We kicked off Thursday with skill-building. Delegates attended workshops on the role of a steward, bargaining Head Start contracts, running a meeting and more. Then it was time for fun: Opening Ceremonies brought delegates together to officially open Conference. The night wrapped up with "What Decade Are You?"-themed bingo, called by ROSE Zone I Coordinator Missy Johnson. On Friday, we got down to business. There were eight resolutions up for debate this year, seven Board positions up for election and the site for future Conferences to be selected.
“We had so much to do this year, and we had a lot of fun doing it!” said President Sarah Wofford. “Our delegates worked hard to contribute to our path forward. I appreciate everyone who participated in the debate, listened to all sides and voted with their hearts for the good of our union.”
Delegate Action
Conference is a showcase of the democratic process: every delegate on the floor can participate in debate, make motions and vote. This year, delegates approved a resolution to make it easier for members on long-term leave to maintain their OSEA membership. For members with a chronic or catastrophic illness or injury, our union community can be a lifeline in times of need. This change allows us to embrace our coworkers when they are down and recognizes the importance of our union bonds with our fellow chapter members.
The emergency dues reduction resolution did not pass. However, delegates voted to create an ad hoc member committee to study our dues structure and explore different options for calculating dues and/or a dues cap. The committee will report back by Conference 2026 on what it learned and any suggestions for changes. This resolution gives members the opportunity to really dig into how our union is funded, collect all the relevant facts and ensure that our dues structure continues to be fair, balanced and equitable going forward.
Bring your ideas to the delegate body
Any member can submit a resolution to be heard at Conference. Resolutions make changes to OSEA’s governing documents or change the union's official position on an issue. If you have an idea to improve OSEA, reach out to the Resolutions/Constitution Committee, whose members can help you turn that idea into an actionable resolution ahead of our next Conference.
Board Elections
We inducted the 2025-26 Board of Directors! Kris Dowell of Centennial Chapter 113 was elected as the state vice president. She joins our Board of Directors for the first time. State President Sarah Wofford of Rogue Community College Chapter 152 won re-election as president, and incumbent Mary Hofer of Bend-La Pine Chapter 6 rounds out the executive team as state secretary.
Four zone director positions were up for election this year. Congratulations to Zone I Director Misty Talerico of Tillamook Chapter 28, Zone III Director Sella Bemrose of North Santiam Chapter 122, Zone V Director Alecia Elverude of Central Point Chapter 47 and Zone VII Director Jeremias Martinez of Nyssa Chapter 82 on their elections!
When I became chapter president, I was excited to use my people skills to build bridges, but I saw how many of our classified staff didn’t realize their own power. Too often, we get warn down by the hierarchy and start to believe our voices don’t matter. In my work as a transition specialist, I focus on removing barriers. I began to see there are barriers for our chapters, too. That’s what drove me to run for state vice president – to help break down those barriers and lift us all up. I believe people have the power to change the world. OSEA is full of people who also believe that. Sometimes people just need to be shown the path to make their change happen. I ran for state office to learn that path so I can show others. If we all work within our locus of control that is a power that can’t be beat. A Message from Vice President Kris Dowell
OSEA President
Secretary
Zone III Director
Zone VII Director
OSEA Vice President
Zone I Director
Zone V Director
Conference Location Will Change in 2027
Our Conference location will be moving! Delegates vote on the Conference site every three years, choosing between options that must meet our needs for capacity, meal cost and date availability. This year, delegates selected Seven Feathers Resort and Casino in Canyonville for Conference 2027, 2028 and 2029. Next year, Conference will return to the Holiday Inn – Columbia Riverfront.
Be There Next Year!
Conference is a unique event: important decisions are made, connections are forged and foundational organizing skills are built. We saw more chapters at Conference this year than the previous two years – and we’d love to see every chapter send representatives! Conference is your chance to have a voice in vital decisions. We offer scholarships to chapters that don’t have the funds to send delegates. It’s never too early to start thinking about Conference 2026!