ATEK Gets All Presidential and I Get Representative; HOPE in Wonju

The controversial teachers' union (www.atek.or.kr) has had its first presidential election and Greg Dolezal is president. http://www.atek.or.kr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=239:2009-sept-15-atek-elects-first-president&catid=41:top-headlines

Go Greg. (I've never met the guy but he's done good work in the press arena.)

I'm the Gangwon-do hagwon representative, officially contactable at gangwon [dot] hagwon [at] (the atek domain). http://www.atek.or.kr/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=51&Itemid=191

So far I've managed to help one person (actually in another province) with some ammo against his hagwon director who was paying neither pension nor medical insurance nor promised vacation days. Updates on that later.

For why we need a teachers' union, see:
The "mandatory viewing" below
Any tale of hagwon workers getting ripped off by their bosses, sometimes getting sued for trying to warn others, like this one: http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2876587
And this, for those who thought public schools were safer:
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/09/08/200909080009.asp

And a hundred others.

Important Event Dates:
Sep 26 KOTESOL Gangwon-do gathering in Wonju (free pizza!)
Oct 10 (tentative) ATEK Gangwon-do gathering in Wonju (probably lots of soju since Jack and I will be in charge!)
Early Nov. (obviously tentative) Habitat for Humanity Build

VOLUNTEERING:
Anyone who happens to want to volunteer teaching or otherwise, please comment/email. We're using contacts from HOPE and around Wonju/Gangwon-do to try to set up a HOPE-like thing (but less formal, less paperwork). About HOPE:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/09/181_48144.html