2024 NEA RA - Gathering educators from across the country in Philadelphia

2023 NEA RA GROUP PHOTO
WEA's delegation posed for a group shot at the 2023 NEA RA in Orlando, FL.

Group dress update:

NEA will not be providing blue t-shirts at registration for delegates to wear on July 6th as we had originally heard. NEA is asking delegates to wear something they already have that is in the NEA blue color on day three of the RA – July 6.

  • Thursday, July 4 - Red, White & Blue
  • Friday, July 5 - Your choice
  • Saturday, July 6 - "NEA blue" 
  • Sunday, July 7 - WA State day, favorite WA sports team, your school attire

Reading Terminal Market

The Reading Terminal Market is closed on all major holidays, including July 4th.  Otherwise, they are open seven days a week though the vendors may choose to be open or not on any given day.

4th of July Activities

For July 4th, here is an interactive convention district map for lunch options on July 4th -  NEA Convention District Restaurants.  

Here are links to July 4th celebrations.  Their traditional fireworks takes place along the Delaware River.

https://www.visitphilly.com/july-4th-in-philadelphia/

https://july4thphilly.com/event/july-4th-concert-and-fireworks/

https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/events/wawa-welcome-america/

RA Delegates Training

The NEA Center for Governance has created two courses to prepare delegates for effective participation in the world’s largest democratic meeting. The courses are for members only and can be found on NEA’s learning management system (LMS): www.nea.org/pep. After creating an account and logging in, search for “An Introduction to the NEA Representative Assembly - A Course for Delegate Leaders.

Click each one to find more information:

The Pennsylvania Convention Center

The Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) is the site of the 162nd NEA Annual Meeting site and the 103rd NEA Representative Assembly.  Please note: this convention center is cashless. Bring a debit, credit or pre-paid card for any purchases you would like to make at the convention center.

The Pennsylvania Convention Center District is in the heart of Philadelphia surrounded by world?class dining, shopping, and entertainment.  

 Hall BCD – Representative Assembly

Hall A – Registration and Delegate Experience Area 

West Hall E – Voting

Support for Legislative Amendment

Franklin Pierce Education Association is seeking support from other NEA delegates for the issue below.

Proposal:

NEA shall lobby Congress to change the teacher tax deduction of $300 per educator to a tax credit of $1500 per educator. 

Please click this link to read the text of this Legislative Amendment and to add your signature in support: https://forms.office.com/r/Cdd97QypTx

2024 NEA-RA NBI: Decrease School Nurse Shortage

Name: Liz Pray

On Behalf of NEA Nurses in Schools Caucus

Please click this link to read the text of this New Busniess Item and to add your signature in support: 2024 NEA-RA NBI: Decrease School Nurse Shortage (google.com)

TRAVEL

Please plan your travel to arrive on Tuesday July 2, and depart Monday, July 8. Please note that this is not a hub for Alaska Air, so their prices are usually higher than Delta or United. Most delegates are finding flights in their preferred travel times on Delta. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

State and Local Delegates should coordinate travel and lodging with their Local or Council before making arrangements.

WA State Hotel and Caucus Location:

Philadelphia Marriott Old City, One Dock St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 *We do not have any more rooms available at this property.

  • Room rate $219 + fees and tax per night
  • Delegates will be asked for an incidental deposit at check in.
  • Cash deposit of $100 and direct billing charges to your room will not be allowed, or
  • Debit / Credit deposit of $100.  If you charge $50 or more in incidentals, your card will automatically be charged to bring your deposit back to $100.

Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown, 401 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 *This is our overflow property and we do still have rooms available.

  • Room rate $219 + fees and tax per night
  • Delegates will be asked for an incidental deposit at check in.
  • Cash deposit of $100 and direct billing charges to your room will not be allowed, or
  • Debit / Credit deposit of $100.  If you charge $50 or more in incidentals, your card will automatically be charged to bring your deposit back to $100.

The Renaissance is about 4 blocks from the Marriott Old City.

Currently, we do not have bus services between the two hotels or between the Renaissance and the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  Delegates will be picked up and returned to the Marriott Old City and will have to walk or take public transportation back to the Renaissance.

