AFL-CIO Summer School post #1

Dear Part-timers,

As you may know, your dues pay for union training. If the training isn't something that's covered by your professional development AND the PTFA has enough money, we will gladly cover the cost of training (including mileage and food) for YOU. 

Anyhow, you all have paid ($275.00) for my training (via your dues) at this year's AFL-CIO Summer School sponsored by the Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) at the U of O. I've been to other LERC trainings and they have been so informative.

http://pages.uoregon.edu/lerc/

I left Portland at 2:00pm today (Friday) and arrived at 4:00. I've never been to Eugene, let alone the U of O. So...thank you for the trip. We are staying in real dorms, something else I've never seen. My room is quite small and filled with identical, fairly cheap, mass-made furnitue on each side of the room: a tiny single bed, a wardrobe (no closet), a small desk and a dresser. The floor is concrete. The bathrooms & shower are down the hall. It's fine and I am not complaining, just sharing my first dorm-room experience. So far, my roommate has not showed up.

The rest of the campus is beautiful. I walked east across Franklin (road? street?), across a canal and then across the Willamette. There is nice, big, forested park there. I saw a sign which said something about the "Wilamut" nature area. is that the original spelling of "Willamette"? The river has bike/walking paths on both sides for about 5 miles each way.

I probably won't have time to walk it, however, as my day tomorrow is full. My first workshop is from 8:30 to 11:45, then lunch, then my second workshop, then a picnic, icre-cream social, labor film festival, a tour of WPA art & architecture, karaoke, volleyball, frisbee golf and an auction. How cool is that! Thank you!  Sunday AM is my last workship, then I'll drive back home.

Tonight's dinner was great. We had several speakers, then an icebreaker activity. The second speaker was Tom Chamberlain, the Oregon AFL-CIO president. His speech was a lovely surprise; he talked about how it's time for unions to collaborate with other organizations to create a middle class for the 99%. He talked about "workers" rights; not "union" rights. And he had a cool analogy: you can walk slightly downhilll to the right, next to a stream and to a seemingly lovely place. Or you can walk uphill to the left on a dirt road towards the fight for the 99%. 

More tomorrow. Thanks for funding my trip. Jennifer

As stated in my last two emails, the bylaws (inc name change) will be presented soon, hopefully over the weekend. I also need to get you a copy of the updated bylaws and some OEA applications. Again, you canNOT vote on the bylaws if you are not an OEA/NEA member. It does NOT cost any extra.

I know full well that it may make more sense to discuss the name change before introducing the bylaws, so....here is your chance. The name we came up with is Assoc of Academic Professionals. "Adjunct" has been suggested as a better fit. Many folks are happy with "part-time". 

Hi Folks, I overlooked the LGBT OEA newsletter in my pile of emails. Here's the link: https://docs.google.com/file/d/1_CW-xAofb9y3TC25xfKtJM_wrYgDGvWlNxlkMMXuQEN7LqkuW99cNb2rZXJH/edit?pli=1

Upcoming OEA and other Conferences and Events

1. August 10-12th: AFL-CIO Summer School (UO/Eugene)

http://pages.uoregon.edu/lerc/pdfs/aflcioss2012brochure.pdf

The cost is about $250.00, plus reimbursement for your meals and gasoline. Please let Jennifer know if you intend to go. Two sessions are already closed.

2. 

http://nwtsj.org/register/

5th Annual Northwest Conference on
Teaching for Social Justice

“Rethinking Our Classrooms, Organizing for Better Schools”

Saturday October 20, 2012
8:00 – 4:30

Madison High School,
2735 NE 82nd
Portland, OR 97220

 

This looks like a K-12 event, however, the PTFA will cover the cost of the conference and your gasoline.

Oregon Labor Candidate School:

"Tired of policy makers ignoring the interests of working families? Ever thought of running for office? Now is your chance to be the change from within – sign up for the Oregon Labor Candidate School (OLC) today!
 
The Oregon Labor Candidate School is a 6-month intensive program that will provide union members all the tools and support needed for a successful bid for elected office – whether it’s the local school board or a seat in the state legislature. OLCS is designed and run for and by active union members.
 
The OLCS is currently accepting application for its first class scheduled to begin in September 2012. Applications are due by July 27, 2012. The school will be limited to a maximum of 12- 14 members for the first year.  Party registration is not a consideration in the selection process. For more information on the program, the selection criteria and to apply please visit our website."

http://www.oregonlaborcandidateschool.org/ 
  
Oregon Education Association
6900 SW Atalanta
Portland, Oregon97223