Mobilizing members to take action to reclaim the American Dream will be the focus when the 2012 NYSUT Representative Assembly convenes April 26-28.
With presidential, congressional and New York state legislative seats up for grabs, and against the backdrop of a struggling economy and lingering attacks on public employees, strengthening our political action and finding ways to engage even more members in the political process — from grassroots lobbying, to phone banking, to turning out to vote — will take center stage. Some 2,500 delegates and guests are expected to gather at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.
"The political landscape has changed, leaving working families questioning their future and many wondering what has become of the American Dream," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi in a letter to local leaders. "We have the opportunity to shape the debate and reclaim the dream. It will require us to engage our members as never before, reminding them and ourselves that our vote is our voice."
The RA is NYSUT's annual policymaking convention. It is immediately preceded by the pre-RA Local and Retiree Council Presidents Conference, a gathering of hundreds of NYSUT leaders from around the state who meet to share experiences and to receive updates, information and strategies to empower their members to act locally.
For more information on the RA, visit the NYSUT website at www.nysut.org.
Upcoming issues of NYSUT United will also share information, including how to find proposed resolutions and constitutional amendments that will go before delegates for deliberation and action.