Dear Delegates, Alternates, Honored Guests, and Staff.

I am humbled -- and deeply honored -- to serve as your President AND especially to be in this position at such an important juncture of PSE's history. Friends, as we near the end of this historic and productive weekend, I hope each of you has taken to heart this year's convention theme: Stronger Together.

Stronger Together doesn't just reflect the power or potential of our affiliation with SEIU. It's a reminder of what we can accomplish when we as individuals develop those personal bonds that endure for years.

Like all of you, I was a First Timer at a PSE Convention once upon a time. The year was 1991 and we met in SeaTac. Those of you who were around then recall we didn't call them conventions. Instead we called them Seminars.Now, don't ask me to remember all the details of what happened 18 years ago. But let me tell you what really stands out in my mind all these years later. It's the people I met from all around the state, and the bonds that were forged with members from my own chapter. People like Jeff Cross and Dan Reese, Ginger Gray, Sherry Osborne and Kathy Bradstreet, and many, many others.

I also remember being inspired by our then state President, Claire Irwin a strong leader from my own chapter, Central Valley.
This year I'm living a dream come true. Each day I strive to live up to the high calling you deserve from your PSE President. I can tell you, there is truly no place that I would rather be than here with you as we plan our future together.

As I have presided over this convention and looked into your eyes and hearts, I have been constantly mindful of the terrible effects of this economic recession on our membership, our schools, and our communities. I struggle with the harsh reality that some of our members are facing layoffs.

One of our most active leaders, Edmonds EAP President Pam Lux, is facing this very dilemma. She's still not sure if she will have a job in September. Pam is a dedicated special education paraeducator and a talented, smart, hard-working local leader. She's passed up more lucrative job opportunities in other fields so that she can put her heart into helping school children. It would be an absolute shame for her not to follow her calling. In addition to Pam, there are other PSE members who are likely to have their work hours cut back when they return to work this fall.

Let's raise your hands - How many of you think your hours will be cut next school year? To you, and to all those dedicated school employees who may be forced to find work outside of education, I say: "Hang in there! Don't give up yet!" Like you, I'm saddened by the economic hardship to each individual. I'm also saddened for the loss of these compassionate advocates for young minds, bodies, and souls. But what helps me to endure tough economic times like these is PSE's strong tradition of being a member-driven organization. It's what makes me the most proud.

At many times like these throughout PSE's history, we have stood shoulder-to-shoulder when the going got tough, and we worked hard together. Time and again we ALWAYS!! come out the other side stronger than before. We'll do it again!

The State of our Union will not be limited or constrained by Wall Street, the housing market, or the latest unemployment report.
Despite what the economists are saying, the State of OUR Union is fundamentally strong and we're steadily building the capacity for bigger victories as we recover from this recession. PSE will emerge from this moment in history stronger and in a better leadership position in the state and indeed the nation. If we are Stronger Together, nothing will stop what we are able to achieve!

Those of you who know me probably know I'm a positive, optimistic and outgoing person. Why do I have hope? Let me tell you.
I have hope because our PSE team is strong and becoming stronger every day. We are Stronger today because of several break-through moments we experienced this past year. With each break-through, PSE gains more strength to tackle even bigger challenges in the future.

Break-Thru Number 1 (Member Lobbyists)
Let me have another show of hands… How many of you have participated in a contract negotiations team in your district?
Thank you. Thank you for your hard work! Do you know that our wages and benefits are tied directly to Washington State lawmakers? Before we can win at the bargaining table we first have to win better funding in Olympia. We experienced a break-through of member activation earlier this year in Olympia. To our governmental relations team we've added a new group of Grassroots Member Lobbyists who take time away from work to personally lobby lawmakers in Olympia.

PSE members helped rescue our classified staffing ratio from the budget axe in the Senate. And they helped turn the tide on education reform as well. We hope to build and refine this successful member activation program next year. And as we do so, our membership will become more and more informed and connected. We'll increase our local chapters' ability to engage members on legislative issues, and we will strengthen relationships with those lawmakers who make a difference.

Break-Thru Number 2 (Federal lobbying)
As I mentioned before, there is a chain of events that helps determine what we can win at the bargaining table. In addition to winning in Olympia, we also realize that the Federal government requires an increasing degree of scrutiny and member involvement. We don't have the luxury of sitting on the sidelines while others dictate our fate. We must be our own advocates! Our members are on the front line, breaking through to a whole new level of strength. For the first time, PSE members are beginning to engage in advocacy with our Members of Congress on matters that affect education, public services, and union members:

• Over half of all members at our Legislative Conference wrote letters in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.
• Thousands of members signed and returned Action Cards in support of Free Choice, Health Care Reform, and an economic recovery program.
• And just two weeks ago, PSE joined with other SEIU Locals in our state of Washington in sending more phone calls to the Hotline in Washington DC than any other state in the union!

