Three NEA-NM members, Mary Bennett, Tammy Maxie, and Greg Maxie, were among 140 NEA members nationwide who traveled to Washington D.C. in late July to take part in the Third Annual Republican Leaders Conference (RLC) hosted by the National Education Association. The purpose of the conference was to bring together NEA members who are Republicans for three days of skills training and networking.
For the past three years, NEA has worked to engage their one million members who identify as Republicans in the work of the Association and assist them in advocating for public education with Republican policymakers. Participants of the conference were provided the opportunity to explore Capitol Hill and meet with Republican Members of Congress to lobby for NEA positions on education.
In addition to NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, other members of NEA’s staff and executive committee, as well as former and present members of Congress, spoke at the conference. One of many keynote speakers was Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. This was the first time someone from the Republican National Committee had ever spoken at NEA headquarters.
This program is a continuation of the resolution passed at the RA this year to engage Republican members of NEA to be trained in effective lobbing. NEA recognized that these members could reach House and Senate members who previously had not been supportive of NEA positions. NEA members who attended this meeting also had the opportunity to attend the Main Street Republican awards dinner and were recognized by the congressional members. “I’m an NEA member and a Republican,” was a statement met with surprise many times on Capitol Hill. New avenues of dialog were opened and many members of Congress expressed a willingness to reconsider NEA positions on education.
Photo by Greg Maxie
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