission.
Participates in the budget process as requested by the Executive Director or designee.
Keeps Executive Director (or designee) aware of concerns and issues.
Works with chair to provide new committee/commission members with an appropriate orientation.
Works with and coordinates appropriate skill/knowledge-based training for committee/commission members.
Keeps management informed of committee/commission activities.
Submits agenda (with chair) to President and Executive Director on week prior to meeting.
Other duties as assigned by Executive Director.
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus, this committee will:
1. Monitor and Influence Labor Policy
2. Advocate for the Virginia Department of Labor and Labor Relations Board
3. Recommend and Design Training for Local Bargaining Teams
4. Develop Local Bargaining Readiness Plans
5. Promote Organizing and Member Engagement
6. Collect and Share Model Contract Language
7. Coordinate Statewide Bargaining Strategies
8. Plan and Assist with Organizing Member Trainings
Member Local District
Katie Seidemann, Co-Chair Montgomery B
Darrell Turner, Co-Chair Richmond City M
Rueben Adams Prince William F
Andy Cason Williamsburg-JC P
Kris Countryman Loudoun G
Andrea Eisenberger Virginia Beach O
Nick Green Norfolk O
Alison Haverty Harrisonburg D
Dawn Lucas Alexandria H
Mary McIntyre Albemarle J
June Prakash Arlington H
Board Liaison:
Staff Liaison: Lisa Staib lstaib@veanea.org
Bob Fiink bfink@veanea.org
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus, this committee will:
1. Advise the Communications and Public Affairs Dept. on internal communication channels to ensure that they meet the needs of members and Locals
2. Advise the Communications and Public Affairs Dept. on enhancing the VEA’s image and educating internal and external audiences.
3. Collaborate with the Communications and Public Affairs Dept. on use of cutting-edge communications technology.
4. Encourage and increase Union activity at the Local level by prompting current communications initiatives and public relations activities through UniServ councils and other appropriate committees
Member Local District
Amy Verner, Chair
Prince William F
Monann Davis Prince William F
David Paladin-Fernandez
Antuane Ramon Moore
Jeanine Osther Arlington H
Cherone Small Newport News P
Barbeta Terry Portsmouth N
Tyrone Weems Norfolk O
Retired: Allison Batty Fairfax E
Board Liaisons: Melissa Brace
Spotsylvania Q
Staff Liaison: Kevin Rogers krogers@veanea.org
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus, this committee will:
1. Make recommendations to increase the integration of educational support concerns into the Association policies and programs.
2. To enhance the visibility of Education Support Professionals in the Association.
3. Make recommendations for conferences and plan the annual Education Support Professionals Conference in the Association.
4. To work to increase ESP Membership to assure Collective Bargaining.
5. Make recommendations designed to enhance the local association's ability to improve benefits available to education support professionals.
6. To work on ESP Living Wage through Collective Bargaining.
Virginia Higginbotham, Chair Manassas City F
Eric Burton Newport News P
Ivis Castillo Arlington H
Emily Coleman Stafford Q
Melody Cunningham Stafford Q
Anthony Fields Chesapeake N
Ingrid Simmons Richmond City M
Karen Tyrrell Loudoun G
Shirlita West Loudoun G
Raychelle Williams Suffolk N
Retireed:
Connie Lee Coates
VEA Retired
Kathleen Bochert VEA Retired
Board Liaisons:
Nancy Bassett Rockingham D
Kathline Butler Stafford Q
Gwen Edwards
Prince William NEA ESP at-large
Staff Liaison: Carl Howard Choward1@veanea.org
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus, this committee will:
1. Provide relevant, quality Professional Development to members:
a. Engage in consistent and differentiated communication with members on current instructional and professional development issues to determine needs (using surveys, field staff, etc.).
b. Provide resources to meet the identified needs with options for participation (workshops, webinars, help sessions, VEA VirtualEd, Communities of Practice, micro-credentials, IPD Conference, repository of lesson plans).
2. RecognizeExcellencein Instructional Leadershipthrough screening applicantsusing rubrics for:
a. Mini-grants for VEA
b. Award for Teaching Excellence for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence and make appropriate recommendations to the VEA President.
Member Local District
Amy K. Brown, Chair VEA Retired Trinity Bea
Deborah
Board Liaisons
Suzanne Kockler
Alynn Parham
Staff Liaison: Isabele Sullivan isullivan@veanea.org
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus, this committee will:
1. Develop workshops and professional learning opportunities to equip educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to create inclusive and affirming environments for all students. These programs are designed to raise awareness and build educators' capacity to understand and effectively address the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ students.
2. Address the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ students and educators. By identifying systemic barriers and advocating for policies and practices that promote equity and safety, the committee is driving progress. This includes working on initiatives to combat discrimination, bullying, and harassment, as well as promoting mental health and well-being within the LGBTQIA+ community.
3. Fosterpartnershipsandallianceswithothercommittees,organizations,andcommunitygroupstoamplify its impact. By collaborating with external partners, the committee enhances its ability to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and influence policy at local, state, and national levels. These partnerships are strategically leveraged to share resources, expand outreach, and strengthen the support network for LGBTQIA+ students and educators. Through these alliances, the committee works to build a more comprehensive and unified approach to addressing the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in education.
Member Local District
Jennifer Rokasky, Co Chair VEA F
Angela Trerotola, Co Chair
Jessika Crance
Brandon Fincham
Danny Higgins
Prince William F
Rockbridge- D Lexington
Manassas City H
Frederick D
Brad Hutchinson Bristol A
Leslie A. Jones
Alexandria H
Travis Maxwell Bristol A
Lyndsay McCabe Hampton P
Katie Morgans
Albemarle J
Peter Pisarek Chesterfield L
Charisse Woodward Frederick D
Board Liaisons:
Cory Foster
Pittsylvania I
Shaniqua Williams Manassas City H
Staff Liaison: Bridget Seery bseery@veanea.org
Taisha Steele tsteele@veanea.org
Membership Committee (2025-2026) (UniServ Council Chairs) (UniServ Standards Advisory Committee - USAC)
1. To make recommendations regarding strategies to increase and maintain a high level of VEA membership.
2. Review documentation concerning the level of knowledge and participation in organizing and negotiations activities on the state and local level. Make recommendations for expanding activities as appropriate.
3. Review unit composition and UniServ operation standards and make recommendations to the VEA Board of Directors.
4. Serve as a vehicle for UniServ units to discuss joint concerns and goals.
5. Screen applications for the A+ Award for Membership Growth and make recommendations to the VEA President.
6. Work to develop engagement in New Ed and early enrollment programs.
7. Monitor and support collective bargaining plans.
UniServ Name
Blue Ridge Vernon Liechti
Central RVA Andrea Bryant
Central Virginia Connie Finney
Chesapeake Bay Andrea Eisenberger
Chesterfield/Colonial Heights
Colonial Samuel Eure
Commonwealth Stephanie Lovelace
Cumberland MountainPhyllis Mullins
Dominion Jennifer Andrews
Elizabeth River Patrick Barry
Fairfax Carla Okouchi
Loudoun Kris Countryman
Mountain View Melissa Brace
New River Matthew Fentress
NOVA (Alexandria & Arlington)Amanda Ronco
Piedmont Dr. Jessica Jones
Prince William
Southside-Eduserv Tammy Stith
Southwest
Tidewater Benjamin Brown
Valley Nancy Bassett
Staff Liaison: Pat Hill phill@veanea.org
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus, this committee will:
1. Facilitate the achievement of ethnic minority delegate representation at least equal to the proportion of identified ethnic-minority populations within the state of Virginia.
2. Advise and make recommendations to the President and Board of Directors, as appropriate, regarding diversity, multicultural, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender equity issues and programs, employment practices, and other issues and programs of concern to minorities and women, with special emphasis on state initiatives which promote equity and minority engagement.
3. Identify and recommend trainings, programs, and resources that are relevant, equitable, and adaptable to meet the needs of all students, education professionals, and SVEA-Aspiring Educators
4. Serve as the designated liaison to receive and address minority and women’s concerns submitted by VEA members and make appropriate recommendations.
Member Local District
Dr. Adriane Bradley-Gray, Chair Suffolk
Dr. Camona Murray Albemarle J
June Prakash Arlington H
Carolyn Riley Arlington H
VEA-Retired:
Lola McDowell
VEA-Retired
Board Liaison:
Carla Okouchi Fairfax E
Rosina I. Simmons Alexandria H
Staff Liaison: Taisha Steele tsteele@veanea.org
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus, this committee will:
1. Provide recommendations for and commit to increasing educator participation in the development of state and federal proposals and regulations and their impact on students with disabilities.
2 Engage and integrate educators in relevant professional development regarding current best practices for educating students with disabilities, to include laws and legal procedures affecting special education with a focus on equity of access.
3. Work with their locals to encourage the development of a strategic membership initiative that targets staff members working in special education. The goal of this initiative is to increase membership for collective bargaining and to ensure best practices as local policies are developed.
Mary Beth Guzman, Chair Virginia Beach
D’nae Carranza
Tammy DeHaven Manassas City
Dora Godfrey Botetourt
Kim Anderson-Hasty
Riya Medley
Edna “Diane” Outlaw
Claudette Pierre
Joanne Walton
Nevine Youssef
Board Liaison:
Dr. Kimberly Archer
Kevin Hickerson
Staff Liaison: Dr. Amber Brown abrown@veanea.org
Fitz Turner Commission for Human Relations and Civil Rights (All terms begin September 1 and end August 31)
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus Plan, this committee will:
1. Review human relations needs in all programs, events, and initiatives of the VEA and recommend steps to intensify commitment to advance the human dignity of every individual.
2. Act as the vanguard, monitoring behaviors of extremists and hate groups within the education environment and recommend action as needed to the VEA President and VEA Board of Directors. VEA leadership will work in collaboration with the Fitz Turner Commission for Human Relations & Civil Rights.
3. Partner with VEA’s Departments of Human and Civil Rights and Teaching and Learning, to develop and provide professional learning on promoting cultural humility and implementing culturally responsive curricula in the Commonwealth.
4. Recognize and highlight the wealth of diversity within the Commonwealth of Virginia through active screening of applications for the Fitz Turner Awards Program and serve as officers and committee members on the Beblon G. Parks Scholarship Fund and make appropriate recommendations to the VEA President.
5. Review the VEA and NEA Resolutions relating to human and civil rights and advise the VEA Board regarding their implementation.
6. Promote and support all priorities of VEA’s Department of Human and Civil Rights.
Commissioner District Term
Brandon Fincham, Chair
Lorraine Dresch
Elizabeth Larson
Kenara Jackson
H 2024-2027
A 2025-2028
B 2024-2027
C 2024-2027 # (pending Board approval)
Charisse Woodward
Nicola Ross
Monann Davis
Christina Schmitt
D 2023-2026
E 2025-2028
F 2023-2026
G 2023-2026
Tammy DeHaven H 2024-2027
Mary Patterson I 2023-2026 #
Anthony Swann I 2024-2027
AnDrea Trotter J 2025-2028*
Starr Hargrove K 2025-2028
Melodie Henderson L 2024-2027 #
Milondra Coleman M 2023-2026
Anthony Fields N 2025-2028
James O. Parker O 2024-2027
Kim Anderson-Hasty P 2023-2026
Christie Jones Q 2025-2028*
Staff Liaison: Taisha Steele tsteele@veanea.org
*Second Term #Filling Unexpired Term
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus Plan, this committee will: 1. Review and recommend action regarding the legal rights of members
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (Executive Committee was elected in Spring, 2025)
Committee Member Local Term
Dr. James Graves, Chair Newport News Sept. 2024-Aug. 2027*
Tyron Barnes, Vice Chair Alexandria Sept. 2025-Aug. 2028
Dr. Kimberly Archer Amelia Sept. 2023-Aug. 2026
Jenny Higginbotham Manassas City Sept. 2023-Aug. 2026
Eric Payne Alexandria Sept. 2025-Aug. 2028
Ernest Chambers Charlottesville Sept. 2023-Aug. 2026*
Clarence Collins Caroline Sept. 2024-Aug. 2027
Leslie Houston Fairfax Sept. 2024-Aug. 2027
Dr. Jessica M. Jones Pittsylvania Sept. 2023-Aug. 2026*
Latasha Lee Northumberland Sept. 2023-Aug. 2026*
Travis Maxwell Bristol Sept. 2025-Aug. 2028
Danielle Riffe Sheppard Bristol Sept. 2025-Aug. 2028
Benjamin Sizemore Mecklenburg Sept. 2024-Aug. 2027
Kathleen Slinde Virginia Beach Sept. 2025-Aug. 2026
*Second Term #Serving Unexpired Term
Staff Liaisons:
Moriah Allen (Interim) VEA Staff Attorney mallen@veanea.org
Richan Steele Program Coordinator, Legal rsteele@veanea.org
VEA Committees for 2025-2026 Established by Governing Documents
Credentials Committee
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus Plan, this committee will:
1. Certify delegates to the VEA Delegate Assembly and assist during business sessions of the Delegate Assembly.
Member Local District
Megan Link, Co-Chair VEA Retired F
Barbara Wilson, Co-Chair VEA Retired J
Arthur Anderson Chesapeake N
Tyron Barnes Alexandria H
Cassandra Bell Richmond City M
Clesta Foor Loudoun D
Georgeanne Lavery
Fairfax E
Angela Moss Richmond M
Katie Vincent Portsmouth N
Alia Zaro Montgomery B
Staff Liaison: Adria Stagg astagg@veanea.org
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus Plan, this committee will:
1. Canvass ballots for state, general, or special elections and report results to the VEA Board of Directors.
2. Expected to be a delegate and attend the VEA Convention.
3. Review the Campaign Regulations and make recommendations to the VEA Board of Directors.
4. Meet during the Delegate Assembly to respond to campaign inquiries.
5. Review VEA statewide candidates’ campaign practices and expenditures and report to the VEA Board of Directors.
6. Review statewide election procedures and make recommendations to the VEA Board of Directors.
7. Investigate local, district or UniServ council elections upon request of the President.
8. Meet with flexibility, outside of the Delegate Assembly, when the needs of the committee arises.
Member Local District
Stephanie Lovelace, Co-Chair Franklin Co. C
Steve Whitten, Co-Chair Chase City K
Kathline Butler Stafford Q
Christina Bohringer Alexandria H
Alisa Downey Roanoke Co. C
Gwen Edwards
Prince Williams NEA Director-At-Large
Belinda Folb Arlington H
Leslie Houston Fairfax E
Britteny Thomas Fairfax E
Dot Walton VEA Retired Staff Liaisons Executive Director, Earl Wiman (ewiman@veanea.org)
Shawn Brown (sbrown@veanea.org)
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus Plan, the Legislative Committee will, per VEA Bylaws 6.6(b), make recommendations of legislative priorities in cooperation with the Resolutions Committee to the Delegate Assembly. In addition, it will further function in an advisory capacity during the Virginia General Assembly session. The Legislative Committee shall be composed of four Members appointed by the President and four elected from the Board of Directors.
Ex-officio Members:
Carol Bauer, President (Chair) York Co. P
Dr. Jessica Jones, Vice Pres. Pittsylvania I (non-voting)
Belinda Folb Arlington H
Ernest Chambers Charlottesville J
Leslie Houston Fairfax E
Amanda Lambert Chesapeake N
Rosina I. Simmons Alexandria H
Benjamin (Ben) Sizemore Clarksville K
Darrell Turner Richmond City M
Dot Walton VEA Retired J
Staff Liaison: Chad Stewart GR Specialist/Policy Analyst, Government Relations and Research cstewart@veanea.org
VEA Resolutions Committee
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus Plan, this committee will:
1. Review, edit, and propose amendments to the VEA Resolutions.
2. Conduct an open hearing on proposed Resolutions and present proposed Resolutions to the VEA Delegate Assembly.
District Member Local Alternate Local
I Jessica Jones, Chair Pittsylvania
A Noah Ashbrook Bristol Danielle Riffe Bristol
B Lezley Wilson Pulaski
C Melissa Amos Alleghany
D Jessica Bailey Staunton Nate Lawrence Staunton
E Matt Wallace Fairfax
E Joann Walton Fairfax
F Kaiktlyn Abdale Prince William
F Tabatha Zarkauskas Prince William
G Lisa Levy Loudoun Michelle Moses Loudoun
G Katie Rosenbrook Loudoun
H Joshua Folb Arlington
H Jenny Higginbotham Manassas City Francis Kelly Falls Church
I Connie Finney Lynchburg
J Bethany Shilan Amelia
K Myra Rowan Hopewell
L Carolyn Null Waters Chesterfield
M Angela Moss Richmond
N Laura Hamilton
O Tyrone Weems
Portsmouth
Norfolk P Marco Sardi
Williamsburg James Graves Newport News
Q Melissa Brace Spotsylvania
Retired Representatives:
Member Alternate Vashti Mallory Retired Debbie Jessee
Elizabeth Goodson Retired Debbie Jessee
SVEA Aspiring Educator-at-
Fitz Turner Commission Large Representative Anthony Swain Nyia McCall
NEA Resolutions Committee
Staff Liaisons: Leslie Houston Kenyatta McLeod-Poole kmpoole@veanea.org
Carla Okouchi
Todd Park tpark@veanea.org
Richan Steele rsteele@veanea.org
District VEA Board Member Committee Assignments/Appointments
President Carol Bauer
Vice President Dr. Jessica Jones
Executive/Budget, Legislative, VEA Fund Executive Committee; Staff Retirement Plan; ex officio all committees
Executive/Budget, Legislative, VEA Fund Executive Committee, NEA Convention Planning Team, Staff Retirement Plan, VEA Board Financial Investment, Resolutions; Membership (USAC); Professional Rights & Responsibilities Commission
A - President Danielle R Sheppard Professional Rights & Responsibilities
B - President Pamela Blair Elections and Campaign Practices
C - President
D - President Nancy Bassett Education Support Professionals; Membership (USAC)
E - President Leslie Houston
Executive/Budget; Legislative; Membership (USAC); Professional Rights & Responsibilities Commission
E - Director Carla Okouchi Resolutions; Minority & Women’s Concerns
F - President Nate Murphy
F - Director Jerod Gay
G - President Kris Countryman Membership (USAC)
G - Director Suzanne Kockler Instruction & Professional Development
H - President Rosina Simmons Minority & Women’s Concerns; Legislative
H - Director Shaniqua Williams LGBTQIA+
I - President Cory Foster LGBTQIA+
J - President Dr. Kimberly Archer Executive/Budget; Professional Rights & Responsibilities Commission; Special Education
K - President Ben Sizemore
Executive/Budget; Elections and Campaign Practices; Legislative; Professional Rights & Responsibilities Commission
L - President James Freeman Instruction & Professional Development
M - President Stephan Straus
District VEA Board Member
Committee Assignments/Appointments
N - President Arthur Anderson NEA Convention Planning Team; Education Support Professionals
O - President Heather Sipe Collective Bargaining
P - President Andrew Cason Communications/Public Relations.; VEA Fund Executive Committee
Q - President Kathline Butler Executive/Budget; Education Support Professionals;
Q - Director Melissa Brace Communications
NEA Director1 Kevin Hickerson Executive/Budget; Special Education
NEA Director2 Alynn Parham Instruction & Professional Development
VEA-R1 Lola McDowell Executive/Budget; ; VEA Retired Council
VEA-R2 Dorothy Walton Elections and Campaign Practices; Legislative; VEA Retired Council
SVEA-AE Nyia McCall Special Education; Resolutions
NEA-ESP-at Large Gwen Edwards Education Support Professionals; VEA Fund Executive Committee
VEA Board Committees for 2025 - 2026
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus Plan, this committee will:
1. Advise the VEA President and the VEA Board of Directors on critical association and education issues.
2. Prepare an annual state budget to be recommended to the VEA Board of Directors.
District
Board Member
Local
President Carol Bauer York
Vice President Dr. Jessica M. Jones Pittsylvania
NEA Director Kevin Hickerson Fairfax
J Dr. Kimberly Archer Amelia
Q Kathline Butler Stafford
NEA Director-At-Large Gwen Edwards Prince William
E Leslie Houston Fairfax
VEA Retired Director Lola McDowell VEA Retired
K Benjamin Sizemore Mecklenburg
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus Plan, this committee will:
1. Review the VEA Headquarters Staff Retirement Plan and make appropriate recommendations.
Member District
Carol Bauer P
Gerry Collins H
Mustaq Ahmad, Support Staff Representative
Taisha Steele, Management Representative
Kevin Shaver, Staff Retiree Representative
Bethany Bizick, HR Manager
Earl Wiman, Executive Director
Patrick Flood, Confidential Staff Representative
Staff Liaison: Chris Yoder cyoder@veanea.org
To achieve the goals of the VEA Strategic Focus Plan, this committee will:
1. Establish and update investment objectives, risk tolerance and asset allocation policies for the investments of the VEA in light of market and economic conditions, and generally prevailing prudent investment practices.
