OSEA is a “Member’s Union.” Each year that statement is confirmed when delegates from chapters throughout the state gather at the annual OSEA Conference as the governing body of the union.
Members elected to represent the interests of their chapter at Conference are the union’s ultimate decision-makers. This makes the annual OSEA Conference the union’s premier governing event. The delegates who attend adopt OSEA’s annual budget and act on resolutions that modify or amend the OSEA Constitution, change Board Policy and determine the direction of the association for the coming year, determine member dues, elect state officers and zone directors, ensure that the mission and goals of the union reflect the interests of the members and address many other topics that are brought forward by the members. Although the state Board of Directors, like the chapter executive board, has interim authority to govern the association, only member-delegates at the annual Conference can change the OSEA Constitution. Also, Conference is where members come together to share a sense of unity and solidarity as they learn about their union, themselves and other OSEA members.
Each chapter is entitled to send at least one elected delegate and one additional elected delegate for every five members or fraction thereof. The total number of delegates allowed per chapter cannot exceed 10.
Although each zone director serves a unique purpose, people holding these offices or committee positions are available to assist local chapters with their expertise or to communicate members’ needs to the Board of Directors.
Conference Resolutions
The association’s programs and priorities are established by resolutions submitted by members, chapters, state committees, ROSE or the Board of Directors and are acted upon by Conference delegates. Proposed resolutions must be submitted to the executive director by Feb. 1 to be considered at the following Conference.
Although a chapter or member submitting a resolution may fully understand its intent, it may be difficult to put the subject matter into proper resolution format. If requested, OSEA staff will help prepare the resolution and return it to the submitter for action. Such requests are to be directed to the executive director at the State Office in Salem. All pertinent information regarding the subject and intent of the resolution must be submitted with the request.
Staff does not evaluate the proposed resolution. The submitter’s expressed intent will simply be put in the proper form for Conference action. The resolution draft is then returned to the submitter for action by the chapter membership or member before submitting it to the OSEA Resolutions Committee.
Submitters choosing to prepare their own resolutions for submission should use the following general guidelines:
- Deal with only one issue in a resolution, unless the issues are so interdependent that they must be handled together.
- If proposing amendments to the OSEA Constitution or Board Policy, quote the current language and put a line through language you propose to delete. Underscore language you propose to add.
- Use no more words than absolutely necessary for clarity.
- A resolution must consist of two sections: a “Whereas” section and a “Resolved” section.
Resolutions submitted by chapters must first be approved by a majority vote of the chapter membership. A copy of the minutes of this chapter meeting must be signed by the chapter president and secretary and submitted along with the resolution.
OSEA Chapters — Networking With Your Peers
Often the best resource you have is another chapter president, who often has a wealth of experience and knowledge you can draw on. For example, your field representative tells you the chapter next door just resolved a grievance on assignment of overtime and a chapter in the next zone successfully negotiated just cause. Although a field representative can help you contact officers in these chapters, zone meetings, workshops and training seminars provide an opportunity for you to network with your peers and learn about common problems and creative solutions. Members should also be
encouraged to attend the annual OSEA Conference.
Election of Delegates
In accordance with the OSEA Constitution, Board Policy and federal law, each chapter delegate and alternate must be nominated and elected by secret ballot vote. Upon chapter certification of the election, the chapter secretary will then send to the OSEA State Office the names and addresses of the elected delegates, along with a copy of the minutes of the chapter meeting where the delegates were elected.
The chapter may choose to designate the chapter president and/or other elected chapter officers as automatic delegates; however this designation must be itemized in the chapter constitution/bylaws.
For additional information, refer to the OSEA Constitution (Article XI: Annual Conference) and OSEA Board Policy (Section 444: Chapter Election Policy).