Notes from Camp, 2009: July 1

Years ago, when I attended the NEA Annual Meeting as a local delegate, I began sending "Notes from Camp." These were reports back to friends and colleagues who had expressed an interest in keeping up-to-date with events occurring there. I attend now as a staff member and not a local delegate, but the reaction from various associates continues to be positive. So here's a report on this year's NEA Annual Meeting in San Diego. Delegates should feel free to add their own comments: there's a link to allow you to do that.--Bill Lavezzi, executive director

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

It isn't like annual meeting events actually began today: NEA has been holding various conferences since last week, and some leaders have been in town for a week. But the way NEA counts the days, today was the first day of the Annual Meeting. By the evening tonight, probably 95% of Ohio's delegates had arrived, and most of those had registered in the Ohio delegation headquarters in the Green Room on the third floor.

Registration and exhibits opened at the San Diego Convention Center this morning, so many delegates headed there to register and to pick up literature and assorted freebies from the various exhibitors. Leaders of state delegations were interviewing candidates for NEA positions that will be elected on Saturday.

For many delegates, this is a good day to see the host city. They don't have a lot of responsibilities yet: the RA itself won't start until Friday, and states like Ohio won't hold their first caucuses in the host city until tomorrow. A lot of delegates spent some time today exploring Coronado Island, the Gaslamp District, Balboa Park, the USS Midway Museum, or other local attractions. Others hung out by the pool, and many visited the Ralph's Supermarket just a half mile up First Street to pick up items that don't ship too well.

The big event of this evening is always Ohio Night, which is OEA's welcome of delegates to the host city. While Ohio Night doesn't offer dinner, it does feature some heavy hors d'oeuvres, refreshments, and plenty of desserts. But it's just a brief celebration to start a long conference, and all of us need to rest up for tomorrow's first caucus.

WSL

For a look online at the work of the Annual Meeting, check out www.nea.org/annualmeeting.
For NEA's Annual Meeting Blog, go to http://nea-ra.blogspot.com.