2. Monitor the investments of the VEA to ensure adherence to the Investment Policy Statement.
3. Review, monitor, and evaluate the performance of the investments and its investment advisors in light ofavailableinvestmentopportunities, market conditions,andpubliclyavailableindicesfor thegenerally accepted evaluation and measurement of such performance.
Dr. Jessica M. Jones
Kevin Hickerson
Alynn Parham
Staff Liaison: Chris Yoder cyoder@veanea.org
Vice President - Dist. I
NEA Director – District E
NEA Director – District P
Lola McDowell – President
Malia Huddle – Vice President
Kathy Davis – Secretary-Treasurer
Dot Walton – Retired Member at Large, VEA BOD
Dennis Pfennig – Immediate Past President
Congressional District Representatives:
Meg Gruber – CD1
Sid Neighbours – CD2
Angela Peterson – CD3
Stella Johnson – CD4
Barbara Wilson – CD5
Nena Koch – CD6
Jamila Darwish – CD7
CD8 – vacant
Eddie Fifer – CD9
Cindy Kennedy – CD10
Allison Batty – CD11
Staff Liaison: Bea Snidow
2025-26 SVEA-AE Board:
Role Name University
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Underclass Member-at-Large
Eastern Region Rep
Southwest Region Rep
Central Region Rep
Nyia McCall Virginia State University
Lana Coffey Virginia State University
Isabella Quiñones Old Dominion University
Karyn Spann-Hicks Virginia State University
Carlisah Benbow Old Dominion University
Cheyenne Bowey UVa-Wise
Amber Williams Virginia State University
Chair and Vice Chair
Carol Bauer, Chair
Dr. Jessica Jones , Vice Chair
At-Large Members
Frederica Hill (odd)
Jennifer Rokasky (even)
Retired
Meg Gruber
Congressional Representatives
Andy Cason (CD 1)
Kathleen Slinde (CD 2)
Amanda Lambert (CD 3)
Katina Harris (CD 4)
Mary McIntyre (CD 5)
Randy Blair (CD 6)
Gwen Edwards (CD 7)
June Prakash (CD 8)
VACANT (CD 9)
Sandy Sullivan (CD 10)
Christina Bohringer (CD 11)
VEA Committees, Teams, and Other for 2025-2026
2025-2026 VEA Convention Mic Spotters
Assist at the VEA Delegate Assembly in recognizing members who wish to be recognized.
Member Local
Lois Switzer, Chair Retired
Sylvia Hutto Retired
Amy Lamb Northumberland
Catherine Malley Retired
Melissa Peters Retired
Alternates:
Connie Coates, (Alt.) Retired
Denise Davis (Alt.) Retired
Mary Ellen Haines (Alt.) Retired
Cathy M. Smith (Alt.) Retired
Staff Liaison: Shawn Brown sbrown@veanea.org
of the Virginia Education Association, Incorporated
Section A.
1. The name of the corporation is Virginia Education Association, Incorporated (“VEA” or “Union”)
2. The Union is an affiliate of the National Education Association (“NEA”).
3. The Union’s Board of Directors shall have the authority to create, charter, merge, dissolve, impose trusteeship, and take or approve other actions relating to VEA local affiliates in accordance with VEA’s Bylaws. Every affiliate has a duty to adhere to VEA’s Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws, NEA’s Code of Ethics for Educators, as well as VEA’s Code of Member & Affiliate Professional Conduct. The local affiliates of the Union created and chartered by majority vote of the VEA Board of Directors currently are as follows:
Accomack Education Association; Albemarle Education Association, Inc.; Education Association of Alexandria, Inc.; Alleghany Highlands Education Association; Amelia Education Association; Amherst Education Association, Inc.; Appomattox County Education Association, Inc.; Arlington Education Association, Inc.; Augusta County Education Association; Bath County Education Association, Inc.; Bedford County Education Association, Inc.; Bland County Education Association; Botetourt Education Association; Bristol Virginia Education Association; Brunswick Education Association; Buchanan Education Association; Buckingham Education Association; Buena Vista Education Association; Campbell County Education Association, Inc ; Caroline Education Association; Carroll Education Association; Charles City Education Association; Charlotte County Education Association, Inc ; Charlottesville Education Association, Inc.; Chesapeake Education Association; Chesterfield Education Association, Inc.; Clarke County Education Association, Inc.; Colonial Beach Education Association; Colonial Heights Education Association; Craig County Education Association; Culpeper County Education Association, Inc.; Cumberland Education Association; Danville Education Association, Inc.; Dickenson Education Association; Dinwiddie Education Association, Inc.; Essex Education Association; Fairfax Education Association, Inc.; Falls Church City Education Association; Fauquier Education Association, Inc ; Floyd County Education Association; Fluvanna Education Association; Franklin City Education Association; Franklin County Education Association; Frederick County Education Association; Fredericksburg Education Association, Inc.; Galax Education Association; Giles Education Association; Gloucester Education Association, Inc.; Goochland Education Association; Grayson County Education Association, Inc.; Greene County Education Association; Greensville Education Association; Halifax Education Association, Inc ; Hampton Education Association, Inc.; Hanover Education Association; Harrisonburg Education Association, Inc.; Henrico Education Association; Henry County Education Association, Inc ; Highland County Education Association, Inc.; Hopewell Education Association, Inc.; Isle of Wight Education Association; King George Education Association, Inc.; King and Queen Education Association; King William Education Association; Lancaster Education Association, Inc.; Lee County Education Association; Loudoun Education Association; Louisa County Education Association; Lunenburg Education Association; Lynchburg Education Association, Inc.; Madison County Education Association; Maggie L. Walker Education Association; Manassas Education Association; Manassas Park Education
Association; Martinsville Education Association, Inc.; Mathews Education Association; Mecklenburg Education Association; Middlesex Education Association; Montgomery County Education Association, Inc.; Nelson County Education Association; New Kent Education Association; Newport News Education Association, Inc.; Education Association of Norfolk, Inc.; Northampton County Education Association; Northumberland County Education Association, Inc.; Education Association of Norton; Nottoway Education Association; Orange County Education Association; Page County Education Association, Inc.; Patrick County Education Association, Inc.; Petersburg Education Association, Inc.; Pittsylvania Education Association, Inc.; Poquoson Education Association, Inc.; Portsmouth Education Association; Powhatan County Education Association; Prince Edward Education Association; Prince George Education Association, Inc.; Prince William Education Association, Inc.; Pulaski County Education Association; Radford Education Association; Rappahannock County Education Association, Inc.; Richmond Education Association of Richmond, Inc.; Richmond County Education Association; Roanoke Education Association, Inc.; Roanoke County Education Association; Rockbridge- Lexington Education Association, Inc.; Rockingham County Education Association, Inc.; Russell County Education Association; Salem Education Association; Scott County Education Association; Shenandoah County Education Association, Inc.; Smyth County Education Association; Southampton Education Association; Spotsylvania Education Association, Inc.; Stafford Education Association, Inc.; Staunton Education Association, Inc.; Education Association of Suffolk; Surry Education Association; Sussex Education Association; Tazewell Education Association; Virginia Beach Education Association, Inc.; Warren County Education Association; Washington County Education Association; Waynesboro Education Association, Inc.; West Point Education Association; Westmoreland Education Association; Williamsburg-James City Education Association, Inc.; Winchester Education Association, Inc.; Wise County Education Association; Wythe County Education Association, Inc.; York Education Association, Inc.; New River Community College; Patrick Henry Community College; Radford University; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Virginia State University; Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind at Staunton; Graduate Labor Union of Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (“VTGLU”)
Section B.
1. The purposes of the Union are: to speak for and advance the cause of public education for all individuals; to promote the professional excellence of all public school employees; to elevate the critical roles of all public school employees in the learning process; to organize public school employees for effective citizenship; to promote and protect human and civil rights; to unite public school employees to improve the quality of public education in Virginia; to secure professional autonomy for public school employees; to engage in mutual aid and support as well as protect and promote the interests of active, retired, and aspiring public-school employees through advocacy and collective bargaining; and to improve working conditions, wages, and other terms of employment.
2. The Union is a Virginia nonstock corporation created and operated in accordance with Chapter 10 of Title 13.1 of the Code of Virginia. In addition to any powers granted herein, it shall have all powers conferred by Virginia Code § 13.1-826.
3. The Union may receive and accept property, whether real, personal, or mixed, by way of gift, grant, bequest, or devise from any person, corporation, board, agency, or entity to be administered or used only in accordance with the purposes of the Union.
4. The Union is not formed for profit or financial gain. It shall receive property, dues, and other funds from members and expend or use them exclusively for purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(5) of
the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations as they exist or may be amended in the future. The Union is organized for the purpose of promoting the interests of its members as shall qualify it as exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any subsequent Federal tax laws). No part of the net earnings of the Union shall inure to the benefit of any private person or entity, except the Union may pay reasonable compensation for goods provided and services rendered
Section C.
1. The Union shall have members with rights, classifications, and obligations as set forth in the Union’s Constitution and Bylaws.
2. All members shall subscribe to the mission, purposes, goals, and objectives of the Union. Every member and local affiliate has a duty to adhere to VEA’s Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws, NEA’s Code of Ethics for Educators, as well as VEA’s Code of Member & Affiliate Professional Conduct VEA’s Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission shall have the power to investigate and resolve matters related to the violation of professional relations and to enforce the Union’s governing documents. It shall have the authority to resolve conflicts through collaboration, develop and implement procedures, investigate, obtain documents, adjudicate complaints, conduct hearings, and censure, suspend, or expel any member or local affiliate who violates their duties.
(a) VEA members who fail to adhere to any of the conditions or duties of membership shall be subject to censure, suspension, or expulsion by the Union.
(b) A VEA member may be censured, suspended, or expelled from membership with the right to a due process hearing by VEA’s Professional Rights & Responsibilities Commission which shall include the right of appeal to the Executive Committee of the VEA Board of Directors.
(c) A VEA affiliate will be censured or suspended with the right to a due process hearing by VEA’s Professional Rights & Responsibilities Commission which shall include the right of appeal to the VEA Board of Directors.
(d) VEA may not censure, suspend, or expel individuals from membership in local affiliates or the NEA. Nor will a decision by a local affiliate and/or the NEA to censure, suspend, or expel a member require VEA to take the same action.
3. The Union shall not deny membership to individuals on the basis of job category, race, color, national origin, religious beliefs, residence, disability, physical appearance, political activities, professional association activities, age, marital status, family relationship, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity
4. All members shall pay such dues as may be established in the Union’s Bylaws
1. Active Members in each District or Region shall elect Directors to the VEA Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is composed of Directors elected by Districts or Regions as stated in VEA’s Bylaws. It shall include proportionate representation of the following constituencies: Retired Members, Active Members in school administrator positions, Active Members who are racially and/or ethnically diverse, and Active members who are in education support professional positions. The Board of Directors also includes ex officio directors and the president of the Student Virginia Education Association-Aspiring Educators
2. Board members shall assume office on August 1 of the calendar year in which they are elected.
3. Directors shall serve a term of two (2) years and shall serve no more than two (2) full consecutive terms. Directors who have served two (2), two (2)-year terms are eligible to run for that office again only after a break in service of one full two (2)-year term
4. Directors may be removed from office only with cause, including for violation of NEA’s Code of Ethics for Educators, VEA’s Code of Member & Affiliate Professional Conduct, VEA’s governing documents, and/or for misfeasance or malfeasance in office. VEA’s Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission shall have the authority to censure, suspend, or remove Directors subject to appeal to VEA’s Executive Committee.
Section E.
Upon the dissolution of the Union, its assets shall be distributed, subject to Virginia law, exclusively to charitable, educational, or civic organizations which qualify under the provisions of Sections 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code for a public purpose. Any such assets not so distributed shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction in the county or city where the Union’s principal office is located. No officer, director, or private person shall be entitled to share in the distribution or division of any of the Union’s corporate assets on dissolution
Section F.
1. In addition to the requirements of Virginia law, notice of any proposed amendment to these Articles of Incorporation, setting forth a full and complete copy of the amendment so proposed, shall be published and sent to the membership not less than twenty-five (25) nor more than fifty (50) days before any meeting at which Delegates to the Delegate Assembly are to act upon such proposal.
2 These Articles of Incorporation may be amended in the manner described above, and in no event may they be amended without prior notice and approval by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the votes entitled to be cast by Delegates to the Delegate Assembly of the Union present at any meeting thereof considering any such amendment.
1.1 The official name of this organization is Virginia Education Association, Incorporated (“VEA” or “Union”). It is a Virginia nonstock, nonprofit corporation. The Union is a state affiliate of the National Education Association (“NEA”) and it has chartered and created many local affiliates
1.2 The goals of the Union are: to speak for and advance the cause of public education for all individuals; to promote the professional excellence of all public school employees; to elevate the critical roles of all public school employees in the learning process; to organize public school employees for effective citizenship; to promote and protect human and civil rights; to unite public school employees to improve the quality of public education in Virginia; to secure professional autonomy for public school employees; to engage in mutual aid and support as well as protect and promote the interests of active, retired, and aspiring public-school employees through advocacy and collective bargaining; and to improve working conditions, wages, and other terms of employment.
1.3 The specific objectives of the Union shall be prepared annually for consideration by the Delegate Assembly
2.1 The Union shall not deny Membership to individuals on the basis of job category, race, color, national origin, religious beliefs, residence, disability, physical appearance, political activities, professional association activities, age, marital status, family relationship, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
2.2 All members shall subscribe to the mission, purposes, goals, and objectives of the Union. Every member and local affiliate has a duty to adhere to VEA’s Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws, NEA’s Code of Ethics for Educators, as well as VEA’s Code of Member & Affiliate Professional Conduct. VEA’s Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission shall have the authority to resolve conflicts through collaboration, develop and implement procedures, investigate, obtain documents, adjudicate complaints, conduct hearings, and censure, suspend, or expel any member or local affiliate who violates their duties.
2.3 There shall be six (6) categories of Membership in the Union: Active, Staff, Substitute, Student, Reserve, and Retired.
a. Active Membership shall be open to any person (i) who is engaged in or who is on a limited leave of absence from professional education employment; or (ii) who is employed in or who is on a limited leave of absence from an education support position; or (iii) who is serving as an executive officer of the Union or of a local affiliate; or (iv) who has been discharged for as long as a legal challenge to such discharge is pending. An Active Member who is engaged in or on a limited leave of absence from professional education employment shall hold a
baccalaureate or higher degree or hold or be eligible to hold the regular teaching, vocational, or technical certificate required by their employment. Active Membership is limited to persons who support the goals and objectives of the Union, who are employed by a public or state school system, public or private institution of higher education, State Department of Education, or other public institution devoted primarily to education, regardless of the specific nature of the functions that the person performs at the work site and regardless of who actually employs the person, and who maintain Membership in the National Education Association and in a VEA local affiliate, where one exists. Those Members who are teachers holding Professional Membership in the VEA during 1974, who continue teaching and maintain continuing Membership, shall maintain the rights of Active Members
b. Staff Membership shall be open to any person employed by the Union or any of its affiliates in a staff position and who maintain Membership in the National Education Association
c. Substitute Membership shall be open to an education employee employed on a day-to-day basis who is eligible for Membership in the Active category, unless said employee is drawing educational retirement benefits and is eligible for NEA/VEA Retired Membership. Substitute Members shall receive benefits and services authorized by the VEA Board of Directors and shall maintain Membership in the NEA.
d. Student Membership shall be open to any student enrolled in or preparing for a teacher-education program in an accredited college or university provided they are a member of a Student Virginia Education Association-Aspiring Educator chapter at such college or university and who maintain Membership in the National Education Association.
e. The VEA-Retired shall be an organization comprised solely of the retired members of the National Education Association. The president of the VEA-Retired shall be chosen by the VEA-Retired Membership. The VEA-Retired shall operate in accordance with its bylaws, which shall be compatible with the Constitution and Bylaws of the NEA and VEA. The VEARetired shall conduct all elections with open nominations and a secret ballot
f. Reserve Membership shall be open to any person (i) who is on a leave of absence of at least six (6) months from the employment that qualifies them for Active Membership or (ii) who has held Active Membership in the Union but whose employment status no longer qualifies them for such Membership.
a. Eligibility for Membership in the Union shall initially be determined by the local affiliate. Where Union Membership is denied on the local level, individual membership in the Union may be obtained as directed in these Bylaws. Education positions eligible for Membership in all local affiliates shall be determined through the Membership of the affiliate.
b. The applicant shall be placed in the Membership Category that best describes their current employment or leave status.
c. A member may appeal their assigned Category of Membership to the VEA Board of Directors.
d. All Active and Life Members* shall be eligible to receive special services, to obtain assistance in the protection of professional and civil rights, and to receive reports and publications of the Union; provided however, that the VEA shall not negotiate or engage in related activities on behalf of its private sector Members.
* Those Members who established life Membership in the Virginia Teachers Association shall maintain the rights of Active Members.
e. Categories of Membership other than Active and Life Members* shall receive those rights and privileges designated by the Board or as elsewhere specified in these Bylaws.
f. An individual who is a member of a negotiating team representing either a school board or a board of trustees of a higher education institution shall be denied Membership.
g. Any member who changes their employment position shall be transferred to the category of Membership applicable to their new position; they shall not remain in a Membership category for which they are no longer eligible.
h. Membership shall be continuous unless terminated for cause.
i. There shall be no proxy voting on any Union matter except as provided in Article III, Section 3.3 of these Bylaws.
2.5 The Membership year shall be from September 1 through August 31.
2.6 Membership Dues
a. Dues of Active Members shall be one half of one percent (.005) of the average salary of a classroom teacher of the state for the previous year as determined by the State Department of Education. Dues shall be assessed to the nearest whole dollar.
b. Dues of persons eligible for Active Membership who are regularly employed in a professional education position for fifty (50) percent or less of the normal schedule for full-time Members (as verified by the local association) shall be one-half (1/2) of the Membership dues regularly required for that Membership category.
c. Dues of Active Members who are employed in an Education Support position shall be one-half (1/2) of the dues of a member in professional education employment.
d. Dues of persons eligible for Active Membership who are regularly employed in an Education Support position for fifty (50) percent or less of the normal schedule for full-time Members (as verified by the local affiliate) shall be one-half (1/2) of the Membership dues regularly required for that Membership category.
e. Dues of Staff Members shall be one-half (1/2) the dues of Active Members
f. Any person (i) who joins as an Active member for the first time after the commencement of the Membership year, (ii) who becomes eligible for Active Membership after the commencement of the Membership year, or (iii) who returns to education employment from a limited leave of absence after the commencement of the Membership year shall be enrolled in full standing for the remainder of the Membership year by paying the amount of dues which is commensurate with the remaining portion of the Membership year.
g. VEA Active Membership will be continued for a VEA member who is a military reservist called to active duty. Dues for such members will be suspended when their salary is terminated and will remain suspended until the school salary is resumed or at the end of the current Membership year.
h. Dues of Student Members shall be determined by the Student Virginia Education AssociationAspiring Educators (“SVEA-AE”) and approved by the Board of Directors. The dues of the advisors to the SVEA-AE will be determined by the Board of Directors.
i. Those Active Members who have been Members of the SVEA-AE shall receive a dues rebate for their first year of Active Membership eligibility; such rebate shall be calculated on the basis of $5 for each year of their SVEA-AE Membership upon appropriate verification of such Membership.
j. Dues of Reserve professional education Members shall be one-half (1/2) the dues amount of Active professional education employment Members. Dues of Reserve ESP Members shall be one-half (1/2) the dues of Active Members employed in an Education Support position.
k. Dues of Substitute Members shall be one-half (1/2) the dues of Active Members employed in an Education Support position.
l. Dues of Retired Members shall be as recommended by the VEA Board of Directors to the Delegate Assembly.
m. For the purpose of conducting a public relations campaign, there shall be an annual assessment of $10 for Active members, with members paying one-half (½) dues paying onehalf (½) the annual assessment. The Union annually shall credit to the public relations campaign any interest or investment income earned on any accumulated public relations campaign funds.
n. For the purpose of creating and building a fund to support Collective Bargaining for educators and local affiliates, there shall be an assessment for Active members beginning in the fiscal year 2023-24. In fiscal year 2023-24, the annual assessment shall be $9 for Active members in a professional education position and $1.20 for Active ESP members. In fiscal year 202425, the annual assessment shall be $12 for Active members in a professional education position and $2.40 for Active ESP members. Beginning in fiscal year 2025-26 and thereafter the annual assessment shall be $15 for Active members in a professional education position and $3.60 for Active ESP members. The Union annually shall credit to the Collective Bargaining Fund any interest or investment income earned on any accumulated funds. When the total VEA Membership reaches 50,000, the Board of Directors will review the status of the fund and bring a recommendation to the Delegate Assembly regarding the assessment.
a. The Union shall enter into contracts with local affiliates governing the transmittal of Union dues. Local affiliates shall have full responsibility for transmitting Union and national dues on a contractual basis.
b. Standards and contracts for transmitting dues shall be developed between the Union and each local affiliate.
c. A local affiliate which becomes delinquent in its contracted transmittal schedule by more than thirty (30) days shall be assessed a penalty of two (2) percent on the overdue balance.
d. The dues transmittal shall be up to date in order for Delegates to be seated at the Delegate Assembly.
e. Failure to maintain VEA dues shall terminate Membership in the Union.
f. Any Active Member in another state association who transfers from another state during the current school year and whose dues are paid in full to such state association and who also belongs to the National Education Association shall receive from this Union all the rights and privileges of Active Membership until the beginning of the next Membership year, provided that the state association from which the member has transferred offers a reciprocal Membership to this Union. Such Membership shall begin upon official notification to this Union by the member that they wish to exercise Active Membership privileges.
