CTA’s Orange Service Center Council held its first Fall Leadership Conference since 2020 with a focus on strengthening local member structures and preparing for the upcoming ’22 local election cycle.  For many members, it was a return to collaborative union work and learning opportunities sorely missed during the pandemic.

The agenda included Saturday’s keynote speaker, David Goldberg, who took members back to the days before collective bargaining when speaking out and organizing against inequity could cost you your job. He reminded attendees that strong sites are places where members have each other’s backs-the foundation of unionism.

During the Saturday event, members were free to choose from a host of electives, including Strengthen your Association with CTA/NEA Member Benefits Engagement, Site-Based Organizing for Association Reps and Chapter Leaders, Strengthen your Local– A Leader’s Guide to Membership, Site Rep Essentials, and Educators & the Law.

CTA Board members Denise Bradford and Joe Bartell were pleased with the turnout and energy as chapters throughout the county were represented at the conference. Capistrano president and attendee Joy Schnapper remarked,

“This conference has reinforced my belief in local chapter power. Building site strength will be critical as we face opponents and defend truth in our curriculum.”