Most of us are beginning to look toward the close of the school year and are ready to think about OUR vacation plans. We made the plans to join the community pool or sign up our own children for the local baseball team. Some of us may even have planned a trip across the United States to visit family or friends, but now is the time to make OUR summer union and professional development plans. We need to begin planning and packing for the NEOEA Summer Leadership Conference. It may not sound like your typical vacation, but think of it as a cruise adventure, designed for association leaders and active members. All cruises offer opportunities to meet new people, explore the destination spot, and learn exciting new things. Our cruise is no exception. We will meet members from other locals, enjoy the picturesque campus of Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, enjoy fine dining, and overall have a fun and valuable experience that will make us better association members and, even more importantly, better leaders in our buildings.

The trip begins as we are able to 'cruise' to numerous destination spots on Wednesday afternoon. We can join other vacationing educators from all over northeastern Ohio who will gather in a relaxed atmosphere to explore the Crash Course for Presidents, Beginning Bargaining School, NEA Member Benefits Sampler, Local Communications School, Quicken® for Treasurers, or even experience Decoding the Five-year Forecast.

In the evening, we will enjoy a night with the Captain. The evening includes hearing remarks from Kim Wheeler, WKYC's Educator Reporter, and touring the Mooreland Mansion where our reception will be held to kick-off this 'cruise' in grand style. Our captain's night is filled with entertainment, dining, and opportunities to socialize on board and off board.

Thursday begins our itinerary of professional and personal learning as members of NEOEA. There will be over twenty sessions to choose from at the conference. Some will be designed for special needs -- as president or a building representative, bargainers or grievance chairs. There will be workshops that will inform beginners about how associations run and roundtables where veterans of all facets of local activities will discuss their perspectives and share their insights, as well as sessions for our ESP. Sessions will provide details about Ohio's Resident Educator License and Campaign 2010. No matter what activity you are looking for on this cruise, we promise you will find the perfect match, addressing our needs as a teacher or support professional. Cruise activities will meet our personal, professional, and leadership needs.

The cruise directors, NEOEA's Summer Leadership Committee, will be able to guide each of us to whatever our points of interests are while aboard the ship. In addition, the friends and contacts we make during the social activities are as big a part of the conference as the knowledge gained from the formal workshop sessions. We will meet colleagues who work in DD units and higher education, teachers, and ESP including first-timers and those looking forward to retirement.

As the cruise comes back into port and everyone heads home, we will have packed up plenty of new friends, lots of valuable learning, and memories of the time spent together at NEOEA's Summer Leadership Conference. We will have more developed leadership skills and be ready to take on the upcoming school year!

For educators, learning never stops. We may not have our kids in the classroom in the summer months, but an educator's desire to learn and grow in developmental skills should never stop just because of summer! Stay involved and make learning an all-year activity. Attending the 2010 Summer Leadership Conference is the way to start off the school year on the right foot! Sign up for this outstanding 'cruise' opportunity. Get more information in the News & Views, check at www.neoea.org on the web, or call the NEOEA office for registration and scholarship information. Ahoy! Looking forward to seeing YOU aboard the ship at the NEOEA Summer Leadership Conference!