Retiree Advocate Delegate Assembly

Whereas, the Delegate Assembly according to the United Federation of Teachers Constitution is the UFT’s highest policy making body; and

Whereas, therefore its most important purpose in meeting is to make UFT policy by voting on resolutions; and

Whereas, the Delegate Assembly regularly meets for only one hour and forty-five minutes before an automatic motion to adjourn, nine times a year; and

Whereas, the Delegate Assembly rarely accomplishes the business on the agenda during that time, which prevents it from fulfilling its Constitutional role; and

Whereas, there is a significant amount of important information which the President must share with the Delegates on a regular basis, which currently occurs by means of an oral report during the meeting of the Delegate Assembly, and takes a significant amount of time; and

Whereas, the oral delivery of the President’s report requires a significant effort on the part of the President, sometimes speaking without interruption for over an hour; puts a burden on those present to both listen closely and carefully record in writing this information to share with their members; and limits time for the Delegate Assembly to fulfill its Constitutional role; therefore, be it

Resolved, that the President deliver a written President’s Report to the Delegates containing information the President knows well in advance of the Delegate Assembly, and that the President supplement this with an oral report to the Delegates; and that said report be scheduled on the agenda for ten minutes, dedicated primarily to late breaking news; and be it further

Resolved, that the Questions Period be extended to 20 minutes, that the Motions directed to the agenda period be extended to 20 minutes; and that the remaining time, the majority of the time of the Delegate Assembly meets, be dedicated to the Delegate Assembly’s constitutional mandate: debating and setting policy for the United Federation of Teachers.