3.1 The Delegate Assembly shall be the policy-making body of the Union and shall:
a. Enact Resolutions and establish other Union policies and objectives;
b. Adopt the annual budget;
c. Establish the dues of the Union;
d. Amend the Constitution and these Bylaws;
e. Amend the Articles of Incorporation as stated therein;
f. Adopt the rules and agenda governing its meetings;
g. Hear the candidates for the Offices of President, Vice President, and all Directors elected at large;
h. Establish or discontinue such commissions or committees not established elsewhere in this document;
i. Have jurisdiction over the final approval of credentials and seating of its Delegates;
j. Enact such other measures as necessary to achieve the goals and objectives of the Union which are not in conflict with the Articles of Incorporation, the Constitution, or these Bylaws;
k. Adopt new business items which will be effective until the next Delegate Assembly.
a. A Credentials Committee shall be established for the purpose of registering Delegates to the Delegate Assembly.
b. The Committee shall be composed of not less than five (5) Members appointed by the President.
c. Prior to the first business session of the Delegate Assembly the Committee shall prepare and submit to the President a list of elected Delegates and a list of alternates.
d. The Committee shall determine the number of Delegates to which each local affiliate, cluster of local affiliates for electing administrator Delegates, college affiliates or cluster of college affiliates, or Retired Membership is entitled.
e. The Committee shall determine the number of student Delegates to which the SVEA-AE is entitled.
a. Delegates and alternates shall be nominated and elected through provisions of the local affiliates which include open nominations, secret ballot, the one-member one-vote principle, and racial and/or ethnic diversity, administrator, and education support representation guarantees.
b. There shall be no proxy voting on any Union matter at the Delegate Assembly.
c. The number of Delegates shall be based on the number of Active Members of the Union as of November 25 prior to the opening of the Annual Delegate Assembly of the Union. There shall be one Delegate for every thirty (30) members of a local affiliate or major fraction thereof. There shall be one administrator delegate for every thirty (30) administrator members or major fraction thereof of a local affiliate or cluster of affiliates should a local affiliate not have enough administrators to qualify it for one administrator delegate. There shall be one SVEA-AE delegate for every three hundred (300) SVEA-AE members or major fraction thereof. There shall be one Retired Delegate for every three hundred (300) retired members or major fraction thereof.
d. To provide for delegate representation at the Delegate Assembly, should the number of administrator members in a local affiliate not qualify that affiliate for an administrator delegate,
that local affiliate’s administrator members may cluster for purposes of representation at the Delegate Assembly with administrator members from one or more other local affiliates within the same VEA district or region to qualify for a delegate. Those local affiliate administrator members who cluster with administrator members from other local affiliates for representation purposes shall then be excluded in the member count for the determination of the number of delegates to which their respective local affiliates are entitled to elect. Specific procedures for clustering within districts or regions and voting within such clusters shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors
e To provide for delegate representation at the Delegate Assembly, should the number of members in an affiliated college chapter not qualify that chapter for a delegate, that college chapter affiliate may cluster for purposes of representation with one or more other college chapters which likewise do not have sufficient members to qualify for a delegate. Procedures for clustering are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors
f. The list of Delegates and alternates shall be certified in writing by the president, one other elected officer, and one election judge of the affiliate. These lists shall be submitted to the Executive Director or official designee 45 days prior to the meeting for which they were elected. Any change in the list so submitted shall be made only upon written request by the president or secretary of the affiliate and received by the Credentials Committee.
g. Candidates for officers and directorships of the Union shall in the same election also be candidates for a position as a Delegate to the Annual Delegate Assembly
h The district or region vice president may be elected as an alternate Delegate to the annual Delegate Assembly for the director from that district or region
i. Delegates and alternates shall be elected for each meeting of the Union
j Administrator Delegates and alternates in local affiliates who cluster for purposes of Delegate representation shall be nominated and elected through specific provisions approved by the Board of Directors which shall include open nominations, secret ballot, and the one-member one-vote principle.
k. Student Delegates and alternates shall be nominated and elected through the provisions of the SVEA-AE which shall include open nominations, secret ballot, the one-member one-vote principle, and racial and/or ethnic diversity representation guarantees. The number of SVEAAE Delegates shall be based on the number of SVEA-AE Members as of November 25 prior to the opening of the annual Delegate Assembly of the Union.
l. Retired Delegates and alternates shall be nominated per the VEA-Retired Bylaws which shall include open nominations, secret ballot, and election by the VEA-Retired Members.
a. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Union and its policy leader.
b. The President shall:
1. Represent the Union on matters of policy or assign responsibility for such representation;
2. Prepare the agenda for governing bodies of the Union and the program for the Delegate Assembly;
3. Appoint all chairpersons and Members of commissions and committees with the advice of the Board except as specified in these Bylaws; such chairperson and Members to serve at the pleasure of the President, except where a term is fixed by these Bylaws;
4. Serve as an ex officio member on all committees authorized by the Union’s governing bodies except the Elections and Campaign Practices Committee;
5. Direct the preparation of the budget;
6. Make recommendations to the Board of Directors and other bodies of the Union;
7. Perform such other duties as may be directed by the Board of Directors or by the Delegate Assembly.
c. The President's term shall commence on August 1 of the year of their election. The President shall serve a term of two (2) years and shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms.
a. There shall be a Vice President. The Vice President shall:
1. Act for the President when they are unable to perform the duties of their office;
2. Serve as chairperson of the Resolutions Committee;
3. Perform such other duties as are stipulated by the Constitution, by these Bylaws, and by the President
c. The Vice President's term shall commence on August 1 of the year of their election. The Vice President shall serve a term of two (2) years and shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms.
4.3 The President-Elect
a. There shall be a President-Elect. The President-Elect shall:
1. Serve as an ex officio member of all committees and the Board of Directors;
2. Perform all duties designated by the President.
b. The President-Elect's term shall commence from their declaration by the Board or Delegate Assembly until August 1 when they assume the office of President.
4.4 The Treasurer
a. There shall be a Treasurer whose duties are defined elsewhere in these Bylaws.
4.5 The Secretary
a. There shall be a Secretary as required by Virginia statute The Executive Director shall be the Secretary of the Union.
5.1 The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the elected officers of the Union, Directors elected by Districts or Regions, Director(s) elected by VEA-Retired, the Virginia Directors elected to the NEA Board, and the president of the Student Virginia Education Association-Aspiring Educators A quorum for the Board of Directors shall be a majority of those elected to the Board.
5.2 The Board of Directors shall:
a. Implement policies established by the Delegate Assembly; however, motions that the Delegate Assembly fails to pass will not be considered by the VEA Board of Directors or VEA committees until the next Delegate Assembly, unless the VEA Board of Directors certifies by a 2/3 vote that the matter is both urgent and of essential interest to the VEA and its Membership;
b. Determine the time and place of the Annual Delegate Assembly and, in the event of an emergency, shall have the power to postpone the Annual Delegate Assembly by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board;
c. Establish procedures and/or requirements of affiliation consistent with the standards as set forth by the National Education Association and the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and Bylaws of this Union;
d. Receive all reports of the Executive Director, the Treasurer, and the VEA committees and commissions, and shall transmit with its recommendation such reports as may be appropriate to the Delegate Assembly;
e. Receive all proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and these Bylaws and forward them to the Delegate Assembly;
f. Be responsible for hiring the Executive Director and negotiating their salary and other terms of employment;
g. Be responsible for negotiating contractual agreements with staff;
h. Be responsible for recommending to the Delegate Assembly a budget for the Union;
i. Be responsible for fiscal decisions that alter the budget expenditures between sessions of the Delegate Assembly except that no department’s budget expenditures can be adjusted more than ten (10) percent without at least a thirty (30) day prior notification to the Membership of the Union;
j. Meet at least four (4) times during the Membership year;
k. Vote to seat a duly elected alternate director if the regular director is unable to attend. If seated, the alternate director shall have all rights and privileges of the Board until that meeting is adjourned;
l. Approve the appointees of the President to all commissions and committees;
m. Assume office on August 1 in the calendar year in which they are elected;
n Be a Delegate to the VEA Delegate Assembly and the NEA Representative Assembly. This election shall be concurrent with the election to the VEA Board of Directors;
o. Be responsible for determining when and whether to call a special meeting of the Delegate Assembly to conduct an election to fill any vacancy during an unfinished term in the office of the Vice President. The President may nominate a member to temporarily fill an unfinished term in the office of the Vice President until an election can be held; but the Board shall have to confirm any such nomination by majority vote;
p. Perform such other duties as may be required in the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and these Bylaws
5.3 The Executive Committee
a. The President, Vice President, and senior NEA Director shall be Members of the Executive Committee.
b. The Board of Directors shall additionally elect by majority vote not fewer than six (6) Board Members for a term of one year, commencing August 1.
c. The election shall be held during the last regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors preceding the new Board Members taking office. Members of the Executive Committee will assume office on August 1.
d. The Executive Committee shall:
1. Meet when necessary, in the interim between meetings of the Board to consider immediate matters within the purview of the Board;
2. Make recommendations to the Board;
3. Act for the Board in those areas designated by the Board;
4. Have the right by a majority vote to direct the President to call a meeting of the Board of Directors;
5. Serve as the Budget Committee.
5.4 Electronic Board and Executive Committee Meetings – The Board and Executive Committee may hold electronic meetings employing technology facilitating simultaneous aural communication. In addition to requirements for other meetings, the written notice for electronic meetings shall include access information.
6.1 Commissions
a. There shall be a Fitz-Turner Commission and a Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission.
b. The terms of commission Members shall be for three (3) years. As terms expire, the President shall appoint new Members to be approved by the Board of Directors. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. A commission member may serve a maximum of two (2) terms.
c. The size and functions of commissions shall be determined by the Delegate Assembly at the time of establishment unless otherwise specified in the Constitution or these Bylaws.
a. Annual appointments of standing committees shall be made by the President.
b. The Delegate Assembly shall be presented annually with a list of proposed standing committees by the President and/or Board of Directors for its approval.
c. The size of all standing committees shall be established at the time of their creation.
6.3 Special committees may be established by the Delegate Assembly or by the Board of Directors or by the President for the purpose of accomplishing a specific task within a limited period.
a. All appointments shall be made based on individual expertise and ability to make substantial contributions in the specific area of concern.
b. Unexcused absence of a member from two (2) consecutive meetings shall constitute resignation.
c. A member shall vacate their seat if a change in their education position violates a provision of the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and/or Bylaws.
6.5 The Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission shall have the power to investigate and resolve matters related to the violation of professional relations as well as alleged violations of the Union’s Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws, and VEA’s Code of Member and Affiliate Professional Conduct, brought to its attention officially by a local affiliate or by any member of the Union. It shall have the authority to resolve conflicts through collaboration, develop and implement procedures, investigate, obtain documents, adjudicate complaints, conduct hearings, and censure, suspend, or expel any member or local affiliate who violates their duties. Members may appeal an adverse decision of the Commission to the Executive Committee. Affiliates may appeal an adverse decision of the Commission to the Board of Directors. The Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission shall be composed of fifteen (15) Members.
6.6 Standing Committees (Permanent)
a. Resolutions. This committee will review the Resolutions, evaluate recommendations from standing and special committees, districts or regions, local affiliates, and Members, and prepare the Resolutions for consideration by the Delegate Assembly. The Resolutions Committee shall be appointed by the President.
b. Legislative. This committee will make recommendations of legislative priorities in cooperation with the Resolutions Committee to the Delegate Assembly. In addition, it will further function in an advisory capacity during the Virginia General Assembly session. The Legislative Committee shall be composed of four (4) Members appointed by the President and four (4) elected from the Board of Directors.
c. Elections and Campaign Practices. This committee shall be organized and shall function as established elsewhere in these Bylaws.
d. Credentials. This committee shall be organized and function as established elsewhere in these Bylaws.
6.7 Electronic Commission and Committee Meetings – Commissions and committees may hold electronic meetings employing technology facilitating simultaneous aural communication. In addition
to requirements for other meetings, the written notice for electronic meetings shall include access information.
7.1 Elections of the Union shall be conducted according to the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and these Bylaws.
a. There shall be an Elections and Campaign Practices Committee (ECPC) which shall:
1. Be composed of a maximum of ten (10) Members, five (5) members elected by the Board of Directors and five (5) appointed by the President;
2. Have primary responsibility for certifying that all nominations are made in accordance with established election procedures;
3. Have primary responsibility for election disputes subject to appeal to the President and VEA Executive Committee;
4. Make petitions for all positions for Union officers and Directors open in the coming year available to any member of the Union upon request;
5. Receive signed petitions for the positions of President and Vice President postmarked no later than 11:59 PM January 10 preceding the date of the election;
6. Receive signed petitions for the positions of Directors in accordance with the ECPC timeline but no later than 11:59 PM Monday preceding the VEA Delegate Assembly;
7. If delivered by the transmittal procedure in Article XII, signed petitions shall be delivered no later than 5:00 PM on the dates specified above preceding the date of the election.
8. Determine that the petitions for President, Vice President, and NEA Directors contain signatures of at least one hundred (100) Active Members of the Union;
9. Determine that the petitions for District or Region Directors contain signatures of at least fifty (50) District or Region Active Members of the Union, except as specified for retiree and SVEA-AE Directors;
10. Publish and distribute to all Members information on all candidates for officers of the Union not less than twenty-five (25) nor more than fifty (50) days prior to the opening date of the Annual Delegate Assembly;
11. Have the electronic ballot prepared with the order of candidates’ names to be determined by lot;
12. Conduct the election and, if necessary, the run-off election electronically. President, Vice President, and NEA Directors will be elected by a majority of the elected delegates in attendance at the VEA Delegate Assembly;
13. Certify to the elected delegates at the VEA Delegate Assembly and the candidates the results of the elections. The ECPC shall declare all those receiving a majority to have been duly elected. The ECPC shall also declare the individual so elected as President to be the President-Elect until such time as they assume the Presidency;
14. Conduct a run-off election for any position where a candidate has not received a majority vote between the two individuals receiving the highest number of votes. The procedures for the run-off shall be consistent with the process established for the original election. During an in-person Delegate Assembly, the run-off should be completed no later than the last session of the VEA Delegate Assembly;
15. Review the Campaign Regulations and make recommendations to the VEA Board of Directors;
16. Meet during the Delegate Assembly to respond to campaign inquiries;
17. Review VEA Statewide candidates’ campaign practices and expenditures and report to the VEA Board of Directors;
18. Review statewide election procedures and make recommendations to the VEA Board of Directors.
b. If a candidate wishes to challenge the ECPC’s final certification of the results of an election they may appeal the committee's decision to the VEA Delegate Assembly prior to the adjournment of the final session of the Delegate Assembly held in-person or virtually. The decision of the VEA Delegate Assembly shall be final. If no Delegate Assembly is held, candidates may appeal to the VEA President directly within one (1) day of the election results being announced.
a The VEA Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of fifteen (15) Directors unless otherwise provided in the Union’s Bylaws. The Board of Directors is composed of Directors elected by active members of Districts or Regions as stated herein. It shall include proportionate representation of Retired Members, Active Members in school administrator positions, Active Members who are racially and/or ethnically diverse, and Active members who are in education support positions. The Board of Directors also includes ex officio directors and the president of the SVEA-AE.
b Board Members shall assume office August 1 in the calendar year in which they are elected.
c. Active Members in a District or Region shall elect members of the VEA Board of Directors. The size of Districts or Regions should be approximately two thousand (2,000) members or
multiples thereof. Each District or Region shall be entitled to elect at least one (1) Director. An additional member to the Board of Directors shall be granted for each two thousand (2,000) additional members or a major fraction thereof as of the preceding August 31, but in any event, each District or Region shall be entitled to one Director. Each Director elected from a District or Region shall be an Active Member.
d. Districts or Regions may undertake such activities as desired by the District or Region, provided they are not in conflict with the Union’s Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, or Bylaws. To maintain an appropriate size of Districts or Regions, the VEA Board of Directors will recommend to the Delegate Assembly at appropriate intervals changes in District or Region organization.
7.3 The Districts are as follows:
District A is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Bristol Virginia Education Association; Buchanan Education Association; Dickenson Education Association; Lee County Education Association; Education Association of Norton; Russell County Education Association; Scott County Education Association; Tazewell Education Association; Washington County Education Association; and Wise County Education Association
District B is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Bland County Education Association; Carroll Education Association; Floyd County Education Association; Galax Education Association; Giles Education Association; Grayson County Education Association, Inc.; Montgomery County Education Association, Inc ; Pulaski County Education Association; Radford Education Association; Radford University; Smyth County Education Association; Wythe County Education Association, Inc ; New River CC affiliate; and Graduate Labor Union of Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (“VTGLU”).
District C is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Alleghany Highland Education Association, Inc.; Botetourt Education Association; Craig County Education Association; Franklin County Education Association; Roanoke Education Association, Inc.; Roanoke County Education Association; and Salem Education Association
District D is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Augusta County Education Association; Bath County Education Association, Inc.; Buena Vista Education Association; Clarke County Education Association, Inc ; Frederick County Education Association; Harrisonburg Education Association, Inc.; Highland County Education Association, Inc.; Page County Education Association, Inc.; Rockbridge-Lexington Education Association, Inc.; Rockingham County Education Association, Inc ; Shenandoah County Education Association, Inc.; Staunton Education Association, Inc.; Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind at Staunton affiliate; Warren County Education Association; Waynesboro Education Association, Inc.; and Winchester Education Association; Inc.
District E is composed of the following local governance affiliate: Fairfax Education Association, Inc.
District F is composed of the following local governance affiliate: Prince William Education Association, Inc.
District G is composed of the following local governance affiliate: Loudoun Education Association
District H is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Education Association of Alexandria, Inc.; Arlington Education Association, Inc ; Falls Church City Education Association; Manassas Education Association; and Manassas Park Education Association.
District I is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Amherst Education Association, Inc.; Appomattox County Education Association, Inc ; Bedford County Education Association, Inc.; Campbell County Education Association, Inc.; Charlotte County Education Association, Inc ; Danville Education Association, Inc.; Halifax Education Association, Inc.; Henry County Education Association, Inc ; Lynchburg Education Association, Inc ; Martinsville Education Association, Inc.; Patrick County Education Association, Inc.; Pittsylvania Education Association, Inc.; and Patrick Henry Community College.
District J is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Albemarle Education Association, Inc.; Amelia Education Association; Buckingham Education Association; Charlottesville Education Association, Inc.; Cumberland Education Association; Fluvanna Education Association; Goochland Education Association; Greene County Education Association; Louisa County Education Association; Madison County Education Association; Nelson County Education Association; Orange County Education Association; Powhatan County Education Association; and Prince Edward Education Association
District K is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Brunswick Education Association; Dinwiddie Education Association, Inc ; Franklin City Education Association; Greensville Education Association; Isle of Wight Education Association; Lunenburg Education Association; Mecklenburg Education Association; Nottoway Education Association; Petersburg Education Association; Inc.; Prince George Education Association, Inc.; Southampton Education Association; Surry Education Association; Sussex Education Association; and Virginia State University Affiliate
District L is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Chesterfield Education Association, Inc.; Colonial Heights Education Association; and Hopewell Education Association, Inc.
District M is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Maggie L. Walker Education Association; and Richmond Education Association of Richmond, Inc.
District N is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Chesapeake Education Association; Portsmouth Education Association; and Education Association of Suffolk.
District O is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Accomack Education Association; Education Association of Norfolk, Inc.; Northampton County Education Association; and Virginia Beach Education Association, Inc.
District P is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Caroline Education Association; Charles City Education Association; Colonial Beach Education Association; Essex Education Association; Gloucester Education Association, Inc.; Hampton Education Association, Inc.; Hanover Education Association; Henrico Education Association; King George Education Association, Inc.; King & Queen Education Association; King William Education Association; Lancaster Education Association, Inc.; Mathews Education Association; Middlesex Education Association; New Kent Education Association; Newport News Education Association, Inc.; Northumberland County Education Association, Inc.; Poquoson Education Association, Inc ; Richmond County Education Association; West Point Education Association; Westmoreland Education Association; Williamsburg/James City Education Association, Inc.; and York Education Association, Inc.
