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The National Education Association (NEA) holds its annual Representative Assembly in different states - this year it was held here in California. The NEA-RA is where teacher delegates from all 50 states come together for a week-long conference to vote on the budget and different issues that effect education. This includes issues that effect students, teachers, and subjects that are going to be taught in classrooms at every level from preschool through college.

I was able to volunteer for four days and enjoyed each and every one of them. There was a shortage of volunteers on 4th of July, but we made the day possible with few problems. I met many different teachers and volunteers from across the country.

I noticed that California's delegation was diverse in its representation. California was the only state, in my opinion, that had a balance of different ethnicities.

Included at the NEA-RA was a panel of speakers presented in "The Weakest Link" format. It included a straight female high school student that fought for a Gay-Straight Alliance at her school. Most of the speakers presented really moving speeches.

The President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association thanked everyone for their support during the statewide strike. Hawaii did not have working teachers for over two weeks due to the state's position on education. The governor didn't believe that teachers would strike, but they did. 97% of teachers from preschool through college walked out. They proved that when people work together for a common cause, change is inevitable.

There were issues that made some delegates uncomfortable. These included resolutions dealing with ethnicity and sexual orientation. The sexual orientation resolutions were sent back to a task force for additional review.

Next year's NEA-RA will be held in Dallas, Texas. I enjoyed myself so much this year that if I can, I'll travel to Texas next year to volunteer once again. You may want to consider volunteering too!