MACAE September 2009 Newsletter

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SEPTEMBER 2009
	Sen. Jelinek receives the MACAE State Leader of the Year Award at MACAE's Legislative Day in the State Capitol. Rich Klemm, former MACAE Govt. Affairs Chair, is shown with participating Adult & Alternative Ed Students.	BREAKING NEWS: Conference Committee Restores Adult Education to $24 Million Unprecedented budget cuts to the School Aid Bill reduced K-12 funding by $218 per pupil without affecting the Proposal A portion of the foundation allowance, Durant bond payment, school lunch and special education programs. Overall the School Aid bill, unanimously reported out of Conference Committee on Wednesday, is $482.8 million, or 3.6 percent below current year funding for schools. (Combined with the $450 million in federal stimulus funding for K-12, the overall funding reductions for schools equal $24.2 million compared to the current state fiscal year.) (more)
	Sept. 10th Alternative Ed Focus Group Meeting	Membership Drive Underway Since kicking off MACAE’s 2009-10 Membership Drive in July, we’ve received 179 applications. Although 2009 enrollment numbers are consistent with September 2008, a fifth of those applications are from new members. For those of you who have not yet renewed your membership, or know of colleagues who may benefit from joining MACAE, your support is greatly needed and appreciated. (more)
		Register Now For Annual Conference Strengthening Leadership in Challenging Times MACAE welcomes to its 2009 Fall Conference keynote speakers Kurt Metzger and Joel Nitzberg. Metzger, the director of Detroit Area Community Indicators System, City Connect Detroit, will talk about how community educators can play a roll in turning Michigan's economy around.. Nitzberg, president of the National Community Education Association and author of “Putting Youth at the Center of Community Building,” will discuss what is happening around the nation and in Washington, D.C. (more)
		MACAE Partners with MVU As Adult Education, Alternative Education and Community Education program directors seek innovative, cost-effective online resources for professional development and instruction, MACAE’s latest partnership helps put these resources at your fingertips. (more)
		New Insurance Benefits Available Several MACAE members have indicated that they would like to find a way to make insurance for their staff more affordable. MACAE board member and new Membership Services Committe Chair Bob Steeh responded by exploring options with various insurance providers and has come up with a great opportunity for discounted rates through Citizens Insurance. By working closely with Hartland Insurance Agency, Inc. representative Jim Campbell, a discount package of up to 15% on auto, home and personal umbrella insurance will be avaliable to MACAE members and their employees by Fall Conference in October. Interested MACAE members and their employees will be able to receive the discount from any local Citizen Insurance agent throughout the state. (more)
MEET MACAE'S NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS In the coming months, we will feature short biographies on all of MACAE’s Board Members. This week, Community Education Matters highlights three new members.
		Louise Angelo Southwestern Michigan Adult & Community Education Delton Kellogg Schools Born in Chicago, Louise attended many colleges before receiving her undergraduate degree and master’s degree in Education Leadership from Western Michigan University. In the 28 years she has spent working in community education, Louise finds inspiration in her many duties as a community educator. With programs in Delton and at the Michigan Career & Technical Institute, Louise works mainly with adult and alternative education students to attain high school completion and literacy skills. “It’s very rewarding to see them walk across the stage” and receive their certificates, Louise said. “The Alternative High School Program out (at MCTI) and the one here on campus is growing and has a high graduation rate. …It’s rewarding to see them have another chance,” she said, calling it a team effort. As a member of the board, Louise would like to focus on funding, a constant concern, as well as anything else that would inhibit MACAE’s abilities to serve the community. “I feel that, looking at some reports about the number of adults who are sorely in need of improving their literacy skills to be employed, our services need to be more flexible than ever,” she said. Considering the board as a whole, Louise would like for all of the members to work as a team and be responsible to the needs of the community in providing services.
		John Fonash Berrien Cass Community Education Association Niles Community Schools A native of Doylestown, Pa., John earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame before completing his master’s degree at Indiana University in South Bend. Throughout his 16 years working in education, including the past five years at Niles Community Schools, John has found inspiration in helping in helping to make a difference in people’s lives. As a board member this year, John would like to focus on working with the legislature and “influencing the future direction of adult education.” In addition, he hopes to make strides in professional development and adult education. His goal for the board as a team this year would be to work on general effectiveness and cohesion.
		Mary Murphy Mid Michigan Regional Community Education Assoc. Mt. Pleasant Community Schools Born in Port Huron, MI, Mary moved to Mt. Pleasant in high school and has resided there since. With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and master’s in Educational Administration from Central Michigan University, she has been working in community education since 1995, spending the last seven years as director of Community and Adult Education. Mary’s inspiration in community education comes from the dedication and compassion of those working in the field. “I firmly believe that every person in our society wants and needs to feel that they are a productive and contributing member of their community, and adult educators give them the tools to do that,” she said. “Adult educators empower people, because knowledge is power.” As a board member, Mary would like to focus on making sure that adult and alternative education students have a voice with our legislators. Her goal for the board this year is to help keep all the positive strides MACAE has made moving forward.