District Q is composed of the following local governance affiliates: Culpeper County Education Association, Inc.; Fauquier Education Association, Inc.; Fredericksburg Education Association, Inc ; Rappahannock County Education Association, Inc ; Spotsylvania Education Association, Inc.; and Stafford Education Association, Inc.
a. There shall be open nominations for the position of Director through either a petition submitted with signatures of fifty (50) Active Members to an appropriate elections and campaign practices committee at the District or Region level or by nomination from the floor of a general meeting of the District or Region. Election shall be by majority vote of those Active Members in the District or Region voting in a secret ballot election in accordance with ECPC election procedures. If there is only one candidate for the position, the election may be waived, and the candidate declared elected by the District or Region Board of Directors.
b. There shall be open nominations for the position of Retired Member Director(s) through the method of petitions submitted with signatures of fifteen (15) Retired Members to the VEA Elections and Campaign Practices Committee. Election shall be by majority vote of those voting in a secret ballot election of the Retired Membership of the Union
c. In the event of a vacancy in the office of a Director from a District or Region, that vacancy shall be filled by the successor if one has already been elected. The elected successor may complete the unexpired term and serve their own term. If a successor has not been elected, a special election shall be held of the District or Region Active Membership for the purpose of completing the unexpired term. A position of Interim Director may be filled, upon recommendation of the District or Region, by the VEA Board of Directors, until an election can be held.
d. In the event of a vacancy in the office of a Retired Member Director, that vacancy shall be filled by the successor if one has already been elected. The elected successor may complete the unexpired term and serve their own term. If a successor has not been elected, a special election shall be held of the Retired Members for the purpose of completing the unexpired term. A position of Interim Director may be filled, upon recommendation of the VEA Retired Council, by the VEA Board of Directors, until an election can be held.
e. The Executive Director shall declare, if necessary, a special election to elect Active Members who are school administrators to the Board of Directors. The Executive Director, in their capacity as Secretary of the Union, shall determine the number of Directors to be elected according to the proportionate school administrator Membership as of the preceding August 31. The Executive Director shall determine that such special election is necessary if the Membership of school administrators on the Board of Directors falls six percentage (6%) points below their Membership in the Association as of the preceding August 31. At-large racially and/or ethnically diverse Directors elected, and the ex officio Directors shall not be counted in determining administrator proportionate representation. This election shall be held simultaneously with the election of the President and Vice President of the Union If there is only one petitioned candidate for the seat, the election may be waived and the candidate declared elected by the Board of Directors. A position of Interim Director may be filled by the VEA Board of Directors until an election can be held.
f. The Executive Director shall declare, if necessary, a special election to elect Active Members who are ethnically or racially diverse to the Board of Directors The Executive Director shall determine the number of Directors to be elected according to the proportion of ethnically or racially diverse Members as of the preceding August 31. The Executive Director shall determine that such special election is necessary if the Membership of ethnically or racially diverse individuals on the Board of Directors falls six (6) percentage points below their Membership in the Association as of the preceding August 31. This election shall be held simultaneously with the election of the President and Vice President of the Union. If there is only one petitioned candidate for the seat, the election may be waived and the candidate declared elected by the Board of Directors. A position of Interim Director may be filled by the VEA Board of Directors until an election can be held.
g. There shall be an election to elect by plurality Active Members who are employed as education support professionals (“ESP”) to alternate seats on the Board of Directors to insure minimum ESP proportionate representation. The election shall be held simultaneously with the election of the President and Vice President of the Union beginning in 2006.
h. The number to be elected will be based on the number required by these Bylaws plus two (2) alternates. Those elected by such special election shall serve if by regular election the Membership of ESP directors on the Board of Directors falls ten percentage (10%) points below the ESP Membership in the Association as of the preceding August 31.
i. The Executive Director shall declare the alternate ESP directors elected by this method will be seated as a director on the Board only as the need for such representation occurs, with the alternate Director who receives the highest number of votes taking the first seat, the alternate Director receiving the second highest number of votes taking the second seat, the alternate Director receiving the third highest number of votes taking the third seat, and so on until the full number of positions allocated by the Membership numbers are filled.
j. The Student Director shall be nominated and elected through the procedures of the SVEA-AE which shall include open nominations, secret ballot, and the one-member one-vote principle.
k. The Executive Director shall declare, if necessary, an election simultaneously with the election of the President and Vice President to elect Retired Member(s) to the Board of Directors to insure Retired representation. The Executive Director shall determine the number of directors to be elected according to the Retired Membership as of August 31. Retired Members shall be entitled to be represented by one Retired Director for each two thousand (2,000) Retired Members The election of these Retired Directors shall be by the Retired Membership. If there is only one petitioned candidate for the seat, the election may be waived and the candidate declared elected by the Board of Directors. A position of Interim Director may be filled, upon recommendation of the VEA Retired Council, by the VEA Board of Directors until an election can be held.
l. Directors elected by the Districts or Regions and those ethnically or racially diverse directors, school administrator, Retired Member, and education support directors elected in special elections, shall serve a term of two (2) years and shall serve no more than two (2) full consecutive terms. Directors who have served two (2), two (2)-year terms are eligible to run for that office again only after a break in service of one full two (2)-year term
m. Vacancies arising in the at-large school administrator, ethnically or racially diverse, and/or education support director(s) held by person(s) elected from within the state shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office. Appointed director(s) shall serve until the first opportunity that a successor director may be elected at the next regular election in accordance with regular election procedures
n. A Director shall immediately relinquish the position held on the Board when such Director ceases to be employed in the category represented
o. The Executive Director shall conduct a vote for recall of Director(s) elected by the District or Region upon petition of twenty-five (25) percent of the Active District or Region Membership.
p. The Executive Director shall conduct a vote for recall of Director(s) elected by the Retired Members upon petition of twenty-five (25) percent of the Retired Membership.
a. The nomination and election of Director(s) and alternate Director(s) for the NEA and State Delegates to the annual NEA convention shall be done in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the National Education Association and the Union. The President shall be elected in the same election if eligible to be first alternate NEA Director. The Vice President shall be elected in the same election if eligible to be the second alternate NEA Director.
b. In an election for NEA Director, if there is only one (1) petitioned candidate for the seat, the election may be waived and the candidate declared elected by the Board of Directors.
c. Directors will be elected by majority vote of the elected delegates in attendance at the VEA Delegate Assembly.
d. Candidates for officer and Director of the Union shall in the same election also be candidates for a position as a State Delegate to the VEA and NEA conventions. Successor Delegates for those directors may be elected. Should successor Delegates be elected, they must be elected in the same election. Additional State Delegate positions shall be elected at-large according to requirements of the NEA Constitution and Bylaws and will, if necessary, be reserved to fulfill proportionate representation of Members who are ethnically or racially diverse or in administrator or ESP positions.
e. In the event of a vacancy in the position of NEA Director, the elected alternate shall serve until such time that an election may take place.
f. In the event an NEA Director-at-Large is elected from Virginia, that director shall have a seat on the VEA Board of Directors for the term of their office.
8.1 All local affiliates of the Union shall be chartered by majority vote of the Board of Directors. The name and Membership list(s) of every affiliate as well as any other assets of the affiliate provided or funded by the Union or National Education Association are and shall remain the property of the Union. If an affiliate dissolves, disaffiliates, is placed in trusteeship, merges, or otherwise ceases to exist, the name and Membership list(s) as well as any other assets of the affiliate provided or funded by the Union or National Education Association shall immediately revert to the Union. This provision shall not apply to any buildings, financial accounts, or other property purchased by an affiliate solely with the affiliate’s own funds.
8.2 A local affiliate, the basic unit of self-governance within the Union, may be organized in each county and city within the state, for the State Department of Education, for each regional trade school of the State of Virginia, for each institution of higher education, and for such other special education institutions and union structures as the Board of the Directors may, from time to time, approve. The affiliate shall meet the minimum standards of affiliation.
8.3 A group or unit seeking affiliation shall file a written application including copies of its governing documents with the Board of Directors. The affiliate shall have governing documents which shall be compatible with those of the Union. Each affiliate has a continuing duty to forward copies of their governing documents to the Union’s President, including all revisions or amendments, within ten (10) days of their adoption.
8.4 The Union’s Board of Directors must approve by two-thirds (2/3) vote any merger or reverse merger of an affiliate. To initiate such action, an affiliate must file a written application which must comply with VEA merger guidelines and detail the merger or reverse merger plan, its reasons, and its anticipated impact on all existing members of the local affiliate. The Board shall not approve a merger or reverse merger unless the plan meets the minimum standards for new affiliates.
8.5 The Union shall not affiliate a local affiliate unless it meets the following minimum standards:
a. Each affiliate shall apply the one-member one-vote principle for representation on its governing bodies and elected delegations except that the affiliate shall guarantee ethnic, racial, and occupational representation at least proportionate to the ethnic, racial, and occupational composition of its Membership. Where an all-inclusive affiliate exists, it shall provide proportionate representation between its non-supervisory Members and its administrator Members.
b. The affiliate shall conduct all elections with open nominations and a secret ballot.
c. The affiliate shall require Active Membership in the Union and in the National Education Association for all the affiliate's Active Members who are eligible for such Membership.
d. The affiliate shall adopt a policy that recognizes the preeminence of the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession and shall adhere to the VEA Code of Member and Affiliate Professional Conduct
e. The affiliate shall have the same Membership year as that of the Union.
f. The affiliate shall have its fiscal year designated in its Bylaws.
8.6 The Association shall charter no more than one (1) local affiliate within the same jurisdictional boundary, with the exception that affiliates not competing for the same Membership may be chartered. Where two (2) or more local affiliates of the same Membership qualify for affiliation in the same jurisdictional boundaries, the Union shall charter the prospective affiliate with the greater number of Active Members.
8.7 Any special interest group or caucus may be recognized by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. To initiate such action, a special interest group or caucus must file a written application which must comply with VEA policies and detail the purpose and proposed Membership list. The final decision concerning any such relationship rests with the majority of the Board of Directors.
a. Grounds. The Virginia Education Association may establish a trusteeship over an affiliate for the purpose of (i) correcting corruption or financial malpractice; (ii) restoring democratic procedures; or (iii) correcting a serious dereliction of duties in their performance of union responsibilities.
b. Procedures to establish trusteeship:
1. The Executive Committee may request financial and other records from a local affiliate and may consider failure to provide records evidence of malpractice or dereliction of duties.
2. If, after providing the affiliate an opportunity to address and provide information, the Executive Committee determines, by two-thirds (2/3) vote, that there is adequate cause
under section 8.8(a) of this Bylaw to establish a trusteeship, it shall recommend to the Board of Directors that a trusteeship be established.
3. As soon as possible after the Executive Committee vote, the President shall send to the Board of Directors a copy of the recommendation of the Executive Committee and shall include with said recommendation a written statement setting forth the basis for the Executive Committee’s determination that there is adequate cause for the establishment of a trusteeship. The written statement shall be sufficiently specific to enable the affiliate to prepare a defense.
4. Any action taken by the local affiliate to disaffiliate from the Virginia Education Association after the Executive Committee has made an adequate-cause determination pursuant to section 8.8(b) of this Bylaw or has established an immediate trusteeship pursuant to section 8.8(e) of this Bylaw, shall be of no effect if the VEA Board of Directors approves by two-thirds (2/3) the trusteeship recommendation of the Executive Committee.
5. A recommendation by the Executive Committee to establish a trusteeship shall be acted upon by the Board of Directors at its next regularly scheduled meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose, occurring at least forty (40) days after the Board of Directors has received said recommendation.
6. At least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting of the Board of Directors at which the recommendation of the Executive Committee is to be acted upon, the President shall send to the affiliate subject to trusteeship a notice advising it of the recommendation of the Executive Committee and setting forth the date, time, and place of the meeting of the Board of Directors at which said recommendation shall be acted upon. The President shall include with said notice a copy of the written statement that was submitted to the Board of Directors pursuant to section 8.8(b)(3) of this Bylaw and a copy of the rules and procedures that shall be followed by the Board of Directors in acting upon the Executive Committee’s recommendation.
7. A hearing shall be held before the Board of Directors, pursuant to rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors for such purpose, to determine whether to establish a trusteeship. The Board of Directors may delegate to a committee consisting of no fewer than eleven (11) Board of Director members, the responsibility to receive evidence and hear arguments in the first instance, provided that the final decision regarding the establishment of a trusteeship shall be made by the full Board of Directors and all interested parties shall have an adequate opportunity to present their views on the matter to the full Board of Directors before the final decision is made.
8. On the basis of the evidence and arguments presented at the hearing, the Board of Directors shall vote on the question of whether a trusteeship should be established. If two-thirds (2/3) or more of the members of the Board of Directors who vote on the question vote “yes,” the recommendation of the Executive Committee shall have been accepted, in which event a trusteeship shall be established over the affiliate as of the
announcement of the vote. As soon as possible after said vote, the Executive Committee shall appoint a trustee.
c. Powers of the Trustee. Subject to the control and direction of the Executive Committee, a trustee shall have the power to:
1. Conduct the affairs of the trusteed affiliate, including supervisory control over its officers, employees and other representatives;
2. Take possession of the books, records, funds, and other assets of the trusteed affiliate, to be held in trust for and used only in the proper conduct of its affairs;
3. Remove officers and staff of the trusteed affiliate, and replace them if deemed appropriate for the duration of the trusteeship;
4. Take such other actions as in a trustee’s judgment are necessary for the preservation of the rights and interests of the Virginia Education Association and the members of the trusteed affiliate
5. The Executive Committee shall have the right, with or without cause, to replace a trustee at any time.
6. Reasonable expenses incurred by a trustee in the performance of the trustee’s functions shall be paid out of the funds of the trusteed affiliate, if available; otherwise, such expenses shall be paid by the Virginia Education Association.
1. The Executive Committee shall terminate a trusteeship as soon as the cause for its establishment has been remedied.
2. If the Executive Committee rejects a request from the Board of Directors (or equivalent governing body) of a trusteed affiliate to terminate a trusteeship, the trusteed affiliate shall have the right to appeal to the VEA Board of Directors, provided that no such appeal may be taken within three (3) months after the decision of the VEA Board of Directors on a prior appeal.
3. Prior to the termination of a trusteeship, a trustee shall conduct an election, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the governing documents and policies of the trusteed affiliate and the Virginia Education Association, to fill, as of the date of such termination, officer positions vacated by removal or departure of former incumbents. As of the date of termination of a trusteeship, a trustee shall return control of the books, records, funds, and other assets of the trusteed affiliate to its appropriate officers. A trustee shall make a final accounting of a trusteeship and submit copies to the Board of Directors and the trusteed affiliate
4. No financial obligation or liability of the trusteed affiliate which may exist at the time a trusteeship is established, or which may be incurred during a trusteeship, shall be assumed by or become an obligation of the Virginia Education Association.
Subject to the provisions of section 8.8(a) of this Bylaw, in case of emergency, where the best interests of the Virginia Education Association or affiliate require, the Executive Committee may, by unanimous vote of all members of the Executive Committee (excluding any member who is or was a member of the affiliate in question), establish an immediate trusteeship over the affiliate without action by the Board of Directors. In such a case, the matter shall be submitted to the Board of Directors, which may affirm or reverse the action of the Executive Committee pursuant to the procedure set forth in section 8.8(b)(7) of this Bylaw, provided that if the Board of Directors does not take action within sixty (60) days following the establishment of a trusteeship by the Executive Committee, said trusteeship shall automatically terminate.
The Board of Directors shall adopt such rules and procedures as may be necessary to implement this Bylaw.
9.1 The members of the Board of Directors may be removed for cause, including, but not limited to violation of NEA’s Code of Ethics for Educators, VEA’s Code of Member and Affiliate Professional Conduct, and/or for malfeasance or misfeasance in office as outlined in these Bylaws. VEA’s Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission shall have the authority to censure, suspend, or remove Directors subject to appeal to VEA’s Executive Committee. In the case that a VEA President is accused of violation of NEA’s Code of Ethics for Educators, VEA’s Code of Member and Affiliate Professional Conduct, and/or for malfeasance or misfeasance in office as outlined in these Bylaws, a third party will be tasked with the investigation to ensure the final decision made is unbiased. The President may then appeal the decision to the Executive Committee of the VEA.
9.2 Removal of an officer elected at large or a Director to the NEA Board shall require a petition stating the complaint and signed by two thousand (2,000) Active Members or by petition of complaint of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board at which time the Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission shall hold a due process hearing. Due process as used herein shall be defined by the Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The Commission may direct that the officer be removed from office if seventy-five (75) percent of its Membership agrees to the petition.
9.3 Officers and Directors elected by District or Region may be recalled if twenty-five (25) percent of the Active Membership of the District or Region requests such recall by a petition and a majority of the Active Members in the District or Region affirm the recall.
9.4 VEA-Retired officers and Directors elected by the Retired Membership may be removed if twentyfive (25) percent of the Retired Membership requests such removal by petition and the majority of the Retired Members affirm the removal.
9.5 The method of impeachment and removal and recall set forth herein does not exclude any other method provided by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
10.1 Executive Director. The Board of Directors shall employ an Executive Director who shall be the Secretary and the chief administrator of the Union They shall be responsible to the Board of Directors. The Executive Director shall:
a. Employ, direct, and supervise all Union staff unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws;
b. Serve as a consultant to the governing bodies of the Union;
c. Advise the officers and governing bodies on all policy matters through appropriate reports and recommendations;
d. Represent the Union as spokesperson on matters of established policy at the discretion of the President;
e. Meet periodically with the President, Vice President, and appropriate staff to confer on Union policies and procedures;
f. Advise and assist the Executive Committee acting as the Budget Committee in preparing the budget, and administer the budgets authorized by the governing bodies of the Union;
g. Co-sign and/or authorize a designee to co-sign with the Treasurer or their designee all authorizations for disbursement from Union funds;
h. Notify local affiliates of the number of Delegate Assembly Delegates to which they are entitled;
i. Furnish each member appropriate evidence of Membership;
j. Receive all petitions, amendments, and ballots and certify from the current Union Membership list any necessary Membership qualifications;
k. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.
10.2 Treasurer. There shall be a Treasurer employed by the Union who shall be responsible to the Executive Director and Board of Directors unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws. The Treasurer shall:
a. Have the custody of and be responsible for all monies and securities of the Union;
b. Deposit all funds in such bank or banks as may be designated by the Board of Directors;
c. Disperse funds of the Union only upon proper receipts or vouchers, and a monthly report of disbursements shall be made by the Treasurer to the President;
d. Maintain full and complete books of account;
e. See that all expenditures are duly authorized;
f. Submit at each Delegate Assembly of the Union a written report of the financial affairs of the Union covering the last fiscal year, from September 1 to August 31, inclusive;
g. Submit, upon request of the Board of Directors, any information concerning financial matters of the Union as may be required by it.
10.3 Staff. The following principles shall govern employment and functions of staff as agents of the Union;
a. Local and state staff shall be eligible only for Staff Membership and shall not hold elective or appointive positions at any level within the Union;
b. The Union shall be an equal opportunity employer;
c. The Union shall recognize the right of its employees to organize for the purpose of collective bargaining.
11.1
a. All amendments to the Articles of Incorporation must be submitted no later than 100 days prior to the opening date of the Annual Delegate Assembly. Provisions for amending the Articles of Incorporation shall be as set forth in that document.
b. All amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws for which the originators desire legal advice by counsel or written comment must be submitted to the President, Executive Director, or designee no later than 120 days prior to the opening date of the Annual Delegate Assembly.
c. Written recommendations from counsel shall be returned to the originators no later than 105 days prior to the opening date of the Delegate Assembly.
d. All final submission or resubmission of proposed amendments must be received by the President, Executive Director, or their designee, no later than 75 days prior to the opening date of the Annual Delegate Assembly.
e. Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors or by petition signed by at least 50 Active Members. A proposed amendment to the Bylaws shall be presented in writing to the President, Executive Director, or their official designee.
f. All proposed amendments shall be published and sent to the Membership not less than 25 nor more than 50 days prior to the opening date of the Annual Delegate Assembly.
g. The Bylaws may then be amended at the Delegate Assembly by a majority vote of the delegates present and voting.
h. Unless otherwise provided, all amendments shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
a. Request for withdrawal of proposed amendments to the Constitution or to these Bylaws shall be in writing and shall be granted provided the request is signed by the majority of the originators.
b. Requests for withdrawal of proposed amendments to the Constitution or to these Bylaws which have become the property of the Delegate Assembly shall be granted upon majority vote of the Delegate Assembly.
