Conference 2024

As OSEA President Sarah Wofford said in her state of the union speech, Conference “is where we go from being a union to being a family.” Delegates from across the state spent time learning, working, having fun and building community. We recognized some superstar members and chapters. We bonded over bingo and shared meals. And we built union skills side-by-side in workshops and trainings.

Recognition

• Jennifer Groth of Bend-La Pine Chapter 6 was celebrated as OSEA’s 2024 Member of the Year.
• Bonnie Luisi and Merlene Martin, both Lifetime Members of OSEA, received the Living the Legacy Award from OSEA and AFT.
• AFT presented OSEA with two awards: the PSRP Organizing Award, celebrating our ongoing work to organize, engage and empower educators; and the Lorrette Johnson Solidarity Award for legislative advocacy, in recognition of our groundbreaking state legislative wins that are paving the way for similar victories across the country.
• The Membership Incentive Program rewarded 24 chapters that reached membership rates of at least 70 percent by May 1.
• President Wofford also recognized six chapters that grew their membership rate by 15 percent or more last year.

Delegate Action

Along with all the fun, delegates voted on resolutions, the annual budget and Board candidates. Below is a summary of delegate actions.

Resolutions

• Resolution 1: Association Fiscal Year – Passed 
  Changes the Association fiscal year from June 1-May 31 to July 1-June 30.
• Resolution 2: Ensuring Accurate Dues Deductions – Passed
  Transitions from Association dues being based on 1.8% of a member’s annual gross salary (exclusive of overtime but including longevity and step increments) to 1.8% of a member’s gross salary (exclusive of overtime but including longevity and step increments).
• Resolution 3: Conference Committee Designation – Passed
  Designates the Conference Committee as a standing committee of the association, while continuing to recognize the authority and responsibility of the Board of Directors to manage the committee.
• Resolution 4: Advisor to the Board of Directors – Withdrawn
• Resolution 5: ROSE Executive Committee Vacancies – Passed
  Revises the constitutional requirements and processes to fill Executive Committee vacancies to provide clarity, the means for the Executive Committee to fulfill its responsibilities more effectively and consistency with processes used by the OSEA Board of Directors.
• Resolution 6: ROSE Membership Meetings – Passed
  Clarifies language in the Constitution to allow ROSE to conduct membership meetings more frequently than once each quarter.
• Resolution 7: Maintenance of Membership – Returned to the Maker
• Resolution 8: Study to Review Current Dues Structure – Withdrawn 

Budget

The 2024-25 Budget was adopted.

Elections

The following members were elected to the OSEA Board of Directors:

• Zone II Director: April Biancone of North Clackamas Chapter 71 (incumbent)
• Zone IV Director: Lisa Jenkins-Easton of Eugene Chapter 1
• Zone VI Director: GraceAnne McJunkin of Bend-La Pine Chapter 6
• Zone VII Director: Jeremias V. Martinez of Nyssa Chapter 82

State of the Union

President Sarah Wofford delivered her state of the union speech to delegates on Friday morning. She celebrated an organizing milestone for our union: two straight years of membership growth! “A strong union with an active, engaged membership is a force to be reckoned with,” Wofford said. 

Wofford credited OSEA’s growth to dedicated leaders at the chapter level who have found ways to boost outreach in the face of staffing shortages and high turnover. She also spoke about the success of OSEA’s new Intensive Membership Drives, which gave volunteers from across the state opportunities to learn and practice organizing skills.  

As the labor movement changes following the Janus decision and the covid-19 pandemic, Wofford told delegates, “We’re creating a ripple effect that may start small, but it will keep growing into the kind of worker power that lifts up all OSEA members.” 

Wofford closed her speech by thanking delegates for stepping up to do the business of the union, and celebrating all that OSEA members have accomplished together. “Being in a union means being seen and heard,” she said. “When you speak up, your words don’t fall on deaf ears. When you stand up, thousands of union siblings stand up with you. Being an OSEA member means being part of a community – a family – of educators and unionists who have your back.”