Dear Sisters and Brothers,
 
We are excited that next week we will be in Philadelphia for our 17th Biennial Convention. Philadelphia is our nation's birthplace, labor's heartbeat, and the city of brotherly love. It's also the home of the 2018 Super Bowl Champions, the newly-crowned 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions, the famous Philly Cheesesteak, Rocky, and Benjamin Franklin .

Our founding fathers first envisioned what our nation could be in Philadelphia, and the city is where they created and signed the documents that would determine how the United States is governed. Our country was formed on the then-radical principles of democracy and freedom. The founding fathers were visionaries for their time, and they understood that society would progress and that changes would be necessary. Because of their foresight, the United States Constitution is a living document that has undergone many changes and amendments since it was ratified in 1788, allowing for continued societal progress.

In the same way, the NATCA Constitution is a living document. Every two years, NATCA delegates come together to discuss issues vital to our Union and make any changes the convention body deems necessary to ensure a strong future for our workforce and the National Airspace System. That will be our task this week as our Union continues to strive for greatness.

Each day, we will highlight a portion of the preamble of the U.S. Constitution. Day one focuses on "We the People." The delegates are the voice of the NATCA membership, and it is their responsibility to represent our membership to the convention body. The work that delegates do here this week is essential to ensuring that our Union is of the people, by the people, and for the people that it represents.

NATCA's primary purpose is to protect and "Promote the General Welfare" of our members. On day two, delegates will discuss many of the ways in which NATCA promotes your welfare through legislative work, staffing programs, professionalism, labor relations, safety and technology initiatives, collaboration, and more. We have dozens of classes and breakouts scheduled throughout the week that will highlight these topics and others and help Convention attendees gain a more comprehensive understanding of the ways NATCA supports its membership, as well as provide strategies to tackle some of the day-to-day issues that you face.

Finally, day three really sums up what Convention is all about, "To Form a More Perfect Union." We must constantly strive to make NATCA a more perfect Union. Our work in Philadelphia next week and throughout the year should always be with that goal in mind. It takes every one of us contributing our ideas, hard work, time, and enthusiasm to push this Union forward.

Philadelphia is a city of strong unions and rich labor history. Unions have risen and fought there on the principles of fair wages, safe working conditions for every worker, and the fundamental right to bargain with a collective voice. As Convention attendees discuss the issues facing NATCA today and learn from one another, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us in the fight for equality, progress, and workers' rights. This week will be a time to reflect on the great strides we have made as a country, but also as a Union, and the possibilities of where we can go from here.

After our Convention, we will follow up and report about the business and happenings of the Convention in a special issue of the NATCA Convention newspaper -- The Delegate -- that will be distributed to all NATCA members.

In solidarity,
 
Paul Rinaldi, NATCA President
Trish Gilbert, NATCA Executive Vice President


NATCA in Washington Registration 
Closes Today, April 9!

Registration closes today (April 9) for NATCA in Washington 2018. The event will take place Monday, May 21 to Wednesday, May 23.  NATCA works to have as many Congressional districts represented as possible, and participants will be selected based on the Congressional districts in which they reside.

If you wish to attend but are unsure if your leave will be approved, go ahead and  register. Attendance confirmation will be sent out on or about the week of April 16. This will give you adequate time to take advantage of advanced-purchase airfare.  DO NOT purchase airline tickets until you have received confirmation from your regional  National Legislative Committee member that you will be attending  AND approval from your local e-board.

Your NATCA Benefits Committee is Proud to Announce Six New Benefit Partnerships

Receive up to 20 percent off the "Best Available Rate" at over 7,500 participating Wyndham Hotel Group locations worldwide. Whether you are looking for an upscale hotel, an all-inclusive resort or something more cost-effective, we have the right hotel for you ... and at the right price. So start saving now.

Save up to 80 percent on over 93,000 products at Office Depot/OfficeMax. They are great for your printing, cleaning, and office needs. Shop online or in any Office Depot or OfficeMax store. Enjoy FREE next-day delivery on online orders over $50!

Identity Guard monitors your valuable credit and identity information, with alerts that can help you respond quickly if certain changes indicating fraudulent activity are detected. NATCA members receive 10 percent off the subscription price! Help protect yourself and your family from Identity Theft. Get started today!

Great news! As a valued NATCA member, you are eligible for an exclusive  new offer called Bonus Drive . Because of your membership, you are  automatically eligible for the program. When it comes to purchasing or  leasing a new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, or Hyundai eligible vehicle,  you don't want to miss out on the opportunity for a cash back reward.

Most insurance plans don't cover hearing healthcare. That's where American Hearing Benefits can help. AHB is a convenient hearing benefits program which provides access to free hearing consultations and significant discounts on hearing technology, including rechargeable hearing aids, through our nationwide network of hearing professionals. Improve your life through better hearing today!

NATCA has teamed up with Lenovo, a global leader in the PC marketplace, to offer discounts on its entire line of reliable, high-quality, secure, and easy-to-use technology products and services. Members save up to 30 percent off the everyday public web price of Lenovo laptops, tablets, desktops, all-in-ones, workstations, servers, and accessories.

For more information on each of these new benefits, please visit the NATCA members only benefits websection.

If you're coming to the NATCA 17th Biennial Convention in Philadelphia next week, please stop by the NATCA Benefits Committee booth for more information about this and other exciting new benefits only available to NATCA members.

Unum 2018 Open Enrollment Period Ends April 30
 
Make the smart choice to protect your future with Unum long term disability insurance. It could happen to you, and the 2018 open enrollment period ends on April 30. Learn more and take advantage of this great benefit today by visiting  natcadisability.com.



NATCA Academy - 2018 Schedule

Representative Training 1 (RT1) Sept. 24-28 Las Vegas
Representative Training 1 (RT1) Dec. 3-7 Las Vegas
Federal Contract Tower (FCT) June 12-13 National HQ, D.C.
LEAP
Oct. 2018 (Dates TBA)
Airlie, Va.
Training Review Board (TRB) April 24-26 Las Vegas
Training Review Board (TRB) Sept. 11-13 Las Vegas
Legislative Activism (LAT) Feb. 21-22 Las Vegas
Legislative Activism (LAT) Sept. 11-12 Las Vegas
Adv. Legislative Activism (ALAT) Nov. 27-29 National HQ, D.C.
Secretary/Treasurer (STT) April 10-11 Las Vegas
Secretary/Treasurer (STT) Sept. 11-12 Las Vegas

NATCA Academy Legislative Class Change
An Advanced Legislative Activism Training (ALAT) class has been added to the NATCA Academy Legislative Class schedule in 2018. The Basic Legislative Activism Training (LAT) class originally scheduled for Nov. 28-29, 2018 in Las Vegas, has been replaced with an ALAT class on Nov. 27-29, 2018 in Washington, D.C. at the NATCA National Office.  

ALAT is an involved, 2 1/2-day course with guest speakers from the Office of Special Counsel, NATCA's Government Affairs Staff, and Special Counsel to NATCA's President. 

NATCA Academy Courses are available for sign up on the  NATCA Membership Portal (except for LEAP, which is by invitation only).
 
Once you have logged in, select "NATCA Academy" from the quick links. Then, select "2018 courses." If you need any help with registration, contact the Coordinator for your region. Registrants will be notified within 35 days from the course start date of their status for the course. 
 
If you have any questions, please contact NATCA's Training Coordinator, Carolyn Kamara, at ckamara@natcadc.org.
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