New delegates from left, Linda Beeley and Betty Peterson, of the Rochester Association of Paraprofessionals, and Alisha Bahrmann of the Schalmont TA.
Parliamentary procedure and the unification resolution topped the agenda of a standing-room-only crowd at the new delegate orientation. Questions ranged from how convention-floor voting works, to just who is, and who is not, allowed on the convention floor.
"A major part of your function as delegates is to vote on the 118 or so resolutions submitted by locals," explained Robert Carillo, NYSUT's special projects coordinator, who led the session. Other topics covered in the program that helps new RA participants learn the ropes included the role of caucuses within the organization, and how resolutions are implemented following the RA.
For Dennis Sheehan and Ned Divine, delegates from The Resource Center United Employees Association, Chautauqua County, both the RA and NYSUT membership itself are relatively new experiences. The 600-member local was organized just three years ago after a 15-year struggle for representation. "This is the first RA that we've sent representatives," said Ned Divine, past president of the local. "The last few years we've been focused on getting a contract passed."
Attending the orientation meeting whetted local President Sheehan's appetite for greater union involvement. "I'm definitely interested in getting involved in the committees," he said.