MEA-MFT staff changes

2008 brings many changes to the MEA-MFT staff. We have a new executive director, new retirements, and some changing of territories.

Longtime field consultant Jane Fields retired from MEA-MFT in October. Jane came to Great Falls in 1988 as a field consultant for north central Montana. She later moved to MEA-MFT's Helena field office for southwestern Montana.

Over her 19 years with MEA-MFT, Fields worked with more than 50 of our local affiliates from Grass Range to Lima, from the prison in Deer Lodge to teachers down to Livingston. She also established herself as top-notch facilitator for interest-based bargaining and the Women's Leadership Training program.

Not one to remain unoccupied for long, Jane recently began work as a field consultant for the Oregon Education Association in Medford. She's making good use of the umbrella given to her as a departure gift from MEA-MFT Vice President Larry Nielsen and the Helena Education Association. We will miss Jane's skills and wry sense of humor.

Brian Ehli will move from Great Falls to Helena to replace Fields. Ehli has proven himself a committed, capable field consultant in MEA-MFT's North Central field office.

MEA-MFT has hired Carol Haverlandt, a veteran teacher from Great Falls with extensive experience in schools large and small, to take over for Brian Ehli.

Haverlandt began her career in Ulm, where she gained union advocacy experience and taught at a Hutterite school. She taught middle school in Great Falls for many years. She has experience as a master teacher in many grades as well as strong union advocacy.

Haverlandt is also a dedicated trainer of the ER&D (Educational Research and Dissemination) program, so she knows classroom survival and excellence from all perspectives.

Her skills will allow her to bring to north central members the outstanding level of assistance and advocacy they have come to expect. (For those who know the size of the service area, she also says she likes to drive!)

Marco Ferro, president of the Bozeman Education Association, will replace Erik Burke as MEA-MFT's director of public policy.

Ferro will join MEA-MFT's lobby team, bringing his many skills to the halls of the legislature on behalf of all MEA-MFT members.

He also will head up the MEA-MFT professional development program. "These high quality opportunities are very valuable to our members and the Montana people they serve," said MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver.

"I look forward to the new ideas Marco will bring to the table."

In addition to teaching music, Ferro directed the Bozeman Symphony choir for years. The Helena Symphony is eager to recruit him to its tenor section.

Neva Passage, MEA-MFT's membership specialist, retired this fall. "Neva leaves some big shoes to fill," said MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver. "She has the ability to do complicated work with precision while treating everyone with kindness and respect. I know our members will miss her, as will the rest of us here at MEA-MFT."

Passage was a local leader in a state employee affiliate in the former MFT. She served as MFT bookkeeper for 14 years and then became membership specialist after the merger of MEA and MFT.

She plans to spend her retirement gardening, continuing her work with her church, and spending more time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Jolene Devine has taken over for Neva.

To our new MEA-MFT staff, welcome aboard. To those who have moved on to new adventures, thanks for your hard work on behalf of MEA-MFT members and the Montanans they serve.