CSEA Annual Conference Begins
The 93rd Annual CSEA Conference opened Monday to a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, a salute to CSEA members and/or their family members currently serving in the United States armed forces, and, of course, plenty of speeches.
Association President Ben Valedepeña gave his “State of the Union” address, outlining several key challenges and accomplishments during the past year. The greatest challenge to CSEA and all unions was the Supéreme Court’s decision in January to end service fee payments by nonmembers. However, President Valedepeña also mentioned that the CSEA budget was only minimally impacted because the estimated number of people expected to drop out of the union was only about 15% of the anticipated number, and CSEA made a modest raise to dues at last year’s conference to prepare for a financial downfall. All in all, CSEA lost a little more than $1 million in dues while they anticipated a loss of more than $7 million.
The morning session’s low point came when Valedepeña called for a moment of silence for the victims of the shooting in Gilroy on Sunday July 28. The youngest victim of the shooting was also the grandson of a CSEA member. She and her daughter were also injured in the shooting.
Keynote Speaker Jonathan Mooney gave an impassioned and personal speech of personal experience about the positive and important work that classified employees do. Mooney talked about his growing up as a child with learning disabilities who was labeled the “bad” kid or the “dumb” kid, and how his life would have headed in the wrong direction were it not for the classified employees who took time to encourage him, show him to recognize his strengths and abilities, and not to listen to the negative people who called him “dumb.” Despite having dyslexia and attention deficit disorder and not learning to read until he was 12, Mooney described his journey through an educational system that, as he explained it, focused on trying to make him out to be what they expected rather than focusing on identifying and encouraging his strengths and abilities. As a result of the encouragement he received from his classified school employees, Mooney earned an honors degree in Literature from Brown University and has written two books as well as becoming a motivational speaker and mentor to children with “learning differences” as he likes to call it.
Ending the afternoon session and through to the end of the first session, delegates at conference were also introduced to candidates running for CSEA Office, including Association President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, and Secretary. While the president and vice president candidates were running unopposed, the Association Constitution and By-Laws require a confirmation vote from the Delegates. Three candidates are running for Secretary. All candidates received the required nomination from the floor and gave their campaign speeches.
Pictures of your delegates are available on the Chapters Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts.
“To improve the lives of our members, students, and community.”
CSEA Chapter 262 • 1100 N. Grand Avenue Walnut, California 91789 • 909.274.6262 • www.csea262.org