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A message from the President, 12/17/2012

Having reflected on the tragedy on Friday, I would like to send my condolences to the community of Newtown, Connecticut and the students, parents, faculty and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School. 

Please also keep the family of Cindy Ann Yuille, an AFT member who was killed in the mall shooting in Oregon earlier in the week, in your thoughts. These are awful tragedies and we should all take a minute to be thankful for what we have. 

In light of these horrible events, I would encourage all of you take the time to make sure that you have up-to-date emergency information and plans for your worksite. These shootings put a lot of things in perspective and show that we have been lucky to not have experienced such tragedies here. 

In addition to practicing the emergency plans, I have asked our crisis team to go to Newtown, CT and assist them in their healing process. The team will head to Connecticut after the holidays. In solidarity, we are asking everyone to wear green and white ribbons in support of the Newtown community. 

The AFT has also set up a link where we can send our condolences to the people of Newtown. Please click here to participate.

I hope you will continue to think about and pray for the victims of these shootings as well as their families as we go through this holiday season.

Marietta English,
President, AFT-Maryland and BTU

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