AFSCME MN Council 5 Convention

AFSCME MINNESOTA COUNCIL 5
4th ANNUAL CONVENTION
September 25, 26, 27, 2008

Sheraton-Bloomington Hotel
Bloomington, MN

The Official Convention Call containing individual local union credentials and related convention information was mailed to all local union presidents July 18. If your local did NOT receive its packet, please contact Michelle Stein at the Council 5 South St. Paul Office immediately to receive a duplicate set of materials. Some of this information is also found below (please contact Michelle for the various registration forms).

Delegates to this Convention must be elected in accordance with the provisions of Section 3A of Appendix D of the International Constitution. IMPORTANT: Credentials must be mailed and postmarked no later than September 15, 2008. Any delegate/alternate whose credential is not mailed and postmarked by September 15 shall be considered irregular. Irregular delegates shall be seated as guests until the convention votes to seat irregular delegates following the initial report of the Credentials Committee.

VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: Delegate registration will commence Wednesday evening, September 24, from 6-9 PM at the Sheraton-Bloomington Hotel. Registration will re-open on Thursday morning, September 25 at 7:00 AM and close promptly at 9:30 AM, at which time no further registration of delegates will be allowed. It is imperative that registration be closed at this time in order to prepare for the Council 5 Chair Officer, District, and Sector elections, which will take place later that day (this is in accord with the governing policy and provisions of the AFSCME International Union Election Code, as contained in the Constitution, and the Federal Landrum-Griffin Act). Also, members will need to provide some form of photo ID (i.e., driver's license) at the time of convention registration.

Please ensure your local's elected delegates/alternates are aware of these important registration details: bring photo ID with you, and delegates wishing to register after 9:30 AM on Thursday will be registered as guests only and will NOT be allowed to vote.

Important convention deadlines (now past due):

August 15: Deadline for submission of nominations for Achievement Awards
September 3: Reservation cut-off at Sheraton-Bloomington Hotel (see Housing info link below)
September 5: Deadline for submission of proposed resolutions
September 10: Reservation cut-off at Crowne Plaza-Mpls Airport West (see Housing info link below)
September 15: Deadline for submission of credentials
September 15: Deadline for submission of workshop registration forms
September 15: Deadline for submission of child care & special accommodation requests

DELEGATE WORKSHOPS: Several workshops are planned; the Council's education staff have developed and coordinated a variety of educational workshops which will be held on Friday, September 26th from 8 AM to 11:45 AM. There will also be a "new delegate" workshop held on Wednesday evening September 24th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM for Council 5 members who are new to the convention experience.

BLOOD DRIVE: There will be a Blood Drive on Friday, September 26th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; the Bloodmobile will be outside the Sheraton-Bloomington Hotel. For pre-registration contact Kathy Stevens at 218-591-2922 and leave a message including name, birth date, and contact phone number or email Kathy at: momcrisco@yahoo.com.

DISPLAY YOUR LOCAL’S BANNER! Locals wishing to display their banner should either drop off their banner at the Council 5 SSP Office by Friday, September 19th, or bring your banner to the delegate registration area the evening of Wednesday, September 24th (by 7 PM) so it can be placed in the Convention Hall. Banners will be displayed beginning Thursday morning through adjournment on Saturday. Locals are responsible for picking up their banner upon adjournment on Saturday afternoon, so please ensure you have a local rep available to do that.

HOSPITALITY ROOM: A Hospitality Room will take place in the evening of Thursday, September 25th and Friday, September 26th. This is sponsored by various policy committees and locals. This is not an AFSCME Council 5 sponsored event.

We will continue to keep you updated on convention plans. Members may also access updated convention information on the Council’s Web site.