Section 1800 – Affiliates

1801 - National AFT Delegate Election Process (Board Meeting, February 2008; 2008 Conference)

OSEA delegate representation to the biennial AFT National Convention shall be determined by the OSEA Board of Directors and shall not exceed the maximum number of delegates allowed by AFT. The Board of Directors shall determine the actual number of delegate positions based on available funding and resources in any election cycle. (Revised Board Meeting, March 2014)

The OSEA State President, State Vice President and State Secretary shall be automatic delegates to the AFT National Convention based upon their elected duties as State Officers. In the event a delegate position held by a State Officer becomes vacant, it shall only be filled by another eligible member of the Board of Directors, as determined by the Board of Directors.

All other delegate and alternate positions to the AFT National Convention shall be elected from among active members in good standing as defined in the OSEA Constitution, Article III, Section 2, Active Membership.

A notice of nomination, eligibility criteria, and election notice shall be sent to all OSEA members in the March issue of OSEA’s official publication, the Journal. All eligible members must submit their letter of nomination to the OSEA State Office no later than the deadline prescribed in the notice of nomination. Nominations postmarked after the deadline shall not be considered. (Revised 2011 Conference-Board Meeting, October 2011)

All candidates shall be notified of the election results via formal letter. A listing of all delegates and alternates shall be published in the June issue of the Journal. (2011 Conference-Board Meeting, October 2011)

Election of delegates and alternates shall be by secret mail ballot. Upon verifying the eligibility of all candidates, a mail ballot with each candidate listed in alphabetical order, along with a secrecy envelope and a postage-paid return envelope, shall be mailed to all OSEA members. Members will be asked to sign the return envelope for verification. All ballots must be returned via U.S. Mail and postmarked no later than the deadline stated on the election notice. OSEA shall arrange for a separate and secure post office box where ballots shall be sent. Ballots will not be accepted in person.

All returned ballots shall be verified and tabulated by OSEA Staff, under the direct supervision of the OSEA Executive Director and the OSEA State President or designee. It shall require a plurality vote to elect. In the event of a tie vote, determination shall be by lot.

All contested/challenged ballots shall be set aside and sequestered, unless they will affect the outcome of the election. If the contested/challenged ballots will affect the outcome of the election, the OSEA Executive Director shall rule on the eligibility of the contested/ challenged ballots. Any ruling of the Executive Director may be appealed to the OSEA Board of Directors at their next regular meeting. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final.

All nomination forms, ballots, tabulations, and other materials related to the election shall be kept on file for two years.
All candidates not selected as delegates shall be designated as alternates and ranked in descending order based on the number of votes received. An alternate will be called upon to fill a delegate vacancy based on this ranking.

All candidates shall be notified of the election results via formal letter. A listing of all delegates and alternates shall be published in the June issue of the Journal. (Revised 2011 Conference)

OSEA shall provide all delegates with travel, housing, meals, Time Release, and incidental expenses as provided for in OSEA Board Policy.

1802 - AACSE Director/Alternate Election Process and Duties (Revised 2011 Conference-Board Meeting, October 2011; Revised 2013 Conference-Board Meeting, October 2013)

As an affiliate member of the American Association of Classified School Employees (AACSE), OSEA is entitled to two Director positions on the AACSE Board of Directors. Delegates to the OSEA Annual Conference shall elect the two Directors for two-year terms by secret ballot majority vote – one to be elected in even-numbered years and one to be elected in odd-numbered years. In addition, delegates shall also elect two Alternate Directors for two-year terms in the same manner.

