GEO Hosts AGEL Conference

On May 22-25, the GEO will be hosting the Alliance of Graduate Employee Locals (AGEL) conference!

All GEO members are encouraged to participate in all or part of the conference, including meals and the nighttime social activities.
If you are planning to attend, please contact Dave Beck

Click here to see the conference agenda.

AGEL Semi-Annual Conference
Spring, 2008
May 22-25, 2008
GEO-University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign

Thursday, May 22, 2008

7:00-9:00 PM Informal Welcome (Esquire)

Friday, May 23, 2008

8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast & Registration

9:00-10:20 AM Introductions, Conference Overview
Introduction to AFT
(Jack Nightingale – AFT & Dave Dobbie – GEO-UMICH)

10:30 AM-Noon a) Organizing 101 (Rob Henn)

b) Leadership Development: Recruiting and retaining effective leaders (Mike Bader)

Noon-1:00 PM Lunch

1:00-2:30 PM a) Making Effective Use of Grievances: Organizing, Member Mobilization, and Contract Negotiations (Dave Beck – GEO-UIUC)

b) Developing Ad Hoc Groups and Caucuses around issues and identities (Lori Serb & Natalie Havlin – GEO-UIUC)

2:45-4:00 PM b) Strategic Planning and leadership retreats (Brian
Dolber – GEO-UIUC, Heidi Lawson – GEO-UIC, & Dave Cecil - GTFF)

b) Building a Larger Community (working with other labor and community groups) (John Gergely - GEO-UIUC, Kerry Pimblott – GEO-UIUC)

5:00-7:00 Dinner at Independent Media Center
(Prof. Antonia Darder will be our guest speaker)

Saturday, May 24, 2008

8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast

9:00-10:30 AM Developing Bargaining Strategies (UMICH case study)
(Helen Ho – GEO-UMICH)

10:45 AM-Noon a) Mapping/Charting potential members (Dave Rowland – GEO-UMICH & Amber Cooper – GEO-UIC)

b) LeaderNet and other Online Resources
(Nate Johnson - AFT)

Noon-2:00 Lunch (Papa Del’s)

2:00-3:30 a) Grievances/Negotiations:Using the AFT Contract Database, Nate Johnson, AFT Research

b) Political Action (Mark Supanich - TAA, Carrie Wadman - MGAA)

4:00-6:00 PM AGEL Meeting
FACE Campaign
National Convention (Chicago)
Co-Chairs for 2008-09
Fall AGEL location

6:30-9:00 PM IFT Dinner at Illini Union served by our SEIU brothers and sisters!
(Heidi Lawson, co-pres of GEO-UIC and grad rep to the IFT Executive Council, will speak)

9:00-?? House Party! (John Gergely & Natalie Havlin)



Sunday, May 25, 2008

9:00-9:30 AM Breakfast

9:30-11:00 AM State/Regional Caucuses
A chance for locals related by state or region to discuss issues/goals that they share.