** SUMMER STEWARDS MEETING **

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17

7:00 PM - GEO OFFICE

On the agenda: an important discussion and vote on Health Care Dependents Eligibility.

Wednesday, April 15, 7:00-8:00 PM
Winter GEO MEMBERSHIP MEETING - Hussey Room, Michigan League

• On the agenda: 2009-2010 GEO officer elections; Continuous Enrollment policy education and agitation.

Thursday, April 16, 2:45-3:15 PM
RALLY against Rackham’s Continuous Enrollment policy!

• In the Regents’ Plaza outside the Fleming Administration Building (the big cube next to the Michigan Union).

• On the agenda: Speakers, chanting, noise, fun and organized opposition to plutocracy.

• Remember to sign the petition: http://tinyurl.com/stopce

Friday, April 17, 8:00 PM - ??
PARTY at the GEO Office!

• On the agenda: Beer, food, solidarity, and everything that people have come to expect from the best party-throwing and/or rights-defending organization on this or any other campus.

Time to pat your steward on the back.

Please sign the petition to voice your opposition to Rackham’s proposal for a Continuous Enrollment Policy:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=BsCvxFWMf_2fLSJoA4iZQiRw_3d_3d

Looking for more information about Rackham’s proposal for a continuous enrollment policy for PhD candidates?

Unable to find detailed answers to your questions about this policy from your department’s administrators or the Rackham web site?

Want to ensure that the voices of graduate students will be heard, considered, and fully respected in the development of this policy?

Then check out the Wiki on continuous enrollment generated by the Continuous Enrollment Working Group (CEWG), a coalition of concerned graduate students united to track the development of this policy, check the claims being made by Rackham officials, and vocalize the interests of the population that will be directly affected by its implementation.

Please contact us at cewgdoc (at) gmail (dot) com with requests for further information or to get involved.  Stay tuned for announcements regarding opportunities to take action on this issue.

LEARN about current conversations surrounding disability and access issues;
DISCUSS ways to improve accessibility and improve climate in our departments;
JOIN a network of students committed to these issues.

TOWN HALL MEETING  
March 26 @ 7pm 
Michigan League ~ Room 4 (1st  fl.)

Snacks will be provided.  If you would like information ahead of time or need accommodations for this meeting, contact Rachel Wells at rbwells (at) umich (dot) edu.

Sponsored by the Graduate Employees Organization and Rackham Student Government.

Here is a schedule of upcoming GEO events this month:

• Wednesday, Mar. 4, 7pm | Stewards Council - GEO Office
• Saturday, Mar. 7, 7pm-12am | Program in American Culture Prospective Students - GEO Office
• Wednesday, Mar. 11, 7pm | Activism Factory - GEO Office
• Wednesday, Mar. 18, 7pm | Stewards Council - GEO Office
• Wednesday, Mar. 25, 7pm | Activism Factory - GEO Office

Interested in union leadership?  Want to play a key role in developing the direction of GEO?  Stay tuned for announcements regarding the election of officers and committee chairs for 2009-2010.  Call GEO at 995-0221 for details or send an e-mail to umgeo (at) umich (dot) edu.

Here is a schedule of upcoming GEO events this month:

• Wednesday, Feb. 4, 7pm | Activism Factory - GEO Office
• Saturday, Feb. 7, 2-7pm | Stewards Training Day - Friends Meeting House, 1420 Hill St.
• Wednesday, Feb. 11, 7pm | Stewards Council - GEO Office
• Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7pm | Activism Factory - GEO Office
• NO MEETING on Wednesday, Feb. 25 - UM Winter Break

New to GEO?  Interested in becoming a Steward for your department?  Call GEO at 995-0221 or send an e-mail to umgeo (at) umich (dot) edu.

Happy New Year!

Here is a schedule of upcoming GEO events for this month:

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7pm | *Stewards Council* - GEO Office
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 7pm | *Activism Factory* - GEO Office
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 7pm | *Stewards Council* - GEO Office

Stay tuned for more details and opportunities to get involved…

Every GSI and GSSA should receive an automated email from UM this week informing them of the status of their GEO deduction.

GEO is the labor union which represents all GSIs and GSSAs.  The automated email is part of the process worked out by GEO and UM to facilitate collection of the funds GEO uses to fulfill its duty to represent graduate employees in collective bargaining with UM.  GEO is obligated to negotiate a contract which benefits every graduate employee — even those who have chosen not to join GEO.  In return, every graduate employee is obligated to contribute a small part of their salary to the financial support of the union.  Typically, this is handled via a payroll deduction.

The instrument GEO uses to authorize this deduction and to record your preferences regarding membership in the union is the Union Dues / Representation-Service Fee Card — we call it the yellowcard for short.  Every GSI and GSSA is required to submit a yellowcard to GEO as a condition of employment.

Those who have already submitted a yellowcard to GEO will receive an email informing them that the appropriate GEO deduction will be taken from their November paycheck.

Those who have not submitted a yellowcard will receive an email asking them to contact GEO in order to make the necessary arrangements.  Once those arrangements have been made, the normal deduction will be processed, but from the December check.

We have posted answers to frequently asked questions about GEO dues and the GEO representation fee at umgeo.org/dues.

We have also created a webform that you can use to electronically submit a yellowcard.  The webform is found here.  You can also navigate to the webform from the dues FAQ.

If you have questions or concerns about this process, or would just like to know more about GEO, we’d be happy to set up an appointment to meet with you.  Send an email to umgeo at umich dot edu to get the ball rolling.

Here is a schedule of GEO events through the end of the term:

• Wednesday, Nov. 12, 7pm - Stewards Council, GEO Office
• Wednesday, Nov. 19, 7pm - Activism Factory, GEO Office
• Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7pm - Steward’s Council, GEO Office
• Wednseday, Dec. 10, 7pm - Activism Factory, GEO Office
• Thursday, Dec. 11, 7pm - Membership Meeting, Hussey Room, Michigan League