1. All OSEA members in good standing are eligible for election or re-election to any Director or Alternate position and shall adhere to the provisions set forth in OSEA Board Policy Section 103. Attendance at the Annual Conference shall not be required for election or re-election to these positions.
2. All candidates for AACSE Directors/AACSE Alternate Directors shall submit the Board-approved Intent/Nomination Form to the Election Committee, on or before March 1 of any election cycle, to ensure their inclusion in an OSEA Journal issue published prior to Conference. Intent/Notification to seek office, however, remains available to members through the nominating process at Conference.
3. Appointment to AACSE officer positions, which are president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, are conducted in accordance with the provisions set forth in the AACSE Bylaws. OSEA candidates for these offices must first be elected as an AACSE Director/Alternate at the OSEA Annual Conference.
4. In the event a Director is appointed to an AACSE officer position, an elected Alternate shall be designated by the OSEA Board of Directors to fill the vacated Director position until the next succeeding OSEA Annual Conference.
5. Any vacancy occurring in an Alternate position shall be filled for the remainder of that Alternate’s term by a special election conducted by the OSEA Board of Directors, except that a special election shall not be required if the vacancy occurs with 60 days or less remaining in the second year of a 2-year term. Any vacancy not filled by special election shall be scheduled for election at the next ensuing OSEA Annual Conference. The Association shall notify all OSEA members in good standing of the vacancy and pending special election via U.S. Mail not less than thirty (30) days prior to action on the matter. Eligible, interested members may apply for consideration by forwarding a letter of nomination to the OSEA State President not later than the date specified in the election notice. Such election shall be by secret ballot plurality vote of the OSEA Board of Directors voting at a regular or special meeting. In the event of a tie vote, determination shall be by lot.
6. All nomination forms, notices, ballot, tabulations, and other materials related to any regular or special election of AACSE Directors and/or Alternates shall be kept on file for at least two years.
7. In addition to serving as a seated Director or Alternate on the AACSE board of directors or as an appointed AACSE officer, a maximum of two AACSE Directors/Alternates shall also serve on the OSEA Government Relations Committee as non-voting members and act as liaisons between OSEA and the AACSE when appointed to do so by the OSEA State President, with the advice and consent of the OSEA Board of Directors. OSEA AACSE Directors/Alternates may also be appointed to serve on AACSE committees by the AACSE President in accordance with provisions set forth in the AACSE Bylaws.
8. OSEA shall provide AACSE Directors/Alternates with travel, housing, meals, Time Release, and incidental expenses as provided for in OSEA Board Policy.
9. Attendance by any non-seated alternate(s) or other OSEA members at any meeting or function of the AACSE shall be at the sole discretion of the OSEA State President based on available funding and/or need.

1805 - Oregon AFL-CIO Convention Delegate Elections (Board Meeting, April 2009; Revised 2018 Conference – Board Meeting, January 2019)

1. Delegate Representation
   1. The OSEA Board of Directors shall determine the number of delegate positions based on available funding and resources in any election cycle, which shall not exceed the maximum number of delegates allowed by the Oregon AFL-CIO.
   2. The OSEA Board of Directors shall be automatic delegates to the convention based upon their duties as elected officers.
   3. All other delegate positions, if any, shall be elected on a statewide, at-large basis at the OSEA Annual Conference held in odd-numbered years.
2. Eligibility Criteria – Eligibility to run for and hold a delegate position is enumerated in Article XIV of the OSEA Constitution.
3. Nomination and Election Procedures
   1. A notice of nomination and election shall be sent to all active OSEA members and all active ROSE members in good standing via an OSEA Journal issue published prior to the applicable Conference. The notice shall include:
      1. The number of delegate positions available;
      2. The eligibility criteria for election to delegate positions;
      3. Delegate duties and requirements;
      4.  Nomination and election timelines and procedures.
   2. All eligible members must submit their letter of nomination to the OSEA State Office no later than the deadline prescribed in the notice of nomination. Nominations shall also be taken from the Conference floor during the year of the election process. Candidates do not have to be present to be nominated and/or elected, however, write-in candidates shall be prohibited.
   3. Each candidate shall be required to complete a questionnaire which shall include the candidate’s applicable background and experience in OSEA, the labor movement, political activities and community activities, which may include:
      • Offices/positions held at the chapter, zone, state or national levels;
      • Committee service at the chapter or state levels;
      • Serving as an OSEA Conference delegate or representing OSEA at affiliate conventions;
      • Attendance at Legislative Education Day or participation in local or state elections;
      • Community activities that raised awareness of OSEA and the labor movement.
        1. The questionnaire will be available on the OSEA website or, upon request, may be mailed/emailed to potential candidates prior to Conference. In addition, the questionnaire will be available at Conference.
        2. The questionnaire must be completed and submitted to the Election Committee chair no later than the end of the second business session at Conference.
        3. Copies of completed questionnaires shall be made available to the delegate body prior to balloting.
   4. Election of delegates shall be by secret ballot. It shall require a plurality vote to elect. In the event of a tie vote, determination shall be by lot.
   5. All vacancies shall be filled by the elected alternates in descending order. If no alternates are available, the delegate position shall remain vacant.
4. Delegate/Alternate Duties and Responsibilities
   1. Any information related to the convention, to include resolutions and issues being brought forth, shall be provided to all delegates/alternates prior to the convention for study and review.
   2. Delegates/alternates shall be required to attend a pre-convention OSEA orientation meeting as scheduled by the President to review convention procedures, committee assignments, issues to be addressed and delegate expectations.
5. Expense Reimbursement
   1.  Delegate expenses, to include registration, meals, lodging and travel, shall be reimbursed pursuant to Board Policy 900.
   2. Delegates shall be eligible for State Association Time Release.

