PSRP Conference 2005

The 28th annual AFT PSRP Professional Issues Conference was held March 31st through April 3rd in Anaheim California. The theme of the Conference was Raising Issues... Taking Action... Moving the Union On.

Seven members of Local 943 were fortunate enough to be able to attend this conference and take part in many of the very informative and useful workshops that were available for every constituency represented by the PSRP division. This conference also afforded the opportunity to meet and share ideas with PSRPs from across the country and the Virgin Islands.

The members representing Local 943 were Christine Adamo, Laurel Alvarez, Mary Kay Burton, Lori Dunnett, Donna Flanigan, Jan Lamphere,and Judy Spirakes. Beside attensing general sessions and workshops, our members were also able to socialize and take a little time for some sightseeing.

Below are just a few of the many workshops that were offered were:

Bully, Bully: Are You a Bully
Gangs in Schools
Portfolio Development for Paraprofessionals
Whose Job Is This Anyway? Making Reclassification Work
Bargaining to Organize
I'm Just a Union Member: What Can I Do?

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Mary Kay Burton, Donna Flanigan, and Laurel Alvarez look over the day's agenda	Mary Kay Burton, Donna Flanigan, Lori Dunnett, and Jan Lamphere ready to go to their workshops	Jan Lamphere, Donna Flanigan, and Mary Kay Burton discuss what happened in their workshops

Donna Flanigan taking notes at a workshop with Julia Black from Juneau, Alaska and Marita Comp from Park Forest	The smiles on Donna Flanigan, Lori Dunnett, Mary Kay Burton, and Jan Lamphere show they are enjoying the conference	Judy Spirakes with keynote speaker, U.S. Congressman Michael Honda (D-CA), vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee

The PSRPs from Texas entertain at Solidarity Night	Jan Lamphere enjoying the entertainment	More fun at Solidarity Night

Loretta Johnson, AFT Vice President and Chairperson, AFT PSRP Program and Policy Council	Judy Spirakes with Nat LaCour, AFT Secretary-Treasurer	Tish Olshefski, Director of the AFT PSRP Division

Time to smell the flowers	Also a visit to Disneyland	Beautiful drive between the palms

PSRP Conference 2005

By Donna Flanigan

I want to thank Local 943 for giving me the opportunity to attend the PSRP conference in Anaheim on March 31 and April 1. I attended 5 different workshops relating to paraprofessional issues and union interests. I met many wonderful presenters and paras from states as far away as Alaska. The presenters were wonderful and showed us several useful tools that paraprofessionals can use in their schools.

I was most impressed with the workshop about portfolios. I learned the importance of a portfolio for paras as it pertains to the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) act. I also learned that your portfolio should contain accomplishments, articles you have written or were written about you and/or recognition you have received professionally, as well as career choices you have made in your life. It is almost like a history of your life on paper. It isn’t a very complicated project. All you need to begin is a 3 ring binder, several tabbed index dividers, protective sleeves and your certificates. I have plans to present a similar workshop to the support staff in our district at the beginning of next year.

I also had the opportunity to meet with media assistants from several states and compare job responsibilities. I was amazed at the diverse range of responsibilities paras have across the country. It was interesting to note that there isn’t a standard for everyone to follow.

I believe that all paras in our local should experience a conference such as this once in their career. You can bring back to your constituents so much valuable information. I thoroughly enjoyed this learning experience and I look forward to attending future conferences.

AFT Local 943
15521 South 70th Court
Orland Park, Illinois 60462
(708) 633-0943
(708) 633-0944 (Fax)

Kathy Setlak, president

IFT Field Staff
Tonia Havard-Dew Deneen Pajeau