LONG-TERM CARE AND LASIK INSURANCES
Although references to long-term care and laser corrected vision insurances were negotiated in the last contract, to date these insurances have not actually been available. The Union and Administration agreed to purchase these insurances using unexpended monies in the dental, optical, and hearing insurances fund. In the interim, the Insurance Committee, chaired by Marsha Steele, has been studying the options for coverage. The results long-term care coverage will be available starting next fall; LASIK insurance hopefully will commence the following year.

Long-term care insurance will be offered through UNUM, our current carrier for life and disability insurance. Initially, the insurance will only cover employees for a two-year benefit period. It will pay for care in a professional setting or at home, with a maximum benefit of $84,000 over two years. Teachers will have the opportunity to purchase add-on options, such as coverage for a spouse, parents, or children. These additional options will be priced based on the actuarial tables for the insured, not at the group rate, but should be about 20% better than if the insurance had been independently purchased.

The protection offered initially by this new insurance is modest, but "breaks the ice" on a new form of insurance and provides an opportunity for employees to familiarize themselves with the sorts of protection such insurance furnishes. In future years the Union will seek to expand the coverage to include spouses and a cost-of-living rider.

Employees will need to sign enrollment cards before the insurance becomes effective. Enrollment cards will be available at the April General Membership Meeting, at which time a UNUM representative will explain the program.

Still further in the offing is laser corrected vision insurance. The Union hopes to implement this insurance in the third year of the contract, though initially it also would probably only cover employees.

WWW.HFCCFT1650.ORG
Check out the Local 1650's new website at http://www.hfccft1650.org!! The site has the answers to most of your union-related questions. Wondering when spring break will fall next year? The Calendar page posts the College calendars through Summer 2002. Curious about what health insurance riders are provided by contract?

The entire contract, with a table of contents linked to the individual paragraphs, is on-line. The College Constitution is also on-line. Want to see how some of your colleagues looked a decade or two ago? The History page has pictures from the Local's archives. Are you concerned about the expansion of charter schools in Michigan? The

Legislation page has sample letters you can send to your State legislators. This page also links to the text of John McDonald's testimony to the Senate Subcommittee on Community College Appropriations. Want to make changes in your 403B plan? The Mutual Funds page lists the contact information for the financial carriers authorized for payroll deduction as well as links to on-line investment rating services. And check out the mug shots on the Officers' page!

This is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg of the information you will find on the website. Bookmark the page for easy access!

TRAVEL-CONFERENCE FUND CHANGES
The Union negotiated significant improvements to the Travel-Conference Fund in the last contract. For each of the three years of the contract, the Fund will be increased by .0012 of the year's budgeted payroll for full-time teachers, a 30% increase in the first year alone! By the end of the contract, the Fund should generate around $700 per teacher to cover approved travel expenses. Unexpended monies from the Fund will be credited to the Professional Improvement Fund.

The Travel-Conference Committee, with representation from each area, administers the travel money. They approve all travel requests. Upon approval, teachers can immediately receive travel reimbursement up to their proportional share of the Fund. If their travel expenses exceed this amount, the un-reimbursed bills are held to the end of the fiscal year. At that time the Committee evenly distributes any unspent Fund monies to the affected teachers until either the bills are completely paid or the Fund runs out. At its last meeting, the Executive Board voted to cap the amount any one teacher can draw from the fund to $1650 per year. Expenses beyond this amount can be submitted to the Professional Improvement Fund for reimbursement.

MFT&SRP FULL-TIME/PART-TIME INITIATIVE
The MFT&SRP has undertaken a legislative initiative relative to full-time/part-time staffing in the State's community colleges. Last month, Local 1650 President John McDonald represented the MFT&SRP before the Senate Subcommittee on Community College Appropriations. In his testimony, John requested that a provision be made in the State's community college appropriations bill which would authorize a survey of the recruitment, hiring, and evaluation practices; retention rates; instructional and clerical support; and professional development opportunities for both part-time and full-time faculty at the State's community colleges. The testimony addressed

(1) the need to assess the conditions under which part-time faculty are hired and must function and (2) the need to assess the impact of these factors on student success. A transcript of John's testimony is available on the 1650 web site.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND ELECTION
The Dearborn Schools bond election, which would deliver approximately $9 million in capital improvement funds to HFCC, is now scheduled for June 13. A bond effort was narrowly defeated last May, and it is crucial that the election this time is successful.

The bond has been endorsed by all the Dearborn School District employee unions and the Dearborn PTA council. Unfortunately, there is organized opposition to the proposal, including Mary Lane Orchane and Alex Shami, Dearborn School Board members who voted against the measure, and the Arab-American Political Action Committee.

Local 1650 members will have to play a major role in the bond campaign if the election is to be successful. The committee championing the bond proposal, chaired by Gary Kuhlmann of Park Place Catering, meets every Tuesday, 6-7:30 p.m., at Stout Middle School. All are welcome to attend. Also, the Local will ask Dearborn members to display lawn signs, and all members will need to participate in preparing mailings, get-out-the-vote activities, and poll work.

HFCC-FT PAF UPDATE
To date, 79% of the Union membership have responded to the Union's request for PAF contributions, giving a total of $7,735 to Local 1650's Political Action Fund and an additional $1,110 to the Michigan Federation of Teachers' COPE fund. Local 1650's Executive Board had recommended that each teacher contribute $50 to our local PAF and $10 to the MFT&SRP'S COPE fund.

It is still not too late to contribute! The Local urgently needs these contributions to help finance a local bond proposal which would provide funding for renovations of the Student Center, Liberal Arts, Science and Administration buildings. Give your contribution to your Area Rep. Congratulations to Area 1 (Counseling, Library, Placement Officers, Women's Resource Officer, Child Care, and Special Needs) and Area 2 (English) who had 100% participation.

HOTEL DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR AFT MEMBERS
Here's another way your Union membership pays! To take advantage of prices well below the standard room rates, just mention "AFT Member Benefit #20952" when calling the toll-free numbers of the following chains: Days Inn, (800) 268-2195; Howard Johnson, (800) 769-0939; Knights Inn, (800) 843-5644; Ramada Inn, (800) 462-8035; and Travelodge, (800) 545-5545. Rates should be up to 30% off their standard rates.

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