Leadership

MEA-Retired President Barb Schram

What I taught and where:

I taught for most of my 33 ½ years in Grand Ledge, MI. Most of that time was in kindergarten but also in 1st and 2nd grades and a couple of years in 3rd grade. I also taught 1st grade in Paw Paw, MI and was a reading consultant. For two years, I was a 1st grade teacher in Bangkok, Thailand at the International School.

What I did as an active member and now as a retired member for MEA:

During my tenure as a teacher, I was active in the MEA. I began as a building rep, went on to the Grievance and Negotiations teams, President of the MABO, and also President of Capital Area Political Action Committee. I have held positions on the local, state and national levels, sitting on both the MEA and NEA Boards.

Something about my family:

I have two daughters and five grandchildren. One granddaughter has become a teacher, another an instructor at MSU’s Day Care, and my grandson is a Michigan State Trooper, one is in the Air Force, and the third grandson will graduate from Western Michigan University in December.

What I like to do:

I love to read and am particularly fond of historical fiction. I also enjoy traveling and have been to six of seven continents. I haven’t made it to Australia yet, but it’s still on my bucket list! 

MEA-Retired Vice President Bridget Fox

Bridget Fox begins her role as MEA Retired Vice President in deep appreciation of the members before her who built this union into the organization it is today. Just as being building rep or chief negotiator back in active union days, she believes it is a privilege and an honor to serve.

Though not raised on the west side, Bridget moved to Lake Michigan’s shoreline almost 50 years ago as a brand-new teacher hired by Muskegon Public Schools. She worked first as a teacher/teacher consultant for deaf and hard of hearing students, and later as a high school counselor for a combined 40+ years of service to the district.

Bridget often reflects with gratitude for the opportunities her career provided. “I have worked with Jon Bon Jovi; flown with the Blue Angels; performed in the American Sign Language production group, Silent Harmony; traveled from coast to coast to coast to Canada; presented, been published, and even learned how to use a dead fish for printing when my students read “The Rainbow Fish.”

Bridget is married to her awesome husband, Dale, and they recently celebrated their “sapphire” anniversary. Since Dale was also a longtime union worker, they strived together to instill the goodness that comes from union activism and collective bargaining into their children. The values of standing together, negotiating, fighting the fair fight, and caring about big, virtuous issues allowed them to raise two baby girls into fiercely independent, socially conscious, intelligent women.

Bridget retired in 2015 and has since enjoyed more boating, swimming, kayaking, and solace up north. She weaves baskets, sings for enjoyment, and still attends lots of community meetings in her hometown of Grand Haven. She loves to revel with members in their triumphs, and listen to members’ concerns. Please, reach out to her and share your stories.

MEA-Retired Secretary/Treasurer, Robin Aslakson

My introduction to the union began with my grandfather and father. My grandfather was a member of UAW local 113 and my father was a member of the United Paperworker's International Union (UPIU) Local 1015. Growing up, I saw the importance of having a collective group bargain on behalf of its members for job safety, security, and wages. My personal union career began as a building rep, then vice president, and eventually president of my local EA at White Cloud Public Schools in White Cloud, Michigan, where I taught computer literacy to grades K-8 for 25 years.

I’ve been involved in leadership positions my entire adult life, as a local EA president, negotiator, President of my condo association, as the Region 13 MEA-Retired director, and as a volleyball coach for 21 years. As a teacher and coach, I know the importance of teamwork and tenacity. As your Secretary/Treasurer I will use the same tenacity that I used in coaching, the same leadership and commitment that I have used serving my EA, my condo association, and Region 13 into making sure that our member’s lifetime dues dollars are used responsibly to locate, engage, and educate our current and future members. I want every retiree to know that as their time with MEA comes to an end, MEA-Retired is there for them. The commitment continues.

I decided to run for MEA-Retired Secretary/Treasurer because I want to make sure that MEA-Retired remains an important force for current and future retirees in Michigan. We need to continue to grow our membership, be fiscally responsible with our member's dues dollars, and take care of growing our leadership.

All of my spare time is spent with my husband of 46 years, traveling, reading, gardening, spoiling my only grandson, and staying involved in local and state politics.

If I can be of assistance to any of you, please reach out!