11.3 All proposed amendments not withdrawn by their originators shall be submitted to the Delegate Assembly. These Bylaws may then be amended at the Delegate Assembly by a majority vote of the delegates present and voting Unless otherwise provided, all amendments shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
12.1 Documents to be transmitted to the Union under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, or Bylaws shall be transmitted to the Union by either the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier that will supply a receipt or hand delivered no later than 5:00 PM of the appropriate business day to the President, Executive Director, or their designee.
of the Virginia Education Association, Incorporated
Preamble
We, the members of the Virginia Education Association (the “Union”), do hereby adopt this Constitution in order to speak for and advance the cause of public education for all individuals; to promote the professional excellence of all public school employees; to elevate the critical roles of all public school employees in the learning process; to organize public school employees for effective citizenship; to promote and protect human and civil rights; to unite public school employees to improve the quality of public education in Virginia; to secure professional autonomy for public school employees; to engage in mutual aid and support as well as protect and promote the interests of active, retired, and aspiring public-school employees through advocacy and collective bargaining; and to improve working conditions, wages, and other terms of employment.
Section 1 The name of this organization shall be the Virginia Education Association, Incorporated, hereinafter called "Union” or “VEA."
Section 2. The goals of the Union shall be as stated in the Preamble. The Union shall have all power necessary and proper to take action for the attainment of these goals. Nothing in the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, or Bylaws shall be construed to prevent the Union from pursuing other objectives which are consistent with the stated goals of the Union
Section 3 The Union shall be governed by its Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and Bylaws, and other such actions, consistent therewith, as may be taken by the Delegate Assembly, the Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee.
Section 4. The Union is an affiliate of the National Education Association (“NEA”). The Union has created and chartered local affiliates identified in its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The Union’s governing documents shall prevail over any conflicts or inconsistencies in the governing documents of its local affiliates.
Section 1. Membership in the Union shall include categories as provided in the Bylaws.
Section 2 Membership Eligibility: Provision and Limitations
(a) Membership is open to all persons actively and formerly employed by public education institutions as well as Union staff who shall agree to subscribe to the goals and objectives of the Union and to abide by its Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and Bylaws.
(b) Members shall adhere to NEA’s Code of Ethics for Educators and the VEA Code of Member and Affiliate Professional Conduct
(c) An application for membership shall be subject to review and category placement as provided in the Bylaws.
(d) The Union shall not deny membership to individuals on the basis of job category, race, color, national origin, religious beliefs, residence, disability, physical appearance, political activities, professional association activities, age, marital status, family relationship, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity, nor shall any organization which so denies membership be affiliated with the Union.
Section 3 The right to vote and hold office shall be limited to Active Members and Retired Members, except as otherwise provided.
Section 4. Members shall pay to the Union, directly or through their local affiliate, such annual membership dues as may be established by the Delegate Assembly.
Section 1. The Delegate Assembly of the Union comprising duly elected Delegates shall be the policy-making body of the Union
Section 2 Delegates to the Delegate Assembly shall be elected by local affiliates, by the Student Virginia Education Association-Aspiring Educators (“SVEA-EA”), and by Retired Members in accordance with VEA’s Bylaws.
Section 3. The Delegate Assembly shall have an Annual Meeting as set by the Board of Directors except in cases of national emergency. Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be given in an official Union publication for the month preceding the month in which the meeting is held.
(a) A special meeting of the Delegate Assembly may be called:
(1) By the President by notice not less than ten (10) days nor more than fifty (50) days before the date of that meeting, except that notice of a special meeting called to consider merger, consolidation, or amendment to the Articles of Incorporation shall be given not less than twenty-five (25) nor more than fifty (50) days before that meeting.
(2) By the Board by notice not less than ten (10) days nor more than fifty (50) days before the date of that meeting, except that notice of a special meeting called to consider merger, consolidation, or amendment to the Articles of Incorporation shall be given not less than twenty-five (25) days nor more than fifty (50) days before that meeting.
(3) By a petition signed by two thousand (2,000) Active Members of the Union representing at least three (3) local affiliates by notice not less than ten (10) days nor more than fifty (50) days before the date of that meeting, except that notice of a special meeting called to consider merger, consolidation, or amendment to the Articles of Incorporation shall be given not less than twenty-five (25) days nor more than fifty (50) days before that meeting.
Section 4. All members of the Union elected as Delegates shall be entitled to a voice on the floor of the Delegate Assembly. Non-Delegates may speak at the Delegate Assembly with the permission of the President.
Section 1 The officers of the Union shall be the President and Vice President The President shall serve the Union full-time. The expense of this office will be provided for in the budget.
Section 2. All elected officers of the Union shall be Active Members or Retired Members.
Section 3. The President and the Vice President shall be nominated by submission of a petition. Elections will be held by secret ballot of the membership according to the procedures established in the Bylaws. If there is only one petitioned candidate for the position, the election may be waived and the candidate declared elected by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. The President and Vice President shall serve a term of two (2) years and shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms in their respective offices.
Section 5 In case of vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice President shall assume the duties of President for the remainder of the unfinished term of the President. The Board of Directors shall fill the office of Vice President for the unexpired term pursuant to the Union’s Bylaws
Section 6. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be employees of the Union designated by the Board of Directors and serving at its pleasure.
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the elected officers of the Union, Directors elected by Districts or Regions, Director(s) elected by VEA-Retired, the Virginia Directors elected to the NEA Board, and the president of the Student Virginia Education Association-Aspiring Educators. The Board of Directors also includes ex officio directors.
Section 2. Active Members of Districts or Regions shall elect Directors to the VEA Board of Directors in accordance with VEA’s Bylaws. It shall include proportionate representation of the following constituencies: Retired Members, Active Members in school administrator positions, Active Members who are racially and/or ethnically diverse, and Active members who are in education support professional positions.
Section 3 Corporate responsibility shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The Directors shall act within policies set by the Delegate Assembly of the Union and in accordance with Chapter 10 of Title 13.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Section 4. To maintain an appropriate size of Districts or Regions, the Board of Directors will recommend to the Delegate Assembly at appropriate intervals changes in District or Region organization.
Section 5 The Board of Directors shall meet as prescribed in the Bylaws. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President and/or by written request of a majority of the Board.
Section 6. Directors elected by Districts or Regions and those at-large Directors elected in conjunction with the regular election of President and Vice President shall serve a term of two (2) years and shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms. Directors who have served two (2), two (2)-year terms are eligible to run for that office again only after a break in service of one full two (2)-year term. At-large Directors shall be elected to bring about proportionate racial, ethnic, administrator, and education support professional representation on the Board.
Section 7. When representation on the Board of Directors does not reflect the proportionate membership in the Union of individuals who are racially and/or ethnically diverse, are in administrator positions, or are in education support professional positions, additional representatives to the Board shall be elected to bring about such representation.
Section 8 Members of the Board of Directors may be removed for cause, including, but not limited to violation of NEA’s Code of Ethics for Educators, VEA’s Code of Member and Affiliate Professional Conduct, and/or for misfeasance or malfeasance in office as outlined in the Union’s Bylaws. VEA’s Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission shall have the authority to censure, suspend, or remove Directors subject to appeal to VEA’s Executive Committee
Section 9 The Board of Directors shall, by a resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, elect not fewer than six (6) Board members who with the President, Vice President, and senior NEA Director shall constitute an Executive Committee. This committee shall exercise the power of the Board in the management of the affairs of the Union, as stipulated in the Bylaws. Any action of the Executive Committee not authorized by Board resolution is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
Section 1 There shall be three (3) types of appointive bodies: commissions, standing committees, and special committees.
(a) Commissions are permanent in nature and serve a continuous function. Commissions are established and discontinued by the Delegate Assembly. When that body is not in session, commissions shall be accountable to the President, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee. Each commission chairperson shall submit periodic reports to the President and to the Board.
(b) Standing committees are of indeterminate tenure and shall serve a function as determined by the Delegate Assembly or as specified in the Bylaws. When the Delegate Assembly is not in session, standing committees shall be accountable to the President, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee. Each committee chairperson shall submit periodic reports to the President and to the Board.
(c) Special committees will serve for a specific purpose within a limited period of time as established by the Delegate Assembly, by the Board of Directors, or by the President. When the Delegate Assembly is not in session, special committees shall be accountable to the President, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee. Each committee chairperson shall submit periodic reports to the President and to the Board.
Section 2. The Delegate Assembly shall continue the Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission. This Commission will have the power to investigate and resolve matters related to violation(s) of professional relations as well as alleged violations of the Union’s Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws, and VEA’s Code of Member and Affiliate Professional Conduct brought to its attention officially by a local affiliate or by any member of the Union It shall have the authority to resolve conflicts through collaboration, develop and implement procedures, investigate, obtain documents, adjudicate complaints, conduct hearings, and censure, suspend, or expel any member or local affiliate who violates their duties. Members may appeal an adverse decision of the Commission to the Executive Committee. Affiliates may appeal an adverse decision of the Commission to the Board of Directors.
Section 1 Affiliation shall mean a relationship based on a reciprocal contractual agreement between the Union and an organization involved with or interested in education and shall continue until the affiliate dissolves or becomes disaffiliated.
Section 2. Affiliates of the Union shall take all reasonable steps to assure that their elective and appointive bodies have racial, ethnic, and occupational representation at least proportionate to the racial, ethnic, and occupational composition of the membership of the affiliate
Section 3. Each local affiliate shall guarantee its Active Members an open nomination procedure and a secret ballot except as otherwise provided in this Constitution or in the Bylaws. No local affiliate shall discriminate against its Active Members in their right to vote, seek office, or otherwise participate in the affairs of the affiliate or the Union
Section 4. Affiliates which fail to comply with standards and procedures set forth in the VEA’s Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws, and VEA’s Code of Member and Affiliate Professional Conduct shall be subject to censure, suspension, or dissolution by the Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission. Affiliates affected by this section shall be guaranteed a due process hearing by the Commission and the right to appeal an adverse decision to the VEA Board of Directors which shall not affirm any penalty imposed without a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board.
Amendment of Constitution
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by the following methods:
(a) By a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
(b) By petition signed by at least fifty (50) Active Members.
Section 2 Procedure for Amending of the Constitution:
(a) A proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be presented in writing to the President, Executive Director, or their official designee as set forth in the Bylaws.
(b) The text of each proposed amendment shall be published and sent to all members not less than twenty-five (25) days nor more than fifty (50) days prior to the opening date of the Delegate Assembly at which it will be considered.
(c) This Constitution may then be amended at the Delegate Assembly by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of delegates present and voting.
(d) Unless otherwise provided, all amendments shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
A quorum for all meetings of all official bodies of the Union shall be a simple majority of those certified to vote at such meeting.
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Union’s Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws, or Operating Procedures adopted by the Delegate Assembly.
VEA is a statewide community of more than 40,000 teachers and school support professionals working for the betterment of public education in the Commonwealth. First organized in 1863, VEA has consistently advocated for quality instruction and curriculum, adequate funding, and excellent working conditions for Virginia public employees.
“A great public school for every child in the Commonwealth of Virginia.” VISION
MISSION
“The mission of the Virginia Education Association is to unite our members and local communities across the Commonwealth in fulfilling the promise of a high quality public education that successfully prepares every single student to realize his or her full potential. We believe this can be accomplished by advocating for students, education professionals, and support professionals.”
• We value equal access to a quality education that is adequately and equitably funded.
• We value diversity as being vital to the education process and integral in preparing students to function in a democratic society that protects human and civil rights.
• We value being accurately informed activists contributing to the everchanging system of public education.
• We value partnerships that foster excellence, nurture a desire for lifelong learning, and create responsible, productive citizens.
• We value the expertise of education professionals and recognize that fair compensation and respect are vital for a quality public education. CORE VALUES
When we increase the capacity of our Association to effect change through member organizing, political involvement, advancing racial and social justice issues, and responsive governance structures, then our members will be better prepared to advocate for and meet the needs of our students, our profession, and public education.
The VEA will partner with our national and local affiliates to strengthen our organizational capacity and Union strength.
The VEA will support governance and staff structures that are responsive to the needs of our membership and builds Union solidarity.
1. Growth in Union membership
2. Increased member engagement and all facets of the Union
3. Local leadership in every local
4. Locals collectively bargain with division leadership
5. Local Union infrastructure and strength
1. Increased member engagement in leadership and governance roles
2. Governance and staff structures that are responsive in meeting 21st century challenges and promote distributive leadership
3. A competent and highly skilled staff workforce that supports the roles of governance
The VEA supports a political environment that promotes and protects public education and advances the economic well-being of our members.
The VEA will advance a culture that supports racial and social justice, excellence in the profession, educating the whole child, and builds respect for the professions and every individual in our diverse society.
1. Strong partnerships with external stakeholders
2. Increased educator effectiveness in political engagement
3. Election of pro-public education candidates
4. Passage of pro-education policy
5. Adequate funding for public schools
6. Competitive compensation for educators at or above the national average
1. Promotion of ongoing legislative agenda that advances human and civil rights
2. Engagement of members in an awareness of social justice issues and professional learning in cultural proficiency
3. Engagement of members in building respect for the professions
4. The public respects VEA as a leader in supporting racial and social justice, excellence in the profession, educating students and advocating for a superior public education experience for all children of the Commonwealth
VEA Phone #: 1-800-552-9554 (toll-free); 804-648-5801 (main #); Direct to Staff: 804-775-8xxx Fax Machine #: 804-775-8379; Website: www.veanea.org
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Dr. Earl Wiman Executive Director
OFFICE OF THE VEA PRESIDENT:
Carol Bauer VEA President
Jessica Jones VEA Vice President
Adria Stagg Clerk of VEA Board/Executive Asst. to Executive Office (President, VP, Exec. Director)
:
ewiman@veanea.org
cbauer@veanea.org
jjones@veanea.org
astagg@veanea.org
Kevin Rogers Director, Communications 316 krogers@veanea.org
Reilly Bradshaw Digital Media Specialist 317 rbradshaw@veanea.org
Tom Allen Communications Specialist 318 tallen@veanea.org
Lisa Sale Graphics Designer 321 lsale@veanea.org
Olivia Geho Media Specialist 315 ogeho@veanea.org Kate O’Grady Program Assistant 319 kogrady@veanea.org
HUMAN & FINANCIAL RESOURCES:
Bethany Bizick Manager, Human Resources
Shawn Brown Event Planner/ HR Coordinator
Accounting:
Chris Yoder Director, Financial Resources
Patrick Flood Sr. Accountant
Mustaq Ahmad Accountant
Shane Ervin Accountant
:
Shane Riddle Interim Director, Government Relations
bbizick@veanea.org
sbrown@veanea.org
cyoder@veanea.org
pflood@veanea.org
mahmad@veanea.org
sriddle@veanea.org Government Relations Specialist
Bea Snidow Government Relations Specialist
Chad Stewart Policy Analyst
Sonia Lee Program Assistant
bsnidow@veanea.org
cstewart@veanea.org
slee@veanea.org
HUMAN & CIVIL RIGHTS:
Taisha Steele Director, Human & Civil Rights
Chastity Urquhart Program Assistant
Kenyatta McLeod-Poole General Counsel
Moriah Berger Allen Staff Attorney
Lawrence Drombetta Staff Attorney
Richan Steele Program Assistant
Todd Park
TECHNOLOGY & DATA:
Paul Kirill
Michele Wickman
Greg Marcellus
Shweta Mahendrakar
DeBusk
Organizing & Affiliate
tsteele@veanea.org
choward@veanea.org
kmpoole@veanea.org
mallen@veanea.org
ldrombetta@veanea.org
rsteele@veanea.org
phill@veanea.org
pkirill@veanea.org
mwickman@veanea.org
gmarcellus@veanea.org
smahendrakar@veanea.org
ldebusk@veanea.org Carmella Kinzey
LaFon Pleasants
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Donna Hamilton
Isabel Sullivan
ckinzey@veanea.org
lpleasants@veanea.org
@veanea.org
abrown@veanea.org
dhamilton@veanea.org
isullivan@veanea.org
The VEA Collective Bargaining Campaign Fund (hereafter, “CB Fund”) was established in 2022 for the purpose of creating and building a fund to support Collective Bargaining for educators and local unions in the Commonwealth.
The CB Fund, anticipating growth for local unions with collective bargaining, was established by VEA to invest proactively in grants to locals, to conduct intensive training for individual locals about the statewide opportunities, to provide seed money for issue campaigns, and to provide for additional staff needed.
The assessment for active members began in the fiscal year 2023-24 with $9 for certified members and $1.20 for ESP members. In fiscal year 2024-25, the annual assessment shall be $12 for certified members and $2.40 for ESP members. Beginning in fiscal year 2025-26 and thereafter the annual assessment shall be $15 for certified members and $3.60 for ESP members. Beginning in fiscal year 2023-24, the Association annually shall credit to the Collective Bargaining Fund any interest or investment income earned on any accumulated funds. When the total VEA membership reaches 50,000, the board of directors will review the status of the fund and bring a recommendation to the delegate assembly regarding the assessment.
The CB Fund is permitted to accumulate funds year after year and does not need to be spent down in any specific fiscal year. The Executive Committee is responsible for balancing these dual purposes and allocating funds as necessary.
• State-Level Fund Administration
o The VEA Executive Committee shall be responsible for overall fund management.
o The Executive Committee shall seek the input of the Executive Director and Organizing and Affiliate Support Director before making significant decisions on fund allocation.
o An annual budget for the regular and ongoing use of the CB Fund will be approved by the VEA Executive Committee as part of the annual budgeting process.
o Any use of the CB Fund outside of the pre-approved uses shall be subject to the approval of the VEA Executive Committee.
o Pre-approved uses shall have the approval of the Executive Director and/or Director of Organizing and Affiliate Support. Examples of pre-approved costs include CB authorization cards/flyers, CB Authorization Card Verification, CB Recognition Elections, internal shared staff support for blitzes and worksite organizing, and CB training.
• Local Campaign Fund Administration
o Any Local may apply directly to VEA for access to funding from the CB Fund to run a local CB campaign that aligns with the overall purpose of the CB Fund.
o The VEA Executive Committee holds sole authority to grant these requests following the Criteria listed below
Locals wishing to apply must be in good financial and governance standing with the VEA, including being current on all VEA membership and reporting requirements.
A Local wishing to apply for funds must consult with their UniServ Director on their proposal and submit a proposal to the VEA Director of Organizing and Affiliate Support.
Proposals must include:
• CB campaign plan that maps out each phase of the campaign
• Specific building power objectives: gain majority support on school board, gain majority support of workers for the campaign, and obtain majority union membership for the division.
• An itemized estimated budget
• Expected outcomes and metrics
• Alignment with VEA strategic priorities
Note: The CB Fund is not intended to be used for, nor will any requests be granted that include, express membership solicitation. Additionally, no funds may be used for partisan political campaigns or personal benefit The approval of this policy permits locals to submit a request for funding for a previous CB campaign. The request must include the criteria noted in the "Reporting and Evaluation" section to be considered.
Proposals will be evaluated by a review committee comprising:
• VEA Executive Committee
• Organizing and Affiliate Support Director (Advisory only)
• VEA Executive Director (Advisory only)
Decisions will be made based on the following:
• Strategic CB Campaign Plan
• Potential for building power
• Budget efficiency
• Innovative approach to CB Campaign
Reporting and Evaluation
• Post-campaign reports must include review by the UniServ Director and be submitted to the Organizing and Affiliate Support Director within 60 days of campaign completion.
• Reports shall include, but are not limited to:
• Actual expenditures
• Metrics for gaining majority workers to support the campaign
• Metrics for gaining majority union membership
• Metrics for new leaders identified
• Metrics for building worksite structures
Fund Request Requirement Details
Application Requirements
• Completed VEA CB Campaign Fund Request Form
• Detailed project proposal
• Projected budget breakdown
• Expected local and statewide impact
• Alignment with VEA CB strategy
• Current local budget with up-to-date actuals.
• Current local articles of incorporation, bylaws, and constitution.
Funding Limits
• Maximum request: $10,000 per fiscal year
• Minimum request: $1,000
• Locals must demonstrate local member support or matching funds
Application Timeline
Fund requests accepted biannually:
• September 1
• February 1
Decisions are communicated within 30 days of the submission deadline
Evaluation Criteria
Requests will be scored on:
• Alignment with VEA CB Guidelines (50 points)
• Potential impact on local educators and public education (25 points)
• Budget efficiency (15 points)
• Innovative approach to CB Campaign (10 points)
Appeals of unsuccessful requests
• In the event the Executive Committee votes to deny a funding request, the potential grantee may appeal the decision to the full VEA Board of Directors in writing no more than 30 days after the issuance of a denial. The Board of Directors shall make a final determination.
Successful applicants must:
• Submit a comprehensive impact report within 60 days after project completion.
• Provide detailed financial records.
• Share campaign materials and outcomes with VEA Organizing and Affiliate Support.
• Return any unused funds to the state campaign CB Fund.
Consequences for non-compliance:
• Ineligibility for future fund requests
• All CB Fund allocations will be documented and subject to annual audit
• CB Funds may not be used for express membership campaigns.
This Data Security Policy establishes guidelines and best practices for the management, protection, and usage of data within the Virginia Education Association. It applies to all VEA staff, guests, member leaders, volunteers, contractors, and third-party vendors with access to Association data. The policy’s overarching goals are to:
• Protect personally identifiable information (PII) of members and staff.
• Limit legal liability by preventing unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data.
