Delegates pour into Sacramento Convention Center for 88th Annual Conference Attendees anticipate a week full of motivation and information CSEA’s biggest event of the year began on Sunday with delegates from all over California filling the Sacramento Convention Center to register for the Association’s 88th Annual Conference. After registering and picking up their blue CSEA T-shirts and information packets, delegates had a chance to catch up with colleagues from around the state and network with activists from other chapters. They sat in on forums to discuss increasing support and activism. Registration day also gave attendees an opportunity to find out about CSEA’s 17 standing committees and member benefits available in the Provider Area. This year, 37 vendors were on hand to share information about discounts and advantages accessible to CSEA members. During the next few days, the delegates will hear Association President Michael Bilbrey deliver the State of the Union and speeches by Gov. Jerry Brown and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. Delegates will vote on resolutions and on the Association’s budget. They will also receive information and training about the issues that affect them as union members and as classified school employees during Education Days seminars. New delegates ready for Conference First-time delegates – identifiable by the red ribbons attached to their name badges -- made up a large portion of the group and said they were eager to be part of this rousing event. “I’m interested to learn more about what the union is about,” said Ed White, a mechanic and first-time delegate representing Thermalito Chapter 182. “I want to learn about who stands with us and what issues are coming up in the future.” This is also the first conference for Kathleen Ballesteros of Alisal Elementary Chapter 577. An account technician and the chapter’s first vice president, Ballesteros said that she is looking forward to learning about information she can share with her fellow chapter members. “I’ve been excited for the last two months about this conference,” she said. “It’s great to meet others who are so involved with their union.” Jesse Tamayo, a school registrar and delegate of Monterey-JC Crumpton Chapter 93 who also serves as the chapter second vice president said this is his first conference in 14 years. He’s looking forward to getting information about what CSEA does to improve the lives and jobs of its members. “I want to learn about the budget so I can go back and inform my chapter’s members about how their dues are being spent,” he said. Even those who are not delegates are excited about being in Sacramento for the conference. Earnest Wave is the guest of his wife, Tammy, who is a Regional Representative in Area E. He said he likes attending CSEA’s conference because it motivates him support his wife in service to her union. “CSEA always does a good job of getting good speakers,” he said. Coming up: The first official day of the conference will be Monday and will include opening ceremonies, introduction of the Board of Directors and the State of the Union speech and the first business session.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 01:54:56 +0000
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