  • Both hotels Check-in: 4:00 pm  / Check-out: 12:00 pm
  • Both hotels do not provide complimentary airport shuttle services.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (click the link for transportation information)

STANDING RULES AND ADOPTED PROCEDURES FOR THE WEA CAUCUS AT THE NEA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY (download this document)

EVENTS

WA Delegate Welcome Breakfast

  • Location: Philadelphia Marriott Old City, Ballroom C-D-E
  • Date and Time: July 3 from 7:00 am to 8:30 am

WA State New Delegate Orientation

  • Location: Philadelphia Marriott Old City, Ballroom C-D-E
  • Date and Time: July 3 from 8:30 am to 9:00 am

WEA State Delegate Caucus

  • Location: Philadelphia Marriott Old City, Ballroom C-D-E
  • Date and Time: July 3 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, followed by registration at the convention center.
  • WEA State Delegate Caucus will also meet each morning July 4 - 7, from 7-9 am at the Philadelphia Marriott Old City, Ballroom C-D-E, prior to each day’s NEA RA session.

Copies of RA Today will be available at our caucus meeting July 3, 5, 6, & 7.

  • No RA Today on 7/4/24.

GROUP DRESS DAYS

  • Thursday, July 4 - State shirts
  • Friday, July 5 - TBD / your choice
  • Saturday, July 6 - NEA blue color shirt
  • Sunday, July 7 - WA State day, favorite WA sports team, your school attire

2024 NEA RA REGISTRATION

  • NEA emailed delegate credential information out the week of June 3rd. No credentials will be mailed via US Postal Service. The email will contain a link to self-register and to register your guest(s). All delegates must pre-register themselves and their guests directly into Cvent before the first day of registration in Philadelphia on July 3. Delegates will register with their email address (used in the email received from NEA) along with their First and Last name to begin the Cvent registration process.
  • Once registered in Cvent, delegates will receive a Confirmation Email or Credential Email. Take this confirmation email with you to RA Registration!  A QR code will be contained within the confirmation email and used during the check-in process at RA. Delegates may present the confirmation / credential email in paper form or display on their electronic device to check in at RA registration.
  • If you have not received an invitation, be sure to look in your spam folder or other email accounts. If you still can't find the invitation, and you are an elected delegate, please go to www.nea.org/ra and click the RA Support link on the top banner. 

2024 NEA CONVENTION – NEA-FCPE FUNDRAISING

  • NEA Fund for Children and Public Education:  This is NEA’s political action committee.  The main fundraising event for the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education happens each year at the Representative Assembly.  Delegates are asked to make voluntary contributions to this fund vital to public education advocacy.  Many delegates try to raise some money for this fund before leaving for the RA in order to assist NEA in reaching the goal of $200 per delegate.  If you bring donations that you have gathered to the RA, you and the Washington delegation will receive credit.  Our delegation also has other NEA-FCPE fundraising activities.  Aisle seats in our Washington delegation seating section and the seat next to them are auctioned at our caucus meeting.  Purchasing auction items at our caucuses will also apply toward your $200 goal.  For NEA-FCPE fundraising questions, please contact Michael Lewis (michael.lewis@washingtonea.org)

“MUST HAVES” CHECKLIST BEFORE  LEAVING HOME

  • Your Confirmation Email or Credential Email.  A QR code will be contained within the confirmation email and used during the check-in process at RA registration.  Delegates may present the confirmation/credential email in paper form or display on their electronic device to check in at RA registration.  
  • Good walking shoes and a sweater or jacket (convention center is cold).
  • Money for your meals, sight-seeing, souvenir purchases and other fun.  
  • Money for NEA Fund for Children and Public Education silent auction items.
  • Money for Aisle Seats Auction     
  • Clear bag (just in case)
  • Donation items for silent auction at caucus meeting 
  • Download documents from Delegate Website

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

If you have any questions, please contact Jill Dahlen, WEA Statewide Event Coordinator, jdahlen@washingtonea.org / 253-431-9618.

NEA Resolutions Committee

2024 NEA RA WEA Delegates will be electing 2 current delegates to the NEA Resolutions Committee for 2 year terms. 

2024 Candidates for Office (Click the link for additional information on each candidate)

  • WA State Voting Date and Time - July 5, 2024 at 11:45 am

2024 Candidates for NEA Executive Committee

Here is a link to NEA Executive Committee interviews that were conducted by NCSEA (state presidents)

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/nJUr7sR8oIlKXuXRPhTLm7zs6EVC4H2-NcpCxhSJEAd1IicNgLz9tvBQM3zwjTZt.jzYrq6r1oUYcExti

Passcode: =VMt8g&Q     

2024 NEA RA Delegate Communication June 8, 2024 Issue 1

2024 NEA RA Delegate Communication June 14, 2024 Issue 2

2024 NEA RA Delegate Communication June 21, 2024 Issue 3

Future dates and locations for the NEA Representative Assembly

  • 2025 - July 2-6 - Portland, OR
  • 2026 - July 3-7 - Denver, Colorado
  • 2027 - July 1-5 - Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 2028 - July 1-5 - Washington, DC
  • 2029 - July 1-5 - Kansas City, Missouri