• Promote data literacy, accountability, and effective data use across the organization.
1. Board of Directors (BoD)
o Provides ultimate oversight of data Security practices.
o Receives escalation in cases where VEA or LEA Leadership is responsible for mismanagement of data or a breach.
2. Executive Director (ED)
o Oversees organization-wide adherence to this policy.
o In conjunction with the Director of Technology & Data (DTD) and other Department Directors, ensures that data Security processes are followed.
2. Director of Technology & Data (DTD)
o Leads the development and implementation of data Security strategies.
o Coordinates with IT to ensure technical controls (e.g., role-based access, encryption) meet policy requirements.
o Reports major data-related concerns or risks to the Executive Director and the Data Security Committee (once formed).
3. Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
o Ensures that financial and accounting data is managed in alignment with the policy.
o Works with third-party financial vendors (Blackbaud, QuickBooks, auditors, etc.) to confirm compliance with data Security and security standards.
4. Department Directors (Legal, HR, Government Relations, etc.)
o Ensure department-specific data handling practices comply with the policy.
o Coordinate with the Director of Technology & Data to adopt recommended processes for data audits and security.
5. Data Security Committee (DSC)
o Comprised of the Executive Director, Director of Technology & Data, CFO, and representatives from key departments (Legal, Accounting, Membership, HR).
o Reviews policy effectiveness, audits vendor compliance, and addresses crossdepartmental data Security issues.
o Schedules annual policy reviews and ensures alignment with organizational goals.
6. All VEA Staff and Authorized Users
o Responsible for following the Data Security Policy and related guidelines (e.g., the Acceptable Use Policy).
o Must report any suspected data breach or security incident to their supervisor or the Director of Technology & Data immediately.
While the VEA does not currently follow an explicit classification standard (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR), the organization recognizes the following data tiers for internal management:
1. Public Data: Data that can be shared freely with the public (e.g., News releases, public event information, and publicly available organizational updates).
2. Internal/Confidential: Data that should only be shared internally within the VEA or with approved affiliates (e.g., Membership rosters, internal staff directories, and standard operating procedures).
3. Highly Sensitive Data: PII, financial details, legal records, health/benefits information, or data restricted under legal or contractual requirements. (e.g., Personally identifiable information (PII), financial transaction records, legal documents, and health/benefits data). This category requires additional security measures.
Staff should handle data according to its classification and adhere to role-based access controls set by the IT department or system administrators. Questions regarding data classification should be directed to the Director of Technology & Data or a member of the Data Security Committee.
1. Membership Data
o Collected via paper forms, digital forms, event registrations, and in person.
o Digital data is to be stored on the secure internal network or other authorized systems (e.g., VEA Forms, Cvent).
o Physical data (e.g., paper forms, event sign in sheets) must be scanned and stored electronically on the secure internal network and then disposed of securely.
2. Legal Data
o Intake forms, depositions, and discovery materials from in-house or contracted attorneys.
o Must be stored on the secure internal network, with physical copies in file cabinets in a secure room.
3. Financial & Accounting Data
o Collected via invoices, vouchers, banking systems, and pension reports.
o Managed with Blackbaud Financial Management System, QuickBooks.
o Must be stored on the secure internal network, with physical copies in file cabinets in a secure room.
4. HR & Staff Data
o Collected through ADP or other HR systems.
o Stored digitally on secure the secure internal network, with physical copies in locked cabinets.
5. Government Relations Data
o Access to Voter Action Network (VAN) containing member PII including election/voting-related data.
o Must be used only for legitimate, union-approved purposes and protected under the same principles of confidentiality.
1. Local Network Storage
o VEA maintains local Windows servers with role-based access, which store a variety of data including membership records, financial data, and internal organizational documents. These servers are critical for managing day-to-day operations and ensuring secure data storage.
o Servers are protected by firewalls with IDS/IPS, geofencing, DDoS protection, VLAN segregation, BitLocker encryption, and local antivirus/antimalware software.
2. Cloud Storage
o Microsoft OneDrive is used by staff to store files generated on their laptops.
o OneDrive must be configured to meet the same security standards (e.g., strong user authentication, encryption, etc.).
o VEA Filebox is a “secure managed file transfer system” (SMFT) used to share Confidential or Highly Sensitive data.
3. Physical Storage
o Legal and Accounting documents are kept in file cabinets in a secure room.
o Only authorized personnel with a physical key or passcode can access these cabinets/rooms.
4. Access Controls
o All staff have access to general file repositories, departmental folders, and the MMS within the constraints of an Acceptable Use Policy.
o Higher levels of privilege (IT, Executive Management, Legal) have dedicated private network locations that must remain restricted.
o Access to the Membership Management System is limited to VEA staff and UniServ Admin staff responsible for updating and reporting membership records.
1. Acceptable Use
o Staff must follow the existing Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) when using VEA data.
o Data may be used only for legitimate Association business.
o When sharing data classified above “Public Data” (e.g., membership rosters with personal details), use appropriate file protection (e.g., password protection for Excel, shared links with expiration, email encryption, etc.).
o Local leaders are granted access solely to membership records of members within their designated Local affiliate. This access is limited to the minimum data
necessary to execute specific campaigns or initiatives. Data access and usage must comply with VEA confidentiality standards and data Security policies, ensuring the privacy and security of member information.
2. Confidentiality Standards
o Purpose-Driven Access: Access to membership data is strictly limited to the purpose for which it was granted. Any unauthorized use, including access beyond approved data or for personal benefit, is prohibited.
o Data Minimization: Users must access only the data necessary for their specific task or campaign. Excessive or speculative access to membership records is not allowed.
o Secure Handling: Membership data must be stored and transmitted using secure methods, including password-protected systems, encrypted files, and secure email platforms when necessary. Paper documents containing sensitive information must be kept in locked storage when not in use.
o Restricted Sharing: Membership data must not be shared with unauthorized individuals, including other Local leaders, non-VEA staff, or external organizations. If data must be shared with approved individuals, it should be limited to the minimum necessary and shared securely.
o Incident Reporting: Any breach, suspected breach, or unauthorized access of membership data must be reported immediately to the VEA Data Security Officer or designated authority.
o Retention and Disposal: Sensitive data must be retained only as long as necessary for the specific campaign or purpose. Once the purpose is fulfilled, all copies physical or digital must be securely deleted or shredded.
o Training and Awareness: Authorized users must complete regular training on data Security and confidentiality to ensure compliance with these standards.
1. Regular Reviews
o Membership Processors audit membership records quarterly to maintain accuracy.
o Legal data is reviewed by Legal staff as part of case preparation and ongoing file maintenance.
o Accounting data is audited by a third party annually.
2. Data Validation Tools & Processes
o Departments may use approved data validation tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel, OpenRefine) to check for errors or duplicates.
o Create documented procedures for error reporting and correction.
o Any identified errors should be reported and corrected within designated timelines (e.g., 48 hours for membership records)
H. Data Retention
1. Retention Schedules
o Staff must follow retention schedules set in VEA’s Document Retention Policy
2. Secure Disposal
o Once data is beyond its retention period or no longer needed, it must be securely deleted (for digital data) or shredded (for physical data), as outlined in VEA’s Document Retention Policy.
1. Internal Sharing
o Staff may share data internally only if it is classified for their access level.
o Department Directors should authorize broader sharing within the organization.
2. Sharing with Local Affiliates (e.g., Local Presidents)
o Member data (e.g., roster, home addresses, demographics) must be shared with the minimum necessary details and only upon legitimate union business needs.
o Data is typically provided via Excel or CSV file.
o Local affiliate leaders do not have access credentials or direct system access, so secure file transfer methods (e.g., encrypted email, password-protected attachments, SFTP) should be used.
3. Third-Party Vendors
o Vendors include ADP, Blackbaud, NEA (IMS/NEA360 for membership, Passport for legal), external law firms, and Government Relations partners.
o Each engagement must be governed by a Data Sharing Agreement that specifies data usage, time period, disposal requirements, and compliance with VEA standards.
4. Periodic Vendor Audits
o The Data Security Committee (once formed) should coordinate reviews of long-term vendor agreements at least annually to ensure ongoing compliance.
1. Definitions
o Internal Mismanagement: Unintentional or unauthorized data exposure by staff or leadership.
o External Breach: Unauthorized access or attack from outside the organization (e.g., hacking, malware).
2. Notification and Escalation
o All breaches: Notify the Executive Director (ED). If the ED is the cause: Notify the Board Executive Committee.
o Further escalation may include the Board Executive Committee, local leaders, union members, and staff depending on the severity of the breach and the nature of the data exposed.
3. Preventative Measures
o System monitoring, access logging, and periodic IT security reviews to detect and prevent breaches.
4. Reactive Steps
o Contain the breach by revoking access or isolating affected systems.
o The DSC will investigate the cause, scope, and impact of the breach.
o DSC will document findings in an incident report and recommend further action as needed.
5. Post-Incident Review
o The DSC should review each incident for lessons learned and recommend updates to policies, processes, or training.
K. Training & Awareness
o This policy references anonymization or data protection techniques without providing direct training modules; actual training will be conducted outside this policy.
o Annual refreshers on this Data Security Policy are recommended, with staff acknowledging their understanding in writing or via electronic signature.
1. Formation
o The Committee should include the Executive Director, CFO, Director of Technology & Data, and Directors from key departments.
2. Responsibilities
o Monitor compliance and approve any major changes to data security practices.
o Review vendor agreements and security audits.
o Perform incident response investigations and update policies accordingly.
o Convene at least semi-annually, or more often if required by incidents or technological changes.
M. Monitoring and Policy Review
o Annual Review: This policy must be reviewed every year or whenever major organizational or regulatory changes occur.
o Reporting: The DTD and the DSC should provide regular updates to Executive Leadership on policy adherence, data quality improvements, and any emerging risks.
N. Exceptions
o Requests for policy exceptions must be approved by the Data Security Committee and documented for audit purposes.
o Temporary exceptions should include an expiration date and follow-up review.
O. Conclusion
The VEA Data Security Policy outlines the roles, responsibilities, and procedures for managing and protecting member and staff data. Through consistent adherence to this framework, the organization aims to:
• Safeguard personal and confidential information.
• Maintain data quality for effective decision-making and legal compliance.
• Foster a culture of data awareness and accountability among staff. All staff are expected to read and comply with this policy. Questions regarding policy interpretation should be directed to the Director of Technology & Data or the Data Security Committee
All VEA employees and authorized users must acknowledge they have read, understood, and will comply with the Data Security Policy. A signed or electronic acknowledgement should be kept on file for each user
Document Owner: Director of Technology & Data (DTD)
Effective Date: [Date of Policy Adoption]
Last Review Date: [Date of Last Review]
Next Scheduled Review: [Date for Next Review]
To ensure the most efficient and effective service to the affiliates and members of the Virginia Education Association ("VEA"), and to manage the costs associated with data retention, VEA adopts this Document Retention Policy ("DRP" or "Policy"). This policy applies to all VEA staff and officers. It supersedes any previous policy or practice.
VEA’s documents are important to its proper functioning and may be of historical significance. They include virtually all of the materials produced by VEA employees and officers in electronic and paper forms. Items that may not otherwise seem important, such as interoffice emails, desktop calendars and printed memoranda, are documents that are considered important under this policy.
All VEA work must be performed on association devices and must be maintained on VEA property,at an authorized worklocation,orontheVEAnetwork.Except as specified in this policy, no employee is authorized to copy, download, print, transmit, or otherwise retain VEA documents in any location other than on VEA property, at an authorized work location, or on VEA’s network. If you are ever uncertain as to any procedures in this policy (e.g., what documents to retain or destroy, when, or how), you should seek answers from the executive director or their designee.
The goals of this policy are to:
• Retain important documents for reference and future use;
• Delete documents that are no longer necessary for the proper functioning of VEA;
• Organize important documents for efficient retrieval; and
• Ensure that you, as a VEA employee or officer, know what documents should be retained, thelengthoftheir retention,means of storage, and whenand howtheyshouldbedestroyed.
Federal and state laws require VEA to maintain certain types of documents for specific periods. These documents include legal documents (contracts, leases, and client files), VEA election documents, financial and reporting documents, job recruitment, hiring and employment documents. The required retention periods are in the attached schedule. Failure to maintain such documents could subject VEA to legal penalties and fines, and could seriously damage VEA’s position in future litigation, should that occur. Thus, it is imperative that you fully understand and comply with this Document Retention Policy and the schedules for retention and destruction.
“VEA network”: The VEA network includes the following hardware and services: Internet access from any VEA office, VPN access from any VEA device (no matter where the device is located or what internet access is used), physical VEA servers, VEA leased cloud servers, VEA third party leased services (such as, but not limited to, NEA360, Zoom, Microsoft 365), VEA purchased hardware, VEA funded cell phones, and VEA purchased software.
"Documents": means all materials created or received in the course of performing VEA work, including written and printed materials, electronic documents (i.e., emails and electronic user documents), and recorded audio or video files, whether digital or on tape. Covered electronic documents may be maintained on VEA’s electronic network and/or in an off-network provided by a vendor. All of VEA's documents, irrespective of where they are stored, shall be retained for a period no longer than necessary for the proper conduct and functioning of VEA.
All association documents fall into one of the following categories:
(a) Temporary Documents: A temporary document is any draft document related to an open or on-going project or matter. Temporary documents are not essential on a continuing and long-range basis to the operation of VEA. They do not have historical value and they are not subject to a legal retention requirement. The term includes, but is not limited to, memoranda and notes, reminders, to-do lists, draft reports, draft presentations, case studies, draft external or interoffice correspondence. Temporary documents should be destroyed or permanently deleted when the final document is ready or at the close of a project Staff should save a clearly marked copy of any important final document (whether hard copy, electronic, or both) in the appropriate location before deleting all temporary documents. In no event shall temporary documents be maintained for longer than 1 year after a project is closed or the date of the meeting at which they were presented
(b) Final Documents: Final documents are those that: (1) are not superseded by amended or modified drafts; and (2) may be important for reference or for other operational purposes for a period of time following the close of a project or matter. Except as provided on the attached schedule, final documents should be retained for no more than 5 years after a project is closed or the date of the meeting at which they are presented.
(c) Permanent Documents: Permanent Documents are documents necessary on a continuing and long-range basis for the maintenance or operation of VEA. Except as provided on the attached schedule, permanent documents should be maintained indefinitely.
(d) Historical Documents: Historical documents are those that are no longer operationally required and are not subject to retention on the attached schedule, but may be of interest to future researchers or academics. This is an extremely broad category of documents. Historical documents include anything that reflects the work and life of VEA as an organization, from campaign buttons to research reports, strategic plans to Delegate Assembly programs. Note that all historical documents are also permanent documents, but not all permanent documents are historical documents.
VEA may donate some of its historical documents. This is not a regular practice and is something that must be approved by the VEA president and executive director. Hard copy materials to be donated to any third party should be boxed and the box should be marked to describe general contents and the time period represented (ex: "Research Papers 20042006"). Digital donations have not occurred in the past but are possible. Digital donations should also be clearly marked and must be approved by the president and executive director. The president and executive director must review and approve all documents in any format before donation. Special care must be taken if materials include attorney work product or contain sensitive internal information or confidential member information.
5. Management of the policy:
To ensure compliance with this policy, the executive director has designated the Human Resource Manager as the designee who shall be responsible for the following oversight functions:
• Implementing this policy and conducting compliance audits;
• Ensuring that all employees and officers are educated on this policy, its purpose, and requirements;
• Responding to inquiries regarding retention and destruction of documents;
• Guiding staff and departments in the proper organization and storage of documents;
• Keeping VEA officers, directors, and staff apprised of any changes in this policy
Theexecutivedirectorwillannuallyreviewcompliancewiththispolicyand willcollaborate with VEAofficers andmanagers to recommendchanges necessaryto meet identifiedneeds. In addition, the executive director’s designee will schedule at least one Document Maintenance Day each year to allow all VEA staff and officers to dedicate time to preserve and discard paper and electronic documents in accordance with this policy.
6. Destruction/Deletion
(a) Hard Copy - Staff and officers are responsible for reviewing and discarding paper documents
in accordance with this policy and its retention periods. Paper documents containing sensitive or confidential information, including any individual member information, must be shredded, or put in a designated container/holding area to await shredding. Hard copy materials and other objects stored off-site are also covered by this policy and should be discarded when they are past their retention periods.
(b) Email – The Executive Director’s designee shall schedule one day in June 2025 and another day in July or August 2025, if necessary, for VEA staff to review, sort, file and/or retain their emails. Beginning September 1, 2025, all VEA email will be retained for only 12 months (365 days). No network user may retain email on the VEA network for longer than 12 months without approval of the executive director or designee. The deletion of emails older than 365 days will occur automatically each night Automatic deletion will applytoallfoldersandall directorieswithintheOutlooksystem. Savingemailinindividual Outlook folders will not preserve it beyond the prescribed time Note: All VEA email communications should be conducted on VEA’s email system. Use of non-VEA email accounts for conducting VEA business or creating or storing unique work documents outside of the VEA system is prohibited. Using personal email accounts or devices for work related activities could, in the event of subpoena or litigation, subject those personal email accounts and devices to invasive and costly discovery. On or after September 1, 2026, the Executive Director’s designee will review the email retention schedule to determine whether a shorter retention period is appropriate.
Staff and officers will be provided instructions on how to preserve, outside the Outlook system, Outlook email and/orattachments forthe retention periods in the attachedschedule. Staffandofficers will no longerbepermitted to "archive"email to anylocation.All existing "archived" email files (ie PST files) will be deleted from VEA's servers on or after January 1, 2026 and will be periodically deleted going forward. All emails and attachments subject to retention requirements must be preserved on the Outlook system in accordance with instructions provided or printed and preserved in a hard-copy file. Any questions regarding the preservation process for email or other electronic files should be directed to the technology/network specialist.
(c) Electronic "User Files" - Each VEA employee and officer has access to electronic document storage on an individual "C" drives. In addition, there are shared network drives where documents may be saved. Staff may also have saved documents to approved collaboration sites such as VEA’s OneDrive and VEA/NEA managed secure FTP/Cloud storage locations such as VEA Filebox Any other file collaboration and/or sharing site, such as Dropbox, Google Docs, and Google Drive are not approved for maintaining VEA files or data by VEA staff or officers. All files and data should be migrated off those or any other non-VEA cloud/ftp storage sites and onto an appropriate location on the VEA network by September 1, 2025
Every VEA employee and officer is responsible for maintaining their documents and materials in a manner consistent with this policy both on the VEA network and all approved collaboration sites. Except as set forth in the attached schedule, each department or shared user group may determine which Final Documents should be stored on the shared ("O") drive, in other areas of the VEA system, and/or in other approved secure FTP/Cloud storage location, and for what time period, so long as the retention period complies with this policy.
(d) Voicemails – The system automatically deletes voicemail messages that are more than 30 days old. However, voicemail messages automatically generate an email to the recipient; those emails will be purged consistent with the email purge schedule.
(e) Text Messages - Each VEA employee and officer is responsible for manually deleting VEA work related text messages older than 1 year (365 days) from their VEA issued devices; that function can also be automatically set. All text messages related to VEA work should be sent or received via a device issued by VEA Text messages related to VEA work that are sent or received on personal devices could, in the event of subpoena or litigation, subject those personal devices to invasive and costly discovery.
(f) Back Up – VEA operates a back-up system in an off-site data center as part of its disaster recovery plan. Going forward, VEA will retain no more than 90 days of back-up data. Requests to retrieve data and/or documents that are lost or corrupted must be made within 90 days of the loss/corruption. VEA will not have the ability to retrieve materials that have been lost or corrupted more than 90 days before a request is made.
7. Litigation Hold: A "litigation hold" notice issued by VEA’s General Counsel and VEA management supersedes this policy and halts ordinary document destruction practices for all documents covered by the hold. A litigation hold requires the indefinite retention of all hard copy, electronic, digital, audio, and video documents and materials related to a specific legal matter. Affected staff and officers will receive notice on a case-by-case basis of any litigation holds. It is the responsibility of each employee or officer to ensure that any hard copy and electronic documents and materials in their possession that are subject to a litigation hold are preserved. Email preservation for accounts subject to "litigation holds" will be centrally managed using a specialized software. The "litigation hold" retention is accomplished in cooperation with VEA attorneys. If you have not been notified of a litigation hold but for any reason you believe that you are in possession of documents related to a legal matter that is the subject of anticipated or current litigation, you must preserve relevant materials and promptly contact VEA’s General Counsel.
8. Legally required retention periods: Some documents must be maintained for specific periods set out in state or federal statute or regulation. Where legal retention periods apply, that is noted on the attached schedule.
