Re: ALA membership

["Sharron L. McElmeel" <mcelmeel@MCELMEEL.COM>]

Just to put things in perspective -- my husband pays over $1300 a
year in professional dues as a construction worker.  And contrary to
popular thought he DOES NOT get paid holidays, paid vacations, or any
medical or dental benefits - -and is often out-of-work in down slumps
or for a week here or there while construction projects catch up.
Yes he does have medical -- and it is a group plan but it is all
"self-paid" coming out of his salary.
He pays for all of his own classes to improve welding skills, learn a
new machine, whatever.
He does get a professional journal which keeps him abreast of new ideas etc.

And yes they also support candidates he does not approve of -- but
since Federal law mandates that no organization money be contributed
(only PAC money is allowed and that BY LAW must be a voluntary
contribution to that arm of the organization) its not a big sticking
point.

Not complaining at all about any of this  -- I just sometimes wonder
if we in education realize what the rest of the world ...
Sharron


At 12:29 AM -0400 8/3/03,
>As long as we're complaining about memberships, here's one for you.
>Thru my district I am a member of the NEA. The dues - local, state and
>national are about $800 a year.

--
====================================================
Sharron L. McElmeel
Writer/Webkeeper/Educational Consultant
McBookwords -- http://www.mcelmeel.com
ph. (319) 393-2562
fax (319) 393-4749
mcelmeel@mcelmeel.com
3000 N. Center Point Rd.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52411-9548
====================================================

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