Off to LA on Friday

I am attending the CTA Summer Institute next week. I am taking some training in advanced bargaining. Sue is coming too. We are staying on campus and will eat at their institute cafeteria. It was originally designed to house and feed the athletes for the LA Summer Olympics.

Tomorrow we start two nights at the Hyatt Regency in Anaheim.. or rather Garden Grove.. Harbor Blvd. We got two nights for 65 dollars each night. The credit union had some great prices for 3 day park hopper passes at 165 per. We are going to have a great time. The truck has been serviced and we are partially packed. Any will be by to feed and water the cats and the plants. The weather is supposed to be pretty good. The highs are in the high 70's and lows in the 60's.

I will do my best not to take the simulation too seriously. I will probably get the management side this year. Sue is hoping that the friend she met with their family from Hespres is going to be there too. They always use this as an excuse for a family vacation.

What is really good about this conference is a chance to see the next level beyond our local support reps for negotiation. They really have some good people that know their ins and outs of contract. This is probably the reason so few districts go to strike votes. There really has to be something dyfunctional to get to that point.

We have a new sup this year. He has already been lighting fires and taking names. I hope that we may be able to perserve the transparency that we have worked so hard to get at the table. We represent over 550 teachers as their bargaining agent. I think we have done a pretty good job in the last 4 years.

Tomarrow at this time we should be in big D.

Have a great one

Pat