History:
Adopted January 18, 2025
Collective bargaining agreements (Manager, VPSA and VASO) and Memoranda of Agreement/Understanding (Manager, VPSA and VASO)
legal files (suits/claims initiated by or against VEA)
Delegate assembly materials: final list of registrants; record of elections held; election results; copy of program; constitutional amendments submitted; results of voting on amendments; new business items and results; budget as approved by DA; minutes from previous year DA as approved; legislative program, final as approved; copy of NEA Fund contributions collected; result of NEA RA statewide delegate elections; Teacher of the Year winner (included in DA minutes); ESP of the Year winner (included in DA minutes); Special Recognition or Award winners (included in DA minutes); photos of special honors and others
Presidents, notes of
(move expired contracts to "Historic" drive)
6 years after date of final resolution for full file; may keep Pleadings, Final Orders/Judgments permanently if of historical significance
Legal Division drive; identified permanent files to Historic drive
Executive office files/Executive drive (current versions always maintained on All Share drive)
office files/Executive drive/VEA website Historic drive (as each is superceded)
Executive drive (move meeting recordings from the cloud to the appropriate folder and delete on the original source); also delete materials from BoardPro every 3 years
Executive drive; VEA website (last 5 years only);
Current and former employee personnel records, including copy of job posting and job description, initial application, resume, interview documents and notes, record of reference check, background check, written offer including initial salary placement and supporting documents, any individual written employment contract, requests for accommodation, documents regarding promotion, demotion, transfer, layoff, termination, discipline, written separation agreement (if any), payout upon termination of employment and supporting documents (if any); former employee records will include documentation re: the reason for terminating employment
Employment advertisements, applications, external job postings, resumes, cover letters, test scores, interview records, reference checks, etc.
Eligiblity Verification Form (I-9) and any photocopies of verification documents
years after the date
1 year after date of resulting hire (for unsuccessful candidates; hired employees same as personnel file retention)
or
Member legal services files and record of denied legal services requests (ULSP, ELL, and other)
Member online training records
Teams meeting recordings including chats
Zoom meeting recordings including chats
Department responsible for retention/destruction Period of retention
Law, regulation, policy or practice governing retention period Digital, hard copy or both? Physical location/digital location
8.01-243 (physical injury
2 year after age of majority; sex abuse 20 years after age of majority); 8.01249(mental injury 2 years after discovery) Both
Technology/Teams administrator 30 days after date of meeting Best practice Digital only
Technology/Zoom administrator 30 days after date of meeting Best practice Digital only
UD notes/files re: consultation with or advocacy for members on employment related issues (Member files in which legal is involved should be transferred to the legal department when an attorney is assigned) OAS office & Legal Services
6 years after matter concluded if no legal case results; should be transferred to legal and included in the case file if legal representation is necessary Best practice Both
Physical location is Legal Services; digital location is Legal drive
Maintain on Teams cloud, not on individual devices
Maintain on Zoom cloud, not on individual devices
Hard copy with each UD; digital on VEA individual assigned network drive; Legal Division if member receives legal services
This policy outlines the Virginia Education Association's (VEA) event security protocols, which are designed to ensure smooth registration, accurate membership verification, and a secure environment for all attendees. These guidelines apply to all VEA events and are mandatory for member and non-member participants.
Registration Procedures
• Member Registration
o Online Registration Process
▪ Members must register through Cvent or VEA Forms
▪ Registration status remains pending until membership is verified
o Membership Verification
▪ Staff verifies membership through the NEA 360 database
▪ Upon verification, members receive an approval email
▪ If verification fails, staff will:
• Contact the registrant directly
• Consult the UniServ office if the registrant cannot be reached
o Common Membership Record Issues
▪ Name changes
▪ Division changes
▪ Other discrepancies
• Non-Member Registration
o Online Registration Process\
▪ Registration is available through Cvent or VEA Forms
• Required Information
o School Division or Organization Affiliation
o Classification/Job Title
o Email
o Phone number
o Conference awareness source
o Interest in VEA membership
• Verification Process
o Staff verifies affiliation through available online resources
o Registration denied without successful verification
o Pending status until affiliation is verified
On-Site Security Procedures
▪ Check-In Requirements
o Registration Desk
▪ All attendees must check in at the registration desk
▪ Name badges are mandatory for all participants
• Name Badge Specifications
• Individual session details printed on the reverse
• Membership number included on the reverse
• Required for access to all sessions
• Security Measures
• Door Monitoring
▪ Event planner coordinates with the venue on security protocols
▪ Continuous monitoring during all sessions
▪ Badge verification at entry points
▪ Badge Compliance
▪ Staff monitors all areas for badge display
▪ Pre-event communications remind attendees of badge requirements
▪ Badges must remain visible and secure throughout the event
▪ Remind attendees to remove badges when not at the event (public areas, restaurants, etc.)
▪ Policy Enforcement
▪ All staff members are responsible for implementing these security measures
▪ Compliance is mandatory for continued event participation
▪ Security protocols are subject to review and modification based on event requirements
Has THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT provided sufficient financial information to demonstrate the ability to pay ‐ and sustain ‐ the anticipated total compensation costs beyond the amount of the NEA UniServ Grant(s)?
Has THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT verified in writing that they will comply with the NEA UniServ Guidelines, including but not limited to the following:
1. NEA will prepare a Local Option UniServ Unit End‐of‐Year Financial Review Form that indicates, by purpose and amount, how UniServ Program funding received from NEA was expended during the Program Year. The completed form will be signed by the president of the local affiliate or chairperson of the local option UniServ council, and a copy submitted to NEA and the state affiliate not later than sixty (60) days after the end of the Program Year;
2. NEA and the state affiliate will have the right, upon reasonable notice, to examine the financial books and records of a local option UniServ unit; and
3. A local option UniServ unit will reflect the involvement of NEA and the state affiliate in all program‐related documents and publicity.
Does THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT have a written, Board approved Personnel Policy addressing:
Hiring, Due Process and Termination
Equal Employment Opportunity
Supervision, Training and Evaluation
Staff Job Descriptions (required for UniServ staff)
Compensation & Benefits
Policy of Non‐Interference in Governance Elections
Conflict of Interest
Whistle Blower Protection
Travel Expense Reimbursement
Work Rules
Does THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT demonstrate strong fiscal stewardship by having written, Board approved policies on best financial practices, including:
Budget Development and Transparency
Member Travel Expenses
Payment of Bills
Investment of Funds
Financial Reporting
Annual Audit
Payment of Stipends
Guidelines for Memorials
Gifts Purchased for Association or Non‐Association Members
Filing of Annual Tax Returns
Loans to Officers and Members
Annual Training for Treasurer & Membership Chair
Whistleblower Policy for Association Members
Fraud
Document Retention
Does THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT have a neutrality policy should their staff seek unionization?
Will THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT allow and encourage UniServ staff to attend State Affiliate staff meetings and trainings?
Will THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT UniServ staff attend NEA Foundations Academy (required for new staff)?
Will THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT staff be encouraged and allowed to attend future NEA staff training opportunities?
Will THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT report to the state affiliate the information required for NEA UniServ Grant reporting (names, contact information, hire and termination dates, demographics)?
Will THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT staff be available for shared staffing requests from NEA?
Does THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT acknowledge the requirements in the NEA UniServ Guidelines that grant funding is paused for vacancies of more than 90 days?
State Affiliate Requirements for Local Option Units
Develop a Dispute Resolution Procedure as required under UniServ Guidelines
Establish a funding formula for the allocation of UniServ grants to THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT, in accord with the State Affiliate’s UniServ Guidelines
Transmit appropriate number of NEA UniServ Grants to THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT on a quarterly basis (provided the positions are filled in accord with the NEA Guidelines)
Report staff names, contact information, hire and termination dates and demographics to NEA through UniServ Grant Portal
Add THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT UniServ Directors to existing communication platforms
Add THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT UniServ Directors to NEA360 and provided training as needed
Invite and welcome THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT UniServ staff to state UniServ staff trainings and staff meetings
Invite THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT UniServ staff to participate in NEA Shared Staffing opportunities, with the approval of their manager
Ensure State Affiliate/THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT Reconciliation process is continued
Establish dues transmittal schedule either from the local option to the state affiliate or vice versa
Reporting requirement deadlines for state representative assembly and national representative assembly
Ensure the State Affiliate UniServ Guidelines reflect the local option status
Develop an MOU between THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT and the State Affiliate to ensure that the State Affiliate and THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT responsibilities are mutually understood and maintained, including but not limited to:
o That policies of the state affiliate regarding the relationship between a local option UniServ unit and the state affiliate that are in effect as of the effective date of the UniServ Program Guidelines, and that are in compliance with the Guidelines, may, at the option of the state affiliate, remain in effect.
o That the state affiliate and THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT will, at the request of either party, meet to discuss the operation of the local option UniServ unit. If a dispute arises between the state affiliate and the local affiliate or local option UniServ council as to the operation of the local option UniServ unit, including a dispute as to whether the UniServ Program Guidelines and/or legal requirements are being complied with, either party may submit the dispute to the Dispute Resolution Procedure set forth in Section XVIII of the NEA UniServ Guidelines.
o That NEA will have no direct contractual relationship regarding THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT or its UniServ employees. All of the contractual rights and obligations that NEA may have with regard to local option UniServ units will be set forth in the UniServ Program Administrative Agreement between NEA and the state affiliate, and all financial transactions involving THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT, including the transmission of UniServ grant payments, will be through the state affiliate.
o That THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT is encouraged, but not required, to include a state affiliate UniServ manager as a non‐voting member of any interview teams screening applicants for local option UniServ staff positions. The purpose of this provision is to provide experience and expertise in human resources and in the expectations and experience necessary for success; and to assist THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT in complying with applicable employment law.
o That, except as otherwise may be necessary to comply with the NEA UniServ Program Guidelines, all aspects of the relationship between A LOCAL OPTION UNIT and the state affiliate will be determined by the state affiliate and THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT.
In all other respects, the State Affiliate will provide support and assistance to THE LOCAL OPTION UNIT consistent with the support and assistance provided to locals in State UniServ Units.
A. 1. Unless changed in accordance with Section IX (A)(2), all UniServ units that were designated as local option UniServ units for the 2007-08 Program Year will continue to be designated as local option UniServ units.
2. A local option UniServ unit may convert to a state option UniServ unit, a state option UniServ unit may convert to a local option UniServ unit, and a new local option unit may be established, as of the beginning of a Program Year, only if agreed to by the state affiliate and the local affiliate or local option UniServ council involved prior to June 1 of the preceding Program Year.
B. A local option UniServ unit will in all respects comply with the UniServ Program Guidelines, except to the extent that a provision is inapplicable by context or as provided below:
1. NEA will prepare a Local Option UniServ Unit End-of-Year Financial Review Form that indicates, by purpose and amount, how UniServ Program funding received from NEA and (if applicable) the state affiliate was expended during the Program Year. The completed form will be signed by the president of the local affiliate or chairperson of the local option UniServ council, and a copy submitted to NEA and the state affiliate not later than sixty (60) days after the end of the Program Year;
2. NEA and the state affiliate will have the right, upon reasonable notice, to examine the financial books and records of a local option UniServ unit; and
3. A local option UniServ unit will reflect the involvement of NEA and the state affiliate in all program-related documents and publicity.
C. 1. a. Except as otherwise may be necessary to comply with the UniServ Program Guidelines, including Sections II(D) and IX(C)(2), or as provided in Section IX(C)(1)(b), all aspects of the relationship between a local option UniServ unit and the state affiliate will be determined by the state affiliate and the local affiliate or local option UniServ council.
b. Policies of the state affiliate regarding the relationship between a local option UniServ unit and the state affiliate that are in effect as of the effective date of the UniServ Program Guidelines, and that are in compliance with the Guidelines, may, at the option of the state affiliate, remain in effect.
2. The state affiliate and the local affiliate or local option UniServ council will, at the request of either party, meet to discuss the operation of the local option UniServ unit. If a dispute arises between the state affiliate and the local affiliate or local option UniServ council as to the operation of the local option UniServ unit, including a dispute as to whether the UniServ Program Guidelines and/or legal requirements are being complied with, either party may submit the dispute to the Dispute Resolution Procedure set forth in Section XVIII.
D. NEA will have no direct contractual relationship regarding local option UniServ units with local affiliates or local option UniServ councils. All of the contractual rights and obligations that NEA may have with regard to local option UniServ units will be set forth in the UniServ Program Administrative Agreement between NEA and the state affiliate, and all financial transactions
involving local option UniServ units, including the transmission of UniServ grant payments, will be through the state affiliate.
E. Local option UniServ units are encouraged, but not required, to include a state affiliate UniServ manager as a non-voting member of any interview teams screening applicants for local option UniServ staff positions. The purpose of this provision is to provide experience and expertise in human resources and in the expectations and experience necessary for success; and to assist the local option UniServ unit in complying with applicable employment law.
NOTE: A complete copy of the NEA UniServ Guidelines are available from a State Affiliate UniServ Manager or from the NEA Center for Organizing and Affiliate Support.
The VEAPublic Relations Campaign Fund (hereafter, “Fund” or “PR Fund”) was established in 1996 to support strategic communication initiatives and brand-building efforts that advance the Virginia EducationAssociation's mission of advocating for educators, improving public education, and promoting the professional interests of Virginia's education workforce.
The Fund serves a dual purpose: to provide for the ongoing funding of essential visibility and brandbuilding initiatives while also allowing for a reserve fund that is quickly accessible to respond to unforeseen rapid response efforts. For that reason, the Fund is permitted to accumulate funds year after year and does not need to be spent down in any specific fiscal year. The Executive Committee is responsible for balancing these dual purposes and allocating funds as necessary.
• State-Level FundAdministration
o The VEAExecutive Committee shall be responsible for overall fund management
o The Executive Committee shall seek the input of the Executive Director and Communications Director before making significant decisions on fund allocation.
o An annual budget for the regular and ongoing use of the PR Fund will be approved by the VEAExecutive Committee as part of the annual budgeting process.
o Any use of the PR Fund outside of the pre-approved uses shall be subject to the approval of the VEAExecutive Committee.
• Local/Regional Campaign FundAdministration
o Any Region or Local may apply directly to VEAfor access to funding from the PR Fund to run a local or regional campaign that aligns with the overall purpose of the PR Fund.
o The VEAExecutive Committee holds sole authority to grant these requests following the Criteria listed below
Local or Regions wishing to apply must be in good financial and governance standing with the VEA, This includes, but is not limited to:
• Current on VEAand NEAdues
• Current compliance with all USAC Guidelines
• Current on any other grant reporting due to VEA
ALocal or Region wishing to apply for funds must submit a proposal to the VEACommunications Director.
Proposals must include:
• Specific communication objectives
• Target audience (educators, policymakers, public)
• An itemized estimated budget
• Expected outcomes with measurable metrics
• How Local/Regional intends to collaborate with VEAstaff
• Alignment with VEAstrategic priorities
Note: The PR Fund is not intended for use in express membership solicitation, and no requests will be granted for such use.Additionally, no funds may be used for personal benefit.
Review andApproval
Proposals will be evaluated by a review committee comprising:
• VEAExecutive Committee
• Communications Director (Advisory only)
• VEAExecutive Director (Advisory only)
Decisions will be made based on the following:
• Strategic alignment with VEAgoals
• Potential impact on educators and public education
• Budget efficiency
• Innovative approach to advocacy
Reporting and Evaluation
• Post-campaign reports must be submitted to the Communications Director within 60 days of campaign completion
• Reports shall include, but are not limited to:
• Actual expenditures
• Media coverage and reach
• Member engagement metrics
• Policy or public perception impacts
Fund Request Requirement Details
Application Requirements
• Completed VEACampaign Fund Request Form
• Detailed project proposal
• Projected budget breakdown
• Expected local and statewide impact
• Alignment with VEAcommunication and advocacy strategy
Funding Limits
• Maximum request: $10,000 per fiscal year
• Minimum request: $1,000
• Local/regions must demonstrate local member support or matching funds
Application Timeline
Fund requests accepted biannually:
• October 1
• March 1
Decisions are communicated within 30 days of the submission deadline
Evaluation Criteria
Requests will be scored on:
• Alignment with VEAadvocacy priorities (30 points)
• Potential impact on local educators and public education (25 points)
• Community and member engagement strategy (20 points)
• Budget efficiency (15 points)
• Innovative approach to communication (10 points)
Appeals of unsuccessful requests
• If the Executive Committee votes to deny a funding request, the potential grantee may appeal the decision to the full VEABoard of Directors in writing no more than 30 days after the issuance of a denial. The Board of Directors shall make a final determination
Reporting and Compliance
Successful applicants must:
• Submit a comprehensive impact report within 60 days after project completion.
• Provide detailed financial records.
• Share campaign materials and outcomes with VEACommunications.
• Return any unused funds to the PR Fund.
Consequences for non-compliance:
• Ineligibility for future fund requests
Specific FocusAreas
Acceptable campaign topics include, but are not limited to:
• Public education funding advocacy
• Teacher professional development
• Education policy awareness
• Community support for public educators
• Legislative advocacy
• Professional rights and working conditions
Transparency and Ethics
• All fund allocations will be documented and subject to annual audit
• Funds may not be used for express membership campaigns.
• No funds may be used for personal benefit
VEA’s Bylaw Section 8.4 states: “The Union’s Board of Directors must approve by two-thirds (2/3) vote any merger or reverse of an affiliate. To initiate such action, an affiliate must file a written application which must comply with VEA merger guidelines and detail the merger or reverse merger plan, its reasons, and its anticipated impact on all existing members of the local affiliate. The Board shall not approve a merger or reverse merger unless the plan meets the minimum standards for new affiliates.” In accordance with this Bylaw, the Board of Directors approves the following Guidelines:
For purposes of these Guidelines, the following definitions apply:
A. “Dual-national local affiliate” means a local affiliate of NEA that also is a local affiliate of AFT.
B. “Merged Local Affiliate” means an organization that results from the merger of a VEA local affiliate with one or more other VEA local affiliates.
C. “VEA or Union” means the Virginia Education Association.
The VEA Board of Directors will review affiliate requests for merger or reverse merger on a case-by-case basis. The VEA Board of Directors shall consider, among other factors
(1) The impact of the merger plan on the financial and programmatic operations of VEA and NEA,
(2) The impact of the merger plan on the achievement of VEA's strategic objectives,
(3) The reason(s) for the proposed merger,
(4) The anticipated impact of the merger on all existing members of VEA’s local affiliate(s),
(5) Whether the merger meets the minimum standards for new VEA affiliates; and
(6) Whether NEA finds that the merger meets the minimum requirements of NEA’s bylaws.
A. VEA local affiliate(s) that plan to merge shall notify the VEA Board of Directors of its intent to submit an Application for Affiliation as either a dual-national local affiliate or merged local affiliate at least 24 months before the start of the initial membership year (beginning September 1) in which it seeks to have the affiliation relationship begin and shall submit an Application for Affiliation on behalf of the merged organization at least 18 months before the start of the initial membership year. The VEA local affiliate(s) or proposed merged organization shall submit the following documents in support of its Application for Affiliation:
1. The governing documents (i.e., constitution, bylaws, and articles of incorporation (if applicable)) of each VEA local or organization that is participating in the proposed merger.
2. The governing documents (i.e., constitution, bylaws, and articles of incorporation) of the merged organization, which must be compatible with VEA’s governing documents and require membership in the local, VEA, and NEA for all of the merged affiliate’s members who are eligible for such membership and which must require, as a condition of membership, that members state in writing that they will adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession and the VEA Code of Member and Affiliate Professional Conduct.
3. The merger agreement, the merger plan, and any other agreements or documents dealing with the transition period.
4. A policy, approved by the merged affiliate, governing the election of officers of the merged affiliate.
5. A policy, approved by the merged affiliate, that is consistent with Section VII below, governing the election of delegates for VEA’s Delegate Assembly.
6. A policy governing the merged local’s participation in a VEA District or Region as well as proof that a majority of the elected officials for the appropriate VEA District or Region approved the plan or procedure.
7. All election policies or guidelines of the merged local must apply the one-member one vote principal, open nominations, and secret ballots for representation on the merged local’s governing body and elected delegations as well as strive for proportionate ethnic, racial, and occupational diversity.
8. A membership growth plan as well as a statement explaining how the merged organization will comply with VEA’s UniServ Guidelines and a proposal for how NEA and VEA, along with AFT, will share in any associated expenses. In reviewing that proposal, the VEA Board will consult with the NEA to ensure the proposal complies with NEA’s UniServ program requirements and guidelines.
9. A proposal explaining how NEA and VEA, along with AFT, will share in the expenses of enforcing any collectively bargained agreement in effect at the time of the merger and any agreement negotiated after the merger, and in pursuing any legal action on behalf of the merged affiliate, including but not limited to legal claims eligible for reimbursement under the National Education Association Kate Frank/DuShane Unified Legal Services Program and eligible for reimbursement under any analogous AFT program. In reviewing that proposal, the VEA Board will consult with the NEA to ensure the proposal complies with NEA’s ULSP program requirements.
