"We've gotten a lot of support not just from parents ... but teachers saying, 'We can't support you on the record,"' Pomeroy said. She said donations are coming in from people who want a choice in education outside of government-run schools.

"Their own people stopped supporting them, what does that tell you?"

Arnold says the UEA is rebuilding to its usual $100,000 or more a year in donations, assisted now that the courts have overturned a law banning public employees from having political donations taken out of their paychecks. He says the law didn't kill all donations; just the small, $1 and $2 a month contributions. Considering the union has 18,000 members, a buck a month from individuals can add up.

The UEA in turn criticizes Parents for Choice because its donors have deep pockets: $100,000 comes from the East Coast group All Children Matter; $50,000 from Overstock.com CEO and Utah resident Patrick Byrne, and $20,000 from Doug Holmes, instrumental in Utah's voucher movement.

Pomeroy shrugs off the criticism.

"I say, hallelujah for people who can afford to spend incredible amounts of money on selfish things like yachts ... and instead they're choosing to put their money in education so every child ... can have the best education possible," Pomeroy said.

"That is to be lauded."

The UEA convention continues today at the Salt Palace Convention Center beginning with a speech from Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. The convention offers teachers classes, access to educational vendors, and a chance, as union leaders have long said, to recharge their batteries.

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com