Delegates at the OEA Representative Assembly

OEA's Representative Assembly Leading the Work of Our Union

Every April, hundreds of OEA members from across the state gather together to chart the business of our union for the upcoming year.

OEA RA at a Glance

Each spring, nearly 1,000 Oregon educators meet to debate the vital issues that impact public education in Oregon and create our our union's policy platform, legislative objectives, and new business items for the year ahead. These delegates represent the 42,000+ educators across the state who are proud members of the OEA.

2025 Representative Assembly

Event Information

Date (In-Person):
Friday, April 18th and Saturday April 19th.

Location (In-Person):
Holiday Inn Portland – Columbia Riverfront
909 N. Hayden Island Dr.

Hotel Information

Primary Hotel

Holiday Inn Portland – Columbia Riverfront
909 N. Hayden Island Dr.

You can reserve a room using the link below, or by 503-283-4466 and pressing “1” (one) to reach the front desk.

The OEA room rate at Holiday inn Portland – Columbia Riverfront is reimbursed at $84.68 double-occupancy. The total cost of a room for single-occupancy is $169.36, with delegates choosing single-occupancy paying the difference.

Deadline for hotel reservations is March 27, 2025

Hotel Reservations: Columbia Riverfront

Overflow Hotels

Holiday Inn Express & Suites: Portland-Jantzen Beach
2300 N Hayden Island, Portland OR 97217

The OEA room rate at Holiday Inn Express & Suites is reimbursed at $80.14 double-occupancy. The total cost of a room for single-occupancy is $160.27, with delegates choosing single-occupancy paying the difference.

Hotel Reservations: Holiday Inn Express

Homewood Suites by Hilton Vancouver-Portland
701 S.E. Columbia Shores Blvd. Vancouver, Washington 98661 USA

The OEA room rate at Homewood Suites by Hilton Vancouver-Portland is reimbursed at $107.24 double-occupancy. The total cost of a room for single-occupancy is $214.47, with delegates choosing single-occupancy paying the difference.

Hotel Reservations: Homewood Suites

Saturday Lunch Option

Locals and individuals who would like to do Saturday lunch at the hotel have the option to pre-purchase a ticket for a lunch buffet.

$24/peson

The lunch buffet will include:

Rolls & Butter
Composed Quinoa Salad
Salad Bar
Traditional & Vegetarian Lasagna
Assorted Cookies & Brownies
Coffee/Tea/Iced Tea

Advanced Tickets:

Advance sales of 10+ tickets can be purchased via credit card Send requests to [email protected] Requests must be received by 04/19/24 @ 3:00 PM

In-Person Tickets:

Purchase tickets in-person at Jantzen Beach Bar & Grill:
Friday, April 19th: 2:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Saturday, April 20th: 7:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Purchase tickets in-person at Columbia Event Center A:
Saturday, April 20th: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Delegate Resources

2025 OEA RA Handbook

2025 OEA RA PRAM Schedule

24-25 OEA Handbook

Delegate Communications Archive

2025 OEA RA Awards Banquet

Greetings Delegates!

You're invited to the 2025 OEA RA Awards Banquet! We hope you’ll join your fellow delegates at the annual celebration, where we enjoy each other’s company and honor those who have made extraordinary contributions to OEA and to education in Oregon. The Awards Banquet is offered to delegates and honorees at no charge.

DATE: Saturday evening, April 19, 2025.

TIME: 6:30 pm, no-host cocktails; 7:30 pm, dinner & awards ceremony.

WHERE: The Mount St. Helens Ballroom at the Holiday Inn - Columbia River.

DRESS: Most attendees and honorees dress semi-formally or in business dress.

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW CAREFULLY…this will help you through the registration steps and get your ticket to the banquet.

Critical things to understand about this process!

You may register yourself only.
The deadline for registering for the Banquet online is April 9, 2025.
Please remember that Member dues pay for this event. Please do not register until you are sure you plan to attend. OEA will be providing local presidents with a list of their members who have requested a banquet ticket.
If you decide not to attend the banquet, you will need to notify Kristine Klupenger by e-mail [email protected], so your reservation can be canceled.

Please note - Every year we have a waiting list of Members wanting to attend the banquet. If you have not notified Kristine that you are unable to attend the banquet, please turn your ticket in at the Information Table just outside the ballroom.

Please do not give your banquet table to other members. If Members wish to go to the banquet and do not have a ticket, they can request to be put on the waiting list at the information table outside the ballroom.
If you do not return your ticket and do not attend the banquet, your local will receive an invoice for the cost of your banquet ticket $74.40.

Seating

It will be general seating (not assigned).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is entitled to a complimentary banquet ticket?

Delegates (Note: alternate delegates who did not actually perform service at RA are not entitled to a free ticket)
Award recipients and their guests
Members of the OEA Board of Directors
Governance committee members who have provided service at the RA

May I bring a paying guest?

You may sign up for a ticket or tickets for guests by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. These tickets will be available for pick-up at the Information table in the Ballroom foyer at the Holiday Inn on Saturday afternoon. Payment will be due in advance. The price per ticket is $74.40 for the buffet dinner.

Can I attend if I don't have a ticket?

No. You must have a ticket to attend. You will need a ticket to enter the banquet room.

Will you be distributing returned/unneeded banquet tickets to people who may want an extra free ticket?

No. We will be keeping track of returned tickets to offer these seats to delegates who did not originally sign up for the banquet.

What do I do with my ticket if I have a last-minute change in plans and cannot attend the banquet?

Please turn your ticket in at the information table at RA.

