MCCEA: 1998 Representative Assembly

Mott Community College Education Association

At the Podium of the NEA Representative Assembly

Steve Robinson (Left), Julius Maddox (Right)

These photographs were taken on the floor of the 1998 Representative Assembly of the National Education Associaiton (NEA) in New Orleans, Louisiana. On the left, I am accepting an award from NEA president Bob Chase and UAW/Saturn Representative Don Ephlin. (From left to right: Don Ephlin, Kelly Banks, Steve Robinson, Bob Chase.) On the right, I am standing with MEA president Julius Maddox. On the first day of the assembly I was dressed very formally, wearing a coat and tie and looking very serious indeed. Julius took me aside and recommend that I change the next day. New Orleans, he reminded me, was exteremly hot and humid, and such formality was not required on my part.

As a new local president and a new delegate to the Representative Assembly, I was extremely impressed with the actions of our MEA President on the convention floor. While I have some deep personal differences with the position taken by our caucus on the NEA/AFT Principles of Unity, I have sincere regard for the integrity and openness shown by our leadership during that debate. Any issue worth considering has at least two sides, and the MEA coalesced around the opposition in a truly democratic manner. Julius was also the most persuasive speaker against the Principles, and his tireless leadership in building a cohilition for the opposition was apparent to all.

For a young leader, the actions of our MEA President were an important lesson in leadership and democracy. In my view, democratic leadership is about the forumlation of consensus and the rational exercise of power.