1807 - Central Labor Council/Chapter Delegate Seats (Board Meeting, September 2013; Revised Board Meeting, December 2015; Revised 2018 Conference-Board Meeting, January 2019)

1.  Delegate Representation
   1. The OSEA Board of Directors shall determine the number of delegate positions, which shall not exceed the maximum number of delegates allowed by the Oregon AFL-CIO.
   2. Delegate representation shall be by zone. Where the CLC’s jurisdiction includes multiple zones, whenever possible every attempt will be made to have an equal amount of delegates from each zone.
2. Eligibility Criteria—Any active member in good standing as defined in Article III, Section 2, of the Constitution or active ROSE members in good standing as defined in Article VI, Section 4, of the Constitution who were active OSEA members at any time prior to their retirement are eligible for appointment as a delegate to the CLC.
3. Appointment Procedures
   1. Appointment to a CLC delegate position shall be determined by the OSEA President with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors.
   2. The OSEA President shall provide the CLC president and each OSEA delegate written notice of any delegate appointments or removals.
   3. Candidates to fill CLC delegate positions shall be solicited by the applicable zone director from among eligible members who either work or reside within the jurisdiction of the CLC for which the appointments are being made. The names of such candidates shall be forwarded to the OSEA President for the president’s consideration.
   4. There are no term limits for CLC delegate appointments.
   5. If a seated delegate fails to attend two (2) successive meetings without sufficient cause, the position will be considered vacant. This vacancy shall be reported to the OSEA President and applicable zone director.
4. Delegate Duties and Responsibilities
   1. Delegates shall convene in September of each year and identify 1 individual to serve as the chair for the OSEA delegation.
      1. The chair serves as the reporting delegate at all CLC meetings.
      2. The chair shall ensure all CLC meeting agendas, minutes and other related documents are provided to the OSEA President, applicable zone director and the OSEA delegates.
   2. Prior to each CLC meeting, members of the OSEA delegation will meet to confer on pending issues.
   3. Delegates do not have the authority to commit OSEA resources. Such requests must be submitted by the OSEA chair to the OSEA Board of Directors for approval.
   4. Delegates shall not endorse, support or oppose any candidate for local, state or federal office nor take a position on any legislation in the name of OSEA, AFT, AACSE or any affiliated chapter without prior written approval of the OSEA Board of Directors.
5. Expense Reimbursement – Delegate expenses shall be reimbursed in accordance with Board Policy 905.10.

1810 - Governance Seats (Board Meeting, May 2008)

Whenever appropriate, appointees to affiliate governance seats shall be determined by the OSEA Board of Directors. For those governance seats calling for organizational decision-makers, OSEA’s State President and/or designee shall be the considered appointee with the advice and consent of the OSEA Board of Directors.

Appointments to national and/or state affiliate committees shall be determined by the OSEA State President with the advice and consent of the OSEA Board of Directors.

Appointments of staff to various national/state affiliate committees and/or task forces that are functions of staff operations to OSEA. These appointments shall be determined by the OSEA Executive Director.