If I am a delegate but I do not sign up now, can I change my mind at RA and get a ticket?

Come to the information table and if space permits, we will help you obtain a ticket.

What's on the Menu?

Tour of Italy, featuring:

Roasted artichoke and spinach risotto (vegetarian) with shaved parmesan
Chicken Piccata (gluten free) – grilled chicken, lemon caper cream sauce
Fingerling potatoes with black kale and caramelized onions (vegan)
Penne pasta Florentine with spinach, tomato, garlic, parmesan (vegetarian)
Caesar Salad (gluten-free and vegetarian)
Arugula Salad (gluten free and vegetarian) – roasted asparagus, fennel, mushroom, herb vinaigrette
Fresh rolls and butter
Seasonal vegetables
Assorted display of desserts

The buffet menu will accommodate gluten free and vegetarian dietary restrictions. If you’re a vegan, you will need to sign up for a vegan plated dinner and you will receive a special ticket for your meal at the banquet. The vegan meal options will be decided by the banquet staff.

2025 OEA Representative Assembly Awards

Nominations for the 2025 OEA RA Awards have closed.

Dick Barss/Pat Wohlers Member Rights Award: The Dick Barss/Pat Wohlers Member Rights award honors an OEA member who has made a significant contribution toward protecting or furthering the rights of our members.

Noel Connall IPD Award: The Noel Connall IPD Award honors an OEA member who has been instrumental in developing or implementing instruction and professional development through programs or contract language.

Robert G. Crumpton Organizational Excellence Award: The Robert G. Crumpton Organizational Excellence Award honors an OEA member who has promoted organizational excellence through long-time service to OEA. Criteria includes: 1) at least 10 years of service to the Association, 2) service at more than one level of the Association (local/ UniServ/state/ national) and, 3) demonstration of consistent support and involvement within the Association. This award is not intended to recognize single achievement, but rather to recognize ongoing and outstanding voluntary activities which are the foundation of OEA.

Excellence in Education Award: The Excellence in education award honors an OEA member for outstanding accomplishments toward educational excellence for all students. Likely honorees have spearheaded a model program that could impact students statewide or have had a significant influence on educational policy for the improvement of education for all students.

Political Action Award: The Political Action Award honors an OEA member, local Association, or UniServ that has gone the extra-mile to provide political leadership on behalf of OEA’s political agenda. and to achieve the Association’s political action goals.

Kevin Forney Education Support Professional Award: The Kevin Forney Education Support Professional award honors an ESP member whose individual activities reflect the contribution of ESP members to public education in Oregon. The award winner is submitted to NEA for NEA’s ESP of the Year award.

Ruth E. Greiner Membership Award: The Ruth Greiner Membership Award honors the contributions of a newer member or an experienced member who has worked hard to include early career educators at the local or state level.

Deanna Conner Community College Award: The Deanna Conner Community College Award honors the contributions of an OEA community college member who has had a positive impact on the advocacy of Oregon community colleges. Nominees will be reviewed by the Community College UniServ Council Award Committee and the recipient will be reported to the OEA President.

OEA-Retired Lifetime Service Award: The OEA-Retired Lifetime Service Award honors an individual whose long-term advocacy, commitment, and service to the Oregon Education Association and OEA-Retired have grown our union. Active advocacy, commitment, and service over a lifetime will be the highest criteria to be considered. The individual’s elected service, although considered, will not be the prime factor in awarding this recognition.

Early Career Educator Award: The Early Career Educator Award honors the contribution of an OEA member in their first five (5) years in the field of education professions who has taken an active role at the local or state level to advocate and/or engage educators in union work.

Aspiring Educator Award: The Aspiring Educator Award honors an aspiring educator who has taken an active role at the chapter or state level to advocate and/or engage educators in union work.

Presidential Citations: Presidential Citations are occasionally given by the OEA President to members for special recognition.

Ed Elliott Human Rights Award: The Ed Elliott Human Rights Award honors an individual who has made a sustained contribution to human and civil rights in Oregon. The award recognizes contributions and leadership that advocated for social justice to promote quality of access, representation, and opportunity for all.

Education Citizen of the Year: The OEA’s highest award to a non-member, the Education Citizen of the Year award honors an individual outside the field of education who has made a sustained contribution to or has had a recognized impact on education in Oregon. Criteria for selection includes: 1) currently active in support of public education in Oregon, 2) service to education over a period of time, 3) someone NOT professionally active in education, and 4) a forward-looking philosophy of education in line with OEA’s objectives for the profession.

News Media Award(s): The News Media Award honors a non-member of the media. This award is intended for members of the media who have increased public understanding of education achievements, problems or programs. This category includes: 1) continuous coverage of education, 2) special news or feature stories/ programs on education, 3) editorials, 4) photography/graphic depictions of education.

2024 Passed New Business Items

Delegates at the 2024 Representative Assembly passed a number of New Business Items (NBIs), guiding the work of our union for 2024-2025 academic year. Learn more about them by reading the document below.

Read: 2024 Passed NBIs

2024 RA Minutes

Access the full minutes for the 2024 Representative Assembly. Note: these are draft until approved by the 2025 RA Delegation.

Read: 2024 RA Minutes

OEA Political Action Committee

OEA PAC is OEA’s political action committee (PAC) – the tool that Oregon educators can use to help financially support pro-public education candidates who earn the endorsement of OEA members. The OEA PAC only exists because OEA members like you have chosen to make voluntary contributions to help educators build power and improve public education in Oregon.

Learn more about OEA-PAC

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