2. What to Expect: General Tips
• Dress comfortably. Just as
with other conferences,
you may want to bring a
sweater in case you get
chilled in the air
conditioning.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
There will be some walking
daily.
• If you are physically
challenged, please contact
Brenda Reed, breed@ista-
in.org, for information.
• Bring your credential with
you. You will receive this in
the mail from NEA.
• Arrival: Plan to arrive in time
for the ISTA Indiana
delegation reception. Please
check the schedule to see
when this is and where it is
located this year.
• Save receipts if you are being
reimbursed or funded by your
local, cluster, council, or as a
state delegate.
3. FIRST DAY!!! Who, What, Where,
When, How
• YOU need to go to
registration: When—check
convention schedule on the
web site
• Where: register at
convention center
• YOU need to check in at the
ISTA onsight office at the
hotel
• WHAT: Registration,
Exhibits,
Hearings—Click on NEA
Representative Assembly at
this link www.ista-in.org
• HOW: a free shuttle
service runs between our
hotel and the convention
center. This runs nonstop
during the two days
preceding the opening of
the NEA RA. After that, it
runs in the morning
following delegation
meeting and again at end
of day following the
Assembly meetings.
4. NEA Representative Assembly Begins
• Attendance: There is a section for each state’s delegates to sit.
You are expected to attend each day and sit with the Indiana
delegation. You may come and go freely.
• Dates: Check the schedule for dates of the NEA RA Business
Meeting.
• Entrance: Remember to wear your badge that you receive at
registration every day or you will not be admitted.
• Lunch, snacks: There are vendors at the convention center. In
the past, salads, sandwiches, and some snacks have been
available, with average meal prices around $12 to $15. You may
pack snacks to bring with you if you so choose. Lunch is on your
own.
• Packing for the day: Review the schedule each morning and
pack only what you really need for the day.
5. HINTS For the Daily Meetings
Morning Indiana delegation meetings: 7 am-9
am
Coffee and breakfast NOT provided—however,
you may bring your own breakfast into the
meeting.
Attendance is expected at this meeting.
We auction items and have bucket drops
throughout the meetings to raise funds for the
NEA Fund for Children in Public Education.
6. Bucket Drop:
You will receive free tickets every day in the
Indiana meeting that you may use to drop into
buckets beside items you might like to win. There
are drawings daily .
You may also bring items to donate for the bucket
drop. Less expensive items are often used in the
bucket drops, and more expensive items are
saved for auctions.
7. NEA Fund for Children and Public
Education
• What is it? Separate from dues, dollars given
voluntarily: “Every member who contributes to the NEA Fund does
so voluntarily. Every dollar that the NEA Fund contributes to a candidate, a
political party, or spends on independent expenditures is voluntarily given.
NEA does not use dues dollars for this purpose.” from NEA Fund web site:
http://www.neafund.org/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&sc
reenKey=cmpContent&s=nea&htmlKey=AboutMain
• What am I responsible for? See the email
communication about this year’s per delegate
goal.
• How? You may ask members from your area to
contribute to help you meet your goal, or you
may contribute yourself.
8. Fundraising : Auctions
• Each day, items are auctioned. Items range in
price and are donated by delegates.
• The price of items you bid on and win will go
towards your total.
9. ISTA Spirit Day July 3
4th of July
• July 3 is ISTA Spirit Day—for those who
purchased the ISTA shirt for the RA, we
encourage you to wear it to show your ISTA
pride. If you did not purchase one, feel free to
wear something in a similar color.
• Some delegates choose to dress in patriotic
wear on July 4th. Feel free to do so if you wish.
This is at your discretion.
• Fireworks: Usually several groups gather to find
a place to observe fireworks. Watch for signs on
ISTA bulletin board at hotel office.
10. ISTA Bulletin Board
• Watch the ISTA Bulletin Board for evening
outings
• You may sign up to join groups for dinner
• You may post a sign inviting individuals to
join YOU for dinner
• Announcements
• Special deals
11. We look forward to seeing
YOU at the NEA RA!
Questions? Feel free to contact
any of your ISTA Officers or
Brenda Reed, our NEA RA
coordinator, with questions.
1-800-382-4037
breed@ista-in.org
