Member Profiles

November 2005

Phil Long

Background
I’ve taught elementary school social studies in Celina, Ohio, for more than 29 years. I’m currently president of my local Association. I’m on the OEA Executive Committee, and I’ve been a delegate to the state and national RA many times. I plan to retire in about five years.

What plans do you have for retirement?
I signed up for NEA Pre-Retired and I plan to stay active in NEA-Retired. As a local Association president, I’ve learned how important it is to work with our state legislature to strengthen our schools. Getting to know your legislators and lobbying on behalf of public education is a skill that takes some time to acquire. I’m looking forward to working with OEA’s emerging leaders in order to pass on what I’ve learned. The leaders I see developing in our Association are dynamic and have a lot to offer. It’s exciting to work with them.

Georgia Goodwine-Christian

Background
I taught elementary school grades 4-6 and special education for 30 years in Talladega, Alabama. I served three terms as president of my local Association, was a district president and vice president, and served on the AEA Rights and Responsibilities Commission.

How are you spending retirement?
I’m as active in education as I was when I was a teacher. But I’m mixing in travel with my husband—any time of the year we wish. I told the Retired Association, “I’ll spend plenty of time as a volunteer, but for 30 years I’ve only been able to take vacation in the summer. Now that’s going to change.” Starting in January of this year, we’ve traveled somewhere every month. And we’re getting set to do some world traveling. When I’m in town, I volunteer for new teacher orientation. Orientation and follow-up mentoring are critical. I enjoy it. I work through the formal orientation program, and I also do informal mentoring for teachers who’ve requested it.

Ramon MacFarlane

Background
I taught 5th and 6th grade and junior high science and math in Dayton, Ohio. Following that, I worked on affirmative action and desegregation issues for the Association in Ohio, then for the NEA in Washington, DC. I finished my career as a professor of criminal psychology at Concordia University, Wisconsin, retiring in 2000.

How are you spending retirement?
I have two loves: NEA-Retired and Rotary. Right now, I’m on the board of my local Retired Association, and what interests me most is Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit. We’re studying that closely so we can educate members and all seniors in the community about what it does and doesn’t provide. It’s too little, too late, or what I like to call “TL-squared.” It only provides substantial coverage if seniors reach a catastrophic level of expense. Below that, we pay for pretty much everything. I’m dedicated to letting seniors and younger Americans know that we need something more—and better.