The annual California Federation of Teachers convention, the highest decision-making body of the statewide organization, will be held this year March 16-18 at the Wilshire Grand Los Angeles.

Dynamic speakers from the worlds of education, politics and labor will complement a full range of workshops exploring union and education-related issues under the umbrella of the convention theme, "Members leading the way." One presenter will be Raquel Cruz Manzano, Secretary of Professional Affairs for the Oaxaca teachers union Section 22 (photo on right). Another will be Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. And you won't want to miss the program during the delegate reception on Friday evening, which will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the statewide union's Labor in the Schools Committee.

The union's vitality and democracy depend on participation in the convention by delegates from all locals in good standing representing all the divisions–classified, community college, early childhood/K-12, adult education and university–of the CFT.

Here are the materials and information delegates need to get registered, reserve a room at the hotel, sign up for childcare, and submit a resolution.

Each local may also nominate local publications and communications for awards, which will be presented at the convention (the form must be signed by your local president). If your local is not already taking care of meal events and convention committee assignments (ask your local officers if you don't know) you may also download meal and committee assignment forms.

Note: if you need Adobe Reader–necessary to download the "Convention Schedule" –click here.

To download the full text of all proposed convention resolutions, click here (MS Word document).

For more information contact your AFT local.

To get a sense of what a CFT convention is like, or, if you were there last year, to refresh your memory, read about last year's convention, or the 2005 CFT convention.