President's message
Join us at the GREATEST and safest Annual Conference!
Greetings CSEA siblings,
I don’t know about you, but I am counting down the days (heck, let me be honest, the hours and minutes) until our largest event of the year… CSEA’s 96th Annual Conference! I am sure our founders could have never imagined what a huge and meaningful event Annual Conference would grow to become. After all, a group of only nine men and one woman assembled for CSEA’s first conference in the 1920s. In just one week, approximately 3,000 attendees, including 1,700 delegates, are anticipated to convene in Las Vegas as we return to our first in-person conference since 2019. It’s been three whole years since we have come together for conference, and what a wonderful celebration we expect it will be! When we set out to plan this year’s conference, I was passionate about creating greater transparency by opening it up to even more members than just in-person attendees. I am pleased to share that for the first time ever conference will be hybrid, meaning every member of CSEA can witness their union’s democracy in action from the comfort of your very own home. Conference is going to be a welcome reunion for us, with four full days of activities. It will include the State of the Union, Executive Director’s report, award recognition ceremonies, Humanitarian Fund pass the bucket, recognition of retirees, in memoriam video, benefit provider fair, on demand trainings, the annual Dinner Dance, and so much more. I am also very excited to announce that for the first time ever we will celebrate the life-changing impact of CSEA’s No-Cost College Program. Around 150 members who have completed the program will don their caps and gowns for a graduation ceremony during the closing ceremonies. CSEA is a family where we look out for each other, whether on the job or at our Annual Conference. For this year’s event, that means taking extra precautions because of COVID-19, including protocols for vaccination, testing and masking for all in-person attendees. By being fully vaccinated, testing before and upon arrival, and masking throughout the event, we will all be working together to keep each other safe, healthy and able to fully enjoy every aspect of what conference has to offer. I hope to see you at this year’s conference, which is sure to be our GREATEST and safest one yet! For conference details, visit www.csea.com/conference. Thanks for all that you do!
In Solidarity,
Matthew "Shane" Dishman, Association President
AP commemorates historic passage at White House
On July 11, Association President Matthew “Shane” Dishman joined President Joe Biden and fellow dignitaries on the lawn of the White House to commemorate the historic passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022.
For far too long, students and school staff in America have lived with the fear of experiencing gun violence at their schools. Our school communities should be havens for learning – safe to learn, safe to be yourself, and safe from deadly violence.
Signed into law by President Biden on June 25, this bipartisan legislation is a step in the right direction toward solving our nation’s epidemic of gun violence.
“With rights, comes responsibility. Yes, there is a right to own guns. But there is also a right to live freely,” President Biden said at the White House event that included survivors of mass shootings.
The provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that will directly improve the safety of CSEA’s quarter million school employee members are:
- Expanding background checks
- Providing additional funding for school safety
- Creating a clearinghouse for school safety best practices
“We can still do more to make our schools and communities safer from gun violence, and CSEA will play an active role in supporting commonsense federal and state bills that move us closer towards ensuring our schools, students, and members are safe,” said Dishman in a statement following the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas that killed 21, including 19 fourth graders.
Association President Matthew "Shane" Dishman hosts the video series: "What's the Word?"
In these episodes, Dishman speaks with members across California about current issues that matter most to them. Catch each new episode by simply subscribing to the CSEA YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/CSEAvideo. To watch previous episodes, click here.