10. A proposal explaining how NEA and VEA, along with AFT, will share in the expense of providing liability insurance to members of the merged affiliate, including but not necessarily limited to that available through NEA’s Educators Employment Liability Program and AFT’s Occupational Liability Insurance Plan. In reviewing that proposal, the VEA Board will consult with the NEA to ensure the proposal complies with NEA’s EELP requirements.
11. A list of assets for each VEA local and organization that plans to participate in the merger and a statement describing how those assets will be maintained or divided as a result of the proposed merger.
12. An end-of-year audit conducted by an independent certified public accounting firm in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards (including the auditor's opinion letter and the financial statement and footnotes thereto) for the last complete fiscal year for the VEA local affiliate(s) and/or its counterpart AFT local affiliate.
13. The projected budget for the merged organization's first year of operation as a merged affiliate.
14. An agreement, signed by an authorized agent of both entities proposing to merge into a dual-national local affiliate, stating that
the merged affiliate shall maintain its affiliation with NEA, AFT, VEA, and an AFT Virginia affiliate if one is formed, and further stating that if the merged affiliate subsequently wishes to disaffiliate from one entity, it must disaffiliate from all absent written agreement by NEA, AFT, VEA, and an AFT Virginia affiliate if one is formed.
15. An agreement, signed by both merging entities acknowledging that the merged affiliate will use the NEA 360 platform for data and portal system for membership enrollment and payment.
16. A document to demonstrate that the creation of the merged organization has been approved by at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of (a) the delegate assembly or membership of each VEA local affiliate that seek to merge; and (b) the delegate assembly (or equivalent governing body) or membership of the counterpart AFT local, if applicable.
B. The VEA Board of Directors shall act on the Application for Affiliation in accordance with VEA Bylaws 8-4, provided that the Board of Directors shall not approve an Application for Affiliation as a merged affiliate unless the affiliate agrees to comply with all of the applicable affiliation requirements set forth in the VEA and NEA Constitutions, Bylaws, and other policies.
C. Prior to affiliating a dual-national local affiliate, the Board of Directors shall obtain such assurances as it deems necessary with regard to (1) the marketing of the programs of the NEA Member Benefits Corporation and the NEA Members Insurance Trust to NEA members of the dual-national local affiliate, and (2) the collection of NEA and VEA political action contributions from VEA members of the merged affiliate.
D. The effective date of affiliation for all merged affiliates shall be September 1.
E. If the VEA Board of Directors rejects the merger plan and Application for Affiliation, it shall generally state the basis for such rejection in the minutes of the meeting when final action is taken
F. A merged affiliate shall report its progress in implementing its merger and membership growth plans, and any election of officers, to the VEA Executive Committee at its summer meeting during the first five membership years after the effective date of the merger.
In general, and to the extent permitted by the VEA and NEA bylaws, members’ dues and the financial relationship between the dual-national local affiliate shall be based on the proportion of members in the merged affiliate that belonged to each merging entity at the end of the membership year preceding the effective date of the merger.
A. Members of a dual-national local affiliate shall maintain membership in NEA, AFT, VEA, and an AFT state affiliate if one is formed. The total combined national dues that such members pay shall be not less than the NEA dues for the relevant membership category. If a member of a dual-national local affiliate is a member of NEA and AFT, said member's total combined national dues shall be allocated between NEA and AFT in a manner that reflects the comparative number of members in the relevant membership category who were eligible for NEA membership in the respective NEA and AFT affiliates during the membership year immediately preceding the effective date of merger (hereinafter “allocation percentage”), provided that NEA shall not receive more from any member than the amount produced by applying the allocation percentage to the NEA dues for the relevant membership category.
B. A dual-national local affiliate should be financially self-sufficient, and, except as otherwise provided in these Guidelines, shall not be eligible to receive any financial assistance that is not generally available to other VEA local affiliates. By the same token, a dual-national local affiliate shall be eligible to receive VEA and NEA financial assistance in nonmerger related situations on the same basis as other VEA local affiliates.
C. The method of dues allocation set forth in Section A above shall not apply in the following two situations:
1. If a member of a dual-national local affiliate that is newly- created and does not result from the merger of a VEA local affiliate and an AFT local affiliate, VEA and NEA shall receive one-half (1/2) of said member's total combined state and national dues, respectively, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the VEA and NEA dues for the relevant membership category; and
2. For the first five (5) membership years following the affiliation of a dual-national state affiliate, if the number of members of a dualnational local affiliate who are eligible for NEA membership in any membership year exceeds by more than three percent (3%) the number of members who were eligible for NEA membership during the immediately preceding membership year, NEA shall receive one-half (1/2) of the total combined national dues of such excess members, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the NEA dues for the relevant membership category. Beginning with the sixth (6th)
membership year following affiliation, the three percent (3%) proviso shall be eliminated, and if the number of members of a dual-national local affiliate who are eligible for NEA membership in any membership year exceeds the number of members who were eligible for NEA membership during the immediately preceding membership year, NEA shall receive one-half (1/2) of the total combined national dues of all such excess members, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the NEA dues for the relevant membership category.
D. State dues will be approved by the VEA Board in accordance with VEA’s bylaws.
The services that VEA and NEA provides to a dual-national local affiliate shall reflect the fact that total combined national dues of the members of such an affiliate are allocated between NEA and AFT. The VEA Board of Directors shall enter into a mutually-acceptable servicing arrangement with each dual-national local affiliate that protects VEA’s and NEA's financial and programmatic interests, and does not place a dual-national local affiliate in a favored financial position as opposed to other VEA local affiliates. Although the aforesaid servicing arrangements may be tailored to accommodate the circumstances in particular locals, these arrangements shall be as uniform as possible.
A. The members of a dual-national local affiliate shall have the same rights to seek and hold VEA office, nominate candidates for VEA office, and vote for candidates for VEA office as similarly situated members of other VEA local affiliates.
B. The allocation percentage discussed above will be used to allocate Delegate Assembly credentials to VEA members in a dual-national local affiliate shall be proportionately adjusted to reflect the reduced NEA dues paid by such members. The Board will revisit this allocation no earlier than three years after the merger takes effect to consider whether altering the allocation is in the best interests of the merged affiliate and VEA.
C. The allocation percentage will be used to determine the entitlement to representation on the VEA Board of Directors for VEA Active members in a dual-national local affiliate. The Board will revisit this allocation no earlier than three years after the merger takes effect to consider whether altering the allocation is in the best interests of the merged affiliate and VEA.
Whether a dual-national local affiliate has an affiliation or other relationship with AFL-CIO at the local level, and, if so, the nature of that relationship, shall be determined by the merged dual affiliate. Any financial obligations that may be incurred by a dual-national local affiliate as a result of such a relationship shall be the sole responsibility of the dual-national local affiliate, and shall have no bearing, financial or otherwise, on the affiliate's relationship with VEA.
If a VEA local affiliate, a merged organization, or a dual-national local affiliate believes that these Guidelines have been misinterpreted or misapplied, it may file a complaint with the VEA’s PR&R Commission. The challenging party shall be entitled to a full and fair opportunity to present its position to the PR&R Commission and the PR&R Commission Committee shall thereafter issue a decision resolving the complaint in accordance with its due process procedures.
A. These Guidelines must be adopted by majority vote of the VEA Board of Directors.
B. The VEA Board of Directors shall be responsible for implementing these Guidelines, and may adopt rules and/or take such other actions as it deems necessary to properly carry out this responsibility.
C. The Board of Directors may amend these Guidelines as it deems appropriate from time to time. If an amendment to the VEA Constitution and/or Bylaws is necessary in order to implement an amendment to these Guidelines, the latter amendment shall not become effective until the necessary amendment to the Constitution and/or Bylaws is adopted by the Delegate Assembly.
Computing resources owned and operated by the Virginia Education Association (VEA) are provided to support the activities of the Association in pursuit of its mission, and the use of these resources is a privilege that is extended to staff and VEA guests. As a user of these services and equipment, you may have access to valuable Association resources, to sensitive data and to internal and external networks on behalf of VEA. Consequently, it is important for you to behave in a responsible, ethical, and legal manner. This document establishes specific requirements for the use of all computing and network resources owned and operated by the VEA.
This policy applies to all users of computing resources owned or managed by the Virginia Education Association. Individuals covered by the policy include (but are not limited to) VEA staff, guests, member leaders, volunteers, and contractors (“Users”)
Computing resources include all VEA owned, licensed, or managed hardware, software, and technology services and use of the Association network via a physical or wireless connection, regardless of the ownership of the computer or device connected to the network.
These policies apply to technology provided by VEA, to personally owned computers and devices connected by wire or wireless to the Association network, and to off-site VEA-owned computers that connect remotely to the Association’s network services.
While the Virginia Education Association desires to provide a reasonable level of privacy, users should be aware that the data they create, including email messages, stored files, and/or data within Association systems or services remain the property of the VEA. Because of the need to protect the VEA’s network, management cannot guarantee the confidentiality of users’ personal information stored on any network device belonging to VEA.
Users must exercise good judgment when it comes to personal use and know that for security purposes, authorized Association individuals may monitor equipment, data or systems.
The Association reserves the right to audit networks and systems on a periodic basis to ensure policy compliance.
We expect users to take reasonable care of and protect the Association’s equipment. “Association equipment” includes VEA-issued phones, laptops, desktops, projectors, tablets and any other equipment assigned or loaned by VEA. If you experience problems with the equipment assigned to you or the equipment becomes damaged, you must contact VEA IT as soon as the issue is recognized.
Anyone using a non-Association-owned computer who wishes to access the VEA’s network or internet services must be using up-to-date security software and be willing to have their system inspected for the purpose of ensuring the software is installed and active. To ensure security, access approval is at the sole discretion of VEA IT.
You are responsible for the security of data, accounts, and systems under your control. Keep passwords secure and do not share account or password information with anyone, including other personnel, family, or friends. Providing access to another individual (other than VEA IT), either deliberately or through failure to secure its access, is a violation of this policy.
Strong passwords that conform to VEA’s current password standards must be used to access VEA computers, systems, or services and when signing up for non-VEA services used for Association business. VEA-issued mobile devices and personal mobile devices accessing VEA wireless networks or utilizing VEA services must utilize a PIN, password, or other security method to prevent unauthorized access to the device.
All VEA issued laptops and computers will have software installed to protect against viruses and malware. Uninstalling, disabling, or otherwise circumventing this software is prohibited.
Users have a responsibility to promptly report the theft, loss, or unauthorized disclosure of Association equipment or proprietary information to their manager and VEA IT.
VEA e-mail accounts (@veanea.org) are only provided to VEA staff for the purposes of Associationrelated work. All e-mail should be considered public and should not contain any content that would be considered pornographic, harassing, or illegal under any relevant laws. Use of the VEA e-mail system constitutes consent to have any email sent or received monitored.
Use of the Association email system should be reserved for communications related to Association business. Users are discouraged from using their Association account as a personal address.
Email is an insecure method of communication; therefore, information that is considered confidential or proprietary to the VEA may not be sent via email, regardless of the recipient, without proper encryption. VEA will provide the appropriate tools necessary to encrypt email messages.
To protect against Phishing, Spam, Identity Theft and Viruses, email users are expected to review all messages carefully, including sender address and content, and not to open unexpected attachments from unknown or even known senders, nor follow web links within an email message unless the user is certain that the link is legitimate. Forms sent via email from an unknown sender should never be filled out by following a link. Suspicious messages should be reported to VEA IT.
Each individual granted access to data and hard copy information holds a position of trust and must diligently preserve the security and confidentiality of the information he or she uses. Users of VEA data and information are required to abide by all applicable Federal and State guidelines and VEA policies regarding confidentiality of data.
Any individual with authorized access to the Virginia Education Association’s computer information system, records or files is given access to use the Association’s data or files solely for the business of the Association and must not divulge this information outside of the Association except for approved
business requirements such as procurement of insurance and financial/banking requirements. Specifically, with respect to Member records or information, individuals must:
1. Access data solely in order to perform his/her job responsibilities.
2. Not store documents containing personally identifiable information (PII) on their laptop or desktop computers, tablets or other mobile devices.
3. Use secure, traceable methods such as encrypted email and/or SFTP sites to transfer member data to outside parties.
4. Not seek personal benefit or permit others to benefit personally from any data that has come to him/her throughout their work assignments.
5. Not make or permit unauthorized use of any information in the information system or records owned or licensed by VEA.
6. Not enter, change, delete, or add data to any information system or files outside of the scope of their job responsibilities.
7. Not include or cause to be included in any record or report, a false, inaccurate, or misleading entry known to the user as such.
8. Not alter or delete or cause to be altered or deleted from any records, report, or information system, a true and correct entry.
9. Not release VEA data, including member data, other than what is required in completion of job responsibilities.
10. Not exhibit or divulge the contents of any record, file, or information system to any person unless it is necessary for the completion of their job responsibilities.
11. Not export, copy, or otherwise transfer data from VEA systems to any other unauthorized data system or service.
From time to time in the pursuit of VEA’s strategic goals, certain projects or campaigns may require sharing VEA data with outside vendors or other 3rd parties. Before any transfer of data, the scope of data provided, specific use of the data, how data will be transferred and stored, and time period for which the data may be used must be defined. For this purpose, VEA has created a customizable DATA SHARING AGREEMENT template. A copy of the template may be requested from VEA IT.
NETWORK ACCESS
Users should take reasonable efforts to avoid accessing network data, files, and information that are not directly related to his or her job function. Existence of access capabilities does not imply permission to use this access. Connecting a personal device to the VEA network (wired or wirelessly) is prohibited without prior approval from VEA IT.
WIRELESS
All VEA computer systems are automatically granted access to VEA’s wireless network. Users with mobile devices (VEA-issued or personal) who wish to have access to the wireless network must contact VEA IT for approval. Approved VEA-issued devices will be granted internet access and may be granted access to the Association’s internal network as needed. Approved Personal Devices will be granted internet access only and are prohibited from accessing the Association’s internal network.
VEA offers a specific wireless network for guests including visitors, members, and member leaders. This network grants access to the internet and requires acceptance of specific Terms and Conditions for that network.
Under no circumstances is an employee of VEA or anyone granted access to VEA-owned resources under this policy authorized to engage in any activity that is illegal under local, state, or federal law while utilizing VEA-owned resources.
The lists below are by no means exhaustive but attempt to provide a framework for activities which fall into the category of unacceptable use.
The following activities are, in general, prohibited. Prohibited activities are not limited to the list of examples below, and other VEA governing documents may also apply.
1. Violations of the rights of any person or company protected by copyright, trade secret, patent, or other intellectual property, or similar laws or regulations, including, but not limited to, the installation or distribution of "pirated" or other software products that are not appropriately licensed for use by VEA.
2. Unauthorized use of copyrighted material including, but not limited to, distribution of photographs from the internet, books or other copyrighted sources, copyrighted music, and the installation of any copyrighted software for which VEA or the end user does not have an active license is strictly prohibited.
3. Installation of software or enrollment in technology services, including freeware or shareware applications, without first obtaining approval from VEA IT.
4. Accessing data, a server or an account for any purpose other than conducting Association business, even if you have authorized access, is prohibited.
5. Introduction of malicious programs into the network or server (e.g., viruses, worms, Trojan horses, etc.).
6. Revealing your account password(s) to others, including coworkers, or allowing use of your account(s) by others. This includes family and other household members when work is being done at home.
7. Using an Association computing asset to actively engage in procuring or transmitting material that is in violation of sexual harassment or hostile workplace laws.
8. Effecting security breaches or disruptions of network communication. Security breaches include, but are not limited to, accessing data for which the user is not an intended recipient or logging into a server or account that the user is not expressly authorized to access, unless these duties are within the scope of regular duties.
9. Circumventing user authentication or security of any computer, network, or account.
10. Providing information about, or lists of, VEA employees or its members, potential members or non-members to parties outside the Association.
11. Inspection, modification, or servicing of VEA computers and equipment by anyone other than VEA IT without prior written consent from VEA IT.
1. Sending unsolicited email messages, including the sending or forwarding of "junk mail" or other advertising material to individuals who did not specifically request such material (email spam).
2. Any form of harassment via email, telephone, or paging, whether through language, frequency, or size of messages.
3. Unauthorized use, or forging, of email header information.
4. Using Association systems (email, internet, NEA360) to disseminate defamatory, discriminatory, sexist, racist, abusive, insulting, threatening, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate messages or media.
5. Use of Association distribution lists, contacts, or member rosters for personal solicitations
VEA supports the use of the following cloud storage solutions: OneDrive for Business, VEA Filebox, Synology Drive, and Synology Active Backup.
1. The use of unsupported solutions (Dropbox, Google Drive, Box.net, etc.) to share or distribute Association files and data is a potential security risk and therefore prohibited unless previously approved in writing by VEA IT.
2. Users may not use any cloud-based apps or backup software (Mozy, Carbonite, etc.) that allows Association-related data to be transferred to unsecure or unapproved parties.
VEA reserves the right to modify or change approved or prohibited cloud storage solutions as needed to maintain the highest levels of security.
Limited and occasional use of VEA’s computer systems and services to engage in personal social media activities is acceptable if it is undertaken in a professional and responsible manner, is not detrimental to the Association’s interests, and does not interfere with a user’s regular work duties. Users assume any and all risks and responsibilities associated with using VEA’s computer systems and services to engage in social media activities in a personal capacity. Social media activities from Association’s computer systems may be subject to monitoring.
In addition, the following are prohibited when engaging in social media activities:
1. Revealing any confidential or proprietary Association information.
2. Activities that may harm the image, reputation, and/or goodwill of VEA and/or any of its employees or members.
3. Making any discriminatory, defamatory, or harassing comments.
4. Attributing personal statements, opinions, or beliefs to the Association, or using VEA logos or any other intellectual property without specific authorization.
5. Use of any material subject to copyright laws without proper references and/or permission.
6. Use of any Association owned social media accounts without specific authorization.
The user may be responsible for any losses, costs, or damages incurred by the VEA related to violations of VEA policies.
VEA assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized charges made by users including, but not limited to, credit card charges, subscriptions, long distance telephone charges, equipment and line costs, or for any improper or illegal use of its computers, telephones, or other equipment, such as copyright violations.
It is the policy of the VEA that any employee who violates this policy and/or rules governing use of the VEA’s technology resources will be subject to disciplinary action consistent with collective bargaining agreements and personnel policies, including discharge. Illegal uses of VEA’s technology will also result in referral to law enforcement authorities.
I, ________________________________________, have read and understand the above VEA TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY and consent to adhere to the rules outlined therein.
Association Systems – Includes but not limited to VEA owned laptops and PCs, computer networks, printers, Wi-Fi networks, portable USB drives, telephones and voicemail, VEA provided cellular devices.
Association Services – Includes but not limited to Email, Internet, VEA Forms, VEA Filebox, VEA.link, NEA360, Office 365 applications, Action Network, Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Social Media Activities – Posting, commenting, uploading photos and/or videos, live streaming to social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, edCommunities, etc.
Technology is ever-changing. In order to maintain the functionality and security of the Association’s technology resources, this policy may be updated from time to time. While VEA will communicate any future updates through typical channels, it is the employee’s responsibility to periodically review this document to ensure compliance.
Current: VEA TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY 4/16/19-
Revised: Approved by VEA Board April 9, 2019
Revised: 4/16/19 to incorporate clarifications suggested at VEA Staff Meeting on 4/10
Revised: 7/22/21 Added section on SHARING DATA WITH VENDORS / 3RD PARTIES, update to CLOUD STORAGE SOLUTIONS, minor grammatical and typographic corrections.
Revised: 3/4/22 Clarified computer password policy; inserted Confidentiality of Data #3 & #11
Revised: 6/24/22 Removed “(Pydio)” from “VEA Filebox (Pydio)”
Revised: 5/9/24 Replaced “Employee” with “User” where appropriate for clarity. Updated street address in footer.
Based on Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (4th Ed.)
The motions below are listed in order of precedence. Any motion can be introduced if it is higher on the chart than the pending motion.
(77) Close meeting I move that we adjourn
(75) Take break
(72)
(68) Lay aside temporarily I move that the main motion be postponed temporarily
(65) Close debate and vote immediately I move to close debate
(62) Limit or extend debate I move to limit debate to ...
(58) Postpone to certain time I move to postpone the motion until
(55) Refer to committee I move to refer the motion to
(47) Modify wording of motion I move to amend the motion
(p 32) Bring business before assembly (a main motion) I move that …
Based on Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (4th Ed.)
Incidental Motions - no order of precedence. Arise incidentally and decided immediately.
(82) Submit matter to assembly I appeal from the decision of the chair
(84) Suspend rules I move to suspend the
(87) Enforce rules Point
(90) Parliamentary question
(94) Request to withdraw motion I wish to withdraw my motion
(96) Divide motion I request that the motion be divided …
(99) Demand rising vote I call for a division of the assembly
Restorative Main Motions - no order of precedence. Introduce only when nothing else pending. (36) Amend a previous action I move to amend the motion that was …
(38) Reconsider main motion I move to
(42) Cancel previous action I move
(44) Take from table I move to resume consideration of ...