Local Presidents received an invitation by mail to the 2009 AFT-Oregon Local Presidents Conference, Saturday, December 5, 2009, at the Benson Hotel in Portland. Local Presidents and one additional second officer or staff member and Executive Council members are invited to attend this event which highlights successes and programs on the challenges ahead.
The program includes a major topic on changing the conversation about government with Patrick Bresette, Associate Program Director of the Demos Project. The public rhetoric forms and perpetuates the myths about government and government employees. Everyone can list them. There’s “big government;” “generous public employee pensions and benefits;” “can’t fire teachers;” “government can run anything;” “I don’t get anything for my taxes;” and many, many more. This rhetoric undermines members' efforts to do good work in properly funded government institutions in education, health care and public services. The conference will examine how to change that conversation.
Register now, and no later than November 20, 2009. The Benson Hotel, a union facility, is located at 309 SW Broadway (corner of Oak and Broadway). Overnight room accommodations will be provided for those attending from outside the Portland Metro area when registration is confirmed. Please note the hotel registration deadline is November 4, 2009.
AFT-Oregon Executive Council officers are reminded of separate registration information they were sent.
