Wednesday, September 24 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Living Well After the Bell: A Virtual Wellness Conference for Lifelong Educators

Join us at the OEA-Retired 2025 Fall Conference for a restorative and inspiring virtual event designed especially for retired educators. Living Well After the Bell offers a thoughtful blend of wellness practices and creative exploration to support your well-being in this next chapter of life.

This fall, take time to reconnect with yourself and your community through accessible sessions in mindfulness, chair yoga, and the meditative art of Zentangle. Whether you’re looking to deepen your sense of calm, improve flexibility, or tap into your creative side, this conference provides practical tools and supportive guidance tailored to your lifestyle.

Come as you are — no experience needed. Just bring an open heart and a comfortable chair.

2025 Fall Virtual Conference Lineup:

Mindfulness by former Congressman Tim Ryan

Tim Ryan is an American politician and author who served as a U.S. Representative for Ohio from 2003 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was known for his work on economic revitalization, labor rights, and mental health policy.

A longtime advocate for mindfulness and meditation, Tim has been instrumental in bringing these practices into public and educational spaces. His book, A Mindful Nation, explores how mindfulness practices can positively impact schools, healthcare, and public service. He has also authored Healing America, which connects personal transformation with national renewal.

Tim continues to speak nationally on the power of mindfulness to reduce stress, enhance focus, and build compassionate leadership – tools essential for educators facing today’s complex challenges. His work encourages teachers to foster not only academic success but also emotional well-being in themselves and their students.

Refresh, Revive & Renew Chair Yoga by Dr. Taraja Shephard Allen, OEA Membership Consultant

Join us for Chair Yoga to unwind and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit. Reduce stress and anxiety while enhancing your health through breath, movement, and meditation.

Using chairs as props, this yoga style is accessible to everyone. Discover a supportive yoga approach that provides stability and builds confidence. You’ll leave feeling relaxed and centered, carrying a sense of calm into your daily life.

Experience the restorative benefits of Chair Yoga. All levels are welcome, and we look forward to practicing with you!

Zentangle by Becky Radel, OEA-Retired NCOEA Representative

The term Zentangle comes from the words ‘zen’ (the Buddhist meditative philosophy for balancing the mind) and ‘tangle’. Zentangle is a meditative art form where intricate designs are created using repetitive patterns. It’s a relaxing way to draw structured patterns, often using a pen or pencil on a 3.5-inch square tile. The goal is to achieve calm and focus through the repetitive, structured drawing process.

All OEA members are invited to join us (OEA MEMBERS ONLY EVENT).

Join Us, Wednesday, September 24th at 10am – 12pm.

Please click on flyer image to download

PLEASE click here to register for this event

OEA Retired Delegates to NEOEA/OEA/NEA Representative Assemblies and OEA Retired Advisory Council Positions

Many NEOEA-Retired members keep in touch with colleagues still working in the schools.  Please inform your active but soon to be retired friends that OEA provides a one year membership to OEA-Retired at no charge.  In order for the membership to be activated, OEA needs to know of the retirement event.  Although a member’s retired status will be reported up by their local during the annual membership drive when school starts, members may notify OEA to convert their status by contacting the OEA Member Help Line and providing details regarding their last work day as an active member and their non-school e-mail address.   

Summer is just around the corner, and that means our

SUMMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE registration is open!!

The conference will be held July 16-17 at Corporate College East.

We will offer two days of training for you, local leaders, and all members. This year we are offering amazing sessions on Wednesday afternoon, as well as a presidents’ track, building representative training, leadership sessions, and grievance processing training on Thursday – to name just a few of the topics. We have something for all members – regardless of your title or your position in the local.

Keynote speaker is Daneé Pinckney Ohio Teacher of the Year

Graduate credit is also available from Lake Erie College.

Registration

https://neoea.org/MemberData/SLC2025.pdf

The petition drive to place the repeal of SB1 on the November ballot will be ending June 21.  Add your name to the signers and support our higher education professionals in Ohio.  

Repeal Senate Bill 1 – Petition Signature Collection

More Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Look for volunteers and sign when you visit the following locations in town:

Northeast Area Signing Locations

Other Locations Statewide

Stand with Ohio Higher Education: Help Repeal SB1 – Sign, Volunteer, Donate

Ohio’s Senate Bill 1 directly threatens academic freedom, diversity, equity, and inclusion in our state’s public colleges and universities. While SB1 primarily targets higher education, its erosion of shared governance and labor rights undermines principles that affect all educators. A referendum campaign is now underway to put the repeal of SB1 before Ohio voters, and we need your help. The below resources are from the YSU-OEA campaign to place SB1 on the ballot. Please note that this information is intended for OEA members and staff informational purposes only.

How You Can Help

• Sign the Referendum Petition
  • Visit and sign the petition at https://tinyurl.com/4y3xv3nd.
  • If you have already signed, please encourage eligible colleagues to do so.
• Donate to Support Petition Printing and Outreach
  • Contribute to offset costs of printing petitions, promotional materials, and logistics: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/fund-petition-printing?source=direct_link&.
  • Even small donations help ensure we have enough materials across all 88 counties.
• Stay Informed via the Campaign’s Newsletter
  • Subscribe to regular updates on progress, deadlines, and local events: https://ohsb1petition.substack.com
  • Please share the newsletter link within your network so more Ohioans stay informed and engaged.

Spread the Word

• Share these links above on social media, community groups, and among colleagues.

Are You Ready for Some Baseball?

Join the Retired Organizing members on June 10 for a night of baseball and fun! The Guardians will be playing the Cincinnati Reds at 6:40 p.m. We have reserved lower section seats for $33 each. Bring your colleagues, family and friends. It promises to be a great night with our Guardians winning.

Date and Time: Tuesday, June 10, at 6:40 vs. Cincinnati Reds

Location:  Progressive Field