PATFA members participating in the Annual Meeting on May 16 approved early steps toward creation of a faculty development fund for PATFA adjuncts.
And outgoing president Michael Burke stressed the need for even greater visibility for PATFA and all adjuncts working in the University of Maine System.
About 20 people attended the Annual Meeting at the University of Maine at Augusta campus. They heard presentations from a representative of the AFL-CIO in Maine as well as state Sen. Emily Cain, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Michael Michaud.
Burke has proposed the development fund, which would be open to PATFA members, as a way to assist adjuncts who, in many cases, are not eligible for travel funds or research support at their universities.
Two PATFA members indicated that they would run for president of PATFA (Local 4593 of the American Federation of Teachers) when elections are held this summer. They are: vice president James Seymour, who teaches at the University of Maine at Augusta, and grievance officer Michele Cheung, who is a PATFA campus representative at the University of Southern Maine.
Treasurer Pam Mitchell of the University of Maine at Farmington and secretary Tom McCord of UMA indicated that they would seek re-election.
The agenda included a review of recent negotiations with the University of Maine System as well as reports from PATFA officers. PATFA members as well as the University of Maine System board of trustees recently approved the 2013-2015 contract.