The work of the RA starts early for more than 400 local leaders in attendance at the pre NYSUT RA Local and Retiree Council Presidents Conference April 9-10 at the Hilton New York.

Presidents will attend sessions on tenure determination and school finance and mobilizing for the 2008 elections. Throughout the conference, local leaders will have the opportunity to participate in dialogues with the NYSUT officers.

There will be strands for leaders of higher education locals (Achieving a college-ready population) and School-Related Professional locals (A history of activism), as well as sessions for retiree council leaders (Retirees on the move).

NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi will speak at the conference's opening luncheon on Wednesday, which will also include a presentation by Barry Kaufman of the state AFL-CIO. Thursday's keynote speaker is author and political strategist Donna Brazile. She serves as chair of the Voting Rights Institute.