Once again, our affiliation with SEIU has put us in a better position to advocate for public education AND for working families across this great state and nation. But our affiliation with SEIU isn't the only step we're taking to ensure advocacy for our members in Washington DC.

This May, Public School Employees from Washington, California, Minnesota, and the National Education Association agreed to form a national coalition of classified employee unions. The purpose of this new coalition is to advocate a common federal agenda on behalf of over 1 million Classified School Employees. In addition, PSE is committed to leading other SEIU locals representing school employees to join this coalition to continue adding strength at the federal level. This is an ongoing process and I look forward to reporting on our progress throughout the coming year.

Break-Thru Number 3 (Ed Reform)
2009 was a break-through year for Education Finance Reform in Olympia. For the past three years our Stepping Up P-R campaign has focused on the need for more adequate, stable funding of classified jobs and services. This was the year that a substantial blueprint for reform was finally signed into law. We heard on Friday from Governor Gregoire details about how that new law will help our schools.

Perhaps more than anyone else in our schools, PSE members have the most to gain from the new law. For the first time in over 30 years, House Bill 2261 seeks to answer the critical question, "How many support staff does it take to run a school?"

There was tremendous pressure by the opponents of reform to kill HB 2261 and keep the status quo. PSE joined a growing coalition of parents and other advocates who want better schools now. During the session in Olympia, I was so proud to stand with the League of Education Voters, the PTA, school administrators, and other advocates in support of this historic legislation. Despite heavy opposition, PSE and the coalition held tight and together we broke through and achieved the change that we all seek. In the process, PSE has gained new allies and friends who are all in agreement that we need to - once and for all - end the reliance on local levies to pay for basic education services.

Break-Thru Number 4 (Electing Randy Dorn)
In 2008, we had an opportunity to change the course of education in Olympia and in our state. Even though the odds were stacked against us, we supported and elected a new Superintendent of Public Instruction, Randy Dorn!

Remember, our partnership with SEIU was the determining factor in the outcome of that election. PSE members, along with our brothers and sisters in SEIU, took steps to ensure that we would have an advocate in a position to make a difference for education in Washington state.


As our Executive Director for nine years, we know that Randy knows and understands the contributions that educational support staff make in the lives of students. For the first time in many, many years, we truly have a friend at OSPI! With Randy's help, leadership, and political influence, we look forward to countless break-thrus for classified employees in the years to come.
Congratulations to all of YOU who helped elect Randy Dorn.

Break-Thru Number 5 (WWU)
There were many, many break-throughs in our chapters this past year and I congratulate all of you for your part in building our strength and our voice at the grass-roots level. However, one chapter break-thru deserves special mention today.

Two weeks ago our higher education brothers and sisters ratified a new 2-year contract that guarantees agency shop at Western Washington University. Our PSE membership at Western is currently about 185 members. With this agreement in place, we should soon top the 300 mark. That's roughly a 40% increase in membership in a very short amount of time. I am extremely proud of the work that has been accomplished by our leaders and members in Bellingham to reach this agreement. And I'm thankful for the leadership that is coming forth from our other Higher Ed Chapter at Central Washington University.

In fact, would all of our higher education delegates and alternates please stand up and be recognized? Thank you.

We are becoming more excited about the continued progress we are making in the higher education arena to benefit all members at the college and University level. Higher Education is the major focus of our Organizing Department and it's where we see the majority of our membership growth.

As we move forward, all of us - whether you're pre-K, K-12 or Higher Education - let's remember to orient our thinking of PSE as covering ALL of public education from early learning through adulthood. We're all in the same business of education and we need to stand together to preserve the quality of our public service.

Break-Thru Number 6 (SEIU)
Finally, our most recent real break-thru was just this weekend when we cemented our affiliation with SEIU. The strength we are gaining through our relationship with the International union and other SEIU locals is only beginning to take shape. PSE is part of the most aggressive, fastest-growing labor movement in the United States today.

Plus, we're on the winning side that is making real differences in the lives of working men and women. Breaking through - that's what SEIU is doing when they create allies out of former adversaries like Wal-Mart and other business and social groups in order to win health care reform. I look forward to future break-throughs on Employee Free Choice, labor reform, and other federal legislation that will change the face of unions in our country. The force is with us! Together we win!

Friends, all the break-thrus I've mentioned today are because each of you are doing your part, in your schools, in your communities and in your union, to spread the word that classified support employees make a difference in the lives of children! Together, we have broken through this past year and taken our leadership to new levels. But I won't rest on these laurels and I hope you won't either.

In closing, allow me to put into my own words a few of my favorites verses from the Book of Philippians:

"Friends, we have not yet attained everything that we've set out to do. Despite all our accomplishments, we are far from the finish line. There is still work to be done.

"But we press on together to accomplish everything that we've dreamed of possibly achieving. Let us be thankful for today's gifts. Yet even more, we now turn our hearts to the future and continue following our call as a union to better the lives of our fellow sisters and brothers and the public schools and universities in